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Dr. Defersha, Amsalu Degu

Assistant Professor, Clinical Pharmacy
adefersha@usiu.ac.ke    |     +254 730 116 710

Biography:

Amsalu Degu Defersha is a Pharmacy graduate having pursued a Bachelor of Pharmacy at Jimma University (September 2006- June 2010), Master of Science Degree in Pharmacology at Addis Ababa University (September 2012- December 2014), and Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy at University of Nairobi (September 2015- December 2017) and PhD in Clinical Pharmacy at University of Nairobi (September 2020- September 2024).

He worked as a tutorial fellow from September 2010 to September 2012 and Lecturer of Pharmacology from September 2014 to August 2015 at Ambo University. From September 2015- December 2017, he has gotten a scholarship award from the European Union-funded project (AFIMEGQ) to pursue his Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Nairobi. After completing his study in Kenya, he worked as a Lecturer of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Gondar from January 2018-August 31, 2018.

Currently, he is working as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at United States International University-Africa. He has a special interest in cancer therapeutics and co-authored several publications.

Academic Degrees:

  • PhD in Clinical Pharmacy, University of Nairobi
  • Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy, University of Nairobi
  • Master of Science in Pharmacology, Addis Ababa University
  • Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy, Jimma University

Publications:

Journal Articles

  1. Degu A, Engidawork E, Shibeshi W. Evaluation of the anti-diarrheal activity of the leaf extract of Croton macrostachyus Hocsht. ex Del. (Euphorbiaceae) in mice model. BMC Complementary and alternative medicine, 2016; 16:379
  2. Degu A, Njogu P, Weru I, Karimi P. Assessment of Drug Therapy Problems among Patients with Cervical Cancer at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. Gynecologic Oncology Research and Practice, 2017; 4:15.
  3. Degu A, Kebede K. Drug-related problems and its associated factors among breast cancer patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: A hospital- based retrospective cross-sectional study. J Oncol Pharm Pract.2021;27(1):88-98.
  4. Degu A, Kefale B, Alemayehu, D, Tegegne, G.T. Evaluation of the Antidiarrheal Activity of Hydromethanol Crude Extracts of Ruta chalepensis and Vernonia amygdalina in Mice. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:8318713.
  5. Mohammed AS, Adem F, Tadiwos Y, Woldekidan NA, Degu A . Level of Adherence to the Dietary Recommendation and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:2605-2612.
  6. Kefale B, Degu A, Tegegne GT. Medication?related problems and adverse drug reactions in Ethiopia: A systematic review. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020;8 (5):e00641.
  7. Odeo S, Degu A. Factors affecting health-related quality of life among prostate cancer patients: A systematic review. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2020; 26(8):1997-2010.
  8. Kefale B, Tegegne GT, Kefale Y, Molla M, Ewunetei A, Degu A. Magnitude and determinants of drug therapy problems among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with hypertension in Ethiopia. SAGE Open Medicine. 2020;8:1-8.Kefale B, Tegegne GT, Degu A, Molla M, Kefale Y. Surgical Site Infections and Prophylaxis Antibiotic Use in the Surgical Ward of Public Hospital in Western Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. Infect Drug Resist. 2020;13:3627-3635.
  9. Kefale B, Tegegne GT, Degu A, Tadege M, Tesfa D. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Thromboembolism among Patients With Coronavirus Disease-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2020;26:1076029620967083.
  10. Kefale B, Ewunetei A, Molla M, Tegegne GT, Degu A. Clinical pattern and predictors of stroke treatment outcome among hospitalised patients who had a stroke at Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialised hospital, northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2020;10:e040238.
  11. Degu A, Yussuf A. Treatment outcomes among human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer patients: A systematic review. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2021;27(6):1468-1476.
  12. Tegegne GT, Kefale B, Engidaw MT, Degu A, Tesfa D, Ewunetei A, Yazie TS and Molla M (2021) Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Healthcare Providers Toward Novel Coronavirus 19 During the First Months of the Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Front. Public Health 2021; 9:606666.
  13. Amare GG, Degu A, Njogu P, Kifle ZD. Evaluation of the Antimalarial Activity of the Leaf Latex of Aloe weloensis (Aloaceae) against Plasmodium Parasites. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2021;2021:6664711.
  14. Mohammed AS, Degu A, Woldekidan NA, Adem F, Edessa D. In-hospital mortality and its predictors among stroke patients in sub-Saharan Africa: A systemic review and meta-analysis. SAGE Open Med. 2021;9:20503121211036789.
  15. Woldekidan NA, Mohammed AS, Degu A, Tadiwos Y. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated factors among psychiatric patients at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2021;16(8):e0256195
  16. Moraa F, Degu A. Survival Outcomes Among Pancreatic Cancer Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2022;53(4):958-964.
  17. Tuwei G, Degu A. Survival Outcomes among Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2- (HER2-) Positive Breast Cancer Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. Int J Breast Cancer. 2021;2021:3115727.
  18. Kibaara M, Degu A. Assessment of adverse events among cervical cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2023;29(2):326-332.
  19. Wambua MD, Degu A, Tegegne GT. Treatment outcomes and its associated factors among breast cancer patients at Kitui Referral Hospital. SAGE Open Medicine. 2021;10:1-9.
  20. Shajahan Ahamed M, Degu A. Health-related quality of life among cervical cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2023;29(2):393-400.
  21. Degu A, Terefe EM, Some ES, Tegegne GT. Treatment Outcomes and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Patients with Selected Solid Malignancies at Kenyatta National Hospital: A Hospital-Based Prospective Cohort Study. Cancer Manag Res. 2022;14:1525-1540.
  22. Isaaka J, Degu A, Kimani LM. Assessment of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and its associated factors among cervical cancer patients in the leading tertiary hospital in Kenya. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2022;28(7):1603-1608.
  23. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Survival outcomes among colorectal cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital: A retrospective cohort study. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2023;6(3):e1743.
  24. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Predictors of survival outcomes among patients with gastric cancer in a leading tertiary, teaching and referral hospital in Kenya. Cancer Med. 2023;12(4):4147-4160.
  25. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Determinants of survival outcomes among esophageal cancer patients at a national referral hospital in Kenya. Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine. 2022;9(1):20-28
  26. Said NS, Degu A. Assessment of survival outcomes among lung cancer patients at the National and Referral Hospital in Kenya. Cancer Med. 2023;12(8):9194-9201.
  27. Getachew R, Tadesse TA, Shashu BA, Degu A, Alemkere G. Anticoagulation Management in Patients Receiving Warfarin at Private Cardiac Centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J Blood Med. 2023;14:107-117.
  28. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Drug-related problems among esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer patients at the National and Referral Hospital in Kenya. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2024;30(3):493-506.
  29. Yirba TY, Gebremariam GT, Tadesse TA, Degu A, Mekonnen D, Alemkere G. Reliability and Validity of the Amharic Version of the Hill-Bone Adherence to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale Among Ethiopian Hypertensive Patients. Patient preference and adherence. 2023:3207-17.
  30. Degu A, Karimi PN, Opanga SA, Nyamu DG. Health-related quality of life among patients with esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancer at Kenyatta National Hospital. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2024;7(3):e2038.
  31. Magut FJ, Degu A. Drug therapy problems among paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients at Kenyatta National Hospital. Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/10781552241256811.
  32. Assenga EA, Degu A, Omolo CA. Assessment of chemotherapy-related adverse drug reactions among multiple myeloma patients at Kenyatta national hospital. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2024:10781552241276438.

Areas of Interest/Specialization:

  • Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology

Teaching:

  • PHM44845: Endocrine and reproductive disorders
  • PHM4486: Nervous and musculoskeletal disorders
  • PHM4484: Cardiovascular and renal disorders
  • PHM5487: Neoplastic disorders
  • PHM 3486: Clinical management of fungal, parasitic & protozoa diseases
  • Practical clinical rotation in the hospital and Pharmacy skills lab
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