Pharmaceutical care is an essential component of healthcare services, and patient satisfaction with these services is crucial for improving overall health outcomes. We aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction and perception with pharmaceutical care services provided at public and private hospitals for outpatient pharmacies. This study can provide insights into the quality of pharmaceutical services provided in both settings and identify areas for improvement. A cross-sectional 1-month study was conducted in three hospitals in Nablus city in the Northern District of West Bank, Palestine. Participants were a convenience sample of outpatients who attended the study-selected hospitals (two public and one private). A sample of 30 patients from each hospital was selected with a total of 90 patients. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographics pharmacist-related issues, waiting and working time, and medication availability. A total of 90 patients were recruited. The overall level of patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical health services was moderate with a mean of 3.24 out of 5. Females represented 58.9%. The most prevalent age was (30–39) years (30%). There was a statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services regarding working time between the morning and evening shifts (p value = 0.009) in favor of morning shift. No statistically significant differences in satisfaction with pharmaceutical treatments based on socio-demographics (age, gender, marital status, education level, family income, employment status, and living place), were found. Nearly, 70% of patients indicated having problems getting the medicine on their last visit to the hospital pharmacy. Only 66.7% of patients expressed satisfaction with the pharmacies’ operating (working) hours. Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care services could be enhanced by involving pharmacists in patient-oriented training and informing patients about the role of pharmacists. Patient satisfaction in the evening shift might be improved by establishing a system for continuous evaluation and improvement of pharmaceutical care services in hospitals to ensure the highest quality of care for patients in addition to implementing technology such as electronic prescribing and medication management systems that can improve the accuracy and efficiency of pharmaceutical services in hospitals.

Background: The Avicenna unified Health Information System (HIS) was implemented by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in 2010 across government hospitals. Despite its potential, the acceptance of Avicenna HIS by healthcare providers remains unclear after 14 years of application. Understanding the factors that influence healthcare provider acceptance is essential for optimizing the system's success. We investigated factors affecting acceptance of Avicenna HIS among healthcare providers in Palestinian healthcare institutions, focusing on perceived usefulness, ease of use, human factors, technological factors, and organizational support.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Palestine Medical Complex (PMC) in Ramallah, West Bank, where the Avicenna HIS has been fully implemented since 2010. A systematic random sampling was used to select participants, resulting in 300 completed questionnaires. The study utilized a self-administered questionnaire adapted from a structured tool based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The questionnaire was validated through expert review and pilot testing, achieving a Cronbach's alpha of 0.86. Each selected healthcare provider was contacted face-to-face, and written informed consent was obtained before administering the questionnaire.Results: A total of 300 questionnaires were completed and returned. The study sample included 178 males (59.3%) and 122 females (40.7%). The majority of participants was aged 20–39 years (270 participants, 90%) and held a bachelor's degree (250 participants, 83.3%). Nurses comprised the largest professional group (153 participants, 51.0%). High levels of perceived usefulness and ease of use were reported, both with mean scores of 4.511 (S.D. = 0.295). Technological factors had a mean score of 4.004 (S.D. = 0.228), while organizational factors scored 2.858 (S.D. = 0.304). Overall acceptance of the HIS was moderately high, with a mean score of 4.218 (S.D. = 0.387). Significant differences in perceived usefulness and ease of use were noted based on gender, age, and experience.Conclusion: This study concludes that both technological and human factors significantly influence the acceptance of HIS among healthcare providers in Palestine. To improve HIS adoption, it is recommended to enhance system functionality, ensure reliable data quality, and provide comprehensive training programs for healthcare providers.

Background: Female hairdressers are frequently exposed to a mixture of hazardous chemicals, which could impact their health. However, studies on this occupational exposure in Palestine are limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of respiratory, musculoskeletal, and reproductive symptoms among female hairdressers in Nablus, Palestine, and to examine their association with work duration. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 310 randomly selected female hairdressers from Nablus, using standardized assessment tools. Self-reported respiratory, musculoskeletal, and reproductive symptoms were collected and analyzed. Results: Among participants, 34.8% reported shortness of breath, 26.1% had a cough, and 23% experienced hand dermatitis. Musculoskeletal symptoms were highly prevalent, with neck pain (71.9%), shoulder pain (68.4%), and back pain (68.1%) being most common. Abortions were reported by 26.5% of participants. A significant association was found between work duration and respiratory symptoms such as wheezing and cough (P=0.029, 0.032), as well as musculoskeletal pain in shoulders, elbows, hands, and wrists (P=0.047, 0.007). No significant association was found between work duration and reproductive symptoms. Conclusion: Occupational safety improvements are recommended for female hairdressers, including better awareness and use of protective equipment, and promoting safe handling of chemicals. -

Timely antibiotic administration is a cornerstone of sepsis management. Especially in low-resource, conflict-affected healthcare systems, sepsis management