scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pharmacy Practices in the Tropics: Nigeria as a Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-263
Author(s):  
Nnenna Genevieve Ekechukwu

As the pandemic was sudden and no time was given to prepare for the lockdown measure, pharmaceutical practices were significantly disrupted in the aspects of manufacturing and supplying drugs, sales, and profit-making. Therefore, this study assessed the impacts of COVID-19 crisis on pharmaceutical practices in Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design survey was adopted to draw information from the pharmacists (respondents) among the targeted population. 1,200 professional and practice pharmacists were systematically and randomly selected across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, while 1,118 copies of the administered questionnaire were retrieved, coded, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics aided by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 23 to run the analyses. The findings showed that COVID-19 had negative impacts on pharmaceutical practices, especially in hospital and community practices. A 25%-49% decrease was highly indicated in sales, purchase orders, and profits, while the majority, 347 (31.04%) of the respondents, indicated that they had a 1%-24% decrease in their workforce. Also, total lockdown as a COVID-19 measure increased the level of insecurity and inflation during the pandemic. 75.13% of the pharmacists who represent the targeted population indicated that their place of work largely enforced COVID-19 basic preventive measures during the pandemic. This study concludes that necessary efforts should be put in place to ease the affairs of the pharmaceutical practices before, during, and after the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, Impact, Lockdown, Pharmaceutical Care, Practices, Nigeria.

Author(s):  
Rizki Mohamed

The Tagueleft basin is geographically located in the northern edges of the Middle High Atlas, which is a geomorphological fragile area. The impact of human activity has accelerated water erosion in this mountains area. This is reflected in dynamic and unstable foothills, a decrease in forests density and degradation in the production of the land. On the other hand, land degradation due to human overexploitation of natural resources has increased land degradation in the area. The interest in the risk of erosion on the foothills in the area under study comes in the context of our contribution to clarify the role of geomatical and geomorphological approaches in explaining and identifying the mechanisms responsible for current foothills dynamism through water erosion and its negative impacts on the environment and local development. The aim of the study was to use the EPM (Erosion Potential Méthod) which is formulated by Slobodan Gavrilovic for erosion in mountainous areas and to test the reliability of its results based on fieldwork and remote sensing data. The results of the erosion assessment and its quantification by applying the coefficient (W) for the theoretical model in the area under study have shown that erosion is very important and it touches on wide areas as it appears through the domain classification of the distribution erosion in Tagueleft basin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Mohamad Anis Fahmi

Background: Low public awareness of the impact of smoking makes the implementation of smoke-free areas (KTR) difficult. Smoke-free areas aim to protect the public from the direct and indirect effects of smoking. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the application of smoke-free areas and the prevalence of active and ex-smokers in Indonesia. Method: This study implemented a cross-sectional design, using secondary data from the Riskesdas 2018 on active and ex-smokers. KTR application data were obtained from the Profile of Non-Communicable Diseases in 2016. A Pearson product-moment test was conducted by a computer application to determine the correlation coefficient (r). This coefficient was used to describe the level of correlation between the two variables; significance was determined as a p value of 5%. Results: This study showed that the average application of KTR throughout Indonesia was 50.83%, active smokers comprised 23.49% of the population, and ex-smokers comprised 4.94%. Most active smokers were in Java and Sumatra, while the majority of ex-smokers were in Java and Sulawesi and the majority of KTR was in Java. This study shows that there is a positive correlation between KTR application and the percentage of ex-smokers (r = 0.46; p value = 0.01). Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between the application of KTR and an increase in ex-smokers. The government needs to increase the application of KTR policies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-221
Author(s):  
Rafaqat Ali ◽  
Furrukh Bashir ◽  
Rashid Ahmad

The current study was heading for determining the impact of Pakistani university students’ socioeconomic classes on their personality traits. Demographic and personality questionnaires were filled by available university students online. The stepwise regression technique facilitated to generate regression models to define impacts of different socioeconomic classes on students’ different personality traits. Different regression models highlighted the significant negative impacts of the middle upper socioeconomic class on Agreeableness, Extraversion and Neuroticism personality traits. The lower socioeconomic class was found to have positive impact on only one personality sub-trait self-discipline. Whereas, the upper lower socioeconomic class caused positive impacts on students’ trust sub-trait, Conscientiousness trait and negative impact on excitement seeking sub-trait of personality. The importance of these impacts of socioeconomic classes on different personality traits and the possible implications are discussed with respect to university students’ academic performance and academic behaviour.


Author(s):  
Faiz Fakhri Isjwara

The principle of the organization of prisons (Lembaga Pemasyarakatan/ LAPAS) must prioritize a humane approach so that prisoners and prisoners receive their rights. If the implementation is good, the objective of LAPAS is to carry out social reintegration, namely the restoration of the unity of life, life and livelihood of prisoners and correctional students both prisoners as individuals, social beings and God's creatures with society can be achieved. However, this organization faces obstacles, namely the problem of overcapacity. This can have implications for suboptimal and can even lead to failure to function as a correctional institution. The problem of over capacity will also have an impact on the health conditions of prisoners. Sleep conditions, eating patterns, health services that are less than the maximum due to over capacity will certainly have a negative impact on the nutritional status of prisoners. This study aims to determine the impact of Overcapacity Impacts on the Nutritional Status Level of Prisoners in Class II A Penitentiary, Sidoarjo. This type of research is a quantitative correlational analytic survey with a cross-sectional design. The number of samples was 91 inmates. The sampling technique is by random sampling. Data is collected by weighing body weight and height and comparing with ideal body weight. The results showed that the more overcapacity, the nutritional status of prisoners decreased. Room conditions can affect the provision of an unbalanced diet. Thus, that this causes the prisoners to experience malnutrition.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 5734
Author(s):  
Sebastian Bürklein ◽  
Lennart Zupanc ◽  
David Donnermeyer ◽  
Karsten Tegtmeyer ◽  
Edgar Schäfer

Instrument failure during root canal preparation is still a concern among endodontists. However, it remains unclear whether the use of more martensitic alloys or the cross-sectional design parameters (i.e., core mass) significantly improve fracture resistance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of core mass and alloy on dynamic cyclic fatigue resistance of nickel-titanium endodontic instruments in matching artificial canals at body temperature. Two groups were tested. (A) taper 0.04: F360 (Komet, Lemgo, Germany), Twisted file (Sybron Endo, Glendora, CA, USA) (=TF), JIZAI (Mani, Tochigi, Japan) (=J_04) (all size #25) and the variable tapered TruNatomy (Dentsply, Ballaigues, Switzerland) (size #26) (=TN). (B) size #25; taper 0.06: (Mtwo (VDW, Munich, Germany), JIZAI (Mani) (=J_06), and variable tapered Hyflex EDM OneFile (Coltene Whaledent, Altstätten, Switzerland) (=HF). Time, number of cycles to fracture (NCF), and number and length of fractured fragments were recorded and statistically analysed using ANOVA Student-Newman-Keuls, Kruskal–Wallis or Chi-square test (significance level = 0.05). (A) TN showed the significantly shortest time until fracture, followed by TF, F360 and J_04 which also differed significantly, while NCF showed the following order: F360 < TN < TF < J_04 (p < 0.05). Only one J_04 but all instruments of the other groups fractured within the test-limit of 10 min. (B) Mtwo was significantly inferior concerning time until fracture and NCF, compared to J_06 and HF (p < 0.05), which did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). While all Mtwo instruments fractured, only four instruments failed in the other groups (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of this study, alloy and cross-sectional design (i.e., core mass) were critical factors regarding instrument failure, but none of these factors could be determined as a main parameter for increased or decreased time, and cycles to fracture. Rather, it seemed to be the interaction of multiple factors (e.g., longitudinal and cross-sectional design, alloy, and rotational speed) that was responsible for differences in the time and cycles to fracture. Nonetheless, all instruments had lifetimes that allow safe clinical use. However, the superiority or inferiority of an instrument with regard to cyclic fatigue based on laboratory results—even when identical trajectories are guaranteed—may be considered questionable, as the characteristics and design parameters of the instruments vary considerably, and the experimental setups lack additional clinical parameters and thus clinical relevance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (19) ◽  
pp. 1110-1116
Author(s):  
Majeda A Al-Ruzzieh ◽  
Omar Ayaad

Aim: To examine the impact of emotional intelligence on the effective implementation of a professional practice model in a specialised cancer centre. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design with 580 frontline nurses at King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. The sample was selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using two self-administered questionnaires to measure emotional intelligence and professional practice. Results: The overall mean value of emotional intelligence was 5.60 out of 6 (SD=0.78), while the overall mean value for the implementation of the professional practice model was 4.76/5 (SD=0.59). The results showed that the overall mean value of emotional intelligence had a significant positive correlation with the effective implementation of the professional practice model (r=0.580, P<0.001), even after adjusting for the participants' demographics (P<0.001). Conclusion: Emotional intelligence can be considered a predictor for the effective implementation of a professional practice model.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (19-20) ◽  
pp. 2304-2321
Author(s):  
Olivia Ho-Yi Fung ◽  
Joanne Yip ◽  
Mei-Chun Cheung ◽  
Kit-Lun Yick ◽  
Kenny Yat-Hong Kwan ◽  
...  

Bracing is the most common non-operative treatment option for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, existing brace designs have deficiencies, including a long production lead time and low patient compliance caused by the negative impacts of bracing on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to address these problems by developing a new textile-based scoliosis brace in accordance with the biomechanics used in the existing braces for spinal correction. A case study of interface pressure had been carried out to determine the optimum combination of pads to be used in the proposed brace to correct a scoliotic spine. AIS patients who were undergoing hard brace treatment were recruited to complete a questionnaire (BrQ) on hard braces and on the proposed brace. The BrQ scores of the two types of braces were compared to assess their respective impacts on the QoL. The findings show that the proposed brace can address the issue of patient compliance by reducing the impact of bracing on QoL, and shorten the production lead time through incorporation of the mass customization concept into the design. Similar to most of the commonly-used scoliosis braces, the selected combination of pads used in the proposed brace for spinal correction shows a sufficient amount of exerted pressure and a similar function of active spinal correction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upasnaa A. Agarwal ◽  
James B. Avey

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of abusive supervision on cyberloafing behavior, to test the mediating role of PsyCap in this relationship and the extent to which these relationships are moderated by psychological contract breach.Design/methodology/approachA total of 394 full-time managers across different Indian organizations served as the sample for this study.FindingsThe results revealed that the abusive supervision and PsyCap are significantly correlated with cyberloafing, the relationship between abusive supervision and cyberloafing is partially mediated by PsyCap and the impact of abusive supervision and PsyCap on cyberloafing is moderated by psychological contract breach such that the effects of abusive supervision and PsyCap on cyberloafing are stronger when employees perceive high psychological contract breach.Research limitations/implicationsA cross-sectional design and use of self-reported questionnaires are a few limitations of this study.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies examining cyberloafing in response to abusive supervision and one of the few attempts to examine the effects of abusive supervision on individual resources (PsyCap) in response to workplace mistreatment. This study is also the first to examine these phenomena in the Indian context.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef Harrath ◽  
Hadeel Alobaidy

The purpose of this research is to study the impact of Social Networking Sites on student academic performance. An online survey was conducted and 628 students of University of Bahrain replied. This research studies and explores the relationships between the use of SNS and students' academic performance. The survey questions (21) were grouped into 8 variables that identify the interest that the students draw from SNS. Furthermore, these variables aim to show the effects of SNS on students' academic performance and the futuristic online and offline paradigms that can enhance teaching methodology. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the collected data and find correlations between SNS and the students' academic performance. From this research it was found that the SNS have positive and negative impacts on student academic performance. At the end, the authors came up with fruitful recommendations on how to get benefit from the SNS to improve the learning process.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document