International Journal of Pharmacy Practice最新文献

Objectives: The environmental impact of asthma is multifactorial and personalized strategies to optimize treatment and achieve improved asthma control are required to reduce asthma related carbon emissions. Digital interventions, such as electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) could be one potential solution to support inhaler optimization. This article explores the clinical and sustainability benefits of EMDs and the impact they could have on decarbonizing the asthma pathway.

Methods: An electronic database search was carried out on PubMed, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, and the Cochrane library, in November 2024 and updated in April 2025. A structured search was used including free text and MeSH terms using the key terms 'asthma', 'adherence', and terms related to 'digital inhaler', 'digital sensor', 'electronic monitoring device', and 'environmental sustainability'. Fully published randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews or meta-analyses, and cohort studies were retrieved. Search results were limited to adolescent and adult asthma patients. Articles not published in English language were excluded.

Key findings: The review identifies that EMDs, particularly when combined with education and feedback, have the potential to reduce the carbon impact of asthma through improved adherence to preventer inhalers, reduced reliever overuse, and improved asthma control. However, the current evidence is limited and larger comparative studies demonstrating their impact on clinical outcomes and health economic and environmental factors are required.

Conclusions: Digital inhaler monitors could potentially support treatment optimization and decarbonization of the asthma pathway. Further research is required to truly understand their potential and support their adoption into clinical practice in the UK.

Objectives: To quantify and describe the types of enquiries received by on-call hospital pharmacists across public metropolitan and regional hospitals.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data entered by on-call pharmacists between January/2019 and December/2023 from across seven Local Health Networks in South Australia. Medicine-related enquiries were classified by type according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and 'APINCH' (Antimicrobials, Psychotropics, Potassium and electrolytes, Insulin, Narcotics and other sedatives, Chemotherapeutic agents, Heparin and anticoagulants) acronym.

Key findings: There were 9069 phone enquiries received over the 5 years analysed. The largest number of calls related to medicine supply (62%) and medicine information (20%). Twelve percent of enquiries required a pharmacist to attend the hospital in person. The time period with the highest call numbers was 6 p.m.-8 p.m. (29%), followed by 8 p.m.-10 p.m. (23%) and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (predominantly weekends; 15%). Nearly one-third of the medicine enquiries were for drugs that act on the nervous system classified using ATC system, with clozapine being involved with the highest frequency (n = 534; 6%). Over half of the medicine-related enquiries (n = 5046) were considered high-risk drugs using the 'APINCH' acronym. The most frequent subtype of 'APINCH' was antimicrobials (n = 2213/5046; 44%), followed by narcotics (24%) and psychotropics (16%).

Conclusions: The provision of on-call services involved a range of high-risk classification medicines that required timely supply and clinical advice from pharmacists. This study identifies the need for developing a state-wide approach to consolidate on-call data through technology to inform work processes and targeted education and resources for pharmacists and other professional staff.

Objective: This study investigated whether providing numerical adverse event information and social norm nudging in medication counselling enhances patients' willingness to take medication differently, depending on their numeracy skills.

Methods: An online survey was conducted with 554 Japanese adults who were randomly assigned to one of four medication counselling scenarios, combining numerical and non-numerical adverse event information with or without a social norm nudge. After viewing counselling videos on a hypothetical diabetes drug, participants' willingness to take the medication and subjective numeracy skills were assessed.

Key findings: The results indicated that numerical adverse event information significantly improved medication willingness among more numerate participants, but had no significant effect on less numerate participants. In contrast, social norm nudging was more effective for less numerate individuals, whereas it had no significant effect on more numerate participants.

Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of tailoring counselling strategies to patients' numeracy levels to optimize decision-making and improve adherence. As a practical implication, the findings suggest that brief numeracy screening before medication counselling may enable pharmacists to optimize their communication strategies. Moreover, the findings offer a foundation for pharmacists to implement numeracy-based communication strategies in clinical counselling to enhance patient-centred communication.

Objectives: We aimed to translate the Patient Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (PDKQ) from the English version to the Malay version and validate it.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by forward translating the English language PDKQ to the Malay language by two independent translators and backward-translated to the English language by another two independent translators. The Malay version of the PDKQ was harmonized and underwent expert content validation by six healthcare professionals. Subsequently, six patients participated in face validation. For the reliability test, patients who were recruited randomly answered both the PDKQ English version and the Malay version, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was analysed.

Key findings: Four items and three items were modified during forward and backward translation, respectively. The average scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) values for expert validation for relevance, importance and clarity were 1.000, 0.992, and 0.983, respectively, indicating relevant, important, and good clarity. For face validity, the average S-CVI for clarity was 0.975 and for understandability was 0.992. The ICC for the Malay version of the PDKQ was 0.945.

Conclusion: The Malay version PDKQ is a valid tool and has excellent reliability. It serves as a tool to assess the diabetes knowledge among Malay-speaking patients.

Objective: Describe current pharmacy education, practice, and related research endeavors for pharmacists in Malawi and comment on advances being made.

Key findings: Pharmacists are currently involved in a variety of research endeavors including antimicrobial stewardship, clinical trials, and medication use processes. Advances being made in pharmacy education will advance clinical practice and pharmaceutical care. These advances are expected to further expand research opportunities in the areas of implementation science, population health, and health outcomes.

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of a pharmacogenomics (PGx) workshop on UK trainee pharmacists' knowledge, confidence, and application of PGx to simulated cases. The study also examined the experiences and support needs of workshop facilitators.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed, including surveys of workshop participants and focus groups (FGs) with workshop facilitators. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, while qualitative data from FGs were thematically analyzed.

Key findings: A total of 229 trainee pharmacists attended one of five workshops. Of these, 199 completed the pre-workshop survey, and 157 completed the post-workshop survey. Pre-, post-workshop surveys indicated a significant increase in self-reported knowledge of PGx (P < .01) and an increase in the confidence to apply this knowledge in clinical practice, although not statistically significant (P = .06). Workshop facilitators identified challenges related to participant engagement, especially in online settings, and expressed a need for more comprehensive preparatory materials and technical support. Despite these challenges, the workshops were well-received, with participants appreciating the interactive format and case studies which incorporated pharmacogenomic results.

Conclusions: The findings show that a PGx workshop effectively enhanced trainees' knowledge but revealed ongoing gaps in their ability to apply this knowledge clinically. Facilitator feedback highlights the need for improved training and resources to support effective delivery, particularly in online environments. Iterative sessions and additional supportive materials are recommended to consolidate learning and application of PGx in clinical practice.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of pharmacist-led interprofessional medication reviews in nursing homes on the optimization of drug therapy, inappropriate medication use, and costs.

Methods: Polypharmacy concerns more than 80% of Swiss nursing home residents, and approximately three-quarters of them receive at least one potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). The residents living in nursing homes where medication reviews by pharmacists were usually performed were allocated to the intervention group if they were included in a medication review during the study period (from July 2020 to September 2021). The control group included residents living in nursing homes where medication reviews were never performed. The primary outcomes were the change in the number of regular drugs prescribed, the number of PIMs, and drug costs over 12 months.

Key findings: Eighty-nine residents were included in the intervention group and 85 in the control group. Over 12 months, a truncated negative binomial regression analysis showed a significant decrease of 204 Swiss francs in drug costs per 6 months and a reduction in the number of drugs prescribed over 12 months (mean difference 0.8) in the intervention group compared with the control group. We also found a significant reduction in PIMs in the intervention group.

Conclusions: Pharmacist-led interprofessional medication reviews may reduce drug costs and the number of unnecessary and potentially harmful drugs in nursing homes.

Objectives: The environmental impact of healthcare systems represents a significant global challenge. Evaluating how pharmacy students and pharmacy professionals understand and perceive environmentally sustainable practices is crucial for reducing the healthcare industry's ecological footprint. This systematic review aimed to critically assess and synthesize the existing evidence on the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of pharmacy students and pharmacy professionals regarding environmental sustainability (ES) in pharmacy practice, identifying facilitators and barriers that influence their engagement.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Seven databases were searched using a prespecified search string for studies published in English between 2011 and 2024. Quality assessment was performed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute tool for cross-sectional studies, Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist for qualitative research, and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool for mixed-methods studies. Data were synthesized narratively due to methodological heterogeneity.

Key findings: Fifteen studies from 11 countries were included. While most pharmacy students and pharmacy professionals recognized environmental risks associated with pharmaceutical waste, significant knowledge gaps existed regarding proper disposal practices, ecopharmacovigilance, and broader ES concepts. Despite positive attitudes toward ES, participants often struggled to translate awareness into action, citing barriers such as a lack of formal training, unclear guidelines, and limited systemic support. Both students and pharmacy professionals expressed a strong interest in enhancing ES education and training.

Conclusions: This review highlighted the need for comprehensive integration of ES principles in pharmacy education and practice using a structured approach. Additionally, future efforts should focus on developing clear guidelines, enhancing professional training, and establishing supportive infrastructure for ES in pharmacy practices.