Medical Specialties Commons^™

Telemedicine For Rheumatology Patients In Covid-19 Pandemic: Perspectives Of Patients, Muhammad Mehmood Riaz, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Noreen Nasir

Section of Internal Medicine

Telemedicine use for patients with autoimmune rheumatic conditions during the pandemic mandates better characterization. We conducted a telephonic survey on patients who consulted rheumatologists remotely to determine their attitudes toward telemedicine. The study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan which is a lower-middle-income country. Descriptive analyses were performed. Fifty patients visited tele-rheumatology clinic, 35 (70.0%) were female with a mean (SD) age of 47.6 (18.1) years. Majority (27, 54.0%) learned about telemedicine from hospital website and outpatient clinic desk or helpline. Lack of examination was the biggest concern with teleconsultation (18, 22.2%). Most …

Lenalidomide Induced Secondary Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia In A Multiple Myeloma Patient: A Case-Report, Saqib Raza Khan, Muhammad Tariq, Sidra Malik Fayyaz, Salman Muhammad Soomar, Munira Moosajee

Section of Haematology/Oncology

Lenalidomide mechanism of action has been shown to modulate the different components of the immune system. A 68-year-old lady presented to us with severe backache and was then diagnosed with MM. Lenalidomide started as per protocol along with dexamethasone. Later, she presented with complaints of generalized weakness and her workup showed significant blast cells with Pan-B-cell markers consistent with secondary B-ALL. The reported incidence of secondary Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is 2.3%. The development of more aggressive neoplasm in a patient with prior malignancy dictates a poor outcome and hence such patients should be enrolled in a clinical trial whenever available

Characterisation Of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Mutations And Transmission In Pakistan, Gary Napier, Anwar Sheed Khan, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Sajid Ali, Muhammad Qasim, Noor Mohammad, Rumina Hasan, Zahra Hasan, Susana Campino

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a high-burden disease in Pakistan, with multi-drug (MDR) and extensive-drug (XDR) resistance, complicating infection control. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of M. tuberculosis is being used to infer lineages (strain-types), drug resistance mutations, and transmission patterns-all informing infection control and clinical decision making. Here we analyse WGS data on 535 M. tuberculosis isolates sourced across Pakistan between years 2003 and 2020, to understand the circulating strain-types and mutations related to 12 anti-TB drugs, as well as identify transmission clusters. Most isolates belonged to lineage 3 (n = 397; 74.2%) strain-types, and were MDR (n = …

Suicide Prevention In Bangladesh: The Role Of Family, S M Yasir Arafat, Tamkeen Saleem, Todd M. Edwards, Syeda Ayat-E-Zainab Ali, Murad M. Khan

Department of Psychiatry

Background: Suicide is a public health problem that gets little attention in Bangladesh especially in prevention aspects. Recent studies revealed that a significant portion of risk factors is closely related to family events. However, potential prevention strategies considering the family structure and involving family dynamics of Bangladesh have not been discussed.
Objectives: We aim to highlight areas of family vulnerability and resilience when the threat of suicide is present, as well as the potential roles of family in suicide prevention in Bangladesh.
Methods: We conducted a thorough narrative and focused literature search and synthesized evidence based on available articles discussing …

The Efficacy Of Low-Dose Aspirin In Pregnancy Among Women In Malaria-Endemic Countries, Melissa Bauserman, Sequoia I. Leuba, Jennifer Hemingway-Foday, Tracy L. Nolen, Janet Moore, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tsehfu, Sarah Saleem, Saleem Jessani

Community Health Sciences

Background: Low dose aspirin (LDA) is an effective strategy to reduce preterm birth. However, LDA might have differential effects globally, based on the etiology of preterm birth. In some regions, malaria in pregnancy could be an important modifier of LDA on birth outcomes and anemia.
Methods: This is a sub-study of the ASPIRIN trial, a multi-national, randomized, placebo controlled trial evaluating LDA effect on preterm birth. We enrolled a convenience sample of women in the ASPIRIN trial from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya and Zambia. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect malaria. We calculated crude prevalence …

Protocol For A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of Secondary Distribution Of Hepatitis C Self-Testing Within The Context Of A House-To-House Hepatitis C Micro-Elimination Programme In Karachi, Pakistan, Sonjelle Shilton, Dania Ali, Alyia Hasnain, Adeel Abid, Jessica Markby, Muhammad S. Jamil, Niklas Luhmann, Pamela Nabeta, Stefano Ongarello, Saeed Hamid

Medical College Documents

Background: Globally, just 21% of the estimated 58 million people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) know their status. Thus, there is considerable need to scale-up HCV testing if the World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 hepatitis elimination goals are to be achieved. HCV self-testing may assist with this; however, there are currently no data on the real-world impact of HCV self-testing. With an estimated 5% of the general population living with HCV, Pakistan has the second highest HCV burden in the world. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and impact of home delivery of HCV self-testing for secondary distribution …

Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Methanolic Extract On Isolated Smooth Muscles And Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme: An In Vitro And Mechanistic In Silico Investigation, Muhammad Nabeel Ghayur, Mohnad Abdalla, Asaad Khalid, Saeed Ahmad, Anwar Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Results: When tested on the baseline of isolated tissues, Tfg.Cr was devoid of any activity (stimulant or relaxant) till 10 mg/ml. This is an interesting finding, keeping in mind that the fenugreek seeds are used to alleviate constipation and diarrhoea. When Tfg.Cr was tried for any potential AChE inhibitory activity, it did show an inhibitory effect in increasing concentrations (47-380 μg/ml). This inhibitory effect was comparable to the effect produced by a standard AChE inhibitor physostigmine. One of the known fenugreek constituents, diosgenin, was also tested, and it also showed an AChE inhibitory effect in a concentration-dependent manner (11-190 …

Maximising Access To Timely Trauma Care Across Population Of Karachi And Its Districts: A Geospatial Approach To Develop A Trauma Care Network, Muhammad Nabeel Ashraf, Mohammad Salman Khalil, Ahwaz Akhtar, Lubna Samad, Asad Latif

Department of Anaesthesia

Objectives: To develop and propose a cost-effective trauma care network for Karachi, Pakistan, by calculating maximum timely trauma care (TTC) coverage achieved with the addition of potential designated private and public level 1 and level 2 trauma centres (TCs).
Setting: A lower middle-income country metropolis, Karachi is Pakistan's largest city with a population of 16 million and a total of 56 hospitals as per government registry data.
Participants: 41 potential TCs selected using a two-level, contextually-relevant TC designation criteria adapted from various international guidelines.
Primary and secondary outcome measures: Maximum TTC coverage achievable with the addition of potential TCs. Proposed …

Mcph1: A Novel Case Report And A Review Of The Literature, Stefano Giuseppe Caraffi, Marzia Pollazzon, Muhammad Farooq, Ambrin Fatima, Lars Allan Larsen, Roberta Zuntini, Manuela Napoli, Livia Garavelli

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Microcephaly primary hereditary (MCPH) is a congenital disease characterized by nonsyndromic reduction in brain size due to impaired neurogenesis, often associated with a variable degree of intellectual disability (ID). The genetic etiology of MCPH is heterogeneous and comprises more than 20 loci, nearly all following a recessive inheritance pattern. The first causative gene identified, MCPH1 or Microcephalin, encodes a centrosomal protein that modulates chromosome condensation and cell cycle progression. It is also involved in DNA damage response and telomere maintenance in the nucleus. Despite numerous studies on MCPH1 function, MCPH1-affected individuals are rare and the available clinical reports are …

Knowledge And Practices Regarding Standard Precautions For Infection Control Among Nurses Working At A Public, Tertiary Care Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan, Samina Yasmeen, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Wardah Khalid, Zohra Kurji, Shair Muhammad Hazara, Shahzad Bashir

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Introduction: To protect patients and healthcare providers from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), standard precautions have been promoted universally. Nurses are the forefront force in patient care; therefore, evidence-based and up to date knowledge and practices can play a vital role in helping nurses apply standard precautions (SPs).
Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study design was used. Through purposive sampling, the data were collected from 320 nurses, via, a self-administered questionnaire, from April to May 2017, from a public tertiary level hospital in Islamabad. The validity and reliability of each section was established. Mean and standard deviation were computed for continuous variables’ whereas; …

Urinary Incontinence: Understanding The Silent Plight Of Women, Yasmin Nadeem Parpio, Anmol Minaz, Sonia Ijaz Haider

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as the complaint of involuntary loss of urine. UI affects both men and women but is more common in women. It has been identified as a World Health Organization priority. The burden related to UI at local, national, and global levels is huge and its impact in terms of physical, social, mental, and financial aspects makes it a concerning issue. However, there exist several barriers in terms of knowledge and attitude in seeking healthcare among women experiencing UI. This calls upon a multi-disciplinary approach involving professionals from different disciplines and tackling it with collaborative and …

18 Fdg Pet/Ct Imaging In Carcinoma Cesophagus, Maseeh Uz Zaman, Nosheen Fatima

Department of Radiology

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning For Early Detection And Diagnosis Of Colorectal Cancer In Sub-Saharan Africa, Akbar K. Waljee, Eileen M. Weinheimer-Haus, Amina Abubakar, Anthony Ngugi, Geoffrey H. Siwo, Gifty Kwakye, Amit G. Singal, Arvind Rao, Christopher Opio, Mansoor Saleh

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Epidemiological Profile And Clinico-Pathological Features Of Pediatric Gynecological Cancers At Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Kenya, Anisa W. Mburu, Peter M. Itsura, Elkanah Omenge, Philiph K. Tonui, Elly B. Odongo, Afrin F. Shaffi, Hellen N. Muliro, Thomas N. Achia, Allan L. Covens, Barry P. Rosen

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: The main pediatric (0–18 years) gynecologic cancers include stromal carcinomas (juvenile granulosa cell tumors and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors), genital rhabdomyosarcomas and ovarian germ cell. Outcomes depend on time of diagnosis, stage, tumor type and treatment which can have long-term effects on the reproductive career of these patients. This study seeks to analyze the trends in clinical-pathologic presentation, treatment and outcomes in the cases seen at our facility. This is the first paper identifying these cancers published from sub-Saharan Africa.

Method: Retrospective review of clinico-pathologic profiles and treatment outcomes of pediatric gynecologic oncology patients managed at MTRH between 2010 and …

Perceptions And Knowledge Towards Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among A Subpopulation Of Adults In Kenya: An English Survey At Six Healthcare Facilities, Jasmit Shah, Abdulaziz Mansur Abeid, Karishma Sharma, Soraiya Manji, Jamila Nambafu, Robert Korom, Keya Patel, Rajiv Patel, Reena Shah, Sayed Karar

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Vaccine hesitancy, as defined by the WHO, is the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines and is one of the ten threats to global health in 2019. Vaccine hesitancy remains a complex matter influenced by multiple factors, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and January 2022 among the general adult public seeking care at six different healthcare facilities in Kenya. The survey, in English, consisted of questions based on demographics, knowledge, and attitudes, including hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine.

Results: Of the 3996 surveys collected, 55.1% were from …

Identifying The 'Vulnerable Plaque' In Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease Patients, Zia Ur Rehman

Department of Surgery Docs

No abstract provided.

Paratesticular Solitary Fibrous Tumour Mimicking Cellular Angiofibroma: An Unusual Morphology And Rare Site, Madiha Bilal Qureshi, Muhammad Usman, Qurratulain Chundriger, Nasir Uddin

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) is a ubiquitous benign mesenchymal tumour of fibroblastic origin, which occurs most often in middle-aged adults. It usually presents as lung mass originating from pleura, but extrapleural occurrence is also common. Tumour is characterised by hypo- and hyper-cellular areas of spindle-shaped cells, arranged in haphazard manner with dispersed staghorn-shaped vessels. Surgical excision is the curative treatment. SFTs of the primary testicular or paratesticular region are extremely rare, but they exhibit histologic findings similar to SFTs originating at other body sites. Here, we report the case of a paratesticular SFT in a 37-year male, who presented with …

A Streptococcus Pneumoniae Lineage Usually Associated With Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Pcv) Serotypes Is The Most Common Cause Of Serotype 35b Invasive Disease In South Africa, Following Routine Use Of Pcv, Kedibone M. Ndlangisa, Mignon Du Plessis, Stephani Lo, Linda De Gouveia, Chrispin Chaguza, Martin Antonio, Brenda Kwambana-Adams, Jennifer Cornick, Dean B. Everett, Sadia Shakoor

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Pneumococcal serotype 35B is an important non-conjugate vaccine (non-PCV) serotype. Its continued emergence, post-PCV7 in the USA, was associated with expansion of a pre-existing 35B clone (clonal complex [CC] 558) along with post-PCV13 emergence of a non-35B clone previously associated with PCV serotypes (CC156). This study describes lineages circulating among 35B isolates in South Africa before and after PCV introduction. We also compared 35B isolates belonging to a predominant 35B lineage in South Africa (GPSC5), with isolates belonging to the same lineage in other parts of the world. Serotype 35B isolates that caused invasive pneumococcal disease in South Africa in …

Scaling Up Context-Tailored Clinical Guidelines And Training To Improve Childbirth Care In Urban, Low-Resource Maternity Units In Tanzania: A Protocol For A Stepped-Wedged Cluster Randomized Trial With Embedded Qualitative And Economic Analyses (The Partoma Scale-Up Study), Nanna Maaløe, Natasha Housseine, Jane Brandt Sørensen, Josephine Obel, Brenda Sequeira D'Mello, Monica Lauridsen Kujabi, Haika Osaki, Thomas Wiswa John, Rashid Saleh Khamis, Hussein Kidanto

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

While facility births are increasing in many low-resource settings, quality of care often does not follow suit; maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high. Therefore, realistic, context-tailored clinical support is crucially needed to assist birth attendants in resource-constrained realities to provide best possible evidence-based and respectful care. Our pilot study in Zanzibar suggested that co-created clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and low-dose, high-frequency training (PartoMa intervention) were associated with improved childbirth care and survival. We now aim to modify, implement, and evaluate this multi-faceted intervention in five high-volume, urban maternity units in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (approximately 60,000 births …

Heterotopic Gestation In Polycystic Ovary Disease: Termination Of Tubal Pregnancy And Intrauterine Pregnancy Progressing To Term, Munawar Kaguta, Ahmed Jusabani, Ntiyakuze Gregory, Shweta Jaiswal, Zainab Fidaali, Pilly Ally, Davis Rubagumya, Miriam Mgonja, Farhat Seif

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Heterotopic pregnancy is rare. We report a 27-year-old lady with polycystic ovarian disease. She presented at our health facility with acute abdomen. Her evaluation revealed heterotopic pregnancy. High index of suspicion for heterotopic pregnancy in any woman with early pregnancy presenting with acute abdomen is crucial. Therefore, correct and early diagnosis allows appropriate management while it preserves the intrauterine pregnancy as in the index case.

Virtual Meetings During Covid-19 Pandemic: Is It Time To Say Goodbye To Physical Meetings?, Maseeh Uz Zaman, Nosheen Fatima

Department of Radiology

Abstract are not provided by the author/publisher

Chloroquine-Susceptible And -Resistant Plasmodium Falciparum Strains Survive High Chloroquine Concentrations By Becoming Dormant But Are Eliminated By Prolonged Exposure, Johan Ursing, Rasmus Johns, Berit Aydin-Schmidt, Carla Calçada, Poul-Erik Kofoed, Najia Karim Ghanchi, Maria Isabel Veiga, Lars Rombo

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Plasmodium falciparum strains that are resistant to standard-dose chloroquine can be treated by higher chloroquine concentrations maintained for a longer time in vivo.
Objectives: To determine the relative importance of chloroquine concentrations versus exposure time for elimination of chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant P. falciparum in vitro.
Methods: Chloroquine-susceptible (3D7) and -resistant (FCR3) strains were exposed in vitro to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 times their respective 90% inhibitory chloroquine concentrations for 3, 5, 7 or 14 days and then followed until recrudescence, or not, by 42 days after the end of exposure.
Results: Exposure to chloroquine appeared to …

Development And Validation Of Standard And Real Patient Gallstone Library Using Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Lena Jafri, Muhammad Abbas Abid, Humera Asif, Syed Bilal Hashmi, Hafsa Majid, Farooq Ghani, Sibtain Ahmed, Imran Siddiqui, Aysha Habib

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Analysis of the constituents of gallstones using various spectroscopic techniques assists in identification of the pathogenesis of gallstones. In the current study, using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy, a Gallstone Standard Library (GSL) and a Gallstone Real Patients' Library (GRPL) were developed and validated for gallstone composition analysis.
Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Pakistan. Pure standards (cholesterol, calcium carbonate, bilirubin and bile salts) and gallstone specimens were analyzed using FTIR Nicolet iS-5 Spectrometer from Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA. Thermo Scientific™ QCheck™ algorithm, embedded within the OMNIC™ software, was …

Etiology, Clinical Characteristics, And Outcome Of Infective Endocarditis: 10-Year Experience From A Tertiary Care Center In Pakistan, Sara Salim Ali, Imran Ahmed Qureshi, Ahmed Ayaz, Ainan Arshad, Awais Farhad, Bushra Jamil, Muhammad Rizwan Sohail

Medical College Documents

This study was conducted to assess the clinical characteristics, causative agents, complications, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) among patients presenting to our tertiary care center over the last decade. This retrospective cohort study included all adult patients admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital with the diagnosis of IE over a ten-year period from 2010 to 2020. Outcomes variables included complications during hospitalization, surgical intervention, mortality, and length of stay. We identified a total of 305 cases out of which 176 (58%) were males and 129 (42%) were females. The mean age of the patients was 46.9±18.8 years. 95 …

Efficacy And Safety Of Direct Oral Anticoagulants With And Without Aspirin: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Talal Almas, Adeena Musheer, Arooba Ejaz, Fahd Niaz Shaikh, Anousheh Awais Paracha, Fizza Raza, Maryam Sarwar Khan, Fahad Masood, Faiza Siddiqui, Muhammad Hasnain Mankani

Medical College Documents

Background: Various anticoagulant therapies are prescribed to patients under physicians' discretion and recently Direct Oral Anticoagulants(DOAC) have been under trials to evaluate their safety and efficacy. In addition to this, the regimen of DOACs and Aspirin is of keen interest as researchers continue to find an optimal regimen to treat blood clots in patients. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies that asses the safety and efficacy of DOAC with and without Aspirin.
Methods: We queried MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL from their inception to April 2021, for published and randomized controlled …

Practical Needs And Considerations For Refugees And Other Forcibly Displaced Persons With Neurological Disorders: Recommendations Using A Modified Delphi Approach, Shawheen Rezaei, Foksouna Sakadi, Fu-Liong Hiew, Ildefonso Rodriguez-Leyva, Jera Kruja, Mohammad Wasay, Osheik Abuasha Seidi, Saad Abdel-Aziz, Shahriar Nafissi, Farrah Mateen

Section of Neurology

Background: There are >70 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers. While the health needs of forcibly displaced people have been characterized in the literature, more still needs to be done globally to translate this knowledge into effective policies and actions, particularly in neurology.
Methods: In 2020, a global network of published experts on neurological disease and refugees was convened. Nine physician experts from nine countries (2 low, 1 lower-middle income, 5 upper-middle, 1 high income) with experience treating displaced people originating from 18 countries participated in three survey and two discussion rounds in …

Body Mass Index And Diabetes Mellitus May Predict Poorer Overall Survival Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients: A Retrospective Cohort From A Tertiary-Care Center Of A Resource-Limited Country, Yumna Adnan, Syed Muhammad Adnan Ali, Mohammad Sohail Awan, Nida Zahid, Muhammad Ozair Awan, Hammad Afzal Kayani, Hasnain Ahmed Farooqui

Department of Surgery Docs

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the highest-ranking cancers among both genders in Pakistan. Obesity is linked to a much higher risk for developing multiple cancer types. Individuals with Diabetes mellitus (DM) face an increased risk for developing oral cancer. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify the effect of obesity and DM on the prognosis of OSCC patients.
Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 386 patients diagnosed and treated for OSCC at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Patient information was obtained from hospital medical records. Obesity was defined as having …

Epidemiology, Clinical Ramifications, And Cellular Pathogenesis Of Covid-19 Mrna-Vaccination-Induced Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes: A State-Of-The-Heart Review, Talal Almas, Sarah Rehman, Eyad Mansour, Tarek Khedro, Ali Alansari, Jahanzeb Malik, Norah Alshareef, Vikneswaran Raj Nagarajan, Abdulla Hussain Al-Awaid, Reema Alsufyani

Medical College Documents

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has overwhelming healthcare systems globally. To date, a myriad of therapeutic regimens has been employed in an attempt to curb the ramifications of a severe COVID-19 infection. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, the advent and efficacious uptake of COVID-19 vaccination has significantly reduced disease-related hospitalizations and mortality. Nevertheless, many side-effects are being reported after COVID-19 vaccinations and myocarditis is the most commonly reported sequelae post vaccination. Majority of these diseases are associated with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Various studies have established a temporal relationship between these complications, yet the causality and the underlying pathogenesis remain hypothetical. In …

The Who Global Tuberculosis 2021 Report - Not So Good News And Turning The Tide Back To End Tb, Chakaya Jeremiah, Eskild Petersen, Rebecca Nantanda, Brenda N. Mungai, Giovanni Battista Migliori, Farhana Amanullah, Patrick Lungu, Francine Ntoumi, Nagalingeswaran Kumarasamy

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To review the data presented in the 2021 WHO global TB report and discuss the current constraints in the global response.
Introduction and methods: The WHO global TB reports, consolidate TB data from countries and provide up to date assessment of the global TB epidemic. We reviewed the data presented in the 2021 report.
Results: We noted that the 2021 WHO global TB report presents a rather grim picture on the trajectory of the global epidemic of TB including a stagnation in the annual decline in TB incidence, a decline in TB notifications and an increase in estimated TB …

The Response To Covid-19 Among Drug Retail Outlets In Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices, Yusuf Ari Mashuri, Luh Putu Lila Wulandari, Mishal Khan, Astri Ferdiana, Ari Probandari, Tri Wibawa, Neha Batura, Marco Liverani, Richard Day, Stephen Jan

Community Health Sciences

Background: Pharmacists have been at the frontline of the COVID-19 response in Indonesia, providing medicines, advice, and referral services often in areas with limited healthcare access. This study aimed to explore their knowledge, attitudes, and practices during the pandemic, so that we can be better prepared for future emergencies.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Indonesia was conducted between July and August 2020. The dataset was analysed descriptively, and logistic regression was used to explore willingness to participate in COVID-19 interventions.
Findings: 4716 respondents participated in the survey. Two-thirds (66·7%) reported knowing only "a …