Pharmacy最新文献

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in England, with South Asians estimated to have a higher risk of CVD development compared to the general population. Harmful drinking is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but little is known about drinking behaviours among South Asians, especially those aged 18-25. Objectives: The objectives of this study were (i) to investigate the knowledge of the cardiovascular effects of harmful drinking among young South Asians aged 18-25, and (ii) to explore the perceptions of young South Asians towards the role of the pharmacist in supporting individuals with alcohol-related harm. Methods: Qualitative, in depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten young South Asians, around 30 min in length. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and then thematically analysed. Results: Four superordinate themes emerged: (1) Culture Clash; (2) The Great Escape; (3) Cardiovascular Confusion; and (4) The Ambiguous Pharmacist. These themes highlighted a dichotomy between the drinking behaviours among different South Asian communities, a lack of knowledge regarding the cardiovascular consequences of harmful drinking and mixed views regarding pharmacists' role in supporting dependence. Participants acknowledged the prevalence of poor cardiovascular health among British South Asians, citing various types of dysfunction and possible causes; however, the effect of drinking specifically was not understood. Most participants would refer a young person struggling with dependence to a pharmacist and would be receptive to discussing drinking with one. However, few commented on any role outside of signposting to other services or healthcare providers. Conclusions: Greater cardiovascular health promotion is needed among South Asians, with an emphasis on the link between excess alcohol consumption and cardiovascular dysfunction. Furthermore, pharmacists must do more to promote greater awareness of the different ways in which alcohol dependence can be supported within the community to encourage young people seeking harm reduction to utilise those services as needed.

The quality of posters at pharmacy conferences can vary. We created a mixed-approach rubric (MAR) for poster quality. Evidence from multiple sources (systematic review, further analysis of rater scores, verbal feedback from raters) showed the need to slightly modify that MAR, which we accomplished. Our objectives here were to re-evaluate scoring using this revised MAR (rMAR) and to further examine the attributes of lower-quality versus higher-quality posters. Two faculty raters independently scored each poster using the rMAR for recent posters presented at a pharmacy education conference. The Rasch Measurement Model provided psychometric evidence and poster-quality measures. These measures were then linear-regressed with attributes of logical sequencing, QR-code presence/use, submission abstract presence, and wordiness. Moreover, Traditional vs. Contemporary poster formats were compared. Raters scored 642 posters (267 from 2023, 375 from 2024). The Rasch Measurement Model showed a distinct separation of posters into lower quality versus higher quality. The rMAR's rating scale continued to function well (like the original MAR had) among multiple raters. Poster-quality measures were significantly positive when linearly regressed with logical sequencing, QR-code presence/use, absence of submission abstract, and decreased wordiness. Moreover, Contemporary poster formats (either Persky-style or Billboard-style) were higher quality on average than Traditional poster formats. This evidence-based rMAR showed a helpful validation of poster-quality scores. Regression confirmed findings from the initial MAR (before revision), and choice of poster format proved a notable decision affecting poster quality.

Polypharmacy is prevalent in older people residing in care homes. Deprescribing, reducing or stopping harmful or unnecessary medicines, leads to improvements in patient- and health-system-orientated outcomes. This study identified the barriers and enablers to pharmacists proactively deprescribing in United Kingdon care homes. It draws on methods from behavioural science. Twenty-nine participants who had previously taken part in a deprescribing randomised control trial (sixteen pharmacists, six primary care doctors, and seven care home managers) were interviewed. Data were mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework to understand pharmacists' deprescribing behaviour. Barriers were deprescribing seen as risky and perceived resistance to deprescribing by residents, their families, and care home staff. Enablers were seeing benefits from deprescribing, part of a pharmacists' role, and endorsement from a doctor. Ways to change pharmacist behaviour were identified from a suite of behaviour change techniques (BCT). Using a modified Nominal Group Technique, 15 staff (six pharmacists, five primary care doctors, and four care home managers) naïve to deprescribing interventions completed an online survey to assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the 27 BCTs. Seven BCTs achieved a more that 80% consensus on all implementation criteria. In a consensus workshop, the staff group discussed practical ways the BCTs might work in primary care practice. Fourteen UK policy and practice leaders worked with the researchers to develop recommendations from the consensus workshop into a policy briefing. In conclusion, this study provides detail on using a theory-informed approach to translate research into policy to inform deprescribing practices.

Pharmacists are increasingly expected to deliver medication therapy management (MTM) services, yet many pharmacy students report insufficient confidence and preparedness in executing these complex tasks. This study evaluated a scaffolded MTM instructional series integrated into a second-year pharmacy skills laboratory, aiming to enhance student competence through progressive, structured learning. A mixed-methods design assessed changes in self-reported confidence, performance-based outcomes, and reflective insights among 154 students across three educational tracks. The 14-week intervention included sequential activities such as medication history interviews, drug-related problem (DRP) identification, care plan development, and comprehensive MTM simulations. Pre- and post-intervention surveys revealed statistically significant improvements in all 18 confidence domains, with the greatest gains in therapeutic recommendations and prescriber communication. Effect sizes ranged from small to very large (Cohen's d 0.33-1.05), indicating gains that were both statistically reliable and educationally meaningful. Performance assessments showed consistent proficiency across MTM components, with average scores ranging from 90% to 96%. Qualitative reflections reinforced these findings, highlighting growth in communication, individualized patient care, and professional identity formation. The scaffolded approach aligns with accreditation standards and instructional design theory, offering a model for pharmacy curricula. Despite limitations such as lack of a comparator group and potential response bias, the study demonstrates that scaffolded MTM instruction effectively supports skill acquisition and confidence, preparing students for real-world clinical practice.

Medication abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol is a safe and effective method for ending a pregnancy. Pharmacy dispensing of mifepristone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023, but educational opportunities for pharmacists were nonexistent. We designed a 1 h continuing education course on medication abortion for pharmacists, which was offered in a live-webinar or recorded-video format over 3 years. It included key medication abortion topics, including medications, patient counseling, relevant policies, and implementing pharmacy dispensing. Using a prepost design, we administered online surveys to participants prior to and after completing the course to assess changes in overall medication abortion knowledge score (six items, Cronbach's alpha = 0.76) and support for pharmacist dispensing of medication abortion (one Likert-scaled item). During the study period, 279 students and pharmacists took the course, of which 148 completed both the pre- and post-course questionnaires. Adjusted regression analyses demonstrated significant increases in knowledge scores and support for pharmacist dispensing of medication abortion post-course; most thought dispensing mifepristone would be very (21.6%) or somewhat easy (38.5%) to implement, and 75% indicated a willingness to dispense mifepristone if allowed. These findings suggest that video-based education on medication abortion is an effective tool for enhancing pharmacists' knowledge and support for medication abortion, which could increase access to reproductive health care.

In Austria, community pharmacists may dispense prescription-only drugs in exceptional emergency cases. Hospital pharmacists are permitted to adapt or discontinue therapy with prior physician approval. This mixed-methods study explores how Austrian pharmacists interpret and apply these frameworks, their readiness for expanded roles, and the systemic conditions required to support broader clinical engagement. A cross-sectional design was used with two online surveys targeting community and hospital pharmacists. Additionally, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted (ten community, five hospital pharmacists). Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively; qualitative data were examined using Mayring's content analysis. Data integration followed a triangulation design via mixed-methods matrices. A total of 238 community and 53 hospital pharmacists responded. Findings show that community pharmacists frequently apply clinical judgment in urgent situations and navigate regulatory grey zones. Over 88% support expanded roles, particularly in continuing contraceptives, managing chronic diseases, and treating infections using point-of-care testing. Hospital pharmacists report limited implementation of their framework, hindered by institutional inertia, staffing shortages, and poor access to patient data. Confidence in clinical pharmacotherapy decisions was limited. Targeted training and policy support are essential.

Background: Lipid management is a key aspect of secondary atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) prevention. However, real-world studies show that ~72-88% of patients with ASCVD fail to meet their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target. Nonstatin agents are available as add-on therapies that can be utilized when maximally tolerated statins are insufficient to achieve LDL-C goals. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the current prescribing habits of nonstatins as add-on therapy to statins for secondary ASCVD prevention at a federally qualified health center (FQHC).

Methods: Patients were included if they had a history of clinical ASCVD, ≥1 lipid panel obtained during the study period, and were prescribed any intensity statin.

Results: Among 398 included participants, 11.1% were prescribed nonstatin therapy and 35.9% were meeting a LDL-C target of <70 mg/dL. There was a significant association between being prescribed ezetimibe based on the type of healthcare coverage (p = 0.04) and a higher number of ASCVD qualifying indications (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Overall, nonstatins were found to be underutilized for LDL-C management in this underserved population. Future initiatives should target ways to optimize nonstatin therapy to optimize secondary ASCVD prevention.

Background: Clinical experience with semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus shows that its benefits extend far beyond glucose regulation. This study examines whether this drug is indeed popular among the Croatian population and explores whether factors such as gender or proximity to the healthcare sector influence its potential use, attitudes toward weight loss, and knowledge regarding its application and possible adverse effects.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional population study. In this study we focused on the brand name Ozempic^® for semaglutide as it is the most commonly searched term for semaglutide.

Results: The study included 290 participants, most of who were women (N = 243, 83.8%). As many as 214 (73.8%) people stated they had heard of Ozempic^®; however, there was no significant difference in whether people had heard of Ozempic^® if they had type 2 diabetes mellitus (p = 0.415). In total, 23.4% of people stated they knew someone who took Ozempic^®. Women were significantly more likely to feel pressure about their appearance than men, with 51.1% of men reporting no pressure at all compared to only 39.9% of women (p = 0.015). A majority of participants agreed that social media strongly affects perception on the use of medications for weight loss (73.8%). Individuals with a family member in the healthcare field were significantly more informed about the possible adverse reactions of semaglutide compared to those without such a connection. Among participants without a healthcare professional in the family, 75.0% reported being unaware of potential adverse effects, compared to 47.9% of those with a family member in healthcare. Moreover, participants with a healthcare professional in the family were more likely to know the correct route of administration for Ozempic^® (68.1% vs. 54.6%, p = 0.025); Conclusions: The results of this study show that three-quarters of people had heard of Ozempic^®, regardless of whether they had an indication for its use or not. In addition, the results indicate that although both men and women share satisfaction with their bodies, women feel more pressured by societal expectations related to their appearance.

Self-medication is increasingly prevalent among healthcare students, raising concerns about the adequacy of current medical education in promoting safe medication practices. This study aimed to assess the frequency, motivations, and perceptions of self-medication among medical and pharmacy students and to identify educational gaps. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured, anonymous questionnaire distributed to medical and pharmacy students at a single academic institution. The questionnaire assessed self-medication frequency, substances used, motivations, perceived risks, confidence in knowledge, sources of information, and attitudes toward curriculum improvements. Over 50% of participants reported practicing self-medication at least once a month. The most commonly used substances were analgesics and dietary supplements. Main motivations included recognition of symptoms, confidence in personal knowledge, and avoidance of waiting times. Despite receiving university instruction on self-medication risks, students continued to self-medicate, with many relying on the internet as a primary source of information. Only 8% felt very confident in counseling patients on self-medication. A majority (over 70%) expressed a strong interest in integrating dedicated educational modules into the curriculum. There is a clear need for improved, practice-oriented education on self-medication. Future interventions should focus on interdisciplinary teaching, digital literacy, and simulation-based training to foster safer medication practices.

Many pharmacy students begin medicinal chemistry with limited experience in chemical structure interpretation and reactivity patterns, making it difficult to connect foundational concepts to real-world drug behavior. We introduced a low-stakes functional group analysis activity that included peer discussion and a follow-up quiz to improve learning and reduce student anxiety. We studied the impact of this activity by comparing Exam 1 scores across three cohorts: one before the activity (2022) and two after implementation (2023 and 2024). The average Exam 1 scores improved in the post-intervention years, and while the overall difference across cohorts did not reach statistical significance, post hoc analysis revealed a significant improvement between the 2022 and 2024 cohorts. The students who engaged more deeply, especially those who performed well on the quiz, consistently earned higher exam scores, with strong positive correlations observed in both years. These results suggest that simple, low-stakes activities that focus on core concepts can promote engagement and support student success, even in challenging, content-heavy courses like medicinal chemistry.