Objective:The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life and the factors associated with it among community pharmacists in Lebanon.Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out between March and July 2018, enrolling 435 pharmacists, using a proportionate random sample of community pharmacies from all districts of Lebanon. The validated Arabic translation of the Short-Form 12 (SF12v2) was used to derive 2 summary scores: physical and mental component summaries (PCS and MCS).Results:Lebanese community pharmacists scored a mean PCS-12 and MCS-12 of 48.9 (SD 7.1) and 48.8 (SD 8.5), respectively. Higher age (Beta= -0.08), having a PhD degree (Beta= -4.54), higher depression score (Beta= -0.25), higher emotional work fatigue (Beta= -0.13) and higher physical work fatigue (Beta=-0.14) were significantly associated with lower physical QoL (lower PCS-12 scores). Increased stress (Beta= -0.17), higher insomnia (Beta= -0.21), higher depression (Beta= -0.2) and working for over 40 hours per week (Beta= -0.2) were significantly associated with lower mental QoL (lower mental MCS-12 scores).Conclusions:Our research has found a strong correlation between quality of life and psychological factors, including stress, burnout, insomnia, and depression among community pharmacists.

Introduction Empathy is the cornerstone of the relationship between the healthcare provider and the patient. In Lebanon, no studies have investigated the factors associated with empathy among community pharmacists. Hence, the importance of this research to better understand empathy and help community pharmacists with this vital aspect of their practice. Objective This study aimed to evaluate empathy and possible factors associated with it among Lebanese community pharmacists. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out between March and July 2018. It enrolled a proportionate random sample of 435 community pharmacists from all Lebanese districts. The Epi info software calculated the minimum sample size, based on a total number of 3762 community pharmacists, with an expected frequency of 50% of pharmacists with low empathy, and a 95% confidence interval. The minimal sample size required was 350 community pharmacists; our sample size was 435 to account for missing values. Results Our results revealed that 228 (53.4%) pharmacists had low empathy. Lower empathy was significantly associated with more physical (Beta = − 0.331) and mental (Beta = − 0.126) work fatigue, higher age (Beta = − 0.125) and a practice experience between 3 years and less than 6 years compared to less than 6 months (Beta = − 2.440). Conclusion This study shed the light on some factors associated with empathy among Lebanese community pharmacists. Low empathy levels were significantly associated with factors such as age, practice experience, and mental and physical work fatigue, all of which impact the practice, as the accepted model of pharmacy practice requires that pharmacists establish effective communication and use interpersonal skills. Therefore, developing empathetic communication skills is considered essential. Furthermore, increased mental and physical work fatigue should not hinder community pharmacists’ access to self-care, whether for their mental or physical health.

Background: In developing countries, brand-generic substitution is not based on validated scientific evidence that confirm the therapeutic equivalence of the generic to the originator. Rather, decisions are made based on the availability of generic medications. Substitution by inappropriate preparations applies to antibiotics, which may increase the risk of resistance in case of underdosing. This analytical study aims to dose and assess for the accuracy of labeling three oral antibiotic preparations, namely ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, amoxicillin trihydrate and amoxicillin trihydrate-clavulanate potassium, the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) found in brand and generic tablets available on the Lebanese market. Methods: One brand and 4 generics of ciprofloxacin tablets, 3 generic amoxicillin tablets, and 1 brand and 4 generics of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid medications, were quantified, taking 2 batches of each. According to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines, ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography was used to measure the APIs content within tablets. The USP required assay limit of the API was taken as the main comparison criteria. Results: Out of the 5 ciprofloxacin medications tested, all 5 were out of the 2% required range, thus being substandard. For amoxicillin, all 3 medications were within the 20% range. As for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid medications, 4 out of 5 medications met the 30% required range of clavulanic acid and one exceeded the claimed amount of clavulanic acid, while all 5 met the assay limit for amoxicillin. Conclusion: These findings raise safety and efficacy concerns, providing solid grounds for potential correlations of antibiotic resistance/substandard antibiotics.

Objectives: To validate a scale to assess the hygiene hypothesis and the association between hygiene and asthma among Lebanese preschool children aged 3–5 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between November 2018 and March 2019, enrolled 515 preschool children. Asthma and potential risk factors, including hygiene, were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. A specific hygiene hypothesis scale has been gen-erated and validated for this purpose. Results: The hygiene hypothesis scale items converged over a solution of nine factors that had an Eigenvalue over 1, explaining a total of 65.86% of the variance. An acceptable Cronbach’s alpha value was recorded for the hygiene hypothesis scale (0.696). Variables correlated with higher odds of asthma were male gender (ORa = 0.41 for females), living near a prairie sprayed with pesticides (ORa = 3.09), having a heating system in the bedroom compared to the sitting room (ORa = 9.97), attending kindergarten (ORa = 2.80), having a mother who smokes water-pipe compared to not smoking (ORa = 3.34), having a mother with a history of asthma (ORa = 5.50), and having respiratory infections (ORa = 14.72). However, the hygiene hypothesis score was not associated with higher odds of asthma (p = 0.881). Conclusions: The current results suggested that neither home cleaning nor personal cleanliness was correlated with asthma in preschool children. Larger prospective studies that measure the intensity and duration of exposure to each toxicant are suggested to better assess the hygiene hypothesis items and their association with asthma.

Background The last study conducted in Lebanon about postpartum depression dates back to 2014, whereas no studies have been conducted to assess postpartum anxiety (PPA). The shortage of research in this field and the potential opportunities to provide different aspects of postpartum care that respond to women's needs require a deeper understanding of the various problems faced by postpartum women. The study objectives were to delineate some factors associated with postnatal depression and anxiety among a sample of Lebanese women 4-6 weeks after delivery and validate the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) in Arabic language in that sample.Methods This cross-sectional study, carried out between July 2018 and March 2019, enrolled 295 participants who came for a postnatal checkup to four clinics.Results Higher postpartum anxiety (Beta=0.25), higher insomnia (Beta=0.11) and having complications during delivery (Beta=1.81) were associated with higher postpartum depression. Higher postpartum depression score (Beta=1.38) and a premature baby birth compared to those born at term with normal weight (Beta=4.25) were associated with higher postpartum anxiety. The factor analysis for the EPDS and the PASS scales was run over the whole sample. The EPDS and PASS scales items converged over a solution of three and seven factors that had an Eigenvalue over 1 respectively, explaining a total of 64.73% and 65.12% of the variance respectively. High Cronbach’s alpha values were found for the EPDS (0.826) and PASS (0.920) scales.Conclusion Depression and anxiety prevalence rates in the Lebanese population is higher compared to other countries which may in part be due to differences of regional, social, and environmental culture. Different etiological factors could contribute to both depression and anxiety in the postpartum period, which could adversely affect both the mother and the infant.