Walid Al-Qerem

Prof. Walid Al-Qerem

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 February 2021 in Frontiers in Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Walid Al-QeremWalid Al-Qerem
Walid Al-Qerem
AJAnan S. Jarab
Anan S. Jarab
Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major threat to public health and has had a significant impact on all aspects of life. An effective vaccine is the most anticipated resolution. This study aims to evaluate Jordanian intent to be vaccinated.Methods: This is a cross-sectional web-based study. Sample characteristics were gathered, and the participants were classified according to the degree of COVID-19 risk based on the categories of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Participants' KAP toward COVID-19 were assessed, and two scores were calculated: knowledge score and practice score. The association between different sample characteristics and these scores was identified using binary logistical regressions. The participants' vaccination intention was evaluated and multinomial logistic regression was applied to identify the predictors of vaccination intention. Finally, the reasons behind the participants' vaccination refusal/hesitation were determined and categorized into different groups.Results: 1,144 participants were enrolled in the study (females = 66.5%). 30.4% of the participants were at high risk of COVID-19 complications, and 27.5% were at medium risk. Overall, participants' knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission methods, protective measures, and availability of cure were high (median of knowledge score = 17 out of 21). High protective practices were followed by many participants (median of practice score = 7 out of 10). 3.7% of participants were infected, and 6.4% suspected they were infected with the COVID-19 virus. 36.8% of the participants answered “No” when asked if they would take the vaccine once it becomes available, and 26.4% answered, “Not sure.” The main reasons for the participants' vaccination refusal or hesitancy were concerns regarding the use of vaccines and a lack of trust in them.Conclusion: Participants reported high refusal/hesitancy. Several barriers were identified, and efforts should be intensified to overcome these barriers.

14 December 2023 in BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Walid Al-QeremWalid Al-Qerem
Walid Al-Qerem
JEJudith Eberhardt
Judith Eberhardt
AJAnan Jarab
Anan Jarab
ABAbdel Qader Al Bawab
Abdel Qader Al Bawab
AHAlaa Hammad
Alaa Hammad
SASaed Al-Beool
Saed Al-Beool
Introduction: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical education and practice is a significant development. This study examined the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of health professions’ students in Jordan concerning AI, providing insights into their preparedness and perceptions. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to 483 Jordanian health professions’ students via social media. Demographic data, AI-related KAP, and barriers were collected. Quantile regression models analyzed associations between variables and KAP scores. Results: Moderate AI knowledge was observed among participants, with specific understanding of data requirements and barriers. Attitudes varied, combining skepticism about AI replacing human teachers with recognition of its value. While AI tools were used for specific tasks, broader integration in medical education and practice was limited. Barriers included lack of knowledge, access, time constraints, and curriculum gaps. Conclusions: This study highlights the need to enhance medical education with AI topics and address barriers. Students need to be better prepared for AI integration, in order to enable medical education to harness AI’s potential for improved patient care and training.

9 March 2022 in Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Walid Al-QeremWalid Al-Qerem
Walid Al-Qerem
ABAbdel Qader Al Bawab
Abdel Qader Al Bawab
AHAlaa Hammad
Alaa Hammad
JLJonathan Ling
Jonathan Ling
Fawaz AlasmariFawaz Alasmari
Fawaz Alasmari
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccines are critical for containing serious infections. However, as COVID-19 evolves toward more transmissible varieties and serum antibody levels in vaccinated persons steadily decline over time, the likelihood of breakthrough infections increases. This is a cross-sectional study based on an online questionnaire for Jordanian adults (n = 915) to determine how individuals who have finished the current vaccination regimen feel about a prospective COVID-19 booster shot and what factors might influence their decision. Almost half of the participants (44.6%) intended to get the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The most frequently mentioned reasons for participants’ reluctance to get the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose were “The benefits of booster dose have not been scientifically proven” (39.8%), followed by “I took the last dose a short time ago, and there will be no need to take the booster dose for at least a year” (24.6%). In turn, “I was infected with COVID-19; thus, I do not require the booster dose” was the least reported reason (13.1%). These findings highlight the considerable hesitancy toward COVID-19 booster immunization among Jordanians, as well as the variables associated with vaccine hesitancy and the most frequently mentioned reasons for hesitancy, which will aid in creating excellent campaigns regarding booster doses.

1 August 2023 in Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AJAnan Jarab
Anan Jarab
Walid Al-QeremWalid Al-Qerem
Walid Al-Qerem
KAKarem Alzoubi
Karem Alzoubi
HOHaneen Obeidat
Haneen Obeidat
SHShrouq Riad Abu Heshmeh
Shrouq Riad Abu Heshmeh
AAAhmad Al-Azayzih
Ahmad Al-Azayzih
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capacity of machines to perform tasks that ordinarily require human intelligence. AI can be utilized in various pharmaceutical applications with less time and cost. To evaluate community pharmacists’ willingness and attitudes towards the adoption of AI technology at pharmacy settings, and the barriers that hinder AI implementation. This cross-sectional study was conducted among community pharmacists in Jordan using an online-based questionnaire. In addition to socio-demographics, the survey assessed pharmacists’ willingness, attitudes, and barriers to AI adoption in pharmacy. Binary logistic regression was conducted to find the variables that are independently associated with willingness and attitude towards AI implementation. The present study enrolled 401 pharmacist participants. The median age was 30 (29–33) years. Most of the pharmacists were females (66.6%), had bachelor’s degree of pharmacy (56.1%), had low-income (54.6%), and had one to five years of experience (35.9%). The pharmacists showed good willingness and attitude towards AI implementation at pharmacy (n = 401). The most common barriers to AI were lack of AI-related software and hardware (79.2%), the need for human supervision (76.4%), and the high running cost of AI (74.6%). Longer weekly working hours (attitude: OR = 1.072, 95% C.I (1.040–1.104), P < 0.001, willingness: OR = 1.069, 95% Cl. 1.039–1.009, P-value = 0.011), and higher knowledge of AI applications (attitude: OR = 1.697, 95%Cl (1.327–2.170), willingness: OR = 1.790, 95%Cl. (1.396–2.297), P-value < 0.001 for both) were significantly associated with better willingness and attitude towards AI, whereas greater years of experience (OR = 20.859, 95% Cl (5.241–83.017), P-value < 0.001) were associated with higher willingness. In contrast, pharmacists with high income (OR = 0.382, 95% Cl. (0.183–0.795), P-value = 0.010), and those with<10 visitors (OR = 0.172, 95% Cl. (0.035–0.838), P-value = 0.029) or 31–50 visitors daily (OR = 0.392, 95% Cl. (0.162–0.944), P-value = 0.037) had less willingness to adopt AI. Despite the pharmacists' positive willingness and attitudes toward AI, several barriers were identified, highlighting the importance of providing educational and training programs to improve pharmacists' knowledge of AI, as well as ensuring adequate funding support to overcome the issue of AI high operating costs.

3 March 2022 in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Walid Al-QeremWalid Al-Qerem
Walid Al-Qerem
ABAbdel Qader Al Bawab
Abdel Qader Al Bawab
AHAlaa Hammad
Alaa Hammad
TJTasneem Jaber
Tasneem Jaber
SKSawsan I Khdair
Sawsan I Khdair
RMRami Salem Mosleh
Rami Salem Mosleh
The question of whether children should be vaccinated against COVID-19 is currently being argued. The risk-benefit analysis of the vaccine in children has been more challenging because of the low prevalence of acute COVID-19 in children and the lack of confidence in the relative effects of the vaccine and the disease. One of the most convincing arguments for vaccinating healthy children is to protect them from long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to assess Jordanian parents’ intention to vaccinate their children. This is an Internet-based cross-sectional survey. The researchers prepared a Google Forms survey and shared the link with a number of Jordanian Facebook generic groups. Data were gathered between September and November 2021. In this study, convenience sampling was used. Knowledge about COVID-19 and preventive practices against COVID-19 were calculated for each participant. A total of 819 participants completed the survey (female = 70.9%). Of these, 274 (30.2%) participants intended to vaccinate their children, whereas the rest were either unsure 176 (21.5%) or intended not to vaccinate their children 396 (48.4%). The variables that increased the odds of answering “No” vs “Yes” to “will you vaccinate your children against COVID-19” included not willing to take the vaccines themselves (OR 3.75; CI, 1.46–9.62) and low protective practice group (OR 1.73;CI, 1.12–2.68). Participants had significant levels of refusal/hesitancy. Several barriers to vaccination were identified; attempts to overcome these should be stepped up.

23 August 2021 in PLOS ONE
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Walid Al-QeremWalid Al-Qerem
Walid Al-Qerem
AJAnan S. Jarab
Anan S. Jarab
MBMohammad Badinjki
Mohammad Badinjki
DHDana Hyassat
Dana Hyassat
RQRaghda Qarqaz
Raghda Qarqaz
Objective: This study aims to assess medication adherence and explore its predictors in outpatients with type 2 diabetes. Method: This cross-sectional study collected socio-demographics, disease-related information, and different biomedical variables for type 2 diabetes patients attending a Jordanian Diabetes center. The four-item medication adherence scale (4-IMAS) and the beliefs about medications questionnaire (BMQ) which includes necessity and concerns were used. Stepwise backward quartile regression models were conducted to evaluate variables associated with the Necessity and Concerns scores. Stepwise ordinal regression was conducted to evaluate variables associated with adherence. Results: 287 diabetic patients participated in the study. Almost half of the participants (46.5%) reported moderate adherence and 12.2% reported low adherence. Significant predictors of the adherence were necessity score (OR = 14.86, p <0.01), concern score (OR = 0.36, p <0.05), and frequency of medication administration (OR = 0.88, p- <0.01). Education was a significant predictor of Necessity and Concerns scores (β = 0.48, -0.2, respectively). Conclusion: Simplifying the medication regimen, emphasizing medication necessity and overcoming medication concerns should be targeted in future diabetes intervention programs to improve medication adherence and hence glycemic control among diabetic patients.