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
The objective of the present study is to determine the nature and direction of the correlation between mathematical excellence and learning styles as defined by the Entwistle, model in fifth-grade scientific female students. The descriptive correlational approach was implemented by the two researchers to accomplish the research objectives. A scale was developed to assess the learning styles of female students in the sample in accordance with the Entwistle, model. : (Knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, systematic thinking, creativity), and the research community was determined by the female students of the scientific fifth grade in the morning preparatory and secondary schools of the General Direct
... Show MoreKetoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects. It is widely used in the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and in soft tissue injury. The purpose of this study was to prepare an oral disintegrating tablets of ketoprofen by simple method. The tablets were prepared by direct compression method and different ratios of various subliming agents or superdisintegrants were incorporated. Then these tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, weight variation, water absorption ratio, disintegrating time and dissolution time. The results showed that Formula F11 batch had short disint
... Show MoreBackground: The posterior slope of the articular eminence of completely edentulous patients compared to patients with maintained occlusion shows significant flattening. This study aimed to correlate between the flattening of the posterior slope of the articular eminence, with dental status, age, genders, on both sides using computed tomography. Materials and Methods: The sample of the present study was a total of 117 Iraqi subjects, who admitted to the maxillofacial department at Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital in Al-Najaf city. The examination was performed on CT scanner; the eminence inclination was measured in two methods using sagittal section. Results: Clinically, the inclination of articular eminence was higher in edentulous subjects than i
... Show MoreBackground and objectives: Whether to use a cold scalpel or laser surgery to remove a lesion in the skin of the craniofacial area is the main question the surgeon asks him- or herself to do. The study tried to extend the literature with data that may help the surgeons to choose the right method. Methods: Thirty patients with intra- and extraoral craniofacial skin lesions managed by Carbone dioxide (CO2) laser surgery. Results: The most common type of lesion treated was melanocytic nevi (15 patients; 50%). Conclusion: The main complication of CO2 laser surgery is the remaining permanent hypopigmentation of the treated area; however, the CO2 laser has many advantages (especially at the time of surgery) making it a good choice for the manageme
... Show MoreObjective: To suggest a weighted measure to diagnose the reasons for the low student success ratios in mathematics concerning the third grade of intermediate schools in light of components educational system represented by: [Students, Teachers, Curriculum, and Environmental reasons (others reasons)] assuming differentiated and interrelated components, Also the effectiveness forming of these components according to the gender variable. Methods: Data collection tools were prepared by constructing two questionnaires for each of (Students and Teachers), which included a number of items that involved some domains for studied components of educational system, which demonstrated a high level of validity and reliability in the pilot study, in addi
... Show MoreIn this research, we dealt with the study of the Non-Homogeneous Poisson process, which is one of the most important statistical issues that have a role in scientific development as it is related to accidents that occur in reality, which are modeled according to Poisson’s operations, because the occurrence of this accident is related to time, whether with the change of time or its stability. In our research, this clarifies the Non-Homogeneous hemispheric process and the use of one of these models of processes, which is an exponentiated - Weibull model that contains three parameters (α, β, σ) as a function to estimate the time rate of occurrence of earthquakes in Erbil Governorate, as the governorate is adjacent to two countr
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The research to have a clear perceptions about the knowledge value added to assess the knowledge resources of the Iraqi private banks, depending on the value added methodology of the proposed defined (Housel & Bell, 2001), which assumes that the knowledge value added come through synergetic relationship between knowledge resource and information technology, trying to the possibility of mainstream theory and its application in the Iraqi environment and interpretation of results, and on this basis was launched search of a research problem took root synergetic nature of the relationship between knowledge (human) resource and
... Show MoreThis title may have something strange or paradoxical; it is unusual or natural to look for violence in literature, or that literature is a tool for killing through the contribution of writers and poets in generating, feeding or advocating violence. The Zionist literature belongs to the 20th century, is almost the only literature among the etiquette of peoples, which professes racism and boasts of betraying its human role, and wants to be a vehicle for terrorism domination. It also tends to be a means in the hands of killers and adventurers. Writers of this Literature show that no solution to the Jewish problem is only by Zionist presence to replace the Palestinian presence and to build the state of "Israel" on the ruins of Pa
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