Background: The pharmacy profession has significantly changed over the years. Pharmacy students’ perceptions of their coursework and future career aspirations may vary in relation to gender. Objectives: The present study explored the motivations of pharmacy students to enter pharmacy school, their satisfaction with the academic program, future plans after graduation, and perceptions about the pharmacy profession in relation to gender. Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional descriptive validated questionnaire built by the research team. The study was conducted at twelve public and private universities offering pharmacy programs. Results: In total, 918 pharmacy students have completed the online questionnaire, with a 98% response rate. Most participants reported that family encouragement was a motive to enter pharmacy school. The results of the Chi-Squared Test indicated a significant difference between female and male participants with respect to the following motives: High school grades (p = 0.009), being good at science (p = 0.013), working with patients(p = 0.024), professional status (p = 0.014), working in a family business (p = 0.001) and job opportunities (p = 0.001). The majority of male participants and female participants perceived pharmacy jobs as prestigious jobs. In addition, male and female students believed that it was a profession with well-paid jobs. Conclusion: Females were significantly more motivated by their high school degrees, goodness at science, working with patients, and professional status to enter pharmacy school. Pharmacy students are satisfied enough with the academic program. Male and female pharmacists have different career aspirations in the pharmaceutical sectors. It is recommended that students be educated about career planning to help them accomplish their goals. Future research could benefit from longitudinal studies to explore changes in pharmacy students’ motivations, satisfaction, and career aspirations over time.

Vaccination against influenza is the major primary preventive measure to reduce the major health and economic burden of influenza infections. Children aged 6 months to five years, have been identified as the highest risk group for influenza complications, therefore, it is essential to ensure a high uptake rate of influenza vaccine amongst this age group. A structured questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model was used to collect data from parents through face-to-face interview on influenza vaccine uptake among children from 6 months to 5 years of age in Jordan. It also aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and barriers towards influenza vaccine for this age group. 477 parents completed the study questionnaire. The study revealed a low influenza vaccine uptake rate of 12.0% for the 2022/2023 influenza season. Around one fifth (19.3%) of study participants reported to ever had their child vaccinated against influenza. The study identified several factors motivating parents to get their children vaccinated; such as healthcare professional advice, higher income and history of previous severe influenza infection requiring hospitalization. On the other hand, several barriers related to influenza vaccine were identified; such as cost and concerns about the vaccine safety. There is an overall low uptake of influenza vaccine amongst children in Jordan. There is a need for public health programs and more involvement of the healthcare professionals to improve the reported rates of vaccination from Jordan. This is in addition to focusing these programs on reported barriers for the influenza vaccine uptake.

Introduction and Objective: Obesity has increased worldwide, and existing anti-obesity medications have treatment limitations that diminish their overall benefits. This study aimed to investigate the effects of orlistat in combination with Elettaria cardamomum “Cardamom” (CAR) extract on working memory, recognition memory, anxiety, and inflammation within hippocampal tissue. Methods: Mice were categorized into two groups: a control group (CD) and a cafeteria diet (CAF) group induced with obesity (CAF) for 10 weeks. The groups were then subdivided into a CAF group treated with orlistat (CAF-ORL), a CAF group treated with orlistat and Elettaria cardamomum (CAF-ORL-CARD), and a group that continued on the CAF. The CAF-ORL group received orlistat at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day for four weeks, while the CAF-ORL-CARD group received 10 mg/kg/day of orlistat and 500 mg/kg of CAR extract via oral gavage. In the 14th week, various assessments were conducted, including the novel object recognition (NOR) test, Y maze test, marble-burying test (MBT), open-field test, and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus. Result: TNF-α levels in the hippocampal tissue of the CAF group were elevated compared to the CD group (p < 0.01), whereas the CAF-ORL group exhibited reduced TNF-α levels compared to the CAF group (p < 0.01). Moreover, TNF-α levels in the CAF-ORL-CARD group were significantly lower than in the CAF-ORL group (p < 0.01). The recognition index was notably higher in the CAF-ORL group compared to the CAF group (p < 0.01) and higher in the CAF-ORL-CARD group compared to the CAF-ORL group (p < 0.01). However, there were no changes in the open-field test and Y maze test (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Orlistat combined with CAR has positive effects on neuroinflammation and memory, suggesting that this combination may offer potential therapeutic benefits for cognitive impairments and hippocampal dysfunction associated with obesity.

Background: Clinical pharmacists provide nutrition support pharmacy services, including evaluating micronutrient status and managing vitamin use. However, only a limited number of studies have explored the role of clinical pharmacists in managing vitamin supplementation. Objective: To explore clinical pharmacists’ interventions in managing vitamin supplementation in critically ill cancer patients admitted to intensive care units. Methods: This retrospective analysis reviewed 9,949 electronically reported clinical pharmacist interventions for patients admitted to the ICU from January 2020 to December 2022. All patient records with clinical pharmacists’ interventions related to vitamin supplementation in ICU cancer patients were extracted and analyzed. Results: The total number of interventions related to vitamin management was 129 (1.30%). Vitamin D was the most commonly used vitamin supplement (n = 39, 30.2%). Initiation of vitamin supplementation (n = 55, 42.6%) was the most frequent intervention by clinical pharmacists. The acceptance rate by physicians was 100%. Conclusion: Clinical pharmacists play a key role in managing nutrition support therapy and vitamin supplementation in critically ill cancer patients. This study represents the first experience in Jordan and serves as a role model. Further research is needed to investigate barriers to implementing nutrition support pharmacy services and vitamin supplementation in Jordan, as well as to explore the impact of these services on patient outcomes.

Purpose: Seasonal influenza significantly impacts global health, especially among high-risk groups such as the elderly. People aged ≥ 65 years have the highest morbidity and mortality due to influenza infections. Despite international recommendations, influenza vaccine-uptake rates remain low in many regions worldwide. In Jordan, data on influenza vaccine uptake in people aged ≥ 65 years is lacking. This study aimed to assess vaccination rates, knowledge, attitudes, and barriers among the elderly in Jordan. Methods: This national cross-sectional study included 455 adults aged ≥ 65 years living at representative sites in Jordan in Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, and Karak. The study questionnaire was based on the health belief model and included data on demographics, influenza vaccination history, and knowledge of, attitudes toward, perceptions of, and barriers to influenza vaccine uptake. Results: Only 11.4% of participants received the influenza vaccine in the 2022– 2023 season, while 30.1% had ever been vaccinated. Rural residents, higher-income groups, and those insured by private institutions demonstrated higher vaccination rates of 14% and 15.4%, respectively (P< 0.05). Barriers to being vaccinated included perceived low susceptibility (43.7%), concerns about adverse effects (52.7%), and lack of social network recommendations (38.9%). Positive predictors included trust in vaccination guidelines, higher perceived risk, and health-care provider advice (P< 0.001). Conclusion: Influenza vaccination rates among older adults in Jordan are low compared to regional and international data. Interventions tailored to address barriers are needed to improve awareness, accessibility, and trust to reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality.

Background: Poor diet quality and fatigue adversely affect daily functioning and quality of life. Aim: The present study explored associations between dietary patterns, sleep quality, and fatigue, with a focus on potential associations with supplement use. Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited 400 adults (276 females). Data were collected via a face-to-face survey using validated Arabic questionnaires. Summary: 35.5% of participants were aged 18–24 years, and the overall mean BMI was 25.9 ± 4.54 kg/m ² . The average daily energy intake was 2057.5±563.9 kcal. Mean Food Group Diversity Score (FGDS) and Global Dietary Recommendations (GDR) scores were 3.25 ± 2.60 and 9.86 ± 2.25, respectively. Only 22.5% of participants reported taking vitamins and minerals. Supplement users had higher mean GDR scores than non-users (10.53 ± 2.38 vs. 9.66 ± 2.17). Overall, 40.9% of participants reported fairly good subjective sleep quality. Females reported a higher fatigue score than males (26.29 ± 19.17 vs. 16.96 ± 20.10, P < 0.001). FGDS was negatively associated with fatigue (β = −0.121, P = 0.028) among participants and positively associated with sleep quality score (β = 0.200, P = 0.009) among males. Also, GRD was positively and significantly associated with quality of life (β = 0.092, P = 0.031). Finally, poor sleep quality and fatigue were significant predictors of lower quality of life (β= −0.267, P < 0.001 vs. β = −0.427, P < 0.001). In conclusion, poor sleep quality and fatigue are highly prevalent among Jordanian adults, particularly women. Higher diet quality was associated with better sleep quality and quality of life, highlighting the potential role of dietary patterns as a modifiable lifestyle factor.