Assessing Knowledge and Attitude of Healthcare Professionals on Biosimilars: A National Survey for Pharmacists and Physicians in Taiwan

Despite the first approval of biosimilars’ in 2010, biosimilar products usage has remained low in Taiwan. This cross-sectional survey study assessed healthcare professionals’ (HCPs)—hospital pharmacists, oncologists, and rheumatologists—knowledge, and attitudes toward biosimilars. More precisely, their knowledge and attitude towards biosimilars’ current usage and regulations in Taiwan were analyzed. The mean ± standard deviation knowledge score was 2.56 ± 0.86 out of 4 (n = 395), and a difference in knowledge score was determined according to the hospital types (p = 0.004). Rheumatologists possessed significantly higher confidence in their knowledge of biosimilars than other HCPs (p = 0.001). Pharmacists showed the highest acceptance—and rheumatologists the least—for switching patients from reference drugs to biosimilars (p = 0.02). Hospital type was associated with the respondent’s confidence in their knowledge (p = 0.04) and the preference for distinguishable naming of biosimilars (p = 0.007). Their knowledge scores were associated with their confidence in the efficacy and safety of biosimilars (p = 0.02). The study found that the current level of biosimilar knowledge of HCPs in Taiwan is low. The higher the knowledge score, the greater the confidence in biosimilars and the familiarity with relevant regulations.

Evaluation of Health Risks of Improper Biomedical Waste Management among Health Workers in Selected Hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria

Improper biomedical wastes management could lead to health risks and environmental hazards. The study aimed to evaluate the health risks of improper biomedical wastes management among health workers. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 health workers across private and public hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria, using a self-developed and administered questionnaire. Analysis of the data involved descriptive and inferential statistics. The Nurses were the predominant respondents (28%), and many respondents had bachelor’s degree qualifications (86%). The respondents agreed that health workers are exposed to several health risks following poor handling of biomedical wastes from the point of generation, transport, treatment, and disposal. The study revealed satisfactory practices of precautionary measures while experience, gender, and type of hospital were significantly associated with the transmission of blood-borne infections such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) through needle pricks and injuries from sharps (p<0.0001). Gender and hospital type were significantly related to environmental pollution (p<0.0001), and work experience was significantly linked to water and foodborne infections such as cholera and typhoid (p<0.0003). Work experience and hospital type were significantly associated with the public health risks of improper biomedical wastes management (p<0.0001). Training of health workers on appropriate safety procedures of biomedical waste management is essential to prevent occupational health hazards, achieve a safe working environment, and efficient health service delivery. Government and hospital management should enforce appropriate safety measures. Keywords: Biomedical Wastes, Health Risks, Infections, Injuries, Occupational Health Hazards.

Admissions for Stroke and Strategies to Optimize Healthcare Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

BACKGROUND COVID-19 is associated with a hypercoagulable state and stroke is one of its most common neurological complications. The current study is aimed at investigating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions for stroke. METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study to determine if there was a significant difference in the number of hospital admissions for stroke during the 2 months of lockdown and the two preceding months, (starting on 24 March 2020). The numbers were also compared with the figures during the same months in the previous year. The numbers were also compared to the same months one year prior. The secondary objectives were to compare the time between the onset of stroke and presentation to the hospital, type of strokes that presented to the hospital, severity of stroke, number of code activations, number of thrombolysis conducted, and in-hospital mortality between the same time periods. RESULTS The total number of patients admitted for stroke during the time periods from 25th March 2019 to 24th May 2019, 25th January 2020 to 24th March 2020 and 25th March 2020 to 24th May 2020 were 82, 72 and 75 respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between these numbers. However, there was a significant increase in the proportion of stroke cases when compared to total hospital admissions. This suggests that an increase in stroke incidence may have been masked by a reduction in the total number of patients presenting to the hospital. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of the patients who presented during the lockdown were higher. There were no significant differences in the time between the onset of stroke and presentation to the hospital, type of strokes that presented to the hospital, severity of stroke, number of code activations, number of thrombolysis conducted, and in-hospital mortality between the periods under study. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that there may be a relative increase in the incidence of stroke in the community, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The patients who presented with stroke during the lockdown period had a higher NIHSS score. KEYWORDS COVID-19, Stroke, Lockdown

Work Index and Contextual Variables as Predictors of Emergency Nurses’ Career Success

Background: The stressful work environment of emergency departments needs competent nurses to be successful in their careers. Although the work environment significantly affects nurses’ quality of care and job satisfaction, studies on the relationship between the work environment and career success are still limited. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate how individual and environmental factors predict the career success of nurses in the emergency department.Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the predictors of career success of emergency nurses based on work index and contextual variables.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in eight university hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. The career success scale and the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) were completed by 193 emergency nurses selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using a multivariate regression analysis.Results: The mean and standard deviation of nurses’ scores were 168.59±15.54 for the career success scale (range: 39-195) and 2.64±0.48 for the PES-NWI (range: 1-4). According to multiple linear regression analysis, nursing work index and hospital type were significant predictors of nurses’ career success (R2=0.17, adjusted R2=0.11, p<.01).Conclusion: Nursing work index and hospital type were significant predictors of nurses’ career success. Nursing managers and leaders should provide healthy work environments to help nurses increase their career success.