Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of an Arabic language version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in Lebanon

Background: Patients’ positive illness perceptions (IPs) significantly contribute to treatment success. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ) is widely used in various diseases for assessing IPs. It was developed in English-speaking countries and studies on it in Arab countries are scarce.Objectives, Setting and design: This observational cross-sectional study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the Brief IPQ English version into a modern Arabic language version and determine its psychometric properties in a sample of Lebanese cardiac disease patients. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon.Participants: A convenience sample of 30 patients with cardiac disease were recruited during routine visits to cardiologists’ offices in Beirut, Lebanon. Inclusion criteria were at least one cardiac disease for at least 6 months with no acute episode or exacerbation of the disease during the 6 preceding months, age]18 years, and the ability to read and comprehend Arabic. The pre-final version of the Brief IPQ Arabic version was tested for face and content validity. The meaning, comprehensibility, and acceptability were studied by individual interviews. For discriminant validity and internal consistency of the Brief IPQ Arabic version (Brief IPQ-Ar), 100 patients were recruited in a similar manner using the same inclusion criteria. To assess reproducibility, 30 patients, selected randomly from the 100 patients, filled the questionnaire a second time, 34 weeks after its first administration and under the same conditions.Main outcome measures: Psychometric properties of the Brief IPQ-Ar among Lebanese patients suffering from cardiac diseases.Results: Semantic equivalence between the Brief IPQ-Ar questions and patients’ descriptions was 100%. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.717, which shows good internal consistency. Reproducibility was satisfactory (ICC values > 0.776). Moreover, the Brief IPQ-Ar discriminated participants according to the type of cardiac disease and treatment-related characteristics.Conclusions: We confirmthat the Brief IPQ-Ar is appropriate for exploring IPs in cardiac disease patientswhose first language is Arabic. Further research should be conducted to test this Arabic version in other types of diseases.Keywords: adaptation; Arabic; Brief IPQ; cardiology; cross-cultural; psychometri

Recherche de facteurs génétiques intervenant dans la variabilité de la réponse aux opioïdes dans le traitement de la douleur et les traitements de substitution

L objectif de cette thèse a été d explorer l association entre des variants génétiques impliqués dans la variabilité interindividuelle de la réponse au traitement par les opioïdes et la survenue d effets secondaires. Nous avons recherché si des facteurs génétiques influençaient la réponse à la morphine dans le traitement de la douleur aigüe. L allèle T du polymorphisme c.3435C>T d ABCB1 est significativement associé aux doses de morphine et à la survenue de nausées dans une étude pilote chez des patients libanais en post-opératoire. Ensuite, l étude de la réponse à la morphine chez des patients présentant une obésité morbide a montré que la fréquence de l allèle 118G d OPRM1 et le seuil de sensibilité à la douleur sont plus élevés que chez les patients à poids normal. La recherche des facteurs influençant la variabilité de la réponse à la méthadone chez des patients toxicomanes traités pour substitution a mis en évidence deux polymorphismes (TaqIA de DRD2/ANKK1 et c.118A>G d OPRM1) significativement associés à la dose maximale de méthadone administrée. Trois facteurs sont associés au phénotype CYP3A, impliqué dans le métabolisme de la méthadone: la prise de benzodiazépines, l infection par le VIH et un polymorphisme de POR, gène qui code une oxydoréductase. De plus, le travail mené sur les effets secondaires cardiaques de la méthadone a permis de mettre en évidence trois facteurs corrélés à l allongement de l espace QT: la dose, l infection par le VIH et le polymorphisme p.Lys897Thr de KCNH2 codant pour le canal potassique hERG. Ces travaux contribuent à démontrer l intérêt d intégrer des données cliniques et génétiques dans la prescription personnalisée des opioïdes.The main objective of this thesis was to explore the association between genetic variants potentially involved in inter-individual variability of opioids response and side effects in the treatment of pain and opiate substitution treatment. Initially, we investigated whether genetic factors influence the response to morphine in the treatment of acute pain. The T allele of the polymorphism ABCB1 c.3435C>T was significantly associated with doses of morphine and the outcome of nausea in a pilot study in Lebanese postoperative patients. Next, we examined the response to morphine in patients with morbid obesity (BMI>40); in these patients, the frequency of the 118G OPRM1 allele and the pain threshold appeared to be higher than in patients with normal BMI. The search for factors influencing the variability in response to methadone in patients treated for drug substitution showed that two polymorphisms (DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA and OPRM1 c.118A>G) were significantly associated with the maximum doses of methadone. In addition, three factors were associated with the CYP3A phenotype, involved in the metabolism of methadone: the use of benzodiazepines, HIV infection and a polymorphism in POR gene, which encodes an oxidoreductase. Finally, the exploration of the cardiac side effects of methadone has highlighted three factors significantly correlated with QT prolongation: methadone doses, HIV infection and the polymorphism p.Lys897Thr in KCNH2 encoding a cardiac potassium ion channel. This work demonstrates the importance of integrating both clinical and genetic data in the personalized prescription of opioids.PARIS5-Bibliotheque electronique (751069902) / SudocPARIS-BIUM-Bib. électronique (751069903) / SudocSudocFranceF

Descriptive assessment of graduates' perceptions of pharmacy-related competencies based on the Lebanese pharmacy core competencies framework

Background: Pharmacists possess a unique and complex body of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to enable them to optimize health outcomes. Pharmacy organizations publish routinely updated versions of professional competencies that help pharmacy schools integrate advances into their curricula. In Lebanon, no national framework for pharmacy education is officially adopted yet. In 2017, the Official Pharmacists’ Association in Lebanon [OPL - Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon] took the initiative to develop a pharmacy core competency framework. Objective: The primary objective of this survey was to evaluate graduates' perceptions of pharmacy-related competencies “taught” across Lebanese pharmacy schools/faculties, based on the suggested Lebanese Pharmacy Competencies Framework. This study also explored the association between graduates' demographics, university attributes, and self-assessed competency performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving pharmacists who graduated from Lebanese universities was performed through a 40-minute online questionnaire distributed over social media platforms and groups of pharmacists. Results: Pharmacists perceived their competence as moderate upon graduation, the lowest scores being in fundamental knowledge and medicine supply; the highest reported scores were in personal skills and safe/rational use of medicines. Moreover, females, younger graduates, PharmD holders, and pharmacists working in hospitals/clinical settings and academia had the highest perception of their competencies. Pharmacists in the public sector and medical laboratory directors had the lowest perception of competence. Conclusions: When comparing the taught curriculum to the suggested Lebanese Pharmacy Competency Framework, all domains need to be improved to optimize the perception, education, and practice of pharmacists. It is essential to emphasize fundamental knowledge, medicines supply, and public health competencies in undergraduate curricula and improve continuing professional education

A SCN9A gene-encoded dorsal root ganglia sodium channel polymorphism associated with severe fibromyalgia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A consistent line of investigation suggests that autonomic nervous system dysfunction may explain the multi-system features of fibromyalgia (FM); and that FM is a sympathetically maintained neuropathic pain syndrome. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are key sympathetic-nociceptive short-circuit sites. Sodium channels located in DRG (particularly Nav1.7) act as molecular gatekeepers for pain detection. Nav1.7 is encoded in gene SCN9A of chromosome 2q24.3 and is predominantly expressed in the DRG pain-sensing neurons and sympathetic ganglia neurons. Several SCN9A sodium channelopathies have been recognized as the cause of rare painful dysautonomic syndromes such as paroxysmal extreme pain disorder and primary erythromelalgia. The aim of this study was to search for an association between fibromyalgia and several SCN9A sodium channels gene polymorphisms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied 73 Mexican women suffering from FM and 48 age-matched women who considered themselves healthy. All participants filled out the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Genomic DNA from whole blood containing EDTA was extracted by standard techniques. The following SCN9A single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were determined by 5' exonuclease TaqMan assays: rs4371369; rs4387806; rs4453709; rs4597545; rs6746030; rs6754031; rs7607967; rs12620053; rs12994338; and rs13017637.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The frequency of the rs6754031 polymorphism was significantly different in both groups (<it>P </it>= 0.036) mostly due to an absence of the GG genotype in controls. Interestingly; patients with this rs6754031 GG genotype had higher FIQ scores (median = 80; percentile 25/75 = 69/88) than patients with the GT genotype (median = 63; percentile 25/75 = 58/73; <it>P </it>= 0.002) and the TT genotype (median = 71; percentile 25/75 = 64/77; <it>P </it>= 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this ethnic group; a disabling form of FM is associated to a particular SCN9A sodium channel gene variant. These preliminary results raise the possibility that some patients with severe FM may have a dorsal root ganglia sodium channelopathy.</p

Clinical and Genetic Factors Associated with Resistance to Treatment in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Study

Objectives: To assess clinical and genetic factors affecting response to treatment in a sample of patients with schizophrenia (treatment-resistant patients versus treatment responders). We also aimed at examining if these factors are different when we consider two different resistance classifications (the positive and negative syndrome scale, PANSS and the brief psychiatric rating scale, BPRS). Material and Methods: A case-control study included treatment-resistant patients and good responders. Patients were stratified in two groups based on the established criteria for treatment-resistant schizophrenia using BPRS and PANSS. The study was approved by the ethical committees (references: CEHDF1017; HPC-017-2017) and all patients/legal representatives gave their written consent. Clinical factors were assessed. DNA was obtained using a buccal swab and genotyping for OPRM1, COMT, DRD2 et MTHFR genes using the Lightcycler&reg; (Roche). Results: Some discrepancies between the BPRS and PANSS definitions were noted in our study when assessing the patients&rsquo; psychopathological symptoms and response to treatment. The multivariable analysis, taking the presence versus absence of treatment resistance as the dependent variable, showed that that family history of schizophrenia, university studies, time since the beginning of treatment and chlorpromazine equivalent dose as well as the COMT gene are associated with resistance to treatment. In addition, a gender-related difference was noted for COMT SNP; men with at least one Met allele were more prone to be resistant to treatment than Val/Val patients. Conclusion: Uncovering the clinical and genetic factors associated with resistance to treatment could help us better treat our schizophrenic patients in a concept of personalized medicine

Recherche de facteurs génétiques intervenant dans la variabilité de la réponse aux opioïdes dans le traitement de la douleur et les traitements de substitution

The main objective of this thesis was to explore the association between genetic variants potentially involved in inter-individual variability of opioids’ response and side effects in the treatment of pain and opiate substitution treatment. Initially, we investigated whether genetic factors influence the response to morphine in the treatment of acute pain. The T allele of the polymorphism ABCB1 c.3435C>T was significantly associated with doses of morphine and the outcome of nausea in a pilot study in Lebanese postoperative patients. Next, we examined the response to morphine in patients with morbid obesity (BMI>40); in these patients, the frequency of the 118G OPRM1 allele and the pain threshold appeared to be higher than in patients with normal BMI. The search for factors influencing the variability in response to methadone in patients treated for drug substitution showed that two polymorphisms (DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA and OPRM1 c.118A>G) were significantly associated with the maximum doses of methadone. In addition, three factors were associated with the CYP3A phenotype, involved in the metabolism of methadone: the use of benzodiazepines, HIV infection and a polymorphism in POR gene, which encodes an oxidoreductase. Finally, the exploration of the cardiac side effects of methadone has highlighted three factors significantly correlated with QT prolongation: methadone doses, HIV infection and the polymorphism p.Lys897Thr in KCNH2 encoding a cardiac potassium ion channel. This work demonstrates the importance of integrating both clinical and genetic data in the personalized prescription of opioids.L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’explorer l’association entre des variants génétiques impliqués dans la variabilité interindividuelle de la réponse au traitement par les opioïdes et la survenue d’effets secondaires. Nous avons recherché si des facteurs génétiques influençaient la réponse à la morphine dans le traitement de la douleur aigüe. L’allèle T du polymorphisme c.3435C>T d’ABCB1 est significativement associé aux doses de morphine et à la survenue de nausées dans une étude pilote chez des patients libanais en post-opératoire. Ensuite, l’étude de la réponse à la morphine chez des patients présentant une obésité morbide a montré que la fréquence de l’allèle 118G d’OPRM1 et le seuil de sensibilité à la douleur sont plus élevés que chez les patients à poids normal. La recherche des facteurs influençant la variabilité de la réponse à la méthadone chez des patients toxicomanes traités pour substitution a mis en évidence deux polymorphismes (TaqIA de DRD2/ANKK1 et c.118A>G d’OPRM1) significativement associés à la dose maximale de méthadone administrée. Trois facteurs sont associés au phénotype CYP3A, impliqué dans le métabolisme de la méthadone: la prise de benzodiazépines, l’infection par le VIH et un polymorphisme de POR, gène qui code une oxydoréductase. De plus, le travail mené sur les effets secondaires cardiaques de la méthadone a permis de mettre en évidence trois facteurs corrélés à l’allongement de l’espace QT : la dose, l’infection par le VIH et le polymorphisme p.Lys897Thr de KCNH2 codant pour le canal potassique hERG. Ces travaux contribuent à démontrer l’intérêt d’intégrer des données cliniques et génétiques dans la prescription personnalisée des opioïdes

Exploring genetic factors involved in the variability of response to opioids in the treatment of pain and substitution therapy

L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’explorer l’association entre des variants génétiques impliqués dans la variabilité interindividuelle de la réponse au traitement par les opioïdes et la survenue d’effets secondaires. Nous avons recherché si des facteurs génétiques influençaient la réponse à la morphine dans le traitement de la douleur aigüe. L’allèle T du polymorphisme c.3435C>T d’ABCB1 est significativement associé aux doses de morphine et à la survenue de nausées dans une étude pilote chez des patients libanais en post-opératoire. Ensuite, l’étude de la réponse à la morphine chez des patients présentant une obésité morbide a montré que la fréquence de l’allèle 118G d’OPRM1 et le seuil de sensibilité à la douleur sont plus élevés que chez les patients à poids normal. La recherche des facteurs influençant la variabilité de la réponse à la méthadone chez des patients toxicomanes traités pour substitution a mis en évidence deux polymorphismes (TaqIA de DRD2/ANKK1 et c.118A>G d’OPRM1) significativement associés à la dose maximale de méthadone administrée. Trois facteurs sont associés au phénotype CYP3A, impliqué dans le métabolisme de la méthadone: la prise de benzodiazépines, l’infection par le VIH et un polymorphisme de POR, gène qui code une oxydoréductase. De plus, le travail mené sur les effets secondaires cardiaques de la méthadone a permis de mettre en évidence trois facteurs corrélés à l’allongement de l’espace QT : la dose, l’infection par le VIH et le polymorphisme p.Lys897Thr de KCNH2 codant pour le canal potassique hERG. Ces travaux contribuent à démontrer l’intérêt d’intégrer des données cliniques et génétiques dans la prescription personnalisée des opioïdes.The main objective of this thesis was to explore the association between genetic variants potentially involved in inter-individual variability of opioids’ response and side effects in the treatment of pain and opiate substitution treatment. Initially, we investigated whether genetic factors influence the response to morphine in the treatment of acute pain. The T allele of the polymorphism ABCB1 c.3435C>T was significantly associated with doses of morphine and the outcome of nausea in a pilot study in Lebanese postoperative patients. Next, we examined the response to morphine in patients with morbid obesity (BMI>40); in these patients, the frequency of the 118G OPRM1 allele and the pain threshold appeared to be higher than in patients with normal BMI. The search for factors influencing the variability in response to methadone in patients treated for drug substitution showed that two polymorphisms (DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA and OPRM1 c.118A>G) were significantly associated with the maximum doses of methadone. In addition, three factors were associated with the CYP3A phenotype, involved in the metabolism of methadone: the use of benzodiazepines, HIV infection and a polymorphism in POR gene, which encodes an oxidoreductase. Finally, the exploration of the cardiac side effects of methadone has highlighted three factors significantly correlated with QT prolongation: methadone doses, HIV infection and the polymorphism p.Lys897Thr in KCNH2 encoding a cardiac potassium ion channel. This work demonstrates the importance of integrating both clinical and genetic data in the personalized prescription of opioids

Descriptive assessment of graduates' perceptions of pharmacy-related competencies based on the Lebanese pharmacy core competencies framework

Background : Pharmacists possess a unique and complex body of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to enable them to optimize health outcomes. Pharmacy organizations publish routinely updated versions of professional competenc ies that help pharmacy schools integrate advances into their curricula. In Lebanon, no national framework for pharmacy education is officia lly adopted yet. In 2017, the Official Pharmacists’ Association in Lebanon [OPL - Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon] t ook the initiative to develop a pharmacy core competency framework. Objective : The primary objective of this survey was to evaluate graduates' perceptions of pharmacy - related competencies “taught” across Lebanese pharmacy schools/faculties, based on the s uggested Lebanese Pharmacy Competencies Framework. This study also explored the association between graduates' demographics, university attributes, and self - assessed competency performance. Methods : A cross - sectional study involving pharmacists who gradua ted from Lebanese universities was performed through a 40 - minute online questionnaire distributed over social media platforms and groups of pharmacists. Results : Pharmacists perceived their competence as moderate upon graduation, the lowest scores being i n fundamental knowledge and medicine supply; the highest reported scores were in personal skills and safe/rational use of medicines. Moreover, female s, younger graduates, PharmD holders, and pharmacists working in hospitals/clinical settings and academia h ad the highest perception of their competencies. Pharmacists in the public sector and medical laboratory directors had the lowest perception of competence . Conclusions : When comparing the taught curriculum to the suggested Lebanese Pharmacy Competency Fra mework, all domains need to be improved to optimize the perception, education, and practice of pharmacists. It is essential to emphasize fundamental knowledge, medicines supply, and public health competencies in undergraduate curricula and improve continui ng professional educatio

Pharmacy education and workforce: strategic recommendations based on expert consensus in Lebanon

Abstract Pharmacy in Lebanon has been taught for years, and the profession has known the golden ages in previous years. However, with the recent graduation of hundreds of pharmacists, without prior workforce planning, the oversupply of non-specialized pharmacists caused a mismatch with the needs of the market. The context of severe socioeconomic and sanitary crises has further exacerbated the situation, with hundreds of pharmacists leaving the country. A group of pharmacy experts joined to suggest strategic solutions to face such challenges, suggesting a clear strategy for education and the workforce, overarched by educational and professional values and based on six main pillars: (1) implement a national competency framework (including the core and specialized competency frameworks) to be used as a basis for licensure (colloquium); (2) implement a national pharmacy program accreditation, encompassing standards related to competencies adoption and assessment, curricula, teaching methods, research and innovation, instructors’ and preceptors’ skills, and experiential training; (3) organize training for students and early-career pharmacists; (4) optimize continuing education and implement continuous professional development, fostering innovation and specialization among working pharmacists; (5) develop and implement a pharmacy workforce strategy based on pharmacy intelligence, job market, and academic capacities; (6) develop and implement a legal framework for the above-mentioned pillars in collaboration with ministries and parliamentary commissions. Under the auspices of the relevant authorities, mainly the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the suggested strategy should be discussed and implemented for a better future for the pharmacy profession