Impact of an Educational Workshop on Improving Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge About Helicobacter pylori Infection

Anas Alshkweiki; Feras Darwish Elhajji; Rana K Abu-Farha; Rajaa Alqudah; Fahmi Al-Ashwal

doi:10.35516/jjps.v18i3.2658

Authors

Anas Alshkweiki Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences Private University, Amman, Jordan
Feras Darwish Elhajji Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences Private University, Amman, Jordan
Rana K Abu-Farha Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences Private University, Amman, Jordan
Rajaa Alqudah Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences Private University, Amman, Jordan
Fahmi Al-Ashwal Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v18i3.2658

Keywords:

H. pylori, educational intervention, pharmacy student, knowledge, diagnosis

Abstract

Aim: There is limited awareness about H. pylori in the community, and if improved, better disease control will be produced. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge among undergraduate pharmacy students regarding H. pylori diagnosis and management before and after delivering an educational pharmacy intervention.

Methods: This intervention study was initiated in May 2020, where 72 pharmacy students attended a workshop about H. pylori management and diagnosis. Students’ knowledge about H. pylori infection was determined before and after the workshop. The intervention group attended a focused lecture about H. pylori combined with a case diagnosis and management simulation session. The control group self-reviewed a pamphlet related to the topic containing general information about H. pylori.

Results: Among the participants (n= 72), 58 (80.6%) had not attended a similar workshop previously. The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in their median knowledge score, rising from 9.0 (IQR: 8.0–11.0) pre-workshop to 11.0 (IQR: 10.0–12.0) post-workshop (P-value = 0.001). In contrast, the control group showed no significant change, maintaining a median score of 9.0 (IQR: 8.0–11.0) (P-value = 0.324). Additionally, while both groups had similar baseline knowledge scores, the intervention group achieved a significantly higher score after the workshop (P-value = 0.006).

Conclusion: The educational intervention resulted in a significant improvement in pharmacy students' knowledge about H. pylori. These findings underscore the importance of targeted educational activities in enhancing student preparedness for managing H. pylori cases in clinical practice.

References

Chen Y-C, Malfertheiner P, Yu H-T, Kuo C-L, Chang Y-Y, Meng F-T, et al. Global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and incidence of gastric cancer between 1980 and 2022. Gastroenterology. 2024;166(4):605-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2023.12.022

Obaidat MM, Roess AA. First nationwide seroepidemiology and risk factors report of Helicobater pylori in Jordan. Helicobacter. 2019;24(3):e12572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hel.12572

Reyes VE. Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastric cancer. Microorganisms. 2023;11(5):1312. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051312

Lee HS. Histopathologic Diagnosis of H. pylori Infection and Associated Gastric Diseases. Helicobacter pylori: Springer; 2024. p. 143-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0013-4_9

JCR. Jordan Cancer Registry (JCR). 2017.

Ullah I, Ullah A, Rehman S, Ullah S, Ullah H, Haqqni S, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of helicobacter pylori infection among individuals with tobacco consumption habits in district Peshawar: a cross-sectional study. Bulletin of Biological and Allied Sciences Research. 2023;2023(1):42-. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54112/bbasr.v2023i1.42

She X, Zhao J, Cheng S, Shi H, Dong L, Zhao P. Prevalence of and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in rural areas of Northwest China: A cross-sectional study in two villages of Yan'an city. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health. 2023;21:101294. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101294

Soares GAS, Moraes FAdS, Ramos AFPL, Santiago SB, Germano JN, Fernandes GA, et al. Dietary habits and Helicobacter pylori infection: is there an association? Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. 2023;16:17562848231160620. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17562848231160620

Lahner E, Persechino S, Annibale B. Micronutrients (Other than iron) and Helicobacter pylori infection: a systematic review. Helicobacter. 2012;17(1):1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-5378.2011.00892.x

Delgado Carreño CV, Rojas B. Helicobacter pylori in water sources and food products: A constant public health problem. 2018.

Beig STM, Alshehri WAA, Maqbul MS, Khan SA, bin Brik RK, Obaid AAA, et al. Prevalence of knowledge and awareness about Helicobacter pylori infection among urban population of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Gastroenterology & Endoscopy. 2024.

Wang Y-x, Zou J-y, Hu L-f, Liu Q, Huang R-l, Tang T, et al. What is the general Chinese public’s awareness of and attitudes towards Helicobacter pylori screening and associated health behaviours? A cross-sectional study. BMJ open. 2022;12(1):e057929. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057929

Bhat S, Nunes D. Pharmacist-managed Helicobacter pylori treatment service within a gastroenterology clinic: workflow and real-world experiences. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2022;56(2):162-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10600280211021501

Mohiuddin AK. The role of the pharmacist in patient care: achieving high quality, cost-effective and accessible healthcare through a team-based, patient-centered approach. Universal-Publishers; 2020.

Mubarak N, Arif S, Irshad M, Aqeel RM, Khalid A, Ijaz UeB, et al. How Are We Educating Future Physicians and Pharmacists in Pakistan? A Survey of the Medical and Pharmacy Student’s Perception on Learning and Preparedness to Assume Future Roles in Antibiotic Use and Resistance. Antibiotics. 2021;10(10):1204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10101204

Alhazmi AH, Haqawi NF, Alqarni ZK, Alhazmi FA, Masmali MI, Hakami KM, et al. Knowledge about Helicobacter pylori among Jazan University Students: A Cross-sectional Study from Saudi Arabia. Hail Journal of Health Sciences. 2023;5(2):53-8.

Zha J, Li Yy, Qu Jy, Yang Xx, Han Zx, Zuo X. Effects of enhanced education for patients with the Helicobacter pylori infection: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Helicobacter. 2022;27(2):e12880. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hel.12880

Hamurtekin E, Boşnak AS, Azarbad A, Moghaddamshahabi R, Hamurtekin Y, Naser RB. Knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding proton pump inhibitors among community pharmacists and pharmacy students. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2023;26(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/njcp.njcp_430_22

Hjazeen R. Community pharmacists’ perspectives toward continuing professional development: A qualitative study. Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2023;16(2):449-. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v16i2.1488

Saadeh A, Jarab AS, Jaradat Ra, Al Daqqa R. Community Pharmacists' Attitudes, Preferences and Barriers toward Continuing Pharmaceutical Education: A Cross Sectional Study in Jordan. Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2023:245-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v16i2.1328

Mukattash T, Nuseir K, Biltaji E, Jarab A, Alefan Q. Students’ perceptions of pharmacy as a specialization and their future career, a cross sectional study of final year pharmacy students in Jordan. Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2015;8(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.12816/0030450

Tubaishat A. The Effectiveness of an e-Learning Program to Improve Pressure Ulcer Classification by Nurses. Int J Humanit Soc Sci [Internet]. 2014;4(10):293-300.

Eng J. Sample size estimation: how many individuals should be studied? Radiology. 2003;227(2):309-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2272012051

WMA. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. The Journal of the American College of Dentists. 2014;81(3):14.

Driscoll LJ, Brown HE, Harris RB, Oren E. Population knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding Helicobacter pylori transmission and outcomes: a literature review. Frontiers in public health. 2017;5:144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00144

Xia P, Ma M-F, Wang W. Status of Helicobacter pylori infection among migrant workers in Shijiazhuang, China. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2012;13(4):1167-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.4.1167

Shin DW, Cho J, Kim SH, Kim YJ, Choi HC, Son KY, et al. Preferences for the “screen and treat” strategy of Helicobacter pylori to prevent gastric cancer in healthy Korean populations. Helicobacter. 2013;18(4):262-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hel.12039

Braden B, Posselt H-G, Ahrens P, Kitz R, Dietrich C, Caspary WF. New immunoassay in stool provides an accurate noninvasive diagnostic method for Helicobacter pylori screening in children. Pediatrics. 2000;106(1):115-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.106.1.115

Sepulveda A, Tao H, Carloni E, Sepulveda J, Graham D, Peterson L. Screening of gene expression profiles in gastric epithelial cells induced by Helicobacter pylori using microarray analysis. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2002;16:145-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2036.16.s2.4.x

Megraud F. H pylori antibiotic resistance: prevalence, importance, and advances in testing. Gut. 2004;53(9):1374-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2003.022111

Ghanaei FM. Knowledge and Practice of General Practitioners and Internists about Helicobacter pylori infection in Guilan, Iran. Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases. 2011;3.

dambrosio qa. Helicobacter pylori : a foodborne pathogen? World J Gastroenterol. 2018;24(31):3472-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v24.i31.3472

Hussen BM. The Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among University Students in Iraq. Indian Journal of Science and Technology. 2013;6(8):5019-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2013/v6i8.4

Amini M, Karbasi A, Khedmat H. Evaluation of eating habits in dyspeptic patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection. Tropical Gastroenterology. 2010;30(3):142-4.

McCallion W, Murray L, Bailie A, Dalzell A, O'Reilly D, Bamford K. Helicobacter pylori infection in children: relation with current household living conditions. Gut. 1996;39(1):18-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.39.1.18

Bui D, Brown HE, Harris RB, Oren E. Serologic evidence for fecal–oral transmission of Helicobacter pylori. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 2016;94(1):82-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0297

Anand PS, Kamath KP, Anil S. Role of dental plaque, saliva and periodontal disease in Helicobacter pylori infection. World journal of gastroenterology: WJG. 2014;20(19). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v20.i19.5639