Suleiman I. Sharif

Trends of home drug storage and use in different regions across the northern United Arab Emirates.

Objectives: To investigate the habits of use and home storage of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. Subjects and Methods: A pretested questionnaire was distributed to university students who represented 300 household units in different regions of the northern United Arab Emirates. Household chairs (parents) answered questions on various aspects of home use and storage of OTC and prescription medicines. The number of drugs stored at home was collapsed into 5 unequal groups (1–3, 4–6, 7–10, 11–15 and 16–20). Results: The response rate was 300 (100%). The average number of drugs per household unit was 6 items. Almost 40% of the participants stored between 16 and 20 drugs. More than half (56%) of the household units stored medicines in a home pharmacy kept either in the bedroom (n = 66; 39%) or in the kitchen (n = 71; 42%). No correlation was found between the level of education and the number of family members (r = 0.29) or drugs stored at home (r = –0.35). Only 2 (0.7%) of the participants did not keep drugs at home. There was a clear discrepancy in either OTC or prescription drugs stored, and the variation in the utilization and preference of drugs was obvious among the pooled sample. Conclusion: Various problems related to the use and storage at home of OTC and prescription drugs were revealed. Discussing the results of this survey with students who participated as members of the household units that took part in the study may prove to be a helpful intervention. The need for public educational efforts on the rational use of medicines at home is urgent to foster awareness of the proper use of drugs.

Self-medication among non-healthcare students of the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Objectives: The objective of the following study is to estimate the prevalence of self-medication among university students and evaluate factors associated with the practice. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted during May, 2012 using a pre-validated questionnaire distributed to 250 students of the 4 years of study at the college of business administration. Data were analyzed using PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc and results are expressed as counts and percentages. Chi-square test was used to evaluate significant association among the study variables and P < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: The response rate was 80% and all respondents were Arabs with 114 (57%) females and 86 (43%) males. Self-medication was practiced by 118 (59%) students and most (88.1%) of them obtained medications from pharmacies. About 21 (11%) respondents self-medicated with antibiotics. Only 34 (17%) and 16 (8%) of respondents were aware of bacterial resistance and rational drug use respectively. The most common reasons for self-medication were seeking quick relief (134, 67%), physician′s advice of self-management (100, 50%), illness is minor (91, 45.5%). Common reasons against self-medication include risk of misdiagnosis of illness (160, 80%), risk of using the wrong medication (154, 77%), risk of adverse effects (140, 70%). Self-medication was practiced for headache or mild pain, eye and ear symptoms, gastric problems, cold, fever and allergy. Conclusion: Self-medication among non-healthcare students is common with high prevalence. Knowledge of students of reasons for and against self-medication was adequate, but awareness of respondents of rational drug use and risk of bacterial resistance in response to misuse was poor. Orientation courses/workshops directed to university students would be beneficial.

Traffic accidents and medicine use in United Arab Emirates

Traffic accidents and injuries are serious problems that need increasing concern and are now the most frequent cause of fatalities and admission to hospital. Globally, traffic accidents account for about 480,000 deaths and 20 million injuries by drivers under the influence of alcohol every year. Concern on the influence of illicit, prescription and Over the Counter (OTC) drugs on judgment of drivers is on the rise and so traffic accidents. In Europe, it has been reported that the prevalence of illicit drug use is in the range 1-5% whereas that of licit drugs is in the range 5-15%. In lowand middle-income countries the rate of death is higher than in Europe as more than 90% of deaths due to road traffic accidents. It is predicted that if such a trend continues, in the next five years road traffic accidents will result in the death of 6 million people and the injury of 60 million individuals only in developing countries. Road crashes cost globally account for

Childhood autism: knowledge and perception among university students in United Arab Emirates

518 billion while in low and middle-income countries

Parents' knowledge and attitude to self-medication of children with antibiotics

65 billion annually, exceeding the total amount received in developmental assistance. Drivers’ fatigue, exhaustion, use of drowsiness and sleep-inducing drugs reduce drivers vigilance and contribute to the most dangerous types of traffic accidents. In addition to illicit drugs, prescription and some OTC drugs contain active constituents that may affect cognition, driver’s judgement, and slow his/her reaction. Such problems are further enhanced by the use of mobile phones to chat or text messages while driving. It is also a fact that driving is also ABSTRACT

Three Days Analysis of a Pharmacist's Dispensing Behaviour: A Self professional Ethics Learning Model for Pharmacy Students

Background: Adequate knowledge and awareness about childhood autism allows early diagnosis and interventions. The present study was carried out to assess the knowledge and perception of university students about childhood autism. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness about autism spectrum disorder among university students. A total of 400 students were randomly enrolled from five universities. The questionnaire covered the major aspects of autism. Results: Only 300 questionnaires were fully completed giving a response rate of 75%. The majority of respondents agreed that autism is a neuro-developmental disorder with strong genetic basis where family history increases chances of developing autism. They believe that vaccination, poor parenting and environmental factors are not causes of autism. Large numbers of participants were not sure if autism is more common in males than females but agreed that early identification improves the therapeutic outcomes while 44% believed that children can outgrow autism with proper treatment. More than 50% of respondents disagreed to the statements that autistic children are intellectually disabled and all display poor eye contact. Only 20% of students agreed that autistics children have mental disabilities, while about 50% believed that they can live independently. Conclusions: University students seem to hold adequate knowledge about major hallmarks of the disorder. However, more efforts are needed to enhance awareness of not only parents and relatives but also the general public so that they can deal responsibly with identified cases of autistic children.

Evaluation of Self-Medication Among Pharmacy Students

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in children. Materials and Methods: This study was based on a prevalidated questionnaire distributed to 205 families in the United Arab Emirates, during the period of January-October 2014, on self-medication of their children with antibiotics. Data were collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel® and expressed in terms of both counts and percentages. Results: The response rate was 92.7% most respondents were well educated, and with university degrees and 45 (23.7%) participants were working in the medical field or attained a medical background. The majority of children were between 1 and 12 years of age, and the familys monthly income ranged from moderate to high for most of the participants. Community pharmacy was the main source (152, 80%) of antibiotics, and the main source of information was the pharmacists, followed by doctors and medication leaflets. Reasons for self-medication with antibiotics included previous experience with symptoms (100, 52.6%), and minor illness (67, 35.3%). The majority (141, 74.2%) of participants was aware of consequences of antibiotic misuse and bacterial resistance. The most commonly utilized antibiotic for self-medication was an amoxicillin - clavulanic acid combination. Antibiotics were most commonly used without prescription for respiratory symptoms including sore throat (104, 54.7%), cold/flu (85, 44.7%), and runny nose/nasal congestion (56, 29.5%). Conclusion: Antibiotics are still used for conditions which are viral in origin and parents, misconceptions about antibiotics call for organized extensive efforts to increase public awareness of the rational antibiotic use.

Effect of Intravenous Ketamine Administration on Blood Glucose Levels in Conscious Rabbits

Objectives: To study the dispensing behaviour in a private community pharmacy, and examine the value of a self-learning exercise in stressing professionalism at an early stage of pharmacy education. Methods: Second year pharmacy students were asked to observe for three consecutive days the dispensing behaviour of a pharmacist in a community pharmacy. Collected results were then analyzed and presented for discussion in the classroom. Results and conclusion: The communication and social interaction skills and knowledge of the pharmacist were rated excellent. These were reflected on the large number of visitors to the pharmacy. The total number of visitors on three consecutive days was 426 individuals with a daily average of 142 visitors per day. Average dispensing time during the 3 days of study was 4 minutes. Clients with prescriptions constituted only 106 (25%) of total attendants with 46 (1.8 %) being children below 12 years of age carrying a prescriptions that were all dispensed by the pharmacist. Only 7% of visitors were seeking medical information while 11% came into the pharmacy to purchase cosmetics, non-medicated shampoos or other health products. Only 7% of all visitors were seeking medical information while 11% visited the pharmacy to purchase cosmetics, non-medicated shampoos and other health products. About 243 (57%) of individuals visiting the pharmacy were without prescription and asked for either a prescription drug by name (19.4%, 83 clients) or an over-the-counter (OTC) drug (37.5%, 160 clients). The pharmacist diagnosed and dispensed prescription drugs to 28 clients (6.6%) of those asking for prescription drugs and advised the rest (55 clients, 13%) to seek medical consultation. Thirty-three (7.7%) clients willingly accepted while 22 clients (5.2%) rejected the idea complaining of the lengthy procedures of making an appointment and waiting for long hours to get a medical consultation. Class discussion of the results emphasized the importance of values, attitudes, ethics and professionalism. These issues cannot be rated on an arbitrary scale, they are either fully practiced or not.