Jennifer E Isenor, Lauren Renaud, Maria Mathews, Bobbi Morrison, Andrea L Murphy, Andrea Bishop, Susan K Bowles, Natalie Kennie-Kaulbach, Sarah Peddle, Mylaine Breton, Michael E Green, Emily G Marshall
Objectives: Community pharmacists play an important role in primary care access and delivery for all patients, including patients with a family physician or nurse practitioner ("attached") and patients without a family physician or nurse practitioner ("unattached"). During the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacists were accessible care providers for unattached patients and patients who had difficulty accessing their usual primary care providers ("semi-attached"). Before and during the pandemic, pharmacist services expanded in several Canadian provinces. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore patient experiences receiving care from community pharmacists, and their perspectives on the scope of practice of community pharmacists.
Methods: Fifteen patients in Nova Scotia, Canada, were interviewed. Participant narratives pertaining to pharmacist care were analyzed thematically.
Key findings: Attached, "semi-attached," and unattached patients valued community pharmacists as a cornerstone of care and sought pharmacists for a variety of health services, including triaging and system navigation. Patients spoke positively about expanding the scope of practice for community pharmacists, and better optimization of pharmacists in primary care.
Conclusions: System decision-makers should consider the positive role community pharmacists can play in achieving primary care across the Quintuple Aim (population health, patient and provider experiences, reducing costs, and supporting equity in health).
{"title":"Patient perspectives on the vital primary care role of community pharmacists in Nova Scotia, Canada: qualitative findings from the PUPPY Study.","authors":"Jennifer E Isenor, Lauren Renaud, Maria Mathews, Bobbi Morrison, Andrea L Murphy, Andrea Bishop, Susan K Bowles, Natalie Kennie-Kaulbach, Sarah Peddle, Mylaine Breton, Michael E Green, Emily G Marshall","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riae008","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riae008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Community pharmacists play an important role in primary care access and delivery for all patients, including patients with a family physician or nurse practitioner (\"attached\") and patients without a family physician or nurse practitioner (\"unattached\"). During the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacists were accessible care providers for unattached patients and patients who had difficulty accessing their usual primary care providers (\"semi-attached\"). Before and during the pandemic, pharmacist services expanded in several Canadian provinces. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore patient experiences receiving care from community pharmacists, and their perspectives on the scope of practice of community pharmacists.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifteen patients in Nova Scotia, Canada, were interviewed. Participant narratives pertaining to pharmacist care were analyzed thematically.</p><p><strong>Key findings: </strong>Attached, \"semi-attached,\" and unattached patients valued community pharmacists as a cornerstone of care and sought pharmacists for a variety of health services, including triaging and system navigation. Patients spoke positively about expanding the scope of practice for community pharmacists, and better optimization of pharmacists in primary care.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>System decision-makers should consider the positive role community pharmacists can play in achieving primary care across the Quintuple Aim (population health, patient and provider experiences, reducing costs, and supporting equity in health).</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"216-222"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11074504/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140131389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chibueze Anosike, Maxwell Ogochukwu Adibe, Desmond Nnia Ani
Background: Community pharmacists play a crucial role in the care of people with depression. This study aimed to evaluate the level of care provided by community pharmacists for clients with depression in Enugu, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected community pharmacists in Enugu, Nigeria. The data obtained were analysed descriptively.
Key findings: Approximately 25% of pharmacists perform depression screening, and 14.4% refer clients to psychiatrists. Pharmacists rarely provide information on antidepressant dosage, side effects, frequency, and duration.
Conclusion: Community pharmacists in Enugu are not providing effective care to depressed patients. Thus, appropriate interventions are recommended.
{"title":"Extent of community pharmacists' care of clients with depression in Enugu, Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey.","authors":"Chibueze Anosike, Maxwell Ogochukwu Adibe, Desmond Nnia Ani","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riad088","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riad088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Community pharmacists play a crucial role in the care of people with depression. This study aimed to evaluate the level of care provided by community pharmacists for clients with depression in Enugu, Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected community pharmacists in Enugu, Nigeria. The data obtained were analysed descriptively.</p><p><strong>Key findings: </strong>Approximately 25% of pharmacists perform depression screening, and 14.4% refer clients to psychiatrists. Pharmacists rarely provide information on antidepressant dosage, side effects, frequency, and duration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Community pharmacists in Enugu are not providing effective care to depressed patients. Thus, appropriate interventions are recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"186-189"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138803085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Can we do better? Sustainability and efficiency in intervention development and implementation.","authors":"Carmel M Hughes, Cristín A Ryan","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riae004","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riae004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"107-108"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139746660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ogochukwu Fidelia Offu, Shelina Visram, Adam Pattison Rathbone, Laura Lindsey
Background: The prescribing rate of opioids is increasing and is a main contributor to opioid misuse. Community pharmacists can help reduce opioid misuse rates by carrying out prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) opioid misuse prevention services. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to community pharmacists' involvement has the potential to improve these services.
Objective: To review the literature on the barriers and facilitators of community pharmacists' involvement in prescription and OTC opioid misuse prevention.
Methods: A systematic review of primary research was carried out in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and APA PsycINFO from January 2022 to March 2022. Narrative synthesis underpinned by the COM-B model was used to analyse findings from the included articles. Studies were included if they used qualitative or mixed methods; published in English and focussed on OTC or prescription opioids.
Results: Ten studies were included in the review. Barriers and facilitators were grouped into individual, environmental, and system-level factors. Based on the COM-B model, these factors were classified as capabilities (knowledge and skill), opportunities (e.g. relationship with prescribers, time), and motivation (pharmacists' attitude).
Conclusion: Improving pharmacists' capabilities and opportunities might improve pharmacists' motivation to offer opioid misuse services. This could improve pharmacists' behaviour, that is, their role in preventing prescription and OTC opioid misuse. The findings of this review were based on information obtained from primary evidence from qualitative studies; However. further empirical work is needed to identify how pharmacists can be supported.
{"title":"Factors influencing pharmacists' roles in preventing prescription and over-the-counter opioid misuse: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.","authors":"Ogochukwu Fidelia Offu, Shelina Visram, Adam Pattison Rathbone, Laura Lindsey","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riad090","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riad090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prescribing rate of opioids is increasing and is a main contributor to opioid misuse. Community pharmacists can help reduce opioid misuse rates by carrying out prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) opioid misuse prevention services. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to community pharmacists' involvement has the potential to improve these services.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To review the literature on the barriers and facilitators of community pharmacists' involvement in prescription and OTC opioid misuse prevention.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review of primary research was carried out in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and APA PsycINFO from January 2022 to March 2022. Narrative synthesis underpinned by the COM-B model was used to analyse findings from the included articles. Studies were included if they used qualitative or mixed methods; published in English and focussed on OTC or prescription opioids.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies were included in the review. Barriers and facilitators were grouped into individual, environmental, and system-level factors. Based on the COM-B model, these factors were classified as capabilities (knowledge and skill), opportunities (e.g. relationship with prescribers, time), and motivation (pharmacists' attitude).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Improving pharmacists' capabilities and opportunities might improve pharmacists' motivation to offer opioid misuse services. This could improve pharmacists' behaviour, that is, their role in preventing prescription and OTC opioid misuse. The findings of this review were based on information obtained from primary evidence from qualitative studies; However. further empirical work is needed to identify how pharmacists can be supported.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"133-145"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139039879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Júlia Vasconcellos Augusti, Sarah Nascimento Silva
Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought new challenges and lessons were learnt for health services. In the field of pharmaceutical care, several interventions have been proposed to optimize and expand the response capacity of services.
Objective: To identify and characterize interventions performed in the management of pharmaceutical services during the COVID-19 pandemic in universal public health systems.
Methods: A rapid literature review was conducted and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022360902). Systematic searches in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Virtual Health Library databases were conducted to identify interventions and practices adopted for the management of pharmaceutical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: Thirteen articles reporting interventions developed in six countries were included. The interventions were summarized under three major themes: actions for continuous access to medicines, logistical measures for acquisition and storage, and organizational strategies. Telepharmacy services stand out as a typical action adopted in different services, which highlights the use and consolidation of digital technologies in these services. Strategies for process management were described and focused on the reorganization of the internal service of pharmacies, flow of services, and people management.
Conclusions: Many interventions were developed during the pandemic, some of which have already been incorporated into routine service delivery. Although the studies did not measure the effect of each intervention, the strategies developed are a source of information for the future delivery of care. Studies should be conducted to evaluate the potential of similar interventions in other health emergency contexts.
{"title":"Management of pharmaceutical services in the fight against COVID-19 in universal public health systems: a rapid review.","authors":"Júlia Vasconcellos Augusti, Sarah Nascimento Silva","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riad093","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riad093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought new challenges and lessons were learnt for health services. In the field of pharmaceutical care, several interventions have been proposed to optimize and expand the response capacity of services.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To identify and characterize interventions performed in the management of pharmaceutical services during the COVID-19 pandemic in universal public health systems.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A rapid literature review was conducted and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022360902). Systematic searches in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Virtual Health Library databases were conducted to identify interventions and practices adopted for the management of pharmaceutical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirteen articles reporting interventions developed in six countries were included. The interventions were summarized under three major themes: actions for continuous access to medicines, logistical measures for acquisition and storage, and organizational strategies. Telepharmacy services stand out as a typical action adopted in different services, which highlights the use and consolidation of digital technologies in these services. Strategies for process management were described and focused on the reorganization of the internal service of pharmacies, flow of services, and people management.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Many interventions were developed during the pandemic, some of which have already been incorporated into routine service delivery. Although the studies did not measure the effect of each intervention, the strategies developed are a source of information for the future delivery of care. Studies should be conducted to evaluate the potential of similar interventions in other health emergency contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"109-119"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139485477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: The demographics of the pharmacy workforce is changing with an increased proportion of pharmacists less than 30 years old (early career pharmacists-ECPs). In parallel, the profession has experienced workload intensification and workforce attrition. It is important to understand ECPs career satisfaction to retain this section of the pharmacy profession.
Objectives: This study aimed to collect data on the current career satisfaction of ECPs, and identify workplace factors that were most important to this group. Further, to use these findings to inform sector recommendations.
Methods: A steering group of ECPs in Aotearoa New Zealand developed a survey based on one used previously. An invitation email was sent to all pharmacists who had been registered for less than 10 years and were members of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand.
Results: A total of 1418 ECPs were identified and invited to participate, and responses were received by 416 of these. While 90% believe that they are making a useful contribution to the health of their patients, over half are unhappy and discontented, with over a third dissatisfied with their careers. A large proportion (44%) were considering leaving the profession in the next 5 years. The top three factors for career satisfaction were ability to progress and learn new skills, the people they work with, and the remuneration.
Conclusions: This study provides a starting point for understanding the current environment and level of dissatisfaction of young pharmacists. There are several areas of concern that need to be addressed if a strong vibrant viable pharmacy profession is to be achieved.
{"title":"Career outlook and satisfaction in the presence of workload intensification-a survey of early career pharmacists.","authors":"Fiona Bradley, Michael Hammond, Rhiannon Braund","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riad084","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riad084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The demographics of the pharmacy workforce is changing with an increased proportion of pharmacists less than 30 years old (early career pharmacists-ECPs). In parallel, the profession has experienced workload intensification and workforce attrition. It is important to understand ECPs career satisfaction to retain this section of the pharmacy profession.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to collect data on the current career satisfaction of ECPs, and identify workplace factors that were most important to this group. Further, to use these findings to inform sector recommendations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A steering group of ECPs in Aotearoa New Zealand developed a survey based on one used previously. An invitation email was sent to all pharmacists who had been registered for less than 10 years and were members of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1418 ECPs were identified and invited to participate, and responses were received by 416 of these. While 90% believe that they are making a useful contribution to the health of their patients, over half are unhappy and discontented, with over a third dissatisfied with their careers. A large proportion (44%) were considering leaving the profession in the next 5 years. The top three factors for career satisfaction were ability to progress and learn new skills, the people they work with, and the remuneration.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides a starting point for understanding the current environment and level of dissatisfaction of young pharmacists. There are several areas of concern that need to be addressed if a strong vibrant viable pharmacy profession is to be achieved.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"164-169"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139106113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jianfeng Chu, Mari Kannan Maharajan, Kingston Rajiah
Objective: This study aimed to investigate patterns of extended pharmacy services (EPS) provided by Malaysian community pharmacists and their willingness to provide value-added services (VAS) in addition to EPS. Additionally, this study examined the barriers to the effective implementation of these two services.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among community pharmacists in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Convenience sampling was done, and descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed.
Results: Two hundred and thirty-six pharmacists participated. The most rendered EPS were nutritional supplements, hypertension management, and diabetic management, while chronic kidney disease management, smoking cessation, and mental health services were the least rendered. Pharmacists were willing to provide medication waste management and vaccination as VAS but were less inclined towards therapeutic drug monitoring and sterile compounding. Barriers included limited access to medical records of patients, lack of designated counselling areas, and concerns about remuneration. High sales pressure and busy workloads were additional barriers to providing VAS. Continuous professional development (CPD) positively influenced pharmacists' engagement in EPS and VAS.
Conclusions: This study highlights service provision trends and areas for improvement. Addressing identified barriers, such as enhancing access to patient records and establishing designated counselling areas, can improve service delivery. Remuneration models and workload management strategies should be considered to alleviate barriers related to sales pressure and time constraints. Promoting CPD opportunities is crucial for enhancing pharmacist engagement and optimizing EPS and VAS.
研究目的本研究旨在调查马来西亚社区药剂师提供扩展药房服务(EPS)的模式,以及他们在 EPS 之外提供增值服务(VAS)的意愿。此外,本研究还探讨了有效实施这两项服务的障碍:方法:采用自填问卷的方式对雪兰莪州和吉隆坡的社区药剂师进行了横向调查。进行了方便抽样,并进行了描述性统计和相关分析:236 名药剂师参与了调查。提供最多的 EPS 是营养补充剂、高血压管理和糖尿病管理,而提供最少的是慢性肾病管理、戒烟和心理健康服务。药剂师愿意提供药物废物管理和疫苗接种服务,但不太愿意提供治疗药物监测和无菌配制服务。障碍包括查阅病人病历的机会有限、缺乏指定的咨询区以及对报酬的担忧。销售压力大和工作繁忙是提供增值服务的额外障碍。持续专业发展(CPD)对药剂师参与易感基因检测和自愿咨询有积极影响:本研究强调了服务提供的趋势和需要改进的地方。解决已发现的障碍,如加强对患者病历的访问和建立指定的咨询区,可以改善服务的提供。应考虑薪酬模式和工作量管理策略,以减轻与销售压力和时间限制有关的障碍。促进持续专业发展机会对于提高药剂师的参与度以及优化 EPS 和 VAS 至关重要。
{"title":"Perspectives of community pharmacists on extended pharmacy services and value-added services in Malaysia: a cross-sectional survey.","authors":"Jianfeng Chu, Mari Kannan Maharajan, Kingston Rajiah","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riad087","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riad087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate patterns of extended pharmacy services (EPS) provided by Malaysian community pharmacists and their willingness to provide value-added services (VAS) in addition to EPS. Additionally, this study examined the barriers to the effective implementation of these two services.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among community pharmacists in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Convenience sampling was done, and descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two hundred and thirty-six pharmacists participated. The most rendered EPS were nutritional supplements, hypertension management, and diabetic management, while chronic kidney disease management, smoking cessation, and mental health services were the least rendered. Pharmacists were willing to provide medication waste management and vaccination as VAS but were less inclined towards therapeutic drug monitoring and sterile compounding. Barriers included limited access to medical records of patients, lack of designated counselling areas, and concerns about remuneration. High sales pressure and busy workloads were additional barriers to providing VAS. Continuous professional development (CPD) positively influenced pharmacists' engagement in EPS and VAS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights service provision trends and areas for improvement. Addressing identified barriers, such as enhancing access to patient records and establishing designated counselling areas, can improve service delivery. Remuneration models and workload management strategies should be considered to alleviate barriers related to sales pressure and time constraints. Promoting CPD opportunities is crucial for enhancing pharmacist engagement and optimizing EPS and VAS.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"146-155"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138803090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammed S Alharthi, Sion Scott, Carmel Hughes, Christine Bond, Ernieda Hatah, Linda Bryant, Richard Holland, Sam Kosari, Wasim Baqir, Yoon Loke, David Wright
Background: Medication review (MR) is the systematic assessment of a patient's medications for safety and effectiveness by a healthcare professional. The language used to describe MR activity, such as stopped medicine and increased dose, should be consistent across studies to assist researchers compare how different services operate and identify their mechanism of impact.
Aim: To develop an international taxonomy of standardized terms and activity definitions related to medication reviews.
Method: This was a three-stage Delphi-based consensus study with international medication review experts. A systematic review provided MR activity terms for the survey. Experts rated their consensus on each activity term and its definition on a Likert scale and provided written feedback. The consensus was 75% panel agreement. At each stage, consensus elements were retained, and feedback was used to revise definitions.
Results: Seven experts were recruited for the study (response rate 15.2%) from four countries: the United Kingdom (n = 4), New Zealand (n = 1), Australia (n = 1), and Malaysia (n = 1). The following terms achieved consensus: the term Medication as a descriptor for MR terms; discontinue medication, start medication, dose increase, dose decrease, dosage form change, and medication safety and efficacy monitor to describe MR activity; Educate to describe the delivery of healthcare professionals and patients/carers education.
Conclusion: Standardized medication review activity terms and definitions have been selected for universal adoption in all future MR research to facilitate a meaningful comparison of process evaluations within different settings.
{"title":"Taxonomy development for term standardization in activity resulting from medication review processes: a Delphi study.","authors":"Mohammed S Alharthi, Sion Scott, Carmel Hughes, Christine Bond, Ernieda Hatah, Linda Bryant, Richard Holland, Sam Kosari, Wasim Baqir, Yoon Loke, David Wright","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riae002","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riae002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medication review (MR) is the systematic assessment of a patient's medications for safety and effectiveness by a healthcare professional. The language used to describe MR activity, such as stopped medicine and increased dose, should be consistent across studies to assist researchers compare how different services operate and identify their mechanism of impact.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To develop an international taxonomy of standardized terms and activity definitions related to medication reviews.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a three-stage Delphi-based consensus study with international medication review experts. A systematic review provided MR activity terms for the survey. Experts rated their consensus on each activity term and its definition on a Likert scale and provided written feedback. The consensus was 75% panel agreement. At each stage, consensus elements were retained, and feedback was used to revise definitions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven experts were recruited for the study (response rate 15.2%) from four countries: the United Kingdom (n = 4), New Zealand (n = 1), Australia (n = 1), and Malaysia (n = 1). The following terms achieved consensus: the term Medication as a descriptor for MR terms; discontinue medication, start medication, dose increase, dose decrease, dosage form change, and medication safety and efficacy monitor to describe MR activity; Educate to describe the delivery of healthcare professionals and patients/carers education.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Standardized medication review activity terms and definitions have been selected for universal adoption in all future MR research to facilitate a meaningful comparison of process evaluations within different settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"180-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139931071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Judith Singleton, Julie E Stevens, Raymond Truong, Adam McCulloch, Elay Ara, Maria B Cooper, Britany Hobbs, Elizabeth Hotham, Vijayaprakash Suppiah
Objective: To explore community pharmacy consumers' knowledge and attitudes of mental illness, support services, and community pharmacists' role in supporting people living with mental illness (PLMI).
Methods: This survey was conducted in 15 community pharmacies between June and September 2019. Participants were aged 18 years or older without prior or ongoing history of mental illness and/or with close family members with mental illness. Open-ended responses to the anonymous questionnaire were analysed using content analysis.
Key findings: Majority of the 380 participants were female (57.4%) with a mean age 52.9 years and 33.7% having completed university. Most (70.3%) believed that people with mental illness had a negative image due to poor health literacy providing possible solutions of 'awareness campaigns', 'education and training', and 'increased government funding for mental health (MH) support services'. Only 33.7% and 63.7% of participants were aware of Mental Health Week and the R U OK? Campaign, respectively. Whilst 12.4% of participants had participated in MH campaigns, only 3.4% were aware of community pharmacists-led MH educational activities. There were significant differences between adults (<65 years) and older adults (≥65 years old) with the latter reporting a more negative image for mental illness (P < 0.05) and having less exposure and engagement with MH resources (P < 0.001) and campaigns (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Despite awareness, participants reported low engagement with MH campaigns. Additionally, older adults had lower MH literacy and exposure to resources and campaigns. This study highlighted that the community lacked awareness of what pharmacists can offer to support PLMIs.
{"title":"Consumer knowledge of mental health conditions, awareness of mental health support services, and perception of community pharmacists' role in mental health promotion.","authors":"Judith Singleton, Julie E Stevens, Raymond Truong, Adam McCulloch, Elay Ara, Maria B Cooper, Britany Hobbs, Elizabeth Hotham, Vijayaprakash Suppiah","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riad091","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riad091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore community pharmacy consumers' knowledge and attitudes of mental illness, support services, and community pharmacists' role in supporting people living with mental illness (PLMI).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This survey was conducted in 15 community pharmacies between June and September 2019. Participants were aged 18 years or older without prior or ongoing history of mental illness and/or with close family members with mental illness. Open-ended responses to the anonymous questionnaire were analysed using content analysis.</p><p><strong>Key findings: </strong>Majority of the 380 participants were female (57.4%) with a mean age 52.9 years and 33.7% having completed university. Most (70.3%) believed that people with mental illness had a negative image due to poor health literacy providing possible solutions of 'awareness campaigns', 'education and training', and 'increased government funding for mental health (MH) support services'. Only 33.7% and 63.7% of participants were aware of Mental Health Week and the R U OK? Campaign, respectively. Whilst 12.4% of participants had participated in MH campaigns, only 3.4% were aware of community pharmacists-led MH educational activities. There were significant differences between adults (<65 years) and older adults (≥65 years old) with the latter reporting a more negative image for mental illness (P < 0.05) and having less exposure and engagement with MH resources (P < 0.001) and campaigns (P < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite awareness, participants reported low engagement with MH campaigns. Additionally, older adults had lower MH literacy and exposure to resources and campaigns. This study highlighted that the community lacked awareness of what pharmacists can offer to support PLMIs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"170-179"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139032271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachelle Ashcroft, Annalise Mathers, Amanda Gin, Simon Lam, Catherine Donnelly, Judith Belle Brown, Toula Kourgiantakis, Kavita Mehta, Jennifer Rayner, Deepy Sur, Keith Adamson, Anne Kirvan, Lisa Dolovich
Objectives: Pharmacists have been increasingly integrated into primary care teams, leading to improved health outcomes for patients. The two objectives of this study were (i) to describe how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted pharmacists' role in mental health care within Canadian primary care teams and (ii) to describe Canadian pharmacists' experiences collaborating with other healthcare providers in the delivery of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Cross-sectional observational study utilizing an online survey consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions. Primary care pharmacists in Ontario were eligible to participate. Descriptive statistics were collated, and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. A total of 51 pharmacists participated in the study.
Key findings: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the expanding role of pharmacists in attending to the mental health care of patients. Working within a collaborative, interprofessional healthcare environment, pharmacists support patients' mental health in a variety of ways, including medication education and management, non-pharmacologic approaches and supportive conversations, and identification of resources, including referrals, wellness checks, and consulting with physicians. Increasing demand for mental health services has led to higher referrals to pharmacists, which will likely persist and require further education of pharmacists in mental health along with better access to deliver virtual care.
Conclusion: In response to the increasing mental health care needs of patients since the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care pharmacists reported increased attention spent on mental health care. Building capacity and ensuring support for pharmacists to continue to address the increasing mental health care demands is essential.
{"title":"Pharmacists' role and experiences with delivering mental health care within team-based primary care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Rachelle Ashcroft, Annalise Mathers, Amanda Gin, Simon Lam, Catherine Donnelly, Judith Belle Brown, Toula Kourgiantakis, Kavita Mehta, Jennifer Rayner, Deepy Sur, Keith Adamson, Anne Kirvan, Lisa Dolovich","doi":"10.1093/ijpp/riad086","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ijpp/riad086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Pharmacists have been increasingly integrated into primary care teams, leading to improved health outcomes for patients. The two objectives of this study were (i) to describe how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted pharmacists' role in mental health care within Canadian primary care teams and (ii) to describe Canadian pharmacists' experiences collaborating with other healthcare providers in the delivery of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional observational study utilizing an online survey consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions. Primary care pharmacists in Ontario were eligible to participate. Descriptive statistics were collated, and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. A total of 51 pharmacists participated in the study.</p><p><strong>Key findings: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the expanding role of pharmacists in attending to the mental health care of patients. Working within a collaborative, interprofessional healthcare environment, pharmacists support patients' mental health in a variety of ways, including medication education and management, non-pharmacologic approaches and supportive conversations, and identification of resources, including referrals, wellness checks, and consulting with physicians. Increasing demand for mental health services has led to higher referrals to pharmacists, which will likely persist and require further education of pharmacists in mental health along with better access to deliver virtual care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In response to the increasing mental health care needs of patients since the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care pharmacists reported increased attention spent on mental health care. Building capacity and ensuring support for pharmacists to continue to address the increasing mental health care demands is essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":14284,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Pharmacy Practice","volume":" ","pages":"156-163"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138803095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}