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 Present study aims to shed some light on the concept of authority of university students and to find statistically significant differences as regards this concepts in accordance with three variables gender (males, females),field of study(scientific ,humanities)and grade(second ,fourth). To accomplish the study a ( 7) level scale was developed for the concept of authority and it subjected to validity and credibility the scale was used with 590 student sample (237) males and (353) females Results show that male students show obedience to authority forms below the Avery e component with the theoretical Avery of the scale besides ,reinforcement was on the top of authority chain ,followed by person traits ,friends, affect punishment and t
... 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
... Show MoreLandSat Satellite ETM+ image have been analyzed to detect the different depths of regions inside the Tigris river in order to detect the regions that need to remove sedimentation in Baghdad in Iraq Country. The scene consisted of six bands (without the thermal band), It was captured in March ٢٠٠١. The variance in depth is determined by applying the rationing technique on the bands ٣ and ٥. GIS ٩. ١ program is used to apply the rationing technique and determined the results.
The objective of the research is to identify the level of supervisory performance of the educational supervisor from the point of view of headmasters at secondary schools. The problem was the need to evaluate performance. A sample of (97) school headmasters was chosen to collect the needed data, they proportionated (38%) of the total community. the researcher designed a questionnaire consisted of (43) paragraphs with five areas. The results showed that there is a good level of performance among supervisors; there are no significant differences in the variable of the certificate, while there were significant differences in terms of gender for the benefit of males. The research concluded with a number of recommendations and suggestions.
... 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 MoreThe purpose of the current investigation was to examine the relationship between inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP), an oxidative stress marker (Malondialdehyde; MDA), and DNA damage assessed by comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis, SCG) in smokers and non-smokers. The comet assay score was analyzed by image software using three parameters for measuring DNA damage which were tail length, tail DNA %, and tail moment. SCG is commonly used as an in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity test. Because of its ability to detect different forms of DNA damage and its simplicity of application, the technique is being increasingly used in human biomonitoring. The test was performed on blood samples from smokers and non-smokers to bett
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