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Muhammad Saqlain

Bio: Muhammad Saqlain is an academic researcher from Quaid-i-Azam University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Pharmacist. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 37 publications receiving 455 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitude and practice among HCPs in Pakistan regarding COVID-19, and regression analysis indicated pharmacist role was the substantial determinant of good practice.

406 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Pakistan government took several measures to cope with this zoonotic illness, including establishing a system to screen every passenger who had traveled directly or indirectly from China and other infected countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
Abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the coronavirus epidemic as a global public health emergency of international concern [1]. On 11 February 2020, the virus was named by the WHO as ‘severe acute respiratory tract coronavirus-2’ (SARS-CoV-2; also referred to as 2019nCOV), and the disease it causes as ‘COVID-19’ [1]. On 26 February 2020, for the first time, the number of new cases outside China was higher than the number of new cases inside China (427 vs. 411 new cases) [2]. By 11 March 2020, the virus had spread to 113 countries and territories, with the number of registered cases reaching 118,162 and the number of deaths reaching 4290 (mortality rate 3.63%) [3]. The WHO states that the COVID-19 outbreak is now categorized as a pandemic, with the number of cases increasing by 13-fold in 2 weeks [4], and has issued alerts to countries at risk of getting COVID-19 [5]. Also on 26 February 2020, the Pakistan Federal Health Minister confirmed the first two cases of COVID-19 in Karachi and Islamabad [2, 6]. Within 15 days (12 March), the total number of positive COVID-19 tests reached 20, with 14 cases in Sindh Province, 5 in Gilgit Baltistan and 1 in a 12-year-old child in Baluchistan) [7]. All cases had a history of a recent visit to Iran, Syria or London. To 12 March 2020, a total of 471 suspected samples had been tested, 20 (4.25%) of which were found to be positive [7]. Pakistan borders countries infected with COVID-19, including China, an epicenter of the disease that currently has the highest number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 (n = 3162), to the north, and Iran, a country with the third highest number of COVID-19-associated mortalities (n = 291), to the west; Italy has the second highest number of deaths [3]. This geographical location, as well as a continual increase in the number of confirmed cases, demands a high level of preparedness and requires actions to be taken promptly before the situation becomes worse [8]. The WHO states that countries should take steps to prevent and limit further spread of the virus, including active surveillance, early detection, quarantine, clinical management, and tracing of close contacts [5]. After declaration of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Pakistan government took several measures to cope with this zoonotic illness. First, the federal government, in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority, established a system to screen every passenger who had traveled directly or indirectly from China and other infected countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Thailand [8]. After the importation of COVID19 from Iran, Pakistan also started closed monitoring and more active screening of passengers travelling from Iran [9]. Media reports highlighted that, although a screening system was established, lapses have been seen in detection, which required a more effective system to be installed [7]. The Pakistani National Institute of Health (NIH) has played a pivotal role in devising and circulating protocols regarding COVID-19 prevention, transmission and defection, as well as launching public awareness campaigns. These relate to the use of personal protective equipment and facemasks, the handling of suspected cases, sample collection and transport through virus transport medium, and adequate hand and general body hygiene, etc. [10]. The federal NIH also provides support to all Pakistani provinces for establishing provincial surveillance units [8]. During the early days of COVID-19, Pakistan lacked any diagnostic facilities, and suspected samples were sent to foreign laboratories. Pakistan later received test kits from China * Ali Ahmed ali.ahmed@monash.edu

104 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A cross-sectional study was carried out through an online self-administered questionnaire from 27 September 2020 to 11 October 2020, where a total of 883 people responded to the survey as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: While vaccine development is itself a challenge; ensuring optimal vaccine uptake at population level can present an even more significant challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the Pakistani population’s attitude and preferences towards the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. A cross-sectional study was carried out through an online self-administered questionnaire from 27 September 2020 to 11 October 2020. A total of 883 people responded to the survey. The questionnaire included the participants’ socio-demographic variables, attitudes, beliefs towards the COVID-19 vaccine and acceptance and rejection of vaccination, and reasons for them. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the predictors for vaccine acceptance and willingness to pay for the vaccine. A majority (70.8%) of respondents will accept the COVID-19vaccine if available, and 66.8% showed a positive attitude towards vaccination. Monthly family income, education level, self-diagnosis of COVID-19 or a friend, family member, or colleague are significant factors influencing the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. The dogma of being naturally immune to COVID-19 was a key reason for the refusal of the vaccine. Less than half (48%) of those who refuse will vaccinate themselves if government officials have made it compulsory. A third (33.9%) of participants were willing to pay up to (7 USD) 1000 Pkr (Pakistani Rupees) for the vaccine. The population’s positive attitude should be improved by increasing awareness and eradicating false myths about vaccines through large-scale campaigns.

40 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Medication adherence among the older hypertensive population in Pakistan is alarmingly low, and clearly requires patient-centered interventions to overcome barriers and educating them about the importance of adherence.
Abstract: Background and Objective: Medication non-adherence is a preventable reason for treatment failure, poor blood pressure control among hypertensive patients and the geriatric population owing to poor physical activity is more vulnerable strata. The objective of this study is to investigate medication adherence and its associated factors among Pakistani geriatric hypertensive patients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted at the out-patient department of the cardiac center from May 2018 to August 2018. A universal sampling technique was used to approach patients and 262 eligible consented patients were interviewed to collect information about socio-demographics, health, and disease-related characteristics using a structured questionnaire. The Morisky Levine Green test was used for the assessment of medication adherence. The Barthel index and single item literacy screener (SILS) was used to measure performance in activities of daily living and health literacy respectively. Chi-square tests and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were performed to find factors by using SPSS version 20. Results: Of the total 262 participants, about 38.9% (n = 102) were scored 4 and considered adherent while 61.1% (n = 160) were considered as non-adherent. In logistic regression analysis, self-reported moderate (OR = 3.538, p = 0.009) and good subjective health (OR = 4.249, p = 0.008), adequate health literacy (OR = 3.369, p < 0.001) and independence in performing activities of daily living (OR = 2.968, p = 0.002) were found to be independent predictors of medication adherence among older hypertensive patients. Conclusion: Medication adherence among the older hypertensive population in Pakistan is alarmingly low. This clearly requires patient-centered interventions to overcome barriers and educating them about the importance of adherence.

37 citations

Posted ContentDOI
20 Apr 2020-medRxiv
TL;DR: Findings showed HCPs in Pakistan have good knowledge, reflected by positive attitude and good practice regarding COVID-19, yet there are areas where gaps in knowledge and practice was observed.
Abstract: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable infection and Pakistan faces sudden hike in number of positive cases including number of healthcare professionals (HCPs) also acquired infection. Knowledge, attitude, and practice survey provides a suitable format to evaluate existing programs and to identify effective strategies for behavior change in society. Therefore, the aim of study is to assess knowledge, attitude and practice among HCPs in Pakistan regarding COVID-19. An online survey-based study was conducted among healthcare professionals including physicians, pharmacists and nurses. A self-administered validated (Cronbach alpha= 0.077) questionnaire comprised of five sections (Demographics, Knowledge, attitude, practice and perceived barriers) were used for data collection. Of 414 participants, 29.98% (n=120) physicians, 46.65% (n= 189) pharmacists and 25.36% (n= 105%) nurses. Most commonly utilized information source was social media. Findings showed HCPs have good knowledge (93.2%, n=386), positive attitude (8.43±1.78) and good practice (88.7%, n=367) regarding COVID-19. HCPs perceived that overcrowding in emergency room (52.9%, n=219), limited infection control material (50.7%, n=210) and poor knowledge regarding transmission (40.6%, n=168) of COVID-19 are the major barriers in infection control practice. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that HCPs of age group 40-49 years (OR: 1.419, 95%CI: (0.14-4.78, P=0.041) have higher odds of good knowledge. Similarly, age group of 31-39 years (OR: 1.377, 95% CI: 0.14-2.04, P=0.05), experience of more than 5 years (OR: 10.71, 95% CI: 2.83-40.75, P

32 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
21 Jun 2020
TL;DR: In this paper, a study examines the attitudes of Pakistani higher education students towards online education in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, where a vast majority of students are unable to access the internet due to technical as well as monetary issues.
Abstract: This research study examines the attitudes of Pakistani higher education students towards compulsory digital and distance learning university courses amid Coronavirus (COVID-19). Undergraduate and postgraduate were surveyed to find their perspectives about online education in Pakistan. The findings of the study highlighted that online learning cannot produce desired results in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, where a vast majority of students are unable to access the internet due to technical as well as monetary issues. The lack of face-to-face interaction with the instructor, response time and absence of traditional classroom socialization were among some other issues highlighted by higher education students.

987 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors consider an additional aspect related to the formation of a metal/oxide interface, which can be realized when small metal nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of an oxide support or when a nanostructured oxide, either a nanoparticle or a thin film, is grown on a metal.
Abstract: Reducibility is an essential characteristic of oxide catalysts in oxidation reactions following the Mars–van Krevelen mechanism. A typical descriptor of the reducibility of an oxide is the cost of formation of an oxygen vacancy, which measures the tendency of the oxide to lose oxygen or to donate it to an adsorbed species with consequent change in the surface composition, from MnOm to MnOm–x. The oxide reducibility, however, can be modified in various ways: for instance, by doping and/or nanostructuring. In this review we consider an additional aspect, related to the formation of a metal/oxide interface. This can be realized when small metal nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of an oxide support or when a nanostructured oxide, either a nanoparticle or a thin film, is grown on a metal. In the past decade, both theory and experiment indicate a particularly high reactivity of the oxygen atoms at the boundary region between a metal and an oxide. Oxygen atoms can be removed from interface sites at much...

528 citations

11 Aug 2020
TL;DR: Fangcang shelter hospitals are a novel public health concept that served to isolate patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 from their families and communities, while providing medical care, disease monitoring, food, shelter, and social activities.
Abstract: Fangcang shelter hospitals are a novel public health concept. They were implemented for the first time in China in February, 2020, to tackle the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. The Fangcang shelter hospitals in China were large-scale, temporary hospitals, rapidly built by converting existing public venues, such as stadiums and exhibition centres, into health-care facilities. They served to isolate patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 from their families and communities, while providing medical care, disease monitoring, food, shelter, and social activities. We document the development of Fangcang shelter hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak in China and explain their three key characteristics (rapid construction, massive scale, and low cost) and five essential functions (isolation, triage, basic medical care, frequent monitoring and rapid referral, and essential living and social engagement). Fangcang shelter hospitals could be powerful components of national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as future epidemics and public health emergencies.

367 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
09 Oct 2020-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: Assessment of KAP towards COVID-19 immediately after the lock-down measures were implemented and during the rapid rise period of the outbreak found more accurate knowledge was associated with age and residence and more positive attitude factors were associated with female sex, older age, higher education, family income >30,000 BDT, urban area residence, and having more positive attitudes.
Abstract: In Bangladesh, an array of measures have been adopted to control the rapid spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Such general population control measures could significantly influence perception, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. Here, we assessed KAP towards COVID-19 immediately after the lock-down measures were implemented and during the rapid rise period of the outbreak. Online-based cross-sectional study conducted from March 29 to April 19, 2020, involving Bangladeshi residents aged 12-64 years, recruited via social media. After consenting, participants completed an online survey assessing socio-demographic variables, perception, and KAP towards COVID-19. Of the 2017 survey participants, 59.8% were male, the majority were students (71.2%), aged 21-30 years (57.9%), having a bachelor's degree (61.0%), having family income >30,000 BDT (50.0%), and living in urban areas (69.8). The survey revealed that 48.3% of participants had more accurate knowledge, 62.3% had more positive attitudes, and 55.1% had more frequent practices regarding COVID-19 prevention. Majority (96.7%) of the participants agreed 'COVID-19 is a dangerous disease', almost all (98.7%) participants wore a face mask in crowded places, 98.8% agreed to report a suspected case to health authorities, and 93.8% implemented washing hands with soap and water. In multiple logistic regression analyses, COVID-19 more accurate knowledge was associated with age and residence. Sociodemographic factors such as being older, higher education, employment, monthly family income >30,000 BDT, and having more frequent prevention practices were the more positive attitude factors. More frequent prevention practice factors were associated with female sex, older age, higher education, family income > 30,000 BDT, urban area residence, and having more positive attitudes. To improve KAP of general populations is crucial during the rapid rise period of a pandemic outbreak such as COVID-19. Therefore, development of effective health education programs that incorporate considerations of KAP-modifying factors is needed.

314 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Good knowledge and attitudes are recorded among participants, however, community-based health campaigns are necessary to hold optimistic attitudes and practice appropriate intervention measures devoid of misconceptions.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major public health challenge globally with countries of the world adopting unprecedented infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to urgently curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the people toward COVID-19 is critical to understanding the epidemiological dynamics of the disease and the effectiveness, compliance and success of IPC measures adopted in a country. This study sought to determine the levels of KAP toward COVID-19 among residents of north-central Nigeria. A cross-sectional online survey with a semi-structured questionnaire using a Snowball sampling technique was conducted during the national lockdown. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s correlation and regression tests. From a total of 589 responses received, 80.6, 59.6, 90.4 and 56.2% were from respondents between ages 18–39 years, males, had a college (Bachelor) degree or above and reside in urban areas respectively. Respondents had good knowledge (99.5%) of COVID-19, gained mainly through the internet/social media (55.7%) and Television (27.5%). The majority of the respondents (79.5%) had positive attitudes toward the adherence of government IPC measures with 92.7, 96.4 and 82.3% practicing social distancing/self-isolation, improved personal hygiene and using face mask respectively. However, 52.1% of the respondents perceived that the government is not doing enough to curtail COVID-19 in Nigeria. Pearson’s correlation showed significant relationship between knowledge of COVID-19 and attitude towards preventive measures (r = 0.177, p = 0.004, r = 0.137, p = 0.001). Although 61.8% of the respondents have no confidence in the present intervention by Chinese doctors, only 29.0% would accept COVID-19 vaccines when available. This study recorded good knowledge and attitudes among participants, however, community-based health campaigns are necessary to hold optimistic attitudes and practice appropriate intervention measures devoid of misconceptions.

308 citations