International Journal of Pharmacy Practice最新文献

Objectives: Pharmacists play a pivotal role in promoting responsible self-medication by offering guidance to consumers about proper medicine use. Ensuring they are adequately prepared for this role requires an assessment of their knowledge and attitudes. This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward self-medication practices and their role in promoting responsible self-medication among consumers.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among community pharmacists in Delhi, India, during 2023-2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic characteristics of respondents. Knowledge and attitude scores were calculated based on Bloom's cut-off criteria. The Kruskal-Wallis H test evaluated the influence of demographics on knowledge and attitude scores. Spearman's rank correlation was used to assess the relationship between knowledge and attitude scores.

Key findings: A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed, and 310 pharmacists completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 69%. Of those surveyed, 65% demonstrated good knowledge of self-medication, while 71% exhibited a favorable attitude toward promoting responsible self-medication practices. A positive correlation (ρ = 0.310**) between pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes was observed. The Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed that higher education and more experience significantly influence pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes, while customer volume also affect specific aspects of their attitudes.

Conclusions: This study underscores the vital role of pharmacists in promoting responsible self-medication and shows the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on their knowledge and attitudes toward self-medication. Our findings underscore the importance of targeted training to ensure pharmacists promote rational medicine use.

Objectives: The financial feasibility and practical viability of implementing a Sustainability Pharmacy Assistant Position (SPAP) program were assessed in this study. Human resources operating independently of the site were utilized by this innovative strategy to process medication returns for redistribution.

Methods: The cost-effectiveness of employing SPAPs solely responsible for processing medication returns for redistribution was assessed in a 3-month pilot service at two hospital sites. Funding was sourced from unfilled positions, and the SPAP's tasks and schedule were coordinated with site staff. Data on medication returns and workflow were collected and analysed as well as labor costs and expenses to evaluate cost savings and operational impact. The results of the pilot were extrapolated to yield an estimate of the impacts of an expanded SPAP program for 12 hospitals in the area.

Key findings: The pilot service revealed net savings from SPAPs at two hospitals of $19 951. Extrapolating the net savings to two SPAPs working for a full year and servicing 12 Fraser Health hospitals, the return on investment was $6.51 per dollar invested for the first year. SPAPs are highly cost-effective and address previous problems with site-based resource issues. The SPAP was smoothly integrated into each site's workflow, with no disruptions or complaints from staff, allowing them to focus on their primary duties.

Conclusions: Costs are effectively reduced, and operational efficiency is enhanced by the SPAPs through the processing of medication returns for redistribution. Given these positive outcomes, plans are in place to expand the program to additional sites, and similar initiatives are recommended for other healthcare systems. Financial savings are yielded by this approach, along with environmental benefits through the reduction of medication waste and incineration.

Objectives: To explore user experience, including learner confidence and engagement of using virtual reality (VR) simulation for training pharmacy students in conducting suicide risk assessment (SRA).

Methods: Two VR SRA case scenarios were developed with a multi-disciplinary team based on national guidelines and best practices. They were pilot tested by 14 pharmacy students.

Key findings: The VR training was well-received, with relatively positive user engagement and increases in self-reported confidence in SRA by the learners.

Conclusions: VR SRA training has the potential to address current mental health needs in primary health care.

Objective: To develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for extended community pharmacy services and assess the practicality and outcomes of implementation.

Methods: Phase I: Development of SOPs and checklists for extended services. Phase II: Assessment of face and content validity through expert panel review. Phase III: Usability testing over 300 hours in a community pharmacy in Malta, targeting up to 10 patients per service. The outcomes measured included time to provide service, clinical interventions, and implementation challenges.

Key findings: SOPs and checklists were developed for 12 extended services, classified into medicine use review (MUR), patient review (blood pressure measurement, weight management, urinalysis), and advice/treatment services (eye, ear, skin conditions, sore throat, urinary tract infection, smoking cessation, routine immunization, and international travel health). Expert validation showed high ratings for relevance, clarity, and presentation. During usability testing, 88 patients were recruited. The number of patients and mean time for service provision were as follows: MUR (n = 10, 14 minutes), patient review (n = 22, 21 minutes), and advice/treatment services (n = 56, 17 minutes). The clinical interventions included non-pharmacological advice (n = 88), referral to physician (n = 44), and dispensing non-prescription medicines (n = 42). Referrals were commonly due to side effects, drug interactions, abnormal urinalysis results, and uncontrolled blood pressure. The key challenges identified were limited access to electronic health records, time constraints, and lack of pharmacist prescribing authority.

Conclusions: The SOPs outline key components of best practice for delivering extended services in community pharmacy. Usability testing demonstrated that implementation of the SOPs and checklists was practical and led to valuable clinical interventions. The study proposes a transferable model for extended community pharmacy services within collaborative healthcare systems.

Objectives: The study investigated the knowledge and awareness of anti-doping regulations among community pharmacists in Norway.

Methods: The research employed a simulated patient methodology, involving 296 pharmacists, to assess their ability to identify prohibited substances and provide appropriate anti-doping advice.

Key findings: The findings reveal that 46.6% of pharmacists could identify salbutamol as a prohibited substance, with only 23.3% providing comprehensive anti-doping guidance. The study highlights a significant knowledge gap, emphasizing the need for enhanced educational programs to equip pharmacists with the necessary skills to offer effective anti-doping advice.

Conclusions: The results underscore the critical role of community pharmacists in promoting a vigilant healthcare environment against doping in sports.

Objectives: This study aimed to address the current evidence gap on understanding the Australian pharmacists' readiness and perceptions about the provision of antibiotics for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) management in the community setting.

Methods: A self-administered online survey tool was used to collect data from Australian pharmacists. Pharmacists were recruited via email and by advertising the study on social media platforms. The survey included questions on demographics, perceived benefits, willingness, competence, training adequacy, barriers, and enablers to providing UTI services. Data were analysed using descriptive, comparative and correlational statistical methods, and thematic analysis for qualitative responses.

Key findings: A total of 144 community pharmacists completed the survey. Pharmacists providing UTI services reported higher confidence in prescribing antibiotics (P < .001), collecting patient histories (P < .001), and differentiating between complicated and uncomplicated UTIs compared with non-providers (P < .001). The relationship between pharmacists' status in providing UTI services, and their overall confidence was mediated by their perceptions of being well-trained and competent. Key enablers included adequate training and resources, while major barriers included workload management and insufficient remuneration.

Conclusions: Confidence in providing UTI services is significantly influenced by training and education. Pharmacists are willing to offer these services to enhance patient care, but additional support such as training, mentoring, appropriate resources, adequate staffing, and remuneration is essential. Addressing these barriers will be crucial for the sustainable implementation of UTI management services in community pharmacies. Future research should focus on strategies to support pharmacists in these expanded roles, and further validate these findings to enhance UTI management in community settings.

Introduction: Mental health (MH) conditions place a significant disease burden on the UK. Pharmacists are healthcare professionals and may contribute to addressing this burden; however, the evidence regarding their specific role in MH care in the UK is sparse.

Objective: The objective of this review was to assess the evidence regarding pharmacists' roles in managing common MH conditions within UK primary and secondary care settings.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Web of Science (Core collection) databases for English-language studies published between 2004 and 2024 were accessed. Eligible studies were UK-based and reported pharmacists' involvement in MH care. Data were charted and synthesized into descriptive themes.

Key findings: Fourteen studies highlighted pharmacists' multifaceted roles in MH care across primary and secondary care settings. Key domains included prescribing and deprescribing, medicines management, patient education, team collaboration, and specialized services such as assessments, referrals, and social prescribing. Pharmacist involvement improved medication optimization, patient understanding, and interdisciplinary communication, though gaps in MH training and role standardization were noted.

Conclusion: Pharmacists play diverse roles in supporting MH services through medicines optimization, prescribing support, and multidisciplinary collaboration, and have positive impacts on adherence and medicines management, but limited evidence on effectiveness. Strengthening pharmacist integration, workforce training, and evaluation of scalable interventions is essential to enhance their contribution to MH care in the UK.

Pharmacy education, training, and practice across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has undergone significant transformation in recent decades, shaped by evolving healthcare priorities, national development agendas, and increasing demands for a skilled pharmacy workforce. This commentary provides an in-depth overview of pharmacy education pathways, postgraduate training opportunities, workforce trends, and practice models across GCC countries, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. While undergraduate pharmacy education has rapidly expanded, with many institutions transitioning to entry-to-practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs, the region continues to face challenges in developing practice-ready pharmacists capable of managing the complexities of an ever-evolving healthcare system. Postgraduate training options, including residencies, fellowships, and research-based degrees, remain unevenly distributed. Clinical pharmacy practice in hospitals is well-established, whereas community pharmacy services are still limited in scope, often restricted to dispensing and minor ailment management. Research engagement is increasing, particularly in academic and hospital settings, but remains constrained by administrative barriers and the absence of a clear career pathway in pharmacy research.

Background: Medication wastage is a global concern that is associated with significant impact. As drug experts, pharmacists' opinions and practices are essential in finding strategies to control waste. Re-dispensing the unused medicines stored at home may be a possible solution that needs to be examined.

Objective: To characterize Jordanian pharmacists' perspectives on the causes of medication waste, describe current waste-reduction activities, and assess the feasibility, barriers, and pharmacists' readiness and willingness toward implementing medication re-dispensing.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pharmacists working in Jordan using a pre-validated online questionnaire.

Results: This study recruited 138 pharmacists. Key factors identified as contributing to medication waste included non-adherence (75.4%), patients lack of awareness (60.9%), self-medication (53.6%), polypharmacy (51.4%), and misuse of health insurance (50.7%).While pharmacists reported engaging in activities such as the ability to split packages (73.2%), managing pharmacy stocks (65.2%), and conducting medication reviews (61.6%), many of these activities were limited in actual implementation. More than half of participants (54.3%) believed that implementing a re-dispensing approach in Jordan would be practical, and 69.6% expressed willingness to provide a service for collecting unused medicines in their pharmacies. However, the most significant barrier identified was the lack of clear regulations (76.8%).

Conclusion: Pharmacists can play a vital role in reducing medication waste by managing unused drugs and leading educational initiatives on proper medication use and disposal. However, the findings indicate that current efforts by Jordanian pharmacists to minimize medicine waste remain suboptimal. The concept of re-dispensing warrants further evaluation from additional perspectives.