Never smokers with lung cancer in Morocco: epidemiology and gender differences

Even through smoking is a definite risk factor for lung cancer, it is possible for people who have never smoked to suffer lung cancer. This research aimed to describe the epidemiology of lung cancer in never smokers in Morocco. Also, an assessment of differences between men and women never smokers was performed. The researchers analyzed retrospectively all patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 2014 and 2017. The results showed that of 606 patients, 157 (25.9%) were never smokers. Of these, 79 patients (50.32%) were women. Women were more likely to be younger (p=0.034), had adenocarcinoma (p=0.046), and being in advanced stage of the disease (p=0.032). Men were more exposed to professional carcinogens (p<0.001). Tuberculosis was the most frequent previous lung disease in never smokers, but no difference was noted between men and women. Performance status and comorbidities did not vary by gender. Never smokers in Morocco represent a significant proportion of lung cancer. Evident epidemiologic differences are found between men and women never smokers, notably, age, histological type and risk factor exposure

Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions: nurses’ perception

Introduction: Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions is the basis of pharmacovigilance, the main objective of which is to ensure the safe use of drugs, particularly cytotoxics, through continuous monitoring of adverse events caused by them. The aims of this study were to investigate the perception of nurses towards pharmacovigilance, and identify reasons for under-reporting of adverse reactions to cytotoxic drugs in Morocco. Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 nurses in charge of administering cytotoxics drugs in the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department of the Children’s Hospital in Rabat in 2019. The interviews were recorded, then transcribed and analyzed. Results: From this study, positive attitudes towards the reporting of adverse drug reactions by nurses were shown. Nevertheless, an insufficient level of knowledge of pharmacovigilance by the participants was showed. Lack of training was the main cause of this lack of knowledge. Conclusion: This study showed a positive perception of nurses towards pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting despite insufficient knowledge. The integration of pharmacovigilance modules in the training curriculum of nurses will help to improve ADR reporting