Clinical Pharmacy and Practice

Description of Subtheme:

Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice research is a vital branch of health services research, focusing on the multifaceted impact of pharmacy practices on the healthcare system, medication use, and patient care. This field encompasses various dimensions including clinical, behavioral, economic, and humanistic implications of pharmacy practices. One of its core aspects involves exploring the prevalence of medical conditions among populations. Simultaneously, it explores the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists and patients, aiming to enhance communication and health literacy. In addition to that, it investigates the public's knowledge, perception, and willingness regarding patient care services, and it probes deeply into patients’ attitudes, and practices concerning medication use. It also examines prescription and consumption patterns of medications, comparing and benchmarking these practices with international standards, thereby contributing to optimizing evidence-based practices.

This research field explores patients’ behavior, encompassing aspects related to medication adherence, health beliefs, and attitudes, thereby enhancing patient engagement and health outcomes. It also evaluates healthcare providers' preparedness and responses to the encountered medical conditions, ensuring the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services. Furthermore, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice research evaluates the efficacy, safety, and quality of provided patient care services. Besides, it analyzes the impact of pharmaceutical interventions on patients' health outcomes and quality of life.

Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice research addresses challenges faced by both patients and healthcare providers. It assesses the impact of medication shortages on patients’ quality of life while seeking innovative solutions to ensure continuity of care. Additionally, it explores methods to improve pharmacists’ education and training, fostering a patient-centered care approach. This research field actively engages in conducting comprehensive reviews on different medical conditions, encompassing epidemiology, assessment, and treatment options. Moreover, it explores the cost-effectiveness of medications, ensuring efficient healthcare spending and resource allocation. This research conducts vital epidemiological studies and antimicrobial surveillance, contributing significantly to the prevention and management of infectious diseases. Through these diverse initiatives, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice research continue to shape the future of healthcare, promoting evidence-based practices and enhancing patient outcomes on a global scale.

Research Action Plan:

• • Assessing health knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare providers and patients
  • Studying the prevalence of medical conditions among populations
  • Examining risk factors, management practices, and treatment outcomes of medical conditions
  • Investigating prescription and consumption patterns of medications, and benchmarking these practices with international standards
  • Investigating pharmacists' readiness to expand the practice scope aiming to upscale the pharmacy profession
  • Conducting epidemiological studies and antimicrobial surveillance to prevent and manage infectious diseases effectively

Prominent Research:

• 1. Itani, R., Khojah, H. M. J., Karout, S., Rahme, D., Hammoud, L., Awad, R., Abu-Farha, R., Mukattash, T. ‎, Raychouni, H., & El-Lakany, A. (2023). Acinetobacter baumannii: assessing susceptibility ‎patterns, management practices, and mortality predictors in a tertiary teaching hospital in ‎Lebanon. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 12(1), 136.‎
  2. Hammour, K. A., Abu-farha, R., Itani, R*., Karout, S., Allan, A., & Manaseer, Q. (2023). The prevalence of ‎Carbapenem Resistance Gram negative pathogens in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Jordan. BMC ‎Infectious Diseases, 23, 634–640. ‎
  3. Naser, A. Y., Alwafi, H., Itani, R., Alzayani, S., Qadus, S., Al-Rousan, R., Abdelwahab, G. M., Dahmash, ‎‎, AlQatawneh, A., Khojah, H. M. J., Kautsar, A. P., Alabbasi, R., Alsahaf, N., Qutub, R., ‎Alrawashdeh, ‎H. M., Abukhalaf, A. H. I., & Bahlol, M. (2023). Nomophobia among university ‎students in five Arab ‎countries in the Middle East: prevalence and risk factors. BMC Psychiatry, ‎‎23(1), 541. ‎
  4. Itani, R., Khojah, H. M., Karout, S., Abu-Farha, R., Mukattash, T. L., Rahme, D., Housary, K., El Achi, H., ‎Safar, A. O., Al Hajj, I. K., & El-Lakany, A. (2023). Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon ‎amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study. BMC Health Services Research, 23(520), 1–10.‎
  5. Abu-farha, R., Alzoubi, K. H., Mukattash, T., Karout, S., Itani, R., ‎Nassar, R. I., & Barakat, M. (2023). Public perceptions about home ‎delivery of medications service in Lebanon : A cross-sectional survey. ‎Electronic Journal of General Medicine, 20(1), em430-37. ‎
  6. Itani, N., Domiati, S., Karout, S., M J Khojah, H., Awad, R., & Itani, R*. (2022). Upscaling the ‎pharmacy profession: Knowledge and willingness of the Lebanese pharmacists to practice the ‎administration of dermal fillers. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 30(11), 1543–1551
  7. Aldabagh A, Abu Farha R, Karout S, Itani R, Abu Hammour K, Alefishat E. Evaluation of Drug Use ‎Pattern in Pediatric Outpatient Clinics in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital Using WHO Drug-‎Prescribing Indicators. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2022;15:1143–51.‎
  8. Itani, R., Soubra, L., Karout, S., Rahme, D., Karout, L., & Khojah, H. ‎ J. (2022). Primary Dysmenorrhea: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, ‎and Treatment Updates. Korean J Fam Med, 43(2), 101–108.
  9. Karout, S., Khojah, H. M. J., Itani, R*., Jaffal, F., & El-Lakany, A. ‎‎(2022). Assessing the pharmaceutical care provision to suspected ‎COVID-19 patients in community pharmacies: a simulated patient ‎ BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 467. ‎
  10. Karout, S., Soubra, L., Rahme, D., Karout, L., Khojah, H. M. J., & Itani, ‎R*. (2021). Prevalence, risk factors, and management practices of ‎primary dysmenorrhea among young females. BMC Women’s Health, ‎‎21(1), 392.
  11. Itani, R., Khojah, H. M. J., Jaffal, F., Rahme, D., Karout, L., & Karout, ‎ (2021). Provision of pharmaceutical care to suspected high-risk ‎COVID-19 patients through telehealth: a nationwide simulated ‎patient study. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 997.
  12. Abu-Farha, R., Mukattash, T., Itani, R., Karout, S., Khojah, H., Al-‎Mahmood, A., & Alzoubi, K. (2021). Willingness of Middle Eastern ‎Public to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines. Saudi Pharmaceutical ‎Journal, 29(7), 734–739.
  13. Itani, R., Karout, S., Khojah, H. M. J., Jaffal, F., Abbas, F., Awad, R., ‎Karout, L., Abu-Farha, R., Kassab, M. B., & Mukattash, T. L. (2021). ‎Community Pharmacists’ Preparedness and Responses to COVID-19 ‎Pandemic: A Multinational Study. International Journal of Clinical ‎Practice, 75(9), e14421.
  14. Domiati, S., & Poushuju, R. (2022). Clinical pharmacist evaluation of medication inappropriateness in a geriatric hospital. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises, 80(6), 876–884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharma.2022.03.001
  15. Saab, May and Domiati, Souraya (2022) "vaccination for newly emerged infectious diseases as a blessing or curse from the perspective of the lebanese population: a two-phase study," BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/YAZH6193
  Khansa, Nada; A. K. Gazy, Azza; El-Lakany, Abdalla; and Domiati, Souraya (2023) "assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards expired drug disposal among the community in beirut city, lebanon," BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing: Vol. 5: Iss. 2, Article 8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8288.1188