INTRODUCTION:The aims of this study were (1) to assess the ability of a range of health-care professionals (HCPs: specialists [physicians specializing in management of airways disease], general practitioners, pharmacists, pharmacist assistants, nurses, and respiratory therapists) in Jordan to demonstrate the correct use of some commonly used inhalers using standardized checklists, with highest scores indicating optimal use, and (2)

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a serious global health concern. It has considerable implications on societies' health and resources. In Jordan, there is a large Iraqi community due to the ongoing turmoil in Iraq. Unfortunately, health awareness and practices of this community are under-investigated due to scarcity of research. This paper assesses the awareness of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in the Iraqi community residing in Amman, Jordan. Their level of interaction with health care professionals regarding antibiotics and differences in their antibiotic use between Iraq and Jordan are also discussed. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey involving randomly selected Iraqis residing in Amman, Jordan was conducted. Results: The study involved 508 participants. Sixty-two percent of participants agreed with buying antibiotics without a prescription, 29% agreed with obtaining antibiotics from friends or relatives, and 46% agreed with keeping leftover antibiotics for future use. Furthermore, 60% disagreed with not completing an antibiotic course and almost 90% of the sample listed viral diseases as an indication for antibiotics. Fortyfour percent of participants abided by physicians' instructions on antibiotic use. Half of the participants believed that pharmacists provided instructions on antibiotics all the time, whereas physicians were perceived to do so by 29% of participants. Conclusions: Gaps exist in knowledge of antibiotic use and reasons for antimicrobial resistance among Iraqis residing in Jordan. These gaps should serve in planning educational campaigns to raise the community's awareness of responsible antibiotic use. Law enforcement to restrict access to antibiotics is also pivotal to tackle their misuse.

Objectives: To explore patient's perspectives of the role of the community pharmacist in view of other health care professionals (specialist physician, general practitioner, nurse and others (e.g. herbalist)) in Jordan, UAE and Iraq. The study also investigated patient's willingness to pay for specialized pharmaceutical care services. Methods: This study followed a single phase cross sectional survey methodology, conducted in three Middle Eastern countries. Data were collected over a period of 6 months on two consecutive years (March to May 2009 and 2010). A questionnaire was designed and validated, then completed by patients walking into community pharmacies. The source of advice (specialist physician, general practitioner, pharmacist, nurse, or herbalist) regarding patient's medication use and medical management were investigated. Key findings: Patients visiting community pharmacies in Jordan (n = 1000), UAE (n = 1000) and Iraq (n = 968) were recruited into the study (mean age 35.9 ± 13.1, 50.6% males). Significant difference between the three countries was shown, as more patients chose the pharmacist as their primary source of advice on medication use vs. the specialist physician in Jordan (50.8% vs. 37.3%) and Iraq (41.9% * Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the Applied Sciences University (Jordan), Dubai Pharmacy College (UAE) and Al-Mustansiriya University (Iraq) Ethics Committees. # Corresponding author.

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(WA, 50.8 %; EA, 53.6 %), followed by the clinical specialist (WA, 35.7 % vs EA, 26.9 %, p = 0.001). Other aspects of patient perspective and expectation of the pharmacist were also assessed; in several instances, more reliance on the pharmacist was observed in EA (lower socioeconomic status) than in WA.