Background: Pharmacovigilance of biological medicines is crucial because it ensures that medicines meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. In Zambia, there is little information on healthcare professionals...Background: Pharmacovigilance of biological medicines is crucial because it ensures that medicines meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. In Zambia, there is little information on healthcare professionals’ familiarity, knowledge and practices on the pharmacovigilance of biological and biosimilar medicines. Therefore, this study investigated the familiarity, knowledge, and practices related to the pharmacovigilance (PV) of biological and biosimilar medicines at selected hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: The study was an analytical questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare professionals (HCPs) at the Adult hospital, Cancer Diseases hospital, Paediatrics hospital and Women and New Born Hospital in Lusaka. Data were collected over four weeks in May and June 2021 and subsequently analysed using IBM SPSS version 21. The statistical significance was set at a 95% confidence interval. Results: Of 245 participants, only 115 (48.9%) of the HCPs were familiar with biological medicines to a basic understanding. Regarding the term biosimilars, most of the HCPs (40.9%) never heard of this word. The mean score for knowledge regarding the PV considerations of biological medicines was 4.1 out of 8 questions. Most HCPs used non-proprietary names (44.2%) when prescribing, dispensing, or administering biological medicines. Additionally, more than half (57.3%) of HCPs did not record batch numbers when dispensing or administering biological medicines. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals were more familiar with the term biological medicines than biosimilars. Healthcare professionals generally scored poorly when their knowledge regarding the PV considerations of biological medicines was assessed. Thus, there is a need to provide adequate training and continuous professional development among healthcare professionals on the pharmacovigilance of biological and biosimilar medicines.展开更多
The aim of this study is to focus on a disease with a potential global health risk--VL （visceral leishmaniasis） or kala-azar. By understanding the mechanism of occurrence, development and countering infection, we ca...The aim of this study is to focus on a disease with a potential global health risk--VL （visceral leishmaniasis） or kala-azar. By understanding the mechanism of occurrence, development and countering infection, we can expect significant improvement in the indicators of morbidity and mortality. The specific method of transmission, as well as the necessary conditions for it, opens wide opportunities for prevention. The biophysical aspects that we present make it possible to assess the seriousness of the advancing physiological changes. This ensures adequate evaluation of the associated risks and search for an optimal therapy. We have found that from the first manifestations ofkala-azar up until today, a series of countermeasures have been taken up. Acknowledging and expecting the massiveness of the infectious process, it is possible for it to cover areas whose population is unprepared to handle the contamination optimally. This requires the continuation of studies aimed at finding the most affordable and biologically tolerable medicine. The available treatment option for visceral leishmaniasis is problematic when it comes to efficacy, adverse effects and cost, making the treatment a complex issue. Not to mention toxicity of the drugs, ability to monitor side effects, length of treatment and capacity of the healthcare service to administer an accurate therapy. The main drugs available for treatment of VL （visceral leishmaniasis） are systemic agents like Antimony, Amphotericin and nowadays the oral drug Miltefosine.展开更多
Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)has been used in prevention and treatment of disease in clinical practice for thousands of years,with an indispensable role of multiple ingredients.Thus,a rapid and effective chemical ...Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)has been used in prevention and treatment of disease in clinical practice for thousands of years,with an indispensable role of multiple ingredients.Thus,a rapid and effective chemical ingredients analysis was of necessary to be established for the evaluation of the holistic quality of TCM.As could afford the data with high resolution and high sensitivity,展开更多
文摘Background: Pharmacovigilance of biological medicines is crucial because it ensures that medicines meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. In Zambia, there is little information on healthcare professionals’ familiarity, knowledge and practices on the pharmacovigilance of biological and biosimilar medicines. Therefore, this study investigated the familiarity, knowledge, and practices related to the pharmacovigilance (PV) of biological and biosimilar medicines at selected hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: The study was an analytical questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare professionals (HCPs) at the Adult hospital, Cancer Diseases hospital, Paediatrics hospital and Women and New Born Hospital in Lusaka. Data were collected over four weeks in May and June 2021 and subsequently analysed using IBM SPSS version 21. The statistical significance was set at a 95% confidence interval. Results: Of 245 participants, only 115 (48.9%) of the HCPs were familiar with biological medicines to a basic understanding. Regarding the term biosimilars, most of the HCPs (40.9%) never heard of this word. The mean score for knowledge regarding the PV considerations of biological medicines was 4.1 out of 8 questions. Most HCPs used non-proprietary names (44.2%) when prescribing, dispensing, or administering biological medicines. Additionally, more than half (57.3%) of HCPs did not record batch numbers when dispensing or administering biological medicines. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals were more familiar with the term biological medicines than biosimilars. Healthcare professionals generally scored poorly when their knowledge regarding the PV considerations of biological medicines was assessed. Thus, there is a need to provide adequate training and continuous professional development among healthcare professionals on the pharmacovigilance of biological and biosimilar medicines.
文摘The aim of this study is to focus on a disease with a potential global health risk--VL （visceral leishmaniasis） or kala-azar. By understanding the mechanism of occurrence, development and countering infection, we can expect significant improvement in the indicators of morbidity and mortality. The specific method of transmission, as well as the necessary conditions for it, opens wide opportunities for prevention. The biophysical aspects that we present make it possible to assess the seriousness of the advancing physiological changes. This ensures adequate evaluation of the associated risks and search for an optimal therapy. We have found that from the first manifestations ofkala-azar up until today, a series of countermeasures have been taken up. Acknowledging and expecting the massiveness of the infectious process, it is possible for it to cover areas whose population is unprepared to handle the contamination optimally. This requires the continuation of studies aimed at finding the most affordable and biologically tolerable medicine. The available treatment option for visceral leishmaniasis is problematic when it comes to efficacy, adverse effects and cost, making the treatment a complex issue. Not to mention toxicity of the drugs, ability to monitor side effects, length of treatment and capacity of the healthcare service to administer an accurate therapy. The main drugs available for treatment of VL （visceral leishmaniasis） are systemic agents like Antimony, Amphotericin and nowadays the oral drug Miltefosine.
文摘Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)has been used in prevention and treatment of disease in clinical practice for thousands of years,with an indispensable role of multiple ingredients.Thus,a rapid and effective chemical ingredients analysis was of necessary to be established for the evaluation of the holistic quality of TCM.As could afford the data with high resolution and high sensitivity,
