Introduction: Although it is discouraged, community pharmacy customers can obtain oral corticosteroids (OCSs) without prescriptions from some community pharmacies in Iraq. Medication abuse is defined as the use of medication for non-medical reasons. Objectives: The study aimed to determine demographics, beliefs, and perceptions associated with the abuse of oral corticosteroids for non-illness reasons among community pharmacy customers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in fall 2018 in four provinces in Iraq. Customers of 19 community pharmacies asking for OCSs for themselves without a prescription were administered a paper survey. This study used the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to measure the relationship between the motivational factors and the abuse of OCSs. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the use of OCSs for non-illness and six TRA factors: Normative belief, behavioral belief, evaluation of the behavior, motivation to comply, subjective norms and attitude toward behavior. Results: The study enrolled 141 participants (98 women and 43 men) taking asking for OCSs without prescription. Dexamethasone was the most commonly used OCSs (59.6%). Friends were the primary recommenders for corticosteroids abuse (28.4%). The main reasons for using OCSs were to increase appetite and gain weight (53.9 %). Approximately one-third (36.2 %) of the participants gained weight after using OCSs. The regression analysis of the TRA variables showed two factors were significantly related to the abuse of OCSs. Age had a significant inverse relationship with the abuse of OCSs and the "good appearance" belief had a significant positive association with OCS abuse. Conclusion: Some Iraqi community pharmacy customers use non-prescribed oral corticosteroids to increase appetite and gain weight. Improve body appearance represents the dominant incentive that urges people to use OCSs without prescription. Health officials and healthcare practitioners need to promote people's awareness about the risks of misusing OCSs through education programs and advertisements in public health settings, media, and social media. Article Type: Original Research
In past years, structural pavement solution has been combined with destructive testing; these destructive methods are being replaced by non-destructive testing methods (NDT). Because the destructive test causes damage due to coring conducted for testing and also the difficulty of adequately repairing the core position in the field. Ultrasonic pulse velocity was used to evaluate the strength and volumetric properties of asphalt concrete, of binder course. The impact of moisture damage and testing temperature on pulse velocity has also been studied. Data were analyzed and modeled. It was found that using non-destructive testing represented by pulse velocity could be useful to predict the quality of asphalt c
... Show MoreThe performance of the pavement in terms of vehicle safety and tire wear is affected by the friction behavior of the pavement. To highlight the main characteristics that affect the production of better friction resistance of the pavement surface in this work. The micro-texture and macro-texture of the asphalt surface of Baghdad Airport highway were studied using two methods: (sand patch method and the British pendulum test). The sand patch was examined by drawing sand grains of a specific volume, while the micro-texture was analyzed using a BPT under dry and wet surface conditions. All data obtained from the two examinations were analyzed and modelled statistically using SPSS 25 software. Results show that skid resistance of pavemen
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In this paper, the using of Non-Homogenous Poisson Processes, with one of the scientific and practical means in the Operations Research had been carried out, which is the Queuing Theory, as those operations are affected by time in their conduct by one function which has a cyclic behavior, called the (Sinusoidal Function). (Mt / M / S) The model was chosen, and it is Single Queue Length with multiple service Channels, and using the estimating scales (QLs, HOL, HOLr) was carried out in considering the delay occurring to the customer before his entrance to the service, with the comparison of the best of them in the cases of the overload.
Through the experiments
... Show MoreThe aim of the study is to identify the barriers to dietary compliance among diabetic patients.
Methodology: The sample of the study consist of 100 patients who were divided into two groups according to
the type of diabetes mellitus; type 1 (Insulin-dependent diabetic mellitus), and type n (Non-Insulin dependent
diabetes mellitus). Each group consists of 50 patient selected randomly at each visit to Al-Waffa center in Mosul
city during the period from (1-12-2005) to (1-2-2006).
The steps of the study include recording the different barriers for diabetic patients. The questionnaire
was used and special list was utilized for such purpose.
Results: The results shows that there were some barriers most common such as both
The study was aimed to evaluate the marketing efficiency of dry Onion crop in Salah al-Deen, as estimate the impact of some quality and quantity factors in the efficiency of marketing process of crop using Tobit regression model. The average marketing efficiency of the research sample was 71.3686%. The marketing margins differed according to the marketing channel followed in marketing the crop. The qualitative and quantitative variables in the model are productivity, family size, distance from the market, educational level. The estimated model revealed that a variable productivity is the most important and influential in marketing efficiency, followed by the variable of the distance between the farm and the market, then the variable
... Show MoreThe problem of generated waste as a result of the implementation of construction projects, has been aggravated recently because of construction activity experienced by the world, especially Iraq, which is going through a period of reconstruction, where construction waste represents (20-40%) of the total generated waste and has a negative effect on the environment and economic side of the project. In addition, the rate of consumpted amounts of natural resources are estimated to be about 40% in the construction industry, so it became necessary to reduce waste and to be manage well. This study aims to identify the key factors affecting waste management through the various phases of the project, and this is accom
... Show MoreThe study was aimed to evaluate the marketing efficiency of dry Onion crop in Salah al-Deen, as estimate the impact of some quality and quantity factors in the efficiency of marketing process of crop using Tobit regression model. The average marketing efficiency of the research sample was 71.3686%. The marketing margins differed according to the marketing channel followed in marketing the crop. The qualitative and quantitative variables in the model are productivity, family size, distance from the market, educational level. The estimated model revealed that a variable productivity is the most important and influential in marketing efficiency, followed by the variable of the distance between the farm and the market, then the variable
... Show MoreBackground: DVT is a very common problem with a very serious complications like pulmonary embolism (PE) which carries a high mortality,and many other chronic and annoying complications ( like chronic DVT, post-phlebitic syndrome, and chronic venous insufficiency) ,and it has many risk factors that affect its course, severity ,and response to treatment. Objectives: Most of those risk factors are modifiable, and a better understanding of the relationships between them can be beneficial for better assessment for liable pfatients , prevention of disease, and the effectiveness of our treatment modalities. Male to female ratio was nearly equal , so we didn’t discuss the gender among other risk factors. Type of the study:A cross- secti
Objective: This study goal was to screen participants from different settings in Baghdad for depression using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale and identify factors influencing the levels of depression. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of 313 people from four settings (teaching hospital, college of medicine, college of pharmacy, and high school) in Baghdad, Iraq. The participants were screened using paper survey relying on the BDI scale during spring 2018. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we measured the association between depression scores and six participant factors. Results: The overall prevalence of depression in our sample was 57.2%. Female participants had higher BDI
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