Introduction: Patient adherence is a cornerstone in successful management of psychiatric disorders and is affected by patient perspectives and barriers, differing from rural to urban areas. In this perspective, pharmacists have a vital role in identifying patients in need of help and in dealing with barriers to adherence. This paper investigates perspectives of patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, living in rural areas in Jerash, Jordan, regarding their awareness about their psychiatric conditions, including religious and cultural factors, adherence to their treatment and related barriers, with special focus on pharmacist’s role. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Jordan from August to November 2019. A validated questionnaire was administered by two pharmacists, asking patients as they were waiting in the psychiatric clinic (following the specialists’ approval). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Results: Most patients (n= 120, age 39.4±9.5, 66.7% males) reported that they always/usually adhere to their medications (71.0%), and 47.5% of them reported complete control of their symptoms after treatment. Most patients (69.2%) reported that they perceive their psychological illness in terms of religious faith as being counted for their favor in the Hereafter, and 52.5% of them always/usually looked at themselves positively and unaffected by the existence of their illness; with both factors correlating significantly with better treatment adherence (p < 0.045 and p < 0.001; respectively). Barriers affecting adherence included mainly suffering from adverse effects (31.9%) and being unconvinced that they needed a medication (23.3%). Only 14.2% of patients reported that they refer to the pharmacist to get information about their medications. Conclusion: Most psychiatric patients reported suboptimal control of their symptoms. Nonadherence is one reason, with barriers identified. Positive religious and cultural perspectives are associated with better adherence, and most patients do not refer to pharmacists for medication informatio

Background: The relationship between smoking and Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is still topical with mixed epidemiological evidence. However, the pandemic may affect people’s beliefs towards smoking as well as smoking behavior and quit intentions. Considering high smoking rates in Jordan, our current study aimed to assess the following points in a community-based sample from Jordan: (i) the beliefs that surround smoking and COVID-19, (ii) the pandemic impact on smoking behavior and quit intention.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan utilizing an online questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised 13 items on sociodemographic, health, and smoking profiles, 14 items to assess beliefs surrounding COVID-19 and the use of combustible cigarettes (CC), waterpipe (WP), and electronic cigarettes (EC), and 12 items to assess the pandemic impact on smoking behavior and quit intention. Results: Of 2424 survey respondents who participated in our study there were 1163 never-smokers, 1044 current smokers, and 217 ex-smokers. The mean age of participants was 35.2 years (SD:11.06). Most participants have shown anti-smoking beliefs with around 72.9% believed that WP smoking is related to the risk of contracting COVID-19. Also, 71.7% believed that smoking CC may worsen the COVID-19 clinical course, while 74.1% of respondents believed that smoking has no protective effect against COVID-19. During the pandemic, about 28.1% and 19.3% of current smokers reported increased or reduced smoking, respectively, and many smokers reported their willingness to quit smoking due to the pandemic. Besides, 459 current smokers have expressed their plans/intention to quit smoking during the pandemic, of whom 27.5% (n=126) confirmed that the driving force for their decision is a COVID-19 related reason, such as self-protection (n=123) and protection of family members (=121) which were the most reported ones. Also, around 63 participants have successfully ceased smoking during the pandemic. However, only 22 of them reported that the main driving motivation of their successful quit attempt was the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusion: Most participants reported anti-smoking beliefs and attitudes during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the double-edged effect of the pandemic on smoking habits should be carefully considered, and reliable anti-smoking measures should be strengthened and sustained in the country.