Study of pharmaceutical competences among the Romanian population, based on an online survey

Abstract From the year 1990s the pharmaceutical competenceshttps://www.thesaurus.com/browse/assignment based on drug supply has been completed with the patient consultation and communication. This fact has greatly expanded the work of the pharmacists. As a result of this, the concept of pharmaceutical care has been introduced and normalized in several countries. But, in spite of all efforts there are still major differences in health care policies and practices among European countries. The aim of this study was to check the estimation of the pharmacists’ duties by patients and the attitude towards online medicine acquisition. Materials and methods: we used a four - part questionnaire created in Google Forms. The content of the questionnaire consisted of: a.) checking of the demographic data, b.) assessment of patients’ attitudes towards pharmacies, c.) assessment of pharmacist competences, d.) examining the viability of an online drug supply. Results and discussion: 524 persons completed the questionnaire (88.7% women, 11.3% men). 66.8% were from the city and 33.2% from the village, respectively. Patients’ adherence to pharmacies in most cases depended on the location of the pharmacy (65.1%) and the kindness (36.5%) and competence (36.5%) of the pharmacist. Checked with three parallel questions, it turned out that the number of questions occurring in the patients’ mind at home always exceeded the proportion of the answered questions in the pharmacy. 68.1% of the respondents consulted a pharmacist in the absence of a physician. Many (54.4%) of that surveyed searched healthcare information on Google search, but few of them ordered medicinal products via Internet. Based on the results of our survey, 18.3% of the respondents searched healthcare information on healthcare professionals’ online platform. Their trust was much greater in such platforms than in information found on Google search. Conclusion: A slight loyalty to a certain pharmacy can make it difficult to follow the drug therapy. This adherence to a pharmacy can be increased by the kindness and skills of the pharmacist. Although patients search healthcare information on online interfaces this information do not convince them to order medicinal products via Internet. The high degree of trust in pharmacist or physician managed homepages highlight the importance of these interfaces.

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The Inscriptions on the Gravestones in the Croatian Villages of Slovakia, Chunovo and Jarovce: The Specificity of Mixing Graphics Systems

Slavic World in the Third Millennium ◽

10.31168/2412-6446.2019.14.1-2.10 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1-2) ◽

pp. 159-173

Author(s):

Darya Yu. Vashchenko

Keyword(s):

Foreign Language ◽

Ethnic Group ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Native Language ◽

Close Contact ◽

Funerary Monuments ◽

Traditional Spelling ◽

The Family ◽

High Degree ◽

The Village

The article discusses the inscriptions on funerary monuments from the Croatian villages of Cunovo and Jarovce, located in the South of Slovakia, near Bratislava. These inscriptions reflect the complicated sociocultural situation in the region, which is particularly specific due to the fact that this territory was included to Slovakia’s territory only after 1946, while earlier the village was part of Hungary. In addition, the local Croatian ethnic group was actively in close contact with the German and Hungarian communities. At the same time, the orthographic norms of the literary Croatian, German, Hungarian, and Slovak languages, which could potentially be owned by the authors of the inscriptions, differ in many ways, despite the Latin alphabet used on all the gravestones. All this is reflected in the tombstones, representing a high degree of mixing codes. The article identifies the main types of fusion on the monuments: separate orthograms, writing the maiden name of the deceased in the spelling of her native language, the traditional spelling of the family name. In addition, the mixing of codes can be associated with writing feminitives, also order of name and surname within the anthroponym. Moreover, the settlements themselves represent different ethnic groups coexistence within the village. Gravestones from the respective cemeteries also differ from each other in the nature of the prevailing trend of the mixing codes. In Jarovce, where the ethnic groups live compactly, fusion is often presented as a separate foreign language orthograms. In Cunovo, where the ethnic groups constitute a global conglomerate, more traditional presents for a specific family spelling of the names on the monument.

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Epidemiological, Virological and Serological Features of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Wuhan: A Population-based Cohort Study

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciaa1186 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jiao Huang ◽

Nianhua Xie ◽

Xuejiao Hu ◽

Han Yan ◽

Jie Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Population Based ◽

Severe Illness ◽

Viral Loads ◽

Viral Shedding ◽

Signal Value ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract Background We aimed to describe the epidemiological, virological, and serological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). Methods This population-based cohort study identified all COVID-19 cases among all PLWH in Wuhan, China, by 16 April 2020. The epidemiological, virological, and serological features were analyzed based on the demographic data, temporal profile of nucleic acid test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the disease, and SARS-CoV-2–specific immunoglobin (Ig) M and G after recovery. Results From 1 January to 16 April 2020, 35 of 6001 PLWH experienced COVID-19, with a cumulative incidence of COVID-19 of 0.58% (95% confidence interval [CI], .42–.81%). Among the COVID-19 cases, 15 (42.86) had severe illness, with 2 deaths. The incidence, case-severity, and case-fatality rates of COVID-19 in PLWH were comparable to those in the entire population in Wuhan. There were 197 PLWH who had discontinued combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), 4 of whom experienced COVID-19. Risk factors for COVID-19 were age ≥50 years old and cART discontinuation. The median duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding among confirmed COVID-19 cases in PLWH was 30 days (interquartile range, 20–46). Cases with high HIV viral loads (≥20 copies/mL) had lower IgM and IgG levels than those with low HIV viral loads (<20 copies/ml; median signal value divided by the cutoff value [S/CO] for IgM, 0.03 vs 0.11, respectively [P < .001]; median S/CO for IgG, 10.16 vs 17.04, respectively [P = .069]). Conclusions Efforts are needed to maintain the persistent supply of antiretroviral treatment to elderly PLWH aged 50 years or above during the COVID-19 epidemic. The coinfection of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 might change the progression and prognosis of COVID-19 patients in PLWH.

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A Population-Based Retrospective Study of Biliary Tract Cancers in Alberta, Canada

Current Oncology ◽

10.3390/curroncol28010044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 417-427

Author(s):

Carissa Beaulieu ◽

Arthur Lui ◽

Dimas Yusuf ◽

Zainab Abdelaziz ◽

Brock Randolph ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biliary Tract ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Performance Status ◽

Single Agent ◽

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ◽

Intrahepatic Bile Duct ◽

Population Based ◽

Phase Iii ◽

First Line ◽

Biliary Tract Cancers

Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are uncommon malignancies and are underrepresented in the literature. Methods: We performed a retrospective population-based review of adult patients with biopsy-confirmed BTC in Alberta from 2000 to 2015. Demographic data, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and staging data were collected and analyzed. Survival analyses were completed. Results: A total of 1604 patients were included in our study, of which 766 (47.8%) were male. The median age at diagnosis was 68 (range 19–99). There were 374 (23.3%) patients with resectable tumors at diagnosis versus 597 (37.2%) with unresectable tumors. Of the patients, 380 (21.5%) received chemotherapy (CT) and 81 (5.0%) underwent radiation therapy. There was a clear trend with worsening stage and performance status associated with shorter median overall survival (OS). Ampulla of Vater tumors had the best median OS (25.69 months), while intrahepatic bile duct cancers had the worst (5.78 months). First-line palliative CT regimens included gemcitabine+cisplatin (OS 14.98 months (mo), n = 212), single agent gemcitabine (OS 12.42 mo, n = 22), capecitabine (OS 8.12 mo, n = 8), and capecitabine+gemcitabine (OS 6.93 mo, n = 13). Patients with advanced or metastatic disease who received first-line gemcitabine+cisplatin had a median OS of 11.8 months (n = 119). Conclusion: BTCs have poor survival. Worse outcomes occur in higher stage and poorer Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status patients across all tumor subtypes. Tumor resectability at diagnosis was associated with better OS. Our study supports the use of gemcitabine+cisplatin as a combination first-line palliative CT, as patients treated in Alberta have a comparable OS to that reported in the ABC-02 phase III study.

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Long-COVID Syndrome? A Study on the Persistence of Neurological, Psychological and Physiological Symptoms

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9050575 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 575

Author(s):

Graziella Orrù ◽

Davide Bertelloni ◽

Francesca Diolaiuti ◽

Federico Mucci ◽

Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Online Survey ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Severity Index ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Targeted Treatments ◽

Euroqol 5D

Background: Emerging aspects of the Covid-19 clinical presentation are its long-term effects, which are characteristic of the so-called “long COVID”. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of physical, psychological, and sleep disturbances and the quality of life in the general population during the ongoing pandemic. Methods: This study, based on an online survey, collected demographic data, information related to COVID-19, sleep disturbances, and quality of life data from 507 individuals. The level of sleep disturbances and quality of life was assessed through the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), respectively. Results: In total, 507 individuals (M = 91 and F = 416 women) completed the online survey. The main symptoms associated with “long COVID” were headache, fatigue, muscle aches/myalgia, articular pains, cognitive impairment, loss of concentration, and loss of smell. Additionally, the subjects showed significant levels of insomnia (p < 0.05) and an overall reduced quality of life (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the study appear in line with recent publications, but uncertainty regarding the definition and specific features of “long COVID” remains. Further studies are needed in order to better define the clinical presentation of the “long COVID” condition and related targeted treatments.

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Experiences of Australian podiatrists working through the 2020 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: an online survey

Journal of Foot and Ankle Research ◽

10.1186/s13047-021-00449-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cylie M. Williams ◽

Anna Couch ◽

Terry Haines ◽

Hylton B. Menz

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Medical Officer ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Business Decisions ◽

Working Through ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Background On the 19th of January, 2020, the Chief Medical Officer of Australia issued a statement about a novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2. Since this date, there have been variable jurisdictional responses, including lockdowns, and restrictions on podiatry practice. This study aimed to describe impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the podiatry profession in Australia. Methods This was a cross sectional study of Australian podiatrists using demographic data collected between 2017 and 2020, and pandemic-related question responses collected between 30th March and 31st August, 2020. Data were collected online and participants described their work settings, patient funding types, business decisions and impacts, and information sources used to guide practice decisions during this time-period. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse open-ended questions about their practice impact of SARS-CoV-2. Results There were 732 survey responses, with 465 Australian podiatrists or podiatric surgeons providing responses describing pandemic impact. From these responses, 223 (49% of 453) podiatrists reported no supply issues, or having adequate supplies for the foreseeable future with personal protective equipment (PPE) or consumables to support effective infection prevention and control. The most frequent responses about employment, or hours of work, impact were reported in the various categories of “business as usual” (n = 312, 67%). Participants described most frequently using the local state and territory Department of Health websites (n = 347, 75%), and the Australian Podiatry Association (n = 334, 72%) to make decisions about their business. Overarching themes which resounded through open-ended comments was that working through the pandemic was likened to a marathon, and not a sprint. Themes were: (i) commitment to do this, (ii) it’s all in the plan, but not everything goes to plan, (iii) my support team must be part of getting through it, (iv) road blocks happen, and (v) nothing is easy, what’s next? Conclusion Podiatrists in Australia reported variable pandemic impact on their business decisions, PPE stores, and their valued sources of information. Podiatrists also described their “marathon” journey through the pandemic to date, with quotes describing their challenges and highlights. Describing these experiences should provide key learnings for future workforce challenges, should further restrictions come into place.

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Experiences of nurses caring for respiratory patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an online survey study

BMJ Open Respiratory Research ◽

10.1136/bmjresp-2021-000987 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e000987

Author(s):

Nicola J Roberts ◽

Carol A Kelly ◽

Kate A Lippiett ◽

Emma Ray ◽

Lindsay Welch

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Working Environment ◽

Survey Study ◽

British Thoracic Society ◽

Healthcare Team ◽

Free Text ◽

The Impact

BackgroundNurses have been at the forefront of the pandemic response, involved in extensive coordination of services, screening, vaccination and front-line work in respiratory, emergency and intensive care environments. The nature of this work is often intense and stress-provoking with an inevitable psychological impact on nurses and all healthcare workers. This study focused on nurses working in respiratory areas with the aim of identifying and characterising the self-reported issues that exacerbated or alleviated their concerns during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAn online survey was developed consisting of 90 questions using a mixture of open-ended and closed questions. Participant demographic data were also collected (age, gender, ethnicity, number of years qualified, details of long-term health conditions, geographical location, nursing background/role and home life). The online survey was disseminated via social media and professional respiratory societies (British Thoracic Society, Primary Care Respiratory Society, Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists) over a 3-week period in May 2020 and the survey closed on 1 June 2020.ResultsThe study highlights the experiences of nurses caring for respiratory patients during the first wave of the pandemic in early 2020. Concerns were expressed over the working environment, the supply and availability of adequate protective personal equipment, the quality of care individuals were able to deliver, and the impact on mental health to nurses and their families. A high number provided free-text comments around their worries and concerns about the impact on their household; these included bringing the virus home, the effect on family members worrying about them, mental health and the impact of changing working patterns, and managing with children. Although both formal and informal support were available, there were inconsistencies in provision, highlighting the importance of nursing leadership and management in ensuring equity of access to services.ConclusionsSupport for staff is essential both throughout the pandemic and afterwards, and it is important that preparation of individuals regarding building resilience is recognised. It is also clear that psychological support and services for nurses and the wider healthcare team need to be available and quickly convened in the event of similar major incidents, either global or local.

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Factors Influencing SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy in a Population-Based Sample in Italy

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9060633 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 633

Author(s):

Marco Del Riccio ◽

Sara Boccalini ◽

Lisa Rigon ◽

Massimiliano Alberto Biamonte ◽

Giuseppe Albora ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Adult Population ◽

Herd Immunity ◽

Population Based ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Major Barrier ◽

Trust In Institutions ◽

General Adult Population ◽

High Level

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 represents an effective and safe tool to protect the population against the disease; however, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy could be a major barrier to achieving herd immunity. Despite the severity of the current pandemic, the population’s intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is still not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 among a convenience sample of the general population resident in Italy and the factors associated with hesitancy and acceptance of the vaccine in the context of the current pandemic before the rolling out of COVID-19 vaccines. An anonymous online survey was diffused among a general adult population living in Italy. Participants aged 18 or older and living in Italy were considered eligible. Incomplete questionnaires were excluded. Overall, 7605 valid questionnaires were collected. Most of the participants (81.9%) were inclined to get vaccinated; male sex (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.12–1.71), a high level of trust in institutions (OR 3.93, 95% CI 2.04–7.83), and personal beliefs about high safety of COVID-19 vaccines (OR 56.33, 95% CI 31.57–105.87) were found to be among the significant predictors of COVID-19 acceptance. These data could help design larger studies to address the problem of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the current pandemic.

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Perception of social media behaviour among medical students, residents and medical specialists

Perspectives on Medical Education ◽

10.1007/s40037-021-00660-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sebastiaan A. Pronk ◽

Simone L. Gorter ◽

Scheltus J. van Luijk ◽

Pieter C. Barnhoorn ◽

Beer Binkhorst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Data Analysis ◽

Medical Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Media Use ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Real Life ◽

Clinical Work ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Medical Specialists

Abstract Introduction Behaviour is visible in real-life events, but also on social media. While some national medical organizations have published social media guidelines, the number of studies on professional social media use in medical education is limited. This study aims to explore social media use among medical students, residents and medical specialists. Methods An anonymous, online survey was sent to 3844 medical students at two Dutch medical schools, 828 residents and 426 medical specialists. Quantitative, descriptive data analysis regarding demographic data, yes/no questions and Likert scale questions were performed using SPSS. Qualitative data analysis was performed iteratively, independently by two researchers applying the principles of constant comparison, open and axial coding until consensus was reached. Results Overall response rate was 24.8%. Facebook was most popular among medical students and residents; LinkedIn was most popular among medical specialists. Personal pictures and/or information about themselves on social media that were perceived as unprofessional were reported by 31.3% of students, 19.7% of residents and 4.1% of medical specialists. Information and pictures related to alcohol abuse, partying, clinical work or of a sexually suggestive character were considered inappropriate. Addressing colleagues about their unprofessional posts was perceived to be mainly dependent on the nature and hierarchy of the interprofessional relation. Discussion There is a widespread perception that the presence of unprofessional information on social media among the participants and their colleagues is a common occurrence. Medical educators should create awareness of the risks of unprofessional (online) behaviour among healthcare professionals, as well as the necessity and ways of addressing colleagues in case of such lapses.

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Concerns in the Norwegian Population during the Initial Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18116119 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 6119

Author(s):

Inger Schou-Bredal ◽

Laila Skogstad ◽

Tine K. Grimholt ◽

Tore Bonsaksen ◽

Øivind Ekeberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Female Gender ◽

Population Based ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Financial Loss ◽

Next Of Kin ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Norwegian Population ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Response Alternatives

Although concern affects one’s welfare or happiness, few studies to date have focused on peoples’ concerns during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. The aim of the study was to explore concerns in the Norwegian populations according to gender and age, and identify which concerns were most prominent during the lockdown. A population-based cross-sectional online survey using snowball-sampling strategies was conducted, to which 4527 adults (≥18 years) responded. Questions related to concerns had response alternatives yes or no. In addition, they were asked which concern was most prominent. Nearly all the 4527 respondents (92%) reported that they were concerned: 60.9% were generally concerned about the pandemic, 83.9% were concerned about family and friends, 21.8% had financial concerns, and 25.3% expected financial loss. More women were concerned about family and friends than males, (85.2% vs. 76.2%, p < 0.001), whereas more men expected financial loss (30.4% vs. 24.4%y, p = 0.001). Younger adults (<50 years) had more financial concerns than older adults (25.9% vs. 10.5%, p < 0.001). Being concerned about family and friends was the most prominent concern and was associated with; lower age (OR 0.79), female gender (OR 1.59), and being next of kin (2.42). The most prominent concern for adults 70 years or older was being infected by COVID-19. In conclusion, women and younger individuals were most concerned. While adults under 70 years of age were most concerned about family and friends and adults 70 years or older were most concerned about being infected by COVID-19.

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Infrastructural and Human Factors Affecting Safety Outcomes of Cyclists

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10020299 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 299 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Sergio Useche ◽

Luis Montoro ◽

Francisco Alonso ◽

Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

User Characteristics ◽

Severe Injuries ◽

Related Factors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Road Crashes ◽

Safety Outcomes

The increasing number of registered road crashes involving cyclists during the last decade and the high proportion of road crashes resulting in severe injuries and fatalities among cyclists constitutes a global issue for community health, urban development and sustainability. Nowadays, the incidence of many risk factors for road crashes of cyclists remains largely unexplained. Given the importance of this issue, the present study has been conducted with the aim of determining relationships between infrastructural, human factors and safety outcomes of cyclists. Objectives: This study aimed, first, to examine the relationship between key infrastructural and human factors present in cycling, bicycle-user characteristics and their self-reported experience with road crashes. And second, to determine whether a set of key infrastructural and human factors may predict their self-reported road crashes. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a total of 1064 cyclists (38.8% women, 61.2% men; M = 32.8 years of age) from 20 different countries across Europe, South America and North America, participated in an online survey composed of four sections: demographic data and cycling-related factors, human factors, perceptions on infrastructural factors and road crashes suffered. Results: The results of this study showed significant associations between human factors, infrastructural conditions and self-reported road crashes. Also, a logistic regression model found that self-reported road crashes of cyclists could be predicted through variables such as age, riding intensity, risky behaviours and problematic user/infrastructure interactions. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that self-reported road crashes of cyclists are influenced by features related to the user and their interaction with infrastructural characteristics of the road.

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