Purpose: This study aimed at describing the experience of academic staff and students with distance education, during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a college of pharmacy in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study used a mixed-method approach. The first phase implemented a survey that targeted both academic staff and students to evaluate their experiences with distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, a focus group discussion was conducted to explore, in-depth, their experience. The survey consisted of five domains as follows: readiness for the shift to distance education during the full and partial lockdown, perception towards distance education, barriers against distance education, and the acquisitions due to distance education. A five-point Likert scale was used to assess participants’ responses to the different domains (mean score ± standard deviation). Results: Seventy-eight percent of the academic staff and 65% of the students responded to the survey. Participants’ views were positive for readiness for the shift to distance education during the full lockdown (3.89± 0.42 for academic staff and 3.82± 0.50 for students) with almost similar evaluation for the readiness during the blended learning period (3.91± 0.44 for staff and 3.83± 0.59 for students). The findings showed a generally positive perception towards distance education (3.59± 0.67 for academic staff and 3.47± 0.64 for students). The acquisitions due to distance education were also positive (3.95± 0.72 for academic staff and 3.78± 0.77 for students). Nonetheless, some barriers that affected distance education were raised with an overall neutral view from both academic staff (3.31± 0.72) and students (3.31± 0.64), with different responses for the individual items. Qualitative findings from the focus group discussions explored the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges, with emphasis on the areas for improvement. Conclusion: Although the shift for distance education was out of a sudden, participants showed overall positive views about their experience with distance education and highlighted areas for improvement.

Background and Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cardiovascular diseases, and premature death. The study aims to assess CKD knowledge and predictive variables among the general public. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general public in Al Medina Al-Munawara, Saudi Arabia, utilizing a 21-item questionnaire-based approach over a 4-month period from January 2023 to April 2023. The developed questionnaire was validated for readability by experts and refined in light of the feedback received from the experts and the final version was prepared. The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.71, which shows an acceptable level of internal consistency. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software (version 25). Results: A total of 777 complete surveys were received after applying the exclusion criteria. The study results revealed that the majority of the respondents had poor knowledge 505 (65%), 203 (26.1) had moderate knowledge, and 69 (8.9%) had good knowledge. Gender (p = 0.004), age (<0.001), education level (p = 0.039), marital status (p = 0.003), and occupation (p = 0.002) play significant roles in shaping participants’ knowledge levels regarding CKD. Lower odds of good knowledge were associated with females with an OR (95% CI) of 0.448 (0.263–0.764) and intermediate or higher secondary school level of education displayed an OR (95% CI) of 0.39 (0.18–0.89). Higher odds of good knowledge levels were associated with the age group of 18–27 with an OR (95% CI) of 5.077 (1.21–21.38) and being employed with an OR of 3.555 (1.04–12.21). Conclusions: A significant proportion of respondents had poor knowledge about CKD. Several demographic factors were associated with CKD knowledge. Further research is needed to explore these knowledge disparities and develop targeted interventions to improve CKD knowledge among the general public.

Purpose: The study aimed to perform a population pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis to obtain vancomycin PK parameter estimates in Sudanese adult patients. The population PK model is then applied to perform model-based dose optimization. Patients and Methods: Data were collected through a retrospective, single-center, observational cohort study performed in Aliaa Specialist Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. A population PK model was developed using the MonolixSuite 2020R1 to explore the potential effects of demographics and laboratory covariates on vancomycin PK. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to optimize dosage regimens as a function of creatinine clearance (CLcr) and virtual patients were partitioned into five CLcr groups. Results: We retrospectively collected 194 vancomycin plasma concentrations from 99 adults. The median (interquartile range) for age (years) and CLcr (mL/min) were 65 (50– 75) and 12.7 (5.52– 25.78), respectively. Vancomycin PK data were best fitted using a one-compartment model with linear elimination. The estimates of clearance and volume of distribution were 2.02 L/h and 65 L, respectively. CLcr was identified as the main covariate explaining the PK variability in vancomycin CL. CL significantly decreased with decreasing CLcr. For the five CLcr groups evaluated, a tailored vancomycin daily maintenance dose (using patients’ CLcr) ranged from 200 to 1650 mg. Overall, simulations showed that 45% (CI; 41.11– 47.36%) of patients would achieve a target AUC with the suggested dosages. Conclusion: A population PK model of vancomycin was developed using data obtained from adult Sudanese patients. Model-based dose optimization can aid clinicians in selecting initial vancomycin doses that will maximize the likelihood of a favorable treatment response.

Background: Long-term anticoagulation therapy, particularly with warfarin, is usually associated with poor adherence and low patient satisfaction. However, previous studies have highlighted the possibility that individual perceptions of warfarin differ according to cultural practices. This study validated the psychometric properties of the translated Arabic version of the Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS) for patients on warfarin therapy in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted at the three main medical centers in Riyadh. Stratified sampling was employed to recruit Arabic-speaking patients who had been taking warfarin for a minimum of 3 months for any indication. The patients completed the specific ACTS along with the generic Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM 1.4) at two clinic visits. The psychometric performance of the ACTS was evaluated using well-established criteria: feasibility, reliability, and validity. Results: One hundred thirty-six patients participated in the study (mean age: 50.68 ± 14.6 years; range: 19–97). Overall, the patients reported moderate Burdens and Benefits scores (44 ± 9.9 and 11.92 ± 2.4, respectively) compared to the reference range for each subscale (12–60 and 3–15, respectively); however, they reported lower Burdens scores than other populations. Consistent with the original ACTS validation study, the criteria for acceptability (data targeting, floor/ceiling effects, and skewness) were satisfied; in fact, the Arabic version exhibited better item- and scale-level distributions of data than versions in other languages. The ACTS subscales also demonstrated satisfactory test-retest reliability with significant intraclass correlation coefficients ((ICC ≥ 0.5); p < 0.001) and good internal consistency (all Cronbach’s alpha values exceeded 0.7). Exploratory factor analysis supported the 2-factor loading model. Interestingly, the Arabic version exhibited greater convergent validity with the TSQM subdomains (r = 0.61). Conclusions: This study provides convincing evidence that the Arabic versions of both the ACTS Burdens and ACTS Benefits scales are equivalent to other versions in terms of psychometric performance, as measured using reliability and validity criteria. These properties support the great potential of the Arabic ACTS to accurately reflect patient satisfaction, identify aspects of treatment that need improvement in clinical practice, and compare treatment satisfaction across different anticoagulant therapies or cultures in research.

Background and Objectives: Little is known regarding the 5C psychological antecedents to COVID-19 vaccination among pharmacists in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and its psychological antecedents among community pharmacists in Khartoum State, Sudan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about sociodemographic and health status characteristics, vaccine acceptance, and the 5C psychological antecedents to vaccination. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted, and results were presented using odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 382 community pharmacists participated in the current study, with a mean age of 30.4 ± 5.6 years. Nearly two-thirds of the participants (65.4%) were females, and the majority (74.9%) have received or intended to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine acceptance was significantly associated with the following psychological antecedents to vaccination: confidence, complacency, constraints, and calculation (p < 0.001). Results of the logistic regression showed that confidence in vaccines [OR = 6.82 (95% CI = 3.14–14.80)], conspiracy beliefs [OR = 0.44 (95% CI = 0.23–0.85)], and constraints to vaccination [OR = 0.18 (95% CI = 0.06–0.56)] were the significant determinants of vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: The study revealed important predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance that can be used to guide policymakers in designing target-oriented interventions that can improve the vaccine acceptance rate among community pharmacists in Sudan. These findings suggest that interventions to promote vaccine acceptance among pharmacists should focus on building confidence in vaccines and providing accurate information about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, and reducing constraints to vaccination.

Background: Inappropriate testing of urine cultures can lead to overuse of antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, Clostridioides difficile infections, and increased cost. In Saudi Arabia, antimicrobial stewardship programs have improved antibiotic use but lack focus on asymptomatic bacteriuria. Targeted interventions are needed to address this gap. Objective: We assessed the implementation of a clinical decision support (CDS) tool in diagnostic stewardship, focusing on the appropriateness of urine culture orders and antibiotic use. Methods: We examined differences in urine culture testing and antibiotic use before and after implementation of a CDS tool in a 400-bed hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from August 2021 to July 2022. We included adult patients with urine culture orders. Our outcomes were the percentage of urine cultures ordered that were inappropriate and antibiotic use after the implementation of the CDS intervention. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to determine factors associated with inappropriate urine culture testing and antibiotic use. Results: The percentage of inappropriate urine culture orders were significantly lower in the postintervention period compared to the preintervention period (821/2254, 36.4% vs 754/1814, 41.6%; P=.001). The CDS intervention was associated with 16.7% lower odds of inappropriate urine culture ordering (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.73‐0.95; P=.008). Unnecessary antibiotics were significantly lower in the postintervention period (310/2254, 72.9% vs 288/1814, 85.7%; P<.001). The CDS intervention was associated with a 52% reduction in unnecessary antibiotic use (aOR 0.487, 95% CL 0.332‐0.713; P<.001) Conclusions: A CDS initiative can reduce unnecessary urine culture testing and antibiotic overuse.