Background Cefepime is essentially used for life‐threatening infections. Although overutilisation of antibiotics is strongly discouraged around the world, they are still overused in developing countries including Sudan. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the rational use of cefepime at Khartoum North Teaching Hospital‐Sudan. Methods A retrospective cross‐sectional, hospital‐based study was conducted in the internal medicine ward at Khartoum North Teaching Hospital from August/2018 to April/2019. The study covered medical records of adult patients receiving cefepime during the study period. Patient's data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (logistic regression) to describe the relationship between dependent and independent variables. P ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. Results Out of 90 patients, only 16.7% of patients were tested for antibiotic sensitivity. Cefepime was prescribed to 50% and 23.3% of patients for the treatment of UTIs/post‐dialysis and sepsis, respectively. Although the majority of patients (72.2%) received cefepime with appropriate indication, only 21.1% and 15.6% received the drug with appropriate dose and duration, respectively. Cefepime had been prescribed appropriately in a correct dose, duration, and indications for only 7.8% of patients. The vast majority of patients tested for kidney functions had elevated creatinine levels (96.1%); however, cefepime dose had been adjusted for only 4.1% of them. Conclusion This study highlighted the irrational use of cefepime regarding inappropriate dose, duration, and inadequate antibiotic sensitivity tests. A lack of attention to dosage adjustment in patients with renal impairment had been observed. Positive clinical outcome was significantly associated with antibiotic sensitivity test.

Background Chemotherapy-related toxicity affects the quality of life (QOL) of patients with cancer. Measuring the QOL in breast cancer (BC) patients has been the focus of clinical practices and research in recent decades. This study aimed to assess the impact of BC medications on QOL of Sudanese patients with BC. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan, from November 2020 to March 2021. All patients diagnosed with BC were included in the study. QOL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C-30) and breast cancer supplementary module (QLQ-BR23). ANOVA, independent t-test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between variables. Results Two hundred patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 50 ± 11.7 years. 52.5% of the patients were on a conventional therapy whereas 40.5% and 7% received hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies, respectively. In QLQ-C30 scale, the global health-QOL status score was (53.2 ± 1.9), with 54.0% of patients having poor global health-QOL status. In the functional scale, the cognitive functioning was the highest score (80.7 ± 1.8). In QLQ-C30 symptom scale, the most distressing issue was financial difficulties (63.7 ± 2.9). In QLQ-BR23 scale, body image scored the worse functioning (47.7 ± 2.7), with 54.5% of patients having poor QOL. In QLQ-BR23 symptoms scale, “being upset by hair loss” was the highest disturbing symptom (62.1 ± 3.3), with 68.6% of patients having poor QOL. Global health status (P = 0.000), social (P = 0.000), emotional (P = 0.002) and role functioning (P = 0.000) were significantly higher in patients taking HER2-targeted or hormonal therapy compared to conventional therapy. The level of symptomatology was significantly low in patients taking HER2-targeted therapy or hormonal therapy (P = 0.000) than those on conventional therapy. Hormonal (OR = 3.7, p = 0.01) and HER2-targeted therapies (OR = 10.2, p = 0.04 ) were positive predictors of QOL. Conclusion BC survivors in Sudan had a low QOL/global health status. Hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies were predictors of good QOL.

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Background: Cancer treatment-related side effects affect quality of life (QOL) of patients. QOL has increasingly become a primary outcome measure for treatment efficacy. This study aimed to assess the impact of various anticancer therapies on QOL of Sudanese patients with breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan, from November 2020 to March 2021. All patients diagnosed with breast cancer were included in the study. QOL was assessed using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C-30) and breast cancer supplementary module (QLQ-BR23). ANOVA, independent t-test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between variables. Results: 200 patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 50±11.7 years. 52.5% of the patients were on a conventional therapy whereas 40.5% and 7% received hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies, respectively. In QLQ-C30 scale, the global health status score was (53. 2±1.9), with 54.0% of patients having poor global health status. In the functional scale, the cognitive functioning was the highest score (80.7±1.8). In QLQ-C30 symptom scale, the most distressing issue was financial difficulties (63.7±2.9). In QLQ-BR23scale, body image (47.7±2.7) scored the worse functioning, with 58.5% of patients having poor QOL. In QLQ-BR23 symptoms scale, "being upset by hair loss" was the highest disturbing symptom (62.1±3.3), with 68.5% of patients having poor QOL. Global health status (P=0.000), social (P=0.000), emotional (P=0.002) and role functioning (P=0.000) were significantly higher in patients taking HER2-targeted or hormonal therapy compared with conventional therapy. The level of symptomatology was significantly low in patients taking HER2-targeted therapy or hormonal therapy (P=0.000) when compared with conventional therapy. Hormonal (OR=3.88, p=0.005) and HER2-targeted therapies (OR=10.8, p=0.032) were positive predictors of QOL.Conclusion: Breast cancer survivors in Sudan had a low QOL/global health status. Hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies were predictors of good QOL.

Background: Cancer treatment-related side effects affect quality of life (QOL) of patients. QOL has increasingly become a primary outcome measure for treatment efficacy. This study aimed to assess the impact of various anticancer therapies on QOL of Sudanese patients with breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan, from November 2020 to March 2021. All patients diagnosed with breast cancer were included in the study. QOL was assessed using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C-30) and breast cancer supplementary module (QLQ-BR23). ANOVA, independent t-test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between variables. Results: 200 patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 50±11.7 years. 52.5% of the patients were on a conventional therapy whereas 40.5% and 7% received hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies, respectively. In QLQ-C30 scale, the global health status score was (53. 2±1.9), with 54.0% of patients having poor global health status. In the functional scale, the cognitive functioning was the highest score (80.7±1.8). In QLQ-C30 symptom scale, the most distressing issue was financial difficulties (63.7±2.9). In QLQ-BR23scale, body image (47.7±2.7) scored the worse functioning, with 58.5% of patients having poor QOL. In QLQ-BR23 symptoms scale, "being upset by hair loss" was the highest disturbing symptom (62.1±3.3), with 68.5% of patients having poor QOL. Global health status (P=0.000), social (P=0.000), emotional (P=0.002) and role functioning (P=0.000) were significantly higher in patients taking HER2-targeted or hormonal therapy compared with conventional therapy. The level of symptomatology was significantly low in patients taking HER2-targeted therapy or hormonal therapy (P=0.000) when compared with conventional therapy. Hormonal (OR=3.88, p=0.005) and HER2-targeted therapies (OR=10.8, p=0.032) were positive predictors of QOL.Conclusion: Breast cancer survivors in Sudan had a low QOL/global health status. Hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies were predictors of good QOL.