In Pakistan, snuff, locally known as Naswar, was introduced decades ago, and is usually processed into a loose moist form, and its use is widespread in the country. The evaluation of carcinogenic risks of smokeless tobacco by the International Agency on Research for Cancer (IARC) has confirmed that smokeless tobacco is carcinogenic to human and the main target organ being the oral cavity where the products are applied locally. So, this study is done about snuff usage and knowledge regarding its effects among Pakistani Male Students in Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Descriptive cross sectional institutional based study with sample size of 400 was done from 5251 the study population (Pakistanis male students at the Khyber Medical University, Peshawar) during the academic year 2018-2020, in which random sampling technique was used. Data was collected using self-administrated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) (IBM v. 25). The overall knowledge level was very high within non-snuff dippers i.e., 92%, which was very high according to Likert measure, whereas the knowledge level among snuff dippers was (76.4%) which was also high. The prevalence of snuff usage among Pakistani male students was 174 (43.5%) n = 400. The greatest predisposing factor was the friend's effect (81.5%), whereas the least predisposing factor was the advertisement effect (23.8%). There was a significant relationship between knowledge level and snuff usage. In conclusion, snuff usage prevalence among students was high, the overall knowledge level was very high, effect of friends was the most common risk factor for snuff usage, so there is an urgent need for intervention by providing tobacco prevention program for raising awareness regarding to the health hazards of tobacco use and counselling to help and encourage users for cessation and to prevent tobacco initiation.
Background: Symptoms or ailments that a person is aware of and chooses to treat on their own are referred to as self-medication. The idea of self-medication has been influenced by awareness of individual responsibility for own health and unnecessary professional care for mild illnesses. Self-medication is common practice around the globe. Gradually, it is becoming a form of self-care. Lot of research has been done in the area and the result revealed that the self-medication is more common among the literate people as compared to the illiterate. Trend is rather prominent among the young population who tend to have more knowledge of drugs and their use, have lower risk perception, therefore are more influenced by self-medication. Objective: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge about self-medication among engineering, arts & humanities students in Lahore during a period of 7 months (December 2018-June 2019). Methodology: A self-administered questionnaire was designed after the extensive review of previous research and was reviewed by an expert panel of professors & lecturers of clinical pharmacy of Punjab University College of pharmacy. Human ethics committee of Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab approved the study protocol. A total sample of 1000 students were calculated by sample size calculator. All statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 1000 questionnaire were received with overall response rate of 63%. In this study, younger age, male, and unmarried students residing in hostels and those who have access to nearby pharmacy tended to self-medicate more than their peers with significant difference. About 43.4% of respondents followed their doctor's advice, while about 37.2% took their own advice or that of friends, family members, or the media. Conclusion: Self-medication misuse or abuse can be dangerous and endanger lives; if practiced impulsively, it may also be a health issue that requires education and attention from Pakistan's health care authorities. Future research is also required to determine how self-medication affects Lahore and Pakistan's non-medical students' health.
: Background: Asthma is rapidly increasing globally. Inhalation therapy is the backbone for asthma management due to localized delivery and rapid onset of action. Currently, metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are the most widely prescribed and dispensed inhaler devices worldwide due to the advantage of portability, multiple dose delivery and better efficacy. Objectives: The current study aimed to access the effect of educational intervention on asthma patients' competency regarding pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) technique. Methods: Asthma patients were recruited from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad, Pakistan. Inhaler technique steps based upon "National Asthma Education and Preventive Program" (NAEPP) criteria was set as evaluating tool to evaluate competency of asthma patients regarding MDI appropriate technique. Intervention involved educating study subjects (asthma patients) practically through placebo inhaler and theoretically through inhaler technique directed literature brochures. Pre intervention and post intervention inhaler technique competency was accessed and evaluated statistically. Results: Among 207 asthma patients, majority were never instructed by healthcare professional regarding inhaler technique (78.8%). However, most of the patients were observed to have inadequate inhaler technique (76.3%) at baseline. As the result of educational intervention, the competency of patients regarding inhaler technique was significantly enhanced from 11.6% pre-intervention to 34.8% post-intervention (p<0.001), statistically analyzed by McNemar testing. Conclusion: Originally, inhaler technique competency of majority of asthma patients was observed to be inappropriate. However, educational intervention proved to be effective in substantially enhancing the competency of study subjects regarding MDI technique. Keywords: Asthma, Inhalation therapy, Metered-dose inhalers, Educational intervention, National Asthma Education and Preventive Program.
Introduction: Metered-dose inhalers are the most widely prescribed and dispensed inhaler devices worldwide for the management of asthma. The present study aimed to access the impact of educational intervention on the competency of community pharmacists of Islamabad, Pakistan regarding the pressurized metered-dose inhaler (MDI) technique. Materials and Methods: The intervention involved educating pharmacists practically through placebo inhalers and theoretically through literature brochures; based upon the "National Asthma Education and Preventive Program" inhaler technique. A total of 100 pharmacists were recruited from the rural and urban sectors of Islamabad. A covert simulated patient approach was used to evaluate the inhaler technique of pharmacists. Type of pharmacy, education status of pharmacists and the influence of already received training on the use of inhaler devices were the factors that demonstrated a significant positive association with the competency of pharmacists. Results: McNemar test was applied for pre and post-intervention intragroup comparisons to further access categorical variables. A p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The competency of pharmacists increased significantly from 24% before intervention to 33% after intervention (p<0.001). Conclusion: Originally, the inhaler technique competency of the majority of pharmacy professionals was observed to be inappropriate. However, the educational intervention proved to be effective in substantially enhancing the skill of community pharmacists regarding the MDI technique.
A BSTRACT Objective: The current research study aimed to access the relationship between obesity and asthma exacerbations and severity among adult patients at the outpatient section of a federal hospital (PIMS) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional research study was carried out on 207 asthma adult patients belonging to different areas and ethnic groups from the country. The study setting was the PIMS hospital, which attracts patients from all over the country due to its facilities and cost-effective treatments. The body mass index (BMI) of asthma patients was calculated using the heights and weights of the study subjects. However, the pulmonary functions were calculated using a computerized spirometer i-e Spirolab III S/N 303681 in line with Winspiro PRO 7.1.version software. It presents the patient’s forced vital capacity that expires in the first second of expiration to full (FEV1) in comparison to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, that is, Tiffeneau–Pinelli index was also recorded to determine the asthma severity. Results: According to recent surveys, the overall prevalence of patients with overweight and obesity was 29.0% and 23.7%, respectively. A Chi-square test was used, and a statistically significant relationship was observed between BMI and asthma severity ( P < 0.001). The adult obese female patients presented poor pulmonary functions. The average FEV1/FVC ratio presented significant variance among four different categories of BMI with P < 0.05. This difference was due to the normal BMI category as the Tiffeneau–Pinelli index, that is, FEV1/FVC in the normal BMI group was significantly lower as compared to that in underweight and obese patients. Conclusion: The study subjects presented raised asthma severity in accordance with the raised BMI. Obese patients presented comparatively raised asthma exacerbations. Moreover, a statistically significant association of gender difference was observed between obesity and asthma severity. It was concluded that adult asthmatic women with obesity presented raised asthma severity as compared to adult asthmatic males.
Introduction: Self-medication is regarded as the system of taking medicines without the consultation of licensed medical practitioner. Self-medication leads to irrational use of medical drugs which is hazardous for health. The prevalence of this crucial issue is rapidly increasing worldwide. The present study was aimed to access the pattern of self-medication trends in healthcare students and non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey based observational study has been conducted to access the knowledge along with the attitude of medical and non-medical students regarding self-medication. The study settings included different universities and medical colleges of Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 301 students from medical department and other departments were included in the study. A validated self-medication assessment questionnaire was used to access the knowledge along with attitude pattern of self-medication among healthcare students as well as non-healthcare students. Results: The findings of the present study presented that medical students are more aware of the potential side effects and adverse reactions of the self-medicated drug as compared to the non-medical students. Whereas, trends of self-medication was observed to be slightly higher in healthcare students as compared to the non-healthcare students. Moreover, the frequency of antibiotic use was comparatively more frequent in medical students as compared to the non-medical graduates. Whereas, the use of painkillers without prescription was more prevalent in non-medical students as compare to the medical graduates. Conclusion: There has been a significant difference in knowledge of healthcare students and non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan. Although both healthcare and non-healthcare students have high prevalence of self-medication but differences have been observed in case of drugs taken. Healthcare students practice self-medication more as compared to the non-health-care students. Peer Review History: Received: 10 November 2022; Revised: 18 December; Accepted: 5 January 2023, Available online: 15 January 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Similar Articles: ANTIMICROBIALS SELF MEDICATION AMONG PARAMEDICAL STUDENTS IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY ANTIBIOTICS KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR USES AGAINST VARIOUS DISEASES AMONG THE DORMITORY STUDENTS OF A RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSITY IN BANGLADESH: A PILOT STUDY
Abstract Background Crohn’s disease (CD) is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the digestive tract. Diagnosing CD involves assessing clinical symptoms, radiological and endoscopic findings, and histopathological evidence. Although previously considered a disease in developed countries, CD is increasing in developing nations, but challenges exist in diagnosing CD promptly. This study aims to report diagnostic parameters for early and correct CD diagnosis in Pakistan. Methodology A retrospective analysis from June 2016 to August 2023 of 22 CD patients was done, by data from medical records, questionnaires completed at diagnosis, and telephonic interviews. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed, and patients were categorized using the Montreal classification. Results CD was diagnosed in 22 patients, with a 1:1 male-to-female ratio with a mean age of 33 years (range 15–55 years). Symptoms at presentation included abdominal pain (95.5%), watery diarrhea (86.4%), fever (31.8%), rectal bleeding (54.5%), and weight loss (81.8%) with 68% having symptoms for over 12 months before diagnosis. Disease characteristics were diverse, with various patterns of involvement and histopathological findings. Conclusions In resource-limited countries like Pakistan, the timely diagnosis of CD presents a significant healthcare challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to tackle these complex problems by enhancing diagnostic capabilities, raising medical awareness, and improving access to healthcare resources.
Introduction: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease with high rates of infection and mortality throughout the world, but its spread is greater in developing countries, and its control is difficult. It is known that the most common side reaction of drug treatment for tuberculosis is hepatotoxicity resulting from the drugs, which negatively affects adherence to treatment as a result of patients not continuing to use it. Objective:This study aimed to determine the extent of hepatotoxicity as a result of drug treatment for tuberculosis. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study conducted on TB patients undergoing TB treatment in a general hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. A data collection form was used to obtain demographic and treatment data. The hepatotoxicity of TB drug therapy was evaluated by performing liver function tests (LFTs).Study duration was of 4 months. Results: The study showed that out of 100 tuberculosis patients, 55 patients were hepatotoxic. Hepatotoxic population includes 26% males and 29% females including almost 10% children either male or female. The maximun hepatotoxicity was observed in the patients undergoing combination therapy. Around 3-5 % patients showed that the Serum-GlutamicPyruvic-Transaminase (SGPT) values more than 2 times of their normal values. While other 50% showed hepatotoxicity 1-2 times of their normal values. Most of the patients found were in the age group ranging from 35-60 years. The main drugs used in tuberculosis treatment were: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutal. Conclusion:The rate of hepatotoxicity in TB patients on anti-TB treatment was high. The current study concluded that the more we move towards a greater number of drugs in combination, the greater the extent and chance of hepatotoxicity. The combination of three anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide) resulted in maximum hepatotoxicity. Peer Review History: Received: 21 August 2023; Revised: 18 September; Accepted: 19 October, Available online: 15 November 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Marwa A. A. Fayed, University of Sadat City, Egypt, maafayed@gmail.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Owanaro Peter, Nigeria, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. owonaropeter@gmail.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Dr. Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan, drwadhsheikh1974@gmail.com
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