Journal de pharmacie de Belgique最新文献

Aims: To investigate (i) Ramadan participation, (ii) provision of Ramadan related advice by healthcare providers (iii) medication use during Ramadan fasting among Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium.

Methods: This pilot observational study was conducted among a convenience sample of 52 Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium. Two questionnaires collected information on socio-demographic characteristics, diabetes related characteristics, current hypoglycaemic medication with dosing regimen, participation in the past Ramadan, reasons for (non)participation, use of hypoglycaemic medication during the past Ramadan, advice from their healthcare providers about fasting during Ramadan and follow up of this advice.

Results: Sixteen patients (31%) had fasted during the past Ramadan. Main reason for Ramadan participation was reinforcement of faith (12/15), while the main reason for non participation was having diabetes (34/36). About 56% of the study population had received recommendations from their healthcare provider(s) about fasting and diabetes during Ramadan. The most commonly provided advice was not to participate in Ramadan, followed by modification of drug therapy. Only 3 patients ignored the advice of their healthcare professionals. In addition, only 60% of those who actually fasted received recommendations about intake of diabetes medication during the ramadan. Most fasters continued their medication dose unchanged (87% of OHA users and 80% of the insulin users).

Conclusions: This pilot study found a low prevalence of Ramadan fasting among Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium. We also found that provision of advice by healthcare providers could be improved. Larger scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Adherence to therapy is low for topical therapy used in dermatological disorders. particularly in chronic diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. One of the reasons is that patients do not trust their therapy and fear side effects, particularly with topical corticosteroids. In order to make patients more confident, it is it important to provide correct and detailed information about the prescribed products and the amount to apply, to involve them in the implementation of therapy and to harmonize the information given by various care providers (physicians, nurses, pharmacists). The message needs to be clear and consistent between caregivers and not lead to unjustified worries. Poor adherence may result in the use of stronger preparations or switch to systemic treatment, which eventually will result in more severe side effects.

Rivaroxaban is one of the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs). It has many potential advantages in comparison with Vitamin K Antagonists (VKA). It has a predictable anticoagulant effect and does not theoretically require biological monitoring. It is also characterized by less food and drug interactions. However, due to major risks associated with over- and under-dosage, its optimal use in patients should be carefully followed by health care professionals. The aim of this article is to provide recommendations for pharmacists on the practical use of Xarelto in its different approved indications. This document is adapted from the practical user guide of rivaroxaban which was developed by an independent group of Belgian experts in the field of thrombosis and haemostasis.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for a large number of invasive infections and upper respiratory tract infections in infants, elderly and patients with high complication risk. Currently, two types of vaccine are available on the Belgian market. In the context of pharmaceutical care, it is important for pharmacists to know their specific characteristics and differences. In this article we try to explain these and to motivate their use in different patient populations. The 23-valent vaccine is different from the 13-valent vaccine, not only in number of serotypes, but also in its presentation as respectively polysaccharide- and conjugated vaccine which affects the immunogenicity. Moreover, their indication and use are also different. Finally we take a closer look at the specific use in infants and children at risk at one hand, and vaccination of eldery and adults with increased risk for severe pneumococcal infection on the other hand.

Delivery of magistral (extemporaneous) preparations must comply with quality standards, as described in the "Guide to Good Officinal Pharmaceutical Practice" and the pharmacy's Quality Manual (Royal Decree of 21 January 2009). In this study, the shampoo Simplex Herdewijn, prepared with Texapon NSO, is compared with commercially available basic shampoos (Shampoo Fagron and Shampoo Simplex Conforma) with respect to its composition as well as its physicochemical properties. These basic shampoos were used to develop medicinal shampoos. The active compounds of these shampoos were: 0.5% hexachlorophene, 1% ichtammol, 1% cade oil or 2% liquor carbonis detergens. The necessary concentration of Cetomacrogol 1000, required to solubilise the active compounds was determined, as well as the amount of sodium chloride needed to adjust the viscosity of the shampoo. The viscosity of the basic and medicinal shampoos was determined by means of rheograms and by calculating their apparent viscosity. Additionally, a number of fundamental aspects of the formulation of shampoos are discussed in this paper. The results can be useful to pharmacists as guidelines for the preparation of medicinal shampoos. Beside patient instruction and pharmaceutical care, the intrinsic quality of magistral preparations is a prerequisite for therapeutic activity.