Background: The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health in addition to the global economy are huge. Vaccination is a pivotal measure to decrease COVID-19 morbidity and mortality and to help bring the pandemic under control. Yet, success of the vaccination process depends on the population’s willingness to be vaccinated which may be determined by their level of knowledge about and trust in currently available COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of Palestinians towards COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: A national cross-sectional study was distributed in different Palestinian regions to assess the knowledge and attitude of Palestinians toward COVID-19 vaccines using an online questionnaire, it included three sections; sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge assessment questions, and attitude assessment questions. Results: A total of 6226 participants completed the questionnaire; among them, 41.36% believed that vaccines are safe, 69.02% agreed that vaccines are vital to protect from COVID-19; in addition, 55.1% approve administering the vaccine once available, and 37.86% do not believe their benefits outweigh the risks. The Source of information for 22.07% of participants in social media, while 11.92% rely on health care providers. Participants’ attitudes and knowledge were significantly affected by gender, governorate, age, education level, and marital status (P <0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is good knowledge and attitude toward the vaccination process against COVID-19 in Palestine, although low acceptance was detected. Awareness campaigns are required to spread reliable knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines.

Introduction: Antimicrobial stewardship programs are intended to improve patient outcomes, reduce side effects, bacterial resistance, and costs. Thus, it is important to assess their impact on an ongoing basis. We aimed to assess the impact of the antimicrobial stewardship program in two different hospitals which used different program approaches. Methodology: This is a retrospective observational study in two private hospitals [4088 patient records] in Amman- Jordan. Antibiotic susceptibility using antibiogram results, consumption of antibiotics using Defined Daily Dose, and the incidence of Multi-Drug Resistance were recorded using patients’ records during 2018, 2019, and 2020. Results: Antimicrobial stewardship program outcomes varied between the two hospitals. Bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics were improved in both hospitals. Moreover, the defined daily dose in Hospital “A” showed no significant change in Fluoroquinolones, Carbapenems, and Piperacillin- Tazobactam, Cephalosporins, and Colistin, while a significant change was observed among Anti-MRSA antibiotics. Finally, the incidence of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase [ESBL] E. coli, ESBL Klebsiella, and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci [VRE] have decreased numerically over the study period, while Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] showed an increase in incidence during the second year of the study. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the positive impact of the AMS program throughout the three years of the study. Plus, the need to enhance the program through recruiting extra staff and applying extra regulations like implementing educational programs for the hospital staff, designing local guidelines for common ID diseases, and monitoring the program’s outcomes which would eventually be more efficient, cost-effective, and safe.

Background: There have been varying reports on the potential occurrence and severity of changes to menstruation including the median cycle length, days of bleeding, bleeding heaviness, and menstrual pain, following receipt of COVID‐19 vaccinations. We aimed to assess potential postvaccination menstrual changes in women residing in the Middle East.Methods: We implemented a cross‐sectional online survey‐based study. Data about the participants' demographic characteristics, menstruation experience, and vaccination status were collected and analyzed among six Arab countries.Results: Among 4942 menstruating females included in this study, females who had received one or more doses of COVID‐19 vaccination reported a higher frequency of back pain, nausea, tiredness, pelvic pain with periods, unprescribed analgesics use, and passage of loose stools. They also reported higher scores describing average and worst menstrual pain. Fully vaccinated females reported heavier flow and more days of bleeding.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that COVID‐19 vaccine may have an effect on menstruation in terms of menstrual pain and bleeding heaviness. The evidence needs to be further investigated in longitudinal studies.

Background and Aims: The viral agent of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) continues to spread worldwide, leading to a global pandemic. this may negatively affect students' mental health who have to maintain their learning efforts. Therefore, we aimed to assess students' perceptions of the online learning programs designed for university students in Arab countries during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted on university students using a self‐administered online questionnaire in 15 Arab countries, including 6779 participants. The actual sample size was calculated using the EpiInfo program calculator. The validated, piloted questionnaire assessed the effectiveness of internet‐based distance learning applications used in these countries during the pandemic. The SPSS version 22 was used.Results: Among the 6779 participants, 26.2% believed that their teachers diversify learning methods, 22.0% thought that their teachers were able to treat the weakness the students have, and 30.7% agreed that their teachers efficiently communicate with them through COVID‐19 internet‐based learning process. Around 33% of students participated in lectures effectively, 47.4% submitted their homework within accepted deadlines, and 28.6% thought that their colleagues did not cheat during exams and homework. Around 31.3% of students believed that online‐based learning had a role in directing them towards research, and 29.9% and 28.9%, respectively, believed that online learning had a role in developing analytical thinking and synthesis skills. Participants reported many suggestions to enhance the process of internet‐based distance learning in the future.Conclusion: Our study suggests that online‐based distance learning in Arab countries still needs more improvement as students still are more inclined toward face‐to‐face teaching. However, exploring the factors that influence students' perceptions of e‐learning is vital for improving the quality of online‐based distance learning. We recommend exploring the perceptions of educators regarding their experience towards online‐based distance learning during COVID‐19 lockdown.