Developing critical thinking, research, and presentation skills is essential for healthcare professionals. Structured educational activities, such as Journal Clubs, provide valuable opportunities to enhance these competencies. These skills are particularly important in preparing for future pharmacists and providing them with up-to-date information. This study evaluates the learning outcomes, perceptions, and feedback of undergraduate pharmacy students participating in a Journal Club activity, focusing on differences between 3rd and 5th -year students. This cross-sectional study involved 207 undergraduate pharmacy students from the 3rd and 5th years at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Students were paired, provided with structured guidelines, and tasked with analyzing and presenting research articles. Emphasis was placed on research related to the topics covered in the pharmacology or hospital pharmacy courses the students were taking in that semester. Data was collected via a validated survey covering general experience, learning outcomes, perceptions, and feedback. Statistical analyses included Fisher’s Exact Test, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and Cronbach’s alpha, using RStudio (version 2024.9.1.394, Boston, MA, USA) with R version 4.4.2. A majority (89.4%) reported acquiring new knowledge, and 77.7% noted increased confidence in critically evaluating research. Fifth-year students reported higher critical thinking (58.4% vs. 42.3%, p = 0.031) and presentation skills (72.7% vs. 50.8%, p = 0.002). Strong correlations were observed between learning outcomes and perceptions (R = 0.743, p < 0.001). The Journal Club effectively promoted critical thinking, research, and presentation skills. Differences between academic years highlight the need to adapt activities to student levels.

Background: Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer among women globally, develops primarily in the breast’s ducts or lobules. Drug resistance is a significant challenge in treating advanced cases, contributing to over 685,000 breast cancer-related deaths annually, and identifying novel compounds that inhibit key proteins is crucial for developing effective therapies. Methods: In this study, five transferase proteins with PDB IDs were selected due to their involvement in breast cancer: 1A52, 3PP0, 4EJN, 4I23, and 7R9V. Multitargeted docking studies were conducted using three different docking strategies and Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) to calculate the binding affinities against the ZINC Natural compound library. Isoetin (ZINC000006523948), found mainly in Isoetaceae, was identified, and the results were compared with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug Tucatinib. In addition, molecular interaction fingerprints and pharmacokinetic profiling were evaluated. We also performed 5 ns WaterMap simulations to identify hydration sites and interactions, followed by 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and MM/GBSA to assess the stability of the Isoetin–protein complexes. Results: The docking results indicated that Isoetin demonstrated superior binding and docking scores ranging from −9.901 to −13.903 kcal/mol compared to Tucatinib, which showed values between −4.875 and −10.948 kcal/mol, suggesting Isoetin’s potential efficacy as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer. Interaction fingerprints revealed significant interactions between Isoetin and key residues, including 28LEU, 12MET, 9PHE, 7ASP, 6ASN, and 6THR. The pharmacokinetics and DFT analysis of Isoetin supported its potential as a viable drug candidate. Furthermore, the 5 ns WaterMap simulations identified various hydration sites, and the 100 ns MD simulations showed that the Isoetin–protein complexes exhibited minimal deviations and fluctuations, indicating better stability than Tucatinib, and MM/GBSA confirmed Isoetin’s superior binding stability. Conclusions: Isoetin, a natural compound identified through in silico screening, demonstrates significant promise as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer as it outperforms the FDA-approved drug Tucatinib, the respective native and FDA-approved drug. However, experimental validation is necessary before considering Isoetin for clinical use.

Understanding pathophysiology and pharmacology is essential for nursing students to ensure safe medication administration and clinical decision-making. In

Clinical pharmacy is an evolving discipline that plays an important role in optimizing patient care and medication therapy. In Saudi Arabia, transformative changes under Vision 2030 emphasize the importance of clinical pharmacists in improving healthcare outcomes. However, the transition from academic training to professional practice is accompanied by challenges, including insufficient practical training, systemic barriers, and evolving job market demands. This study aims to explore the career aspirations, motivations, preparedness, and barriers faced by fifth- and sixth-year of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) students at Umm Al-Qura University, providing insights into the factors guiding their career paths. A qualitative study was conducted between November 2024 and January 2025. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview process with an open-ended questionnaire administered electronically to 105 students. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data, identifying recurring patterns and themes. Students expressed a preference for hospital and pharmaceutical company careers, influenced primarily by financial stability, career growth opportunities, and work–life balance. However, barriers such as high workloads, unclear clinical pharmacist roles, and limited professional recognition discouraged many from pursuing hospital-based clinical pharmacy careers. Most participants indicated a strong interest in further education and specialized training to enhance their professional readiness. Academic and internship experiences played a pivotal role in shaping career preferences, highlighting the importance of experiential learning in bridging the gap between education and practice. This study highlights the aspirations and challenges faced by Pharm.D students, emphasizing the need for educational reforms and systemic improvements to better align academic training with workforce demands. Addressing barriers and enhancing practical training opportunities are essential to fully integrate clinical pharmacists into Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system, supporting Vision 2030’s objectives. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and healthcare leaders shaping a resilient and future-focused clinical pharmacy workforce.

Background/Objectives: Saudi Arabia has expanded disability support services and rights-based policies under Vision 2030. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives may depend partly on public awareness of available services and societal support for disability-inclusive measures. This study assessed public awareness of disability support services, support for disability-inclusive measures, and factors associated with both domains among adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted across all five regions of Saudi Arabia using a structured self-administered questionnaire distributed through social media with snowball dissemination. A total of 948 adults participated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified composite scores for awareness (two items; Cronbach’s alpha = 0.846) and support for disability-inclusive measures (four items; Cronbach’s alpha = 0.845) using five-point Likert-scale responses. A structural equation model was fitted to examine factors associated with both outcomes, with support regressed on awareness to examine their association. Results: The median awareness score was 8.0 (IQR 6.0–9.0) of 10, and the median support score was 19.0 (IQR 17.0–20.0) of 20. More than 84% of participants agreed or strongly agreed with each support item. Awareness was positively associated with support for disability-inclusive measures. Awareness was lower among participants in the Eastern and Northern regions compared with the Central region, and among those with a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree compared with primary-school education. Support for disability-inclusive measures was higher among participants in the Western region and those with secondary-school or bachelor’s-degree education, and lower among those with no or uncertain previous personal contact with a person with a disability, and among those most familiar with hearing impairment. Public awareness campaigns were the most frequently endorsed strategy for improving disability inclusion (75.4%). Conclusions: Public support for disability-inclusive measures in Saudi Arabia was high, while self-reported awareness of disability support services varied across population groups. These findings are associative and, given the cross-sectional design, cannot establish the direction of the relationship between awareness and support. The observed regional and educational differences nonetheless highlight the potential value of targeted public education and communication strategies to strengthen disability inclusion.

Collagens are protein particles consisting of amino acids that deliver structural support to connective tissues. Collagen’s stiffness, rigidity, and resistance to stretching makes it an ideal matrix for skin, tendons, bones, and ligaments. Collagen deficiency disrupts tissue strength and function, increasing pain, mobility limitations, and disability risk. Many studies have shown that collagen supplements are safe cosmetics that can elevate collagen-derived peptides in the blood, improving skin elasticity, hair growth, wound healing, and potentially supporting weight management. However, no cross-sectional study has assessed public knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward collagen use in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to evaluate these factors among adults in the western region of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, web-based online survey of people living in the western region of Saudi Arabia was conducted. Data were collected between January to March 2025. As there were no immediate data regarding the total number of people using collagen in Saudi Arabia, no sampling frame was produced. Instead, a convenience sampling model was used to select the participants. All guidelines outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki were followed by the research group. A total of 368 respondents were included most of the participants were 18 to 29 years old (61.7%); 53% were female; 47% were male; 56.8% were single; 84.5% had a university-level education or higher; most were unemployed or retired (54.9%), and most earned <5000 Saudi riyals in monthly income (63%). Only 32.6% of participants reported prior collagen use, and knowledge was generally poor, particularly among younger adults and males. Collagen users demonstrated significantly higher knowledge compared to nonusers (65.8% vs 28.2%, P < .001). Awareness of side effects was low, with 78% of participants unaware of minor adverse effects. Public knowledge of collagen use in the western region of Saudi Arabia is limited, which may lead to misuse or unrealistic expectations. These findings underscore the need for educational interventions to promote safe and informed use of collagen products.