Showing papers by "Jordan University of Science and Technology published in 2012"

A carbon footprint based reverse logistics network design model

Abstract: Due to the environmental legislation and regulations, manufacturing firms have realized the importance of adopting environmental friendly supply chain management (SCM) practices. In this paper, a mixed integer linear model is developed for a carbon footprint based reverse logistics network design. The proposed model aims at minimizing climate change (specifically, the CO2 footprint), and it employs reverse logistics activities to recover used products, hence combining the location/transportation decision problem. The proposed model is validated by examining a case study from the plastic sector.

Self-efficacy, self-management, and glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract: Objective The objective was to evaluate the relationships between diabetes management self-efficacy and diabetes self-management behaviors and glycemic control. Methods A cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample of 223 subjects with type 2 diabetes, ≥25 years old, who sought care at the National Diabetes Center in Amman, Jordan, was enrolled. A structured interview and medical records provided the data. The instruments included a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, a diabetes management self-efficacy scale, and a diabetes self-management behaviors scale. Glycosylated hemoglobin was used as an index for glycemic control. The analyses are presented as proportions, means (±S.D.), odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals obtained from logistic regressions. Results Diet self-efficacy and diet self-management behaviors predicted better glycemic control, whereas insulin use was a statistically significant predictor for poor glycemic control. In addition, subjects with higher self-efficacy reported better self-management behaviors in diet, exercise, blood sugar testing, and taking medication. The findings showed that more than half of the subjects did not have their diabetes under control and that only 42% had attended diabetes education programs. Conclusions The majority of subjects did not have their diabetes controlled; their self-efficacy was low, and they had suboptimal self-management behaviors. Therefore, strategies to enhance and promote self-efficacy and self-management behaviors for patients are essential components of diabetes education programs. Furthermore, behavioral counseling and skill-building interventions are critical for the patients to become confident and be able to manage their diabetes.

The impact of leadership styles on nurses' satisfaction and intention to stay among Saudi nurses.

Abstract: abualrub r.f. & alghamdi m.g. (2012) Journal of Nursing Management 20, 668–678 The impact of leadership styles on nurses’ satisfaction and intention to stay among Saudi nurses Aim To examine the impact of leadership styles of nurse managers on Saudi nurses’ job satisfaction and their intent to stay at work. Background Increasing nurses’ satisfaction is one of the key elements in meeting challenges of quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and retention of staff nurses in hospitals. Methods This study used a descriptive correlational design. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X), Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), the McCain’s Intent to Stay Scale and a demographic form were used to collect the data from a convenience sample of 308 Saudi nurses. Results Saudi nurses were moderately satisfied in their jobs. In addition, nurses were more satisfied with leaders who demonstrated transformational leadership styles, and those who were more satisfied with their jobs intended to say at work. The background variables, the transformational leadership style and the transactional style explained 32% of the variation in job satisfaction. Conclusions The results of the study emphasized the importance of transformational leadership, which indicates the need for further attention to training and development of effective leadership behaviours. Implications for nursing management Nurse administrators in Saudi Arabia should capitalize on the importance of transformational leadership style in enhancing the level of job satisfaction.

Mental illness stigma reduction interventions: review of intervention trials.

Abstract: This article reviews the literature evaluating the effectiveness of various stigma reduction interventions related to mental health illnesses. An integrated search of the English language literature from 1998 to May 2008 was done using CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and PsychINFO databases. The results of this review emphasize that experimental clinical trials hold promise for providing evidence-based data that can be used in mental health practice. Educational and contact-based strategies used in various stigma reduction programs resulted in the most durable gains in knowledge as well as positive attitudinal and behavioral changes needed to decrease the stigma associated with mental illness. Special stigma reduction programs are to be planned for adolescent and elderly targets. Future studies have yet to be designed to identify cost-effective stigma reduction programs. Moreover, interventional studies from different cultures are encouraged. Cross-cultural interventions need to be evaluated and modified...

Prevalence and risk indicators of gingivitis and periodontitis in a Multi-Centre study in North Jordan: a cross sectional study

Abstract: Background There are limited data about the epidemiology and risk factors/indicators of gingivitis, aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and chronic periodontitis (CP) in Jordan. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk indicators of gingivitis, AgP and CP.

Antibacterial activity of statins: a comparative study of Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, and Rosuvastatin

Abstract: Statins have several effects beyond their well-known antihyperlipidemic activity, which include immunomodulatory, antioxidative and anticoagulant effects. In this study, we have tested the possible antimicrobial activity of statins against a range of standard bacterial strains and bacterial clinical isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values were evaluated and compared among three members of the statins drug (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin). It was revealed that statins are able to induce variable degrees of antibacterial activity with atorvastatin, and simvastatin being the more potent than rosuvastatin. Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (VSE), vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), acinetobacter baumannii, staphylococcus epidermidis, and enterobacter aerogenes, were more sensitive to both atorvastatin, and simvastatin compared to rosuvastatin. On the other hand, escherichia coli, proteus mirabilis, and enterobacter cloacae were more sensitive to atorvastatin compared to both simvastatin and rosuvastatin. Furthermore, most clinical isolates were less sensitive to statins compared to their corresponding standard strains. Our findings might raise the possibility of a potentially important antibacterial class effect for statins especially, atorvastatin and simvastatin.

Patterns of Water-Pipe and Cigarette Smoking Initiation in Schoolchildren: Irbid Longitudinal Smoking Study

Abstract: Introduction: Tobacco use remains a major public health problem worldwide. Water-pipe smoking is spreading rapidly and threatening to undermine the successes achieved in tobacco control. Methods: A school-based longitudinal study in the city of Irbid, Jordan, was performed from 2008 to 2010. All seventh-grade students in 19 randomly selected schools, out of a total of 60 schools in the city, were enrolled at baseline and surveyed annually. Results: Of the 1781 students enrolled at baseline 1,701 (95.5%) were still in the study at the end of the second year of follow-up (869 boys, median age at baseline 13 years). Ever and current water-pipe smoking were higher than those of cigarette smoking at baseline (ever smoking: 25.9% vs. 17.6% and current smoking: 13.3% vs. 5.3% for water-pipe and cigarette smoking, respectively; p < .01 for both) but cigarette smoking caught up by the second year of follow-up (ever smoking: 46.4% vs. 44.7%; p = .32 and current smoking: 18.9% vs. 14.9%; p < .01). Water pipe–only smokers at baseline were twice as likely to become current cigarette smokers after 2 years compared with never smokers (relative risk (RR) = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2, 3.4). A similar pattern was observed for cigarette-only smokers at baseline (RR = 2.0; 95% CI = 0.9, 4.8). Conclusions: Prevalence of water-pipe and cigarette smoking increased dramatically over the 2-year follow-up period with similar patterns in boys and girls, although girls had lower prevalence in all categories. Water-pipe smoking at baseline predicted the progress to cigarette smoking in the future and vice versa.

Impact of pharmaceutical care on health outcomes in patients with COPD.

Abstract: 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 aim of the present study was 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. Patients were 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.

Autonomous mobile robot dynamic motion planning using hybrid fuzzy potential field

Abstract: A new fuzzy-based potential field method is presented in this paper for autonomous mobile robot motion planning with dynamic environments including static or moving target and obstacles. Two fuzzy Mamdani and TSK models have been used to develop the total attractive and repulsive forces acting on the mobile robot. The attractive and repulsive forces were estimated using four inputs representing the relative position and velocity between the target and the robot in the x and y directions, in one hand, and between the obstacle and the robot, on the other hand. The proposed fuzzy potential field motion planning was investigated based on several conducted MATLAB simulation scenarios for robot motion planning within realistic dynamic environments. As it was noticed from these simulations that the proposed approach was able to provide the robot with collision-free path to softly land on the moving target and solve the local minimum problem within any stationary or dynamic environment compared to other potential field-based approaches.

Acute exposure to waterpipe tobacco smoke induces changes in the oxidative and inflammatory markers in mouse lung.

Abstract: Context: Tobacco smoking represents a global public health threat, claiming approximately 5 million lives a year. Waterpipe tobacco use has become popular particularly among youth in the past decade, buttressed by the perception that the waterpipe “filters” the smoke, rendering it less harmful than cigarette smoke.Objective: In this study, we examined the acute exposure of waterpipe smoking on lung inflammation and oxidative stress in mice, and compared that to cigarette smoking.Materials and methods: Mice were divided into three groups; fresh air control, cigarette and waterpipe. Animals were exposed to fresh air, cigarette, or waterpipe smoke using whole body exposure system one hour daily for 7 days.Results: Both cigarette and waterpipe smoke exposure resulted in elevation of total white blood cell count, as well as absolute count of neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes (P < 0.01). Both exposures also elevated proinflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-6 in BALF (P < 0.05), and oxidative stress ...

The association between inflammatory bowel disease and periodontitis among Jordanians: a case-control study.

Abstract: Habashneh RA, Khader YS, Alhumouz MK, Jadallah K, Ajlouni Y. The association between inflammatory bowel disease and periodontitis among Jordanians: a case–control study. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 293–298. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is hypothesized to involve immuno-inflammatory alterations, and the condition has been related to increased susceptibility to oral challenges. The objective of the study was to determine the association between the prevalence, severity and extent of periodontitis and both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Material and Methods: A case–control study was conducted among patients who attended outpatient clinics at King Hussein Medical City in Jordan during the study period. All participants completed the questionnaire and underwent thorough oral and periodontal examinations. Periodontitis was defined as presence of four or more teeth with one or more sites with probing pocket depth ≥ 4mm and clinical attachment level ≥ 3mm. The general linear model multivariate procedure and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results: This case–control study included 260 Jordanian adults (101 with UC, 59 with CD and 100 with no IBD) with a mean (SD) age of 39.4 (0.7) years. The prevalence of periodontitis was much higher among patients with CD and those with UC compared with subjects having no IBD in the age groups < 36 and 36–45 years old only. After adjusting for age and number of missing teeth, patients with CD (odds ratio 4.9, 95% confidence interval 1.8–13.2) and patients with UC (odds ratio 7.00, 95% confidence interval 2.8–17.5) had significantly higher odds of periodontitis than subjects with no IBD. In multivariate analysis, the severity of periodontitis was significantly higher among patients with CD and patients with UC when compared with subjects having no IBD. Ulcerative colitis patients but not CD patients had significantly higher prevalence of deep ulcers in oral soft tissues than the non-IBD group (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Patients with IBD have higher prevalence, severity and extent of periodontitis compared with those having no IBD.

Use of the Arabic version of Oral Health Impact Profile-14 to evaluate the impact of periodontal disease on oral health-related quality of life among Jordanian adults

Abstract: We used the short-form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) to assess the impact of periodontal diseases on the quality of life of Jordanian adults. A systematic random sample of 400 individuals was selected from patients referred to the periodontics clinic at the Dental Teaching Center in Irbid, Jordan. Those willing to participate were examined by specifically trained dentists and requested to complete the Arabic short-form version of the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of differences in OHIP-14 subscales among the periodontal disease groups was conducted using the general linear model multivariate procedure. This study included 400 adults (164 men and 236 women) aged between 18 and 60 years, with a mean (SD) of 36.7 (11.9) years. Of the 400 participants, 41.8% had chronic gingivitis, 19.8% had mild periodontitis, 23.3% had moderate periodontitis, and 15.3% had severe periodontitis. "Fairly often" or "very often" was reported for one or more items of the OHIP-14 by fewer than one-third of patients with gingivitis (32.9%) or mild periodontitis (31.6%), by about one-half of patients with moderate periodontitis (53.8%), and by about two-thirds of those with severe periodontitis (63.9%). There was a statistically significant association between the severity of periodontal disease and OHIP-14 scores (P < 0.05). Severe chronic periodontitis had a significantly greater impact on quality of life, specifically with regard to physical pain and physical disability (P < 0.05). Physical pain and physical disability were the dimensions most affected, and all OHIP-14 scores were significantly associated with severity of periodontal disease after adjusting for common confounders.

Green Fodder Production and Water Use Efficiency of Some Forage Crops under Hydroponic Conditions

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to evaluate five forage crops (alfalfa (Medicago sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and wheat (Triticum aestivum)) for green fodder production and water use efficiency under hydroponic conditions. The experiment has been conducted under temperature-controlled conditions (24 ± 1°C) and natural window illumination at growth room of Soilless Culture Laboratory, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain. The results showed that green forage can be produced in 8 days from planting to harvest using hydroponic technique. Highest values for green fresh yields were recorded for the crops cowpea, barley, and alfalfa which gave 217, 200, and 194 tons/ha, respectively. However, only cowpea and barley crops gave the highest green dry yield, but not alfalfa. Barely crop used water more efficiently than the other four tested crops when produced about 654 kg fresh matter/m3 water in comparison to 633, 585, 552, and 521 kg fresh matter/m3 water for cowpea, sorghum, wheat, and alfalfa, respectively. No significant differences between barley and cowpea for water use efficiency were noted. It can be concluded from this study that barley crop can be considered the best choice for production of hydroponic green fodder with less water consumption.

Peer-led Education for Adolescents With Asthma in Jordan: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Objectives: To determine the impact of a peer-led education program, developed in Australia, on health-related outcomes in high school students with asthma in Jordan. Methods: In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, 4 high schools in Irbid, Jordan, were randomly assigned to receive the Adolescent Asthma Action program or standard practice. Bilingual health workers trained 24 peer leaders from Year 11 to deliver asthma education to younger peers from Year 10 ( n = 92), who in turn presented brief asthma skits to students in Years 8 and 9 ( n = 148) and to other members of the school community in the intervention schools. Students with asthma ( N = 261) in Years 8, 9, and 10 completed baseline surveys in December 2006 and 3 months after the intervention. Results: Students from the intervention group reported clinically significant improvements in health-related quality of life (mean difference: 1.35 [95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.76]), self-efficacy to resist smoking (mean difference: 4.63 [95% confidence interval: 2.93–6.35]), and knowledge of asthma self- management (mean difference: 1.62 [95% confidence interval: 1.15–2.19]) compared with the control group. Conclusions: This trial demonstrated that the Adolescent Asthma Action program can be readily adapted to suit different cultures and contexts. Adolescents in Jordan were successful in teaching their peers about asthma self-management and motivating them to avoid smoking. The findings revealed that peer education can be a useful strategy for health promotion programs in Jordanian schools when students are given the opportunity and training. * Abbreviations: CQ — : Asthma Knowledge Consumer Questionnaire ISAAC — : International Study for Asthma and Allergy Committee PAQLQ — : Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire

Comparison of clinical and radiological results of posterolateral fusion, posterior lumbar interbody fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion techniques in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spine.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Lower back pain due to degenerative disc disease is a common problem that requires surgical treatment, such as posterolateral fusion and posterior instrumentation (PLF), posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). This retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of these techniques. METHODS: 81 patients were treated between 2003 and 2006. The patients were divided into three groups: Group I (PLF n = 17 [43 levels]); Group II (PLIF n = 27 [52 levels]); and Group III (TLIF n = 37 [70 levels]). All patients underwent the same pre- and postoperative clinical and radiological evaluations (using Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Stanford score and local criteria). Follow-ups were performed at three months and yearly for three years. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the rates of intra-operative complications (Group I: 17.6%; Group II: 11.1%; Group III: 18.9%; p = 0.688) and postoperative complications (Group I: 11.8%; Group II: 25.9%; Group III: 13.5%; p = 0.343) among the groups. There was a significant decrease in the ODI scores over time (p < 0.005) but no significant difference among the groups at different follow-up times. Radiographic fusion rates for Groups I, II and III were 88%, 88.9% and 91.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgical techniques such as PLF, PLIF and TLIF are equally suitable for treating degenerative disc disease, with no differences observed in complications and clinical outcomes. However, in our study, the best radiological outcome was found in patients treated with TLIF.

Differential Expression of Molecular Markers of Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus, Prefrontal Cortex, and Amygdala in Response to Spatial Learning, Predator Exposure, and Stress‐Induced Amnesia

Abstract: We have studied the effects of spatial learning and predator stress-induced amnesia on the expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and calcineurin in the hippocampus, basolateral amygdala (BLA), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Adult male rats were given a single training session in the radial-arm water maze (RAWM) composed of 12 trials followed by a 30-min delay period, during which rats were either returned to their home cages or given inescapable exposure to a cat. Immediately following the 30-min delay period, the rats were given a single test trial in the RAWM to assess their memory for the hidden platform location. Under control (no stress) conditions, rats exhibited intact spatial memory and an increase in phosphorylated CaMKII (p-CaMKII), total CaMKII, and BDNF in dorsal CA1. Under stress conditions, rats exhibited impaired spatial memory and a suppression of all measured markers of molecular plasticity in dorsal CA1. The molecular profiles observed in the BLA, mPFC, and ventral CA1 were markedly different from those observed in dorsal CA1. Stress exposure increased p-CaMKII in the BLA, decreased p-CaMKII in the mPFC, and had no effect on any of the markers of molecular plasticity in ventral CA1. These findings provide novel observations regarding rapidly induced changes in the expression of molecular plasticity in response to spatial learning, predator exposure, and stress-induced amnesia in brainregions involved in different aspects of memory processing.

Optimal Configuration for Design of Stand-Alone PV System

Abstract: This paper presents a design for a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system to provide the required electricity for a single residential household in rural area in Jordan. The complete design steps for the suggested household loads are carried out. Site radiation data and the electrical load data of a typical household in the considered site are taken into account during the design steps. The reliability of the system is quantified by the loss of load probability. A computer program is developed to simulate the PV system behavior and to numerically find an optimal combination of PV array and battery bank for the design of stand-alone photovoltaic systems in terms of reliability and costs. The program calculates life cycle cost and annualized unit electrical cost. Simulations results showed that a value of loss of load probability LLP can be met by several combinations of PV array and battery storage. The method developed here uniquely determines the optimum configuration that meets the load demand with the minimum cost. The difference between the costs of these combinations is very large. The optimal unit electrical cost of 1 kWh for LLP = 0.049 is $0.293; while for LLP 0.0027 it is $0.402. The results of the study encouraged the use of the PV systems to electrify the remote sites in Jordan.

Image-guided Biopsy: What the Interventional Radiologist Needs to Know about PET/CT

Abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is increasingly used in evaluation of oncology patients. Because PET/CT can demonstrate malignancy before morphologic changes are evident, application of PET/CT information to image-guided biopsy can facilitate early histologic diagnosis and staging. However, because FDG uptake is not specific to cancer, PET/CT findings may raise questions about whether uptake in a lesion is an indication for biopsy. To properly select patients for image-guided biopsy, interventional radiologists should be familiar with the biologic significance of FDG uptake and various causes of false-positive uptake. PET/CT images may also become a source of confusion in the interpretation of biopsy results. Various causes of false-positive and false-negative FDG uptake need to be considered, especially when there is a discrepancy between biopsy results and PET/CT findings. False-negative FDG uptake can result from cancers that are too small to be observed or not FDG avid. False-positive FDG uptake can be due to underlying inflammation from recent treatment. Conversely, complete resolution of FDG uptake in a treated lesion does not necessarily indicate absence of viable cells. When questions about PET/CT findings arise in the context of image-guided biopsy, discussion with experienced nuclear imaging physicians is essential.

GMCAR: Grid-based multipath with congestion avoidance routing protocol in wireless sensor networks

Abstract: Recently, the interest in wireless sensor networks has been magnetized in the delay sensitive applications such as real-time applications. These time critical applications crave certain QoS requirements as though end-to-end delay guarantee and network bandwidth reservation. However, the severe resource constraints of the wireless sensor networks pose great challenges that hinder supporting these requirements. In this paper, we propose a Grid-based Multipath with Congestion Avoidance Routing protocol (GMCAR) as an efficient QoS routing protocol that is suited for grided sensor networks. We employ the idea of dividing the sensor network field into grids. Inside each grid, one of the sensor nodes is selected as a master node which is responsible for delivering the data generated by any node in that grid and for routing the data received from other master nodes in the neighbor grids. For each master node, multiple diagonal paths that connect the master node to the sink are stored as routing entries in the routing table of that node. The novelty of the proposed protocol lies behind the idea of incorporating the grids densities along with the hop count into the routing decisions. A congestion control mechanism is proposed in order to relieve the congested areas in case of congestion occurrence. Simulation results show that our proposed protocol has the potential to achieve up to 19.5% energy saving, 24.7% reduction in the delay and up to 8.5% enhancement in the network throughput when compared to another QoS routing protocol. However, when compared to the basic grid-based coordinated routing protocol, it achieves 23% energy saving. In addition, the proposed protocol shows its superiority in achieving better utilization to the available storage.

Public knowledge and awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors: a cross-sectional study of 1000 Jordanians.

Abstract: Objective To assess the level of the current knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Jordan's general public, their behaviour towards CVD and the factors associated with different CVD knowledge levels. Methods The data in the present study were collected using an interview-administered questionnaire. One thousand members of the general public were interviewed face to face. CVD knowledge was computed as a continuous variable. Key findings The present study reports limited public knowledge and awareness of CVD. Participants were more likely to have better CVD knowledge scores if they were non-smokers, always or often paid attention to their diet, reported having an ‘about right’ weight, occupied a very high socioeconomic level, held a university degree and had positive family history of CVD. Participants indicated that the community pharmacists had to play a role in helping patients manage their prescribed medicines; however, they did not recognise the community pharmacists' role in other areas of CVD prevention and management. Conclusion The present study reports that the general public in Jordan has limited knowledge and awareness of CVD. In planning to positively impact CVD prevention and management, community pharmacists must develop and promote effective and accessible services.