Background and ObjectiveThe patient package insert is an important source of drug information. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the PPI of the anti-infective agents manufactured in Palestine with the imported equivalents.MethodThe selection criteria generated 15 different anti-infective agents available as 36 locally manufactured products and 15 imported equivalents. The design of the patient package insert was evaluated in terms of the number of words used in eight main headings and the presence or absence of certain information regarding nine statements.ResultsInserts of locally manufactured products have significantly fewer words than those of imported products with respect to warnings, dosage and administration, and side effects. The most significant difference was found in the warnings. Moreover, differences were found between inserts of local and imported products in terms of the presence of the nine informative statements. Locally manufactured products did not mention inactive ingredients, clinical pharmacology or date of last revision, but all of them provided information on the use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation and on the duration of therapy. However, in general they provided less information than the imported equivalents.ConclusionPalestinian authorities and local manufacturers should implement appropriate measures to regulate the quality and quantity of information in the patient package insert of locally produced anti-infective agents. PPI improvement will better direct health practices to the benefit of the patients.

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Background and ObjectiveThe patient package insert is an important source of drug information. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the PPI of the anti-infective agents manufactured in Palestine with the imported equivalents.MethodThe selection criteria generated 15 different anti-infective agents available as 36 locally manufactured products and 15 imported equivalents. The design of the patient package insert was evaluated in terms of the number of words used in eight main headings and the presence or absence of certain information regarding nine statements.ResultsInserts of locally manufactured products have significantly fewer words than those of imported products with respect to warnings, dosage and administration, and side effects. The most significant difference was found in the warnings. Moreover, differences were found between inserts of local and imported products in terms of the presence of the nine informative statements. Locally manufactured products did not mention inactive ingredients, clinical pharmacology or date of last revision, but all of them provided information on the use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation and on the duration of therapy. However, in general they provided less information than the imported equivalents.ConclusionPalestinian authorities and local manufacturers should implement appropriate measures to regulate the quality and quantity of information in the patient package insert of locally produced anti-infective agents. PPI improvement will better direct health practices to the benefit of the patients.

Kuwait (11.8 %) and Qatar (10.8 %). International cooperation was highest with Malaysia (9.7 %) followed by Pakistan (7.5 %), United Kingdom (UK) (8.6 %), and Australia (6.5 %). Conclusion:The quantity and quality of community pharmacy-based research originating from Middle Eastern Arab countries was low. More effort is needed to bridge the gap in community pharmacy-based research and to promote better community pharmacy services in Middle Eastern Arab countries.

Objective: Stroke is a major health problem, yet no studies on stroke have been reported from Palestine. This one-year, hospital-based study was conducted to determine the prevalence of risk factors and the in-hospital mortality rate in patients with ischemic stroke. Method: All patients admitted to Al-Watani government hospital and diagnosed with ischemic stroke between September 2006 and August 2007 were included in the study. Data were obtained by retrospective review of medical charts. Pearson Chi-square and independent t test were used in the univariate analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of in-hospital mortality rates among the patients. Statistical testing and graphics were carried out using SPSS 15. Results: We identified 153 ischemic stroke patients (83 females and 70 males) of whom 92 were having a first-ever stroke (FES). Patients had several prevalent modifiable risk factors such as hypertension (HTN) (66%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (45.8%), and renal reduced renal function (crcl < 60 ml/ min) (33.9%). Twenty-six (17%) of the patients died during hospitalization. Four variables were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality: history of previous stroke (P= 0.004), crcl at admission (P = 0.004), number of post-stroke complications (P = 0.001), and age (P = 0.043). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the number of post-stroke complications (P= 0.001) and previous stroke (P = 0.03) were significant independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Screening and better control of risk factors, especially HTN, DM and renal dysfunction, are required to decrease the incidence and in-hospital mortality among patients with ischemic stroke.