Student Research

Student Research

Student Research Contributions​​

Our research group is committed to fostering student involvement in meaningful and impactful research, enabling both undergraduate and postgraduate students to contribute to advancing healthcare and health economics. Achievements include notable publications, such as:

  1. ​A collaboration with N. Yanal[EH1] , a former master's student and now a Market Access & Pricing Manager at Leo Pharma, titled "Validity, reliability, and feasibility of EQ-5D-3L, VAS, and time trade-off among Jordanians," published in 2024 in the Journal of Healthcare Quality Research (PubMed link).
  2. A study with Malik Hijawi[EH2] , a former undergraduate student and now a research fellow/postdoctoral associate at Indiana University School of Medicine, titled "Hospital unit costs in Jordan: insights from a country facing competing health demands and striving for universal health coverage," published in Health Economics Review (2022) (Article link).
  3. A publication with Lina Wali, a current PhD student at the University of Jordan School of Pharmacy, titled "Incidence, predictors, clinical outcomes, and economic burden of recurrent acute kidney injury: a retrospective cohort study" (Tandfonline link).​​

Graduate Thesis Defense Sessions – University of Jordan

Pharmacist Ruaa Hussien successfully defended her Master’s thesis in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Jordan, titled “Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary and Secondary Healthcare Services Utilization: A Retrospective National Study from Jordan.” The research, supervised by Prof. Eman Hammad and Dr. Rasha Alarbayat, analyzed data from 364,300 patients in the national ‘Hakeem’ database, comparing healthcare use during 2020–2021 to pre-pandemic years.

The study found a sharp drop in primary care use, with medication refills decreasing by 43%, while secondary care saw increases, including a 9.6% rise in outpatient visits and longer hospital stays. Surgeries fell by 35%, and disparities appeared across gender and age. The findings highlight the need for health policy reforms to maintain care continuity, especially for high-risk groups. Congratulations to Ruaa for earning her degree with distinction

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A new study by Yaqout Abdual Razaq Al Jalam, a Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Jordan, highlighted the clinical and economic benefits of multidisciplinary care for diabetic foot complications. Conducted at Jordan University Hospital, the research compared standard care to an approach involving a clinical pharmacist, endocrinologist, and specialized nurse, finding significant reductions in foot ulcer recurrence and improvements in patients’ quality of life, despite no major differences in HbA1c levels.

The multidisciplinary model also led to notable cost savings by reducing hospital stays, outpatient visits, and missed workdays. The thesis was highly praised by the examination committee, with Dr. Eman Hammad noting its potential to strengthen preventative diabetic care and lower healthcare costs in Jordan.


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On May 24, 2025, Pharmacist Dr. Jyana Khaled Qasem Al-Elaimat presented her Master’s thesis in Clinical Pharmacy, titled “Clinical Pharmacist at a Ministry of Health Comprehensive Primary Medical Centre in Jordan: Assessment of the Collaborative Approach with Physicians in Managing Diabetes.” Supervised by Prof. Eman Hammad and Prof. Abla Al-Bsoul, the study involved 103 diabetic patients randomized to receive either standard care or collaborative care combining physician and clinical pharmacist support.

After three months, patients in the collaborative care group showed significant improvements in HbA1c, blood pressure, medication knowledge, adherence, and quality of life. The study identified 304 treatment-related problems, with physicians accepting over 81% of pharmacist recommendations. These interventions yielded estimated cost savings of about 369 JDs per patient annually. The findings highlight the value of integrating clinical pharmacists into primary care teams to enhance outcomes for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

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Tasneem Al-Hyasat, under the supervision of Prof. Eman A. Hammad, has successfully defended her master thesis in Master of pharmacy administration. titled: 
"Patient and Disease Determinants of Hospital Service Utilization in Jordan: Analysis of the Civil Health Insurance Claims Data." in May 2025 at the University of Jordan-school of Pharmacy. It is  the first comprehensive analyses of hospital-level healthcare utilization based on real-world data from Jordan’s Civil Insurance Program (CIP). CIP is Jordan’s largest public insurance scheme, covering more than 60% of the insured population, including public sector employees, retirees, vulnerable populations, and dependents. It plays a pivotal role in Jordan’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The research used anonymized 2023 electronic health records from public hospitals to identify how patient characteristics and chronic disease burden influence healthcare demand and expenditure. This study sheds light on how NCDs and demographic factors shape resource utilization under CIP. The findings are critical for policymakers as Jordan expands health coverage and strengthens efficiency in public service delivery. They also underscore the value of real-world data in guiding evidence-informed planning and investment for UHC.​
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Epidemiology, Clinical Pathway, Risk Factors, and Economic Burden of Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases in Jordan: A Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study
Focus:
My thesis focused on analyzing the economic burden of patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly in terms of treatment costs. I also examined the clinical aspects of kidney failure, including its epidemiology, clinical pathways, and risk factors. This comprehensive approach, which incorporates both clinical and economic perspectives, aims to support evidence-based decision-making and promote efficient resource utilization in healthcare.

Key findings 
1- CKD prevalence trends have been steadily increasing year by year, leading to significant impacts on patients’ clinical outcomes and posing a considerable economic burden on Jordan’s healthcare system.
2- Certain demographic factors, including age, gender, and marital status, along with clinical factors such as elevated serum creatinine (SCr) levels, serum urea, GFR, and urine protein, in addition to comorbidities like (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and anemia), as well as a high Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, are significant predictors and risk factors of the development and progression of CKD. These factors are associated with increased mortality rates, longer hospital stays, higher rates of recurrent CKD admissions, and greater treatment charges.
3- The total charges of treatment are notably higher for patients with multiple comorbidities compared to those without.
4- As CKD progresses to advanced stages (from stage 1 to stage 5), there is a corresponding increase in healthcare resource utilization and associated charges. Particularly, stages (4 and 5) are associated with higher mortality rates compared to earlier stages (1-3). Additionally, patients in advanced stages undergoing dialysis treatment are expected to face additional treatment-related charges, further contributing to the financial burden.​
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On May 28, 2025, Pharmacist Dr. Asala Jawdat Saud El-Qasem presented  entitled a thesis on: "Clinical and Economic Burden of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Jordanian Diabetic Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study" for a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Business Administration. Supervised by Prof. Eman Hammad and Assistant Supervisor Dr. Rimal Musa.
Members of the discussion committee include Prof. Khawla Abu Hammour and Dr. Shorouq Al-Tawalbeh from Jordan's University of Science and Technology.
The study retrospectively utilized ten years data of patients who were admitted and followed up in the University of Jordan Hospital and we reviewed reviewed the financial and clinical implications of diabetic foot ulcers. The overall 10-years economic burden of diabetic foot ulcers and its' associated consequences was (6,686,878.41 Jordanian dinars). This study reflects that despite breakthroughs and advancements in diabetes care, diabetic foot ulcers continue to cause frequent hospitalizations, infections, major amputations, and clinic visits.These findings highlight the need for better prevention, early detection, and comprehensive management strategies to lessen the clinical and budgetary burden on healthcare systems.  Congratulations for passing with distinction.  We wish her and all of our students great improvement and success.​
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Student Achievement

Nujoud Al-Dabbas, a Master’s student, was awarded Best Poster Presentation in Clinical Pharmacy at the 9th International Pharmaceutical Conference (ZIPC 2024), hosted by Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan.

The award was granted for a poster derived from her Master’s thesis research, conducted under the supervision of Prof. Eman Hammad and Prof. Ibrahim Al-Abbadi. This achievement reflects the quality of graduate research and academic mentorship within the research group.
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