A Study of Wordsworth's Romantic Conception of Nature in Gibrabn Khalil Gibran’s poem Munajat Arwah

Gibran  Khalil  Gibran   (1883-1931) is  a genius  Lebanese poet   , who spent most of his life in     the Unit States of  America .While living  there, he was exposed  to the ideologies of  English Romanticism , pioneered by  some memorable Romantic poets like Wordsworth, Blake , Shelley and    Keats .Together with his subsequent association with Arrabitah group of AL-Mahjer poets , he contributed to the birth of Arabic Romanticism , which came as a reaction against Arabic neo-classical poetry . Romanticism is described as the return to nature. Nature influences the mind of the poet which in its turn provides a returned response colored by the imagination .Thus, nature becomes a dominant theme in the poems of the literary legend and the founder of English Romanticism William Wordsworth. One of the essential manifestation of Wordsworth's fascination with nature is his insistence on shifting the interest from the city life to countryside, a shift that overwhelms Gibran with similar feelings of nostalgia and regret for the latter's distortion by the factory smokes . In his famous work Munajat Arwah (Communion of Spirits ) published in 1914 , Gibran depicts nature in a typically Wordsworthian mannerism . Therefore, this poem is taken to be a case study for illustrating the English Romantic poet’s impact in molding Gibran’s aesthetic vision of nature’s supremacy over the decadent and polluted existence in cities. Keywords: English Romanticism, sublime feelings, restorative forces of nature, nature as a manifestation of God’s grandeur, nature verses city

A Randomized Controlled Trail Comparing the Efficacy of 0.5% Centbucridine to 2% Lignocaine as Local Anesthetics in Dental Extractions

The development of local anesthesia in dentistry has marked the beginning of a new era in terms of pain control. Lignocaine is the most commonly used local anesthetic (LA) agent even though it has a vasodilative effect and needs to be combined with adrenaline. Centbucridine is a non-ester, non amide group LA and has not been comprehensively studied in the dental setting and the objective was to compare it to Lignocaine. This was a randomized study comparing the onset time, duration, depth and cardiovascular parameters between Centbucridine (0.5%) and Lignocaine (2%). The study was conducted in the dental outpatient department at the Government Dental College in India on patients attending for the extraction of lower molars. A total of 198 patients were included and there were no significant differences between the LAs except those who received Centbucridine reported a significantly longer duration of anesthesia compared to those who received Lignocaine. None of the patients reported any side effects. Centbucridine was well tolerated and its substantial duration of anesthesia could be attributed to its chemical compound. Centbucridine can be used for dental procedures and can confidently be used in patients who cannot tolerate Lignocaine or where adrenaline is contraindicated

Impact of pharmaceutical care on health outcomes in patients with COPD

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment goals are often not achieved despite the availability of many effective treatments. Furthermore, clinical pharmacist interventions to improve clinical and humanistic outcomes in COPD patients have not yet been explored and few randomized controlled trials have been reported to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical care on health outcomes in patients with COPD. Objective The aimof the present studywas to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical care intervention,with a strong focus on self-management, on a range of clinical and humanistic outcomes in patients with COPD. Setting Outpatient COPD Clinic at the Royal Medical Services Hospital. Method In a randomised, controlled, prospective clinical trial, a total of 133 COPD patients were randomly assigned to intervention or control group. A structured education about COPD and management of its symptoms was delivered by the clinical pharmacist for patients in the intervention group. Patientswere followed up at 6 months during a scheduled visit. Effectiveness of the intervention was assessed in terms of improvement in health-related quality of life,medication adherence, disease knowledge and healthcare utilization. Data collected at baseline and at the 6 month assessment was coded and entered into SPSS software version 17 for statistical analysis. A P value of\0.05 was considered statistically significant. Main outcome measure The primary outcome measure was health-related quality of life improvement. All other data collected including healthcare utilization, COPD knowledge and medication adherence formed secondary outcome measures. Results A total of 66 patients were randomized to the intervention group and 67 patients were randomized to the control group. Although the current study failed to illustrate significant improvement in health-related quality of life parameters, the results indicated significant improvements in COPD knowledge (P\0.001), medication adherence (P\0.05), medication beliefs (P\ 0.01) and significant reduction in hospital admission rates (P\0.05) in intervention patients when compared with control group patients at the end of the study. Conclusion The enhanced patient outcomes as a result of the pharmaceutical care programme in the present study demonstrate the value of an enhanced clinical pharmacy service in achieving the desired health outcomes for patients with COPD

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the Palestinian population

We determined the prevalence of hypertension and the level of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among Palestinian adults in a population-based cross-sectional survey. Two-stage stratified sampling method was used to select 2077 participants from the general population aged 25 years and over. Trained observers obtained two blood pressure (BP) measurements from each individual by the use of a standardized mercury sphygmomanometer after a 5-min sitting rest. Information on sociogeographical factors and antihypertensive medications was obtained using a standard questionnaire. Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic BP (SBP) X140mm Hg, diastolic BP (DBP)X90mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 27.6%, with a higher percentage among men (29.2 vs 26.4%; P¼0.04). Hypertension increased with age in both men and women. Among hypertensive patients, 51.0% were aware of their elevated BP, 40.2% had treatment and only 9.5% achieved targeted BP control (o140/90mmHg). Patients under antihypertensive treatment showed SBP and DBP that were only 3.1mmHg and 2.5mmHg lower than individuals without antihypertensive treatment, respectively. The data show that hypertension prevalence among Palestinian adults is high, whereas the proportions of awareness treatment and control of hypertension were low. Concerted public health effort is urgently required to improve the detection, treatment and control of hypertension in Palestine.Technical and financial support for this study was made available by the Palestinian American Research Council. We also wish to thank Dr Asa’d Ramlawi, Head of the primary care department at the Palestinian Ministry of Health for his support. This project is Funded by the Palestinian American Research Council

Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting Process in West-Bank, Palestine

Active national pharmacovigilance programmes are needed to monitor adverse drug reaction (ADR) data in local populations. The objective of this study was to describe the knowledge, experiences, attitudes and perceived barriers to reporting of suspected ADRs by community and hospital pharmacists in West Bank, Palestine. Between December 2014 and March 2015 we conducted a survey about the knowledge and attitude of pharmacists (n = 270) using a face-to-face questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of the pharmacists, their knowledge of pharmacovigilance and their attitudes towards ADR reporting. Main outcomes measured: The majority of the pharmacists (62.6%) worked in the community pharmacies and more females responded to the questionnaire than males (59% vs 41%). only 11.9% could conceptually or actually define ‘pharmacovigilance’ correctly while one quarter of the respondent pharmacist (24.9%) could define ADR correctly. The hospital clinical pharmacists defined ‘pharmacovigilance’ correctly with higher significance (P<0.001) when compared with community pharmacists. Only 12.2% had ever reported an ADR. The majority of these reports (85%) done by the hospital pharmacists (p<0.0001). The main reasons that discourage the pharmacists from reporting ADRs were ‘‘no enough information available from the patient (76.7%)’’, and ‘‘they did not know how to report (66.7%)’’. The majority of the respondents (92.0%) felt that reporting ADR was their duty and (82%) participants were interested in participating in the National Pharmacovigilance Programme in Palestine. The results show that Palestinian pharmacists have poor knowledge about pharmacovigilance. There is an urgent need for educational programs to train them about pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting scheme

Significant differences in the length and weight measurements of Jordanian infants as compared to the WHO 2006 growth standards

BACKGROUND: In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced new growth standards based on data derived globally from optimally nourished breastfed infants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of implementing WHO growth standards on the growth patterns of Jordanian infants. In addition, it was to ascertain the necessity of establishing country-specific growth standards and charts tailored to Jordanian infants.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 102,846 infants (50.1% boys, 49.9% girls) aged 0–24 months, from 115 primary healthcare centers across the country were retrieved from a National E-health Program. Weight and length measurements were analyzed, and age- and sex-specific z-scores were calculated relative to the WHO growth standards. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Mann–Whitney U test was performed to determine significant differences between the measurements for boys and girls in terms of age, length, and weight.RESULTS: Jordanian infants exhibited significantly shorter length-for-age measurements than WHO standards with mean z-scores of −0.56 and −0.38, for boys and girls, respectively. Weight-for-age measurements showed a good fit and were comparable to the WHO growth standards for boys (mean z score = −0.05) and girls (mean z score = 0.04). Notably, Jordanian infants displayed higher weight-for-length measurements, with mean z-scores of 0.51 for boys and 0.47 for girls.CONCLUSION: The availability of Jordanian-specific growth standards will improve the accuracy of assessing infant growth and enhance the monitoring and evaluation of their health and development

Evaluating Influenza Vaccination Practices among COPD Patients

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) stands as a global health concern linked to considerable morbidity and mortality. In Jordan, the prevalence of COPD is substantial, but research in this area is limited. Exacerbations of COPD can lead to severe outcomes, including hospitalization and increased cardiovascular risk. Influenza is a significant trigger of exacerbations in COPD patients, and vaccination is recommended. However, studies have shown negative attitudes towards the influenza vaccine. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and intentions of COPD patients in Jordan regarding influenza vaccination. Data were collected through a custom-designed questionnaire from 300 COPD patients. The study revealed low influenza vaccination rates, with forgetfulness and lack of knowledge about vaccine effectiveness being the main barriers. Higher knowledge and positive attitudes were associated with greater intention to vaccinate. To tackle these challenges, it is recommended to implement customized health education campaigns, foster collaborations with healthcare providers, and engage in community-focused initiatives to enhance acceptance of the influenza vaccine among COPD patients in Jordan. These findings underscore the importance of addressing knowledge gaps and negative attitudes to enhance vaccine uptake and improve health outcomes for COPD patients

Acceptance of Flu Vaccine among Parents of Diabetic Children in Jordan

Abstract: There is a critical need to understand vaccine decision-making in high-risk groups. This study explored flu vaccine acceptance among Jordanian parents of diabetic children. Employing a cross-sectional approach, 405 parents from multiple healthcare centers across Jordan were recruited through stratified sampling, ensuring a broad representation of socioeconomic backgrounds. A structured questionnaire, distributed both in-person and online, evaluated their knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of the flu vaccine for their diabetic children. The results indicated that only 6.4% of the study sample reported vaccinating their children against the flu annually, and only 23% are planning to vaccinate their children this year. A multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed notable variability in responses. Specifically, parents with a positive attitude towards the flu vaccine and those with older children had less odds to reject the vaccine (OR = 0.589, 95% CI (0.518–0.670), p &lt; 0.001 and OR = 0.846, 95% CI (0.736–0.974), p = 0.02, respectively). Conversely, prevalent misconceptions regarding vaccine safety and efficacy emerged as significant barriers to acceptance.Our findings advocate for targeted educational programs that directly address and debunk these specific misconceptions. Additionally, strengthened healthcare communication to provide clear, consistent information about the flu vaccine’s safety and benefits is vital to help enhance vaccine uptake among this vulnerable population, emphasizing the need to address specific concerns and misinformation directly.</div

Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Herbal Remedies In West Bank, Palestine

Background: There is an increasing trend towards consumption of complementary and alternative herbal products in many parts of the world. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowled - ge and attitudes among pharmacists in West Bank, Palestine towards the use of herbs. Methods: Self-administered questionnaire was designed as the study instrument and distributed among 350 qualified pharmacists working in government and private pharmacies in West Bank, Palestine. Results: The response rate was 82.9% (290/350). The mean age of the pharmacists was 32.9 (SD=6.5) years. The majority of the phar - macist 238 (82.1%) worked in the community pharmacies and their experience in practice ranged from 1 to 26 years. Product package instructions and product representative were the most consulted by the pharmacists (128; 44.2% and 73; 25.2% respectively). General health tonic preparations were the most widely dispensed drugs (142; 48.9%), followed by cough preparations (55; 19.0%) and slimming agents (64; 22.1%). The Majority of pharmacists (195; 67.2%) belie - ved herbal remedies were effective; however, about fifty percent of the pharmacists had concern about their safety. The knowledge of respondents about the indications of herbal medicine was good, but their awareness of interactions, contraindications and adverse effects was inadequate. The majority of Pharmacists (255; 87.9%) believed that herbal product should undergo increased regulation and (215; 74.9%) believed that information available about herbal and natural product isn't adequate

Development and Validation of the Jordanian Diabetic Health Literacy Questionnaire: Enhancing Diabetes Management in Arabic-Speaking Populations

(1) Background: Amidst the global rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), effective management of the disease has become increasingly important. Health literacy, particularly in non-English speaking populations, plays a crucial role in this management. To address the lack of suitable tools for Arabic-speaking diabetic patients, this study developed and validated the Jordanian Diabetic Health Literacy Questionnaire (JDHLQ). (2) Methods: A sample of 400 diabetic patients from Jordan, with a balance in gender, age, and educational background, was recruited from an endocrinology outpatient clinic. The JDHLQ, consisting of informative and communicative sections, underwent rigorous validation. Utilizing principal component analysis and Rasch analysis, the JDHL's reliability and validity were evaluated. (3) Results: The results showed moderate proficiency in understanding and communicating diabetes-related information and confirmed the reliability and validity of the JDHLQ. (4) Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of culturally appropriate health literacy tools in enhancing patient understanding, engagement, and overall management of T2DM in Arabic-speaking communities