Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy最新文献

{"title":"Clinical utility of the Arabic medication-related burden quality of life (MRB-QoL) tool in hospital-based medicines optimisation services: A mixed methods feasibility study","authors":"Sundos Q. Al-Ebrahim ,&nbsp;Ahmad El Ouweini ,&nbsp;Fatima Boura ,&nbsp;Heba M. Abu Tayyem ,&nbsp;Rami Diab ,&nbsp;Omar Adas ,&nbsp;Nemah Awwad ,&nbsp;Maisam Tobeh ,&nbsp;Fatima A.L. Salame ,&nbsp;Sara A.L. Jabi ,&nbsp;Ghattas Abu Dawoud ,&nbsp;Hamzah Alzubaidi ,&nbsp;Jeff Harrison ,&nbsp;Timothy F. Chen ,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Mohammed","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Medication-Related Burden Quality of Life (MRB-QoL) Arabic version is a 31-item valid and reliable measure of medication burden on functioning and well-being in people with long-term conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To evaluate the feasibility of using the Arabic MRB-QoL tool in clinical pharmacist-led medicines optimisation services in United Arab Emirates (UAE) hospitals.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This non-randomised, non-controlled, feasibility study was conducted in 4 UAE hospitals, utilising a mixed-methods approach. The clinical utility of the MRB-QoL Arabic was evaluated, covering various aspects of feasibility, including acceptability, usability, benefits, facilitators, and barriers to its implementation in practice. The study comprised 3 stages: providing training for clinical pharmacists (CPs) and nurses, implementing the Arabic MRB-QoL tool, and the System Usability Scale (SUS) survey and semi-structured interviews with CPs. The usability and perceived benefits were evaluated using qualitative interviews and a Qualtrics survey. The perceived acceptability, barriers, and facilitators were explored through analysis of the interviews.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ten CPs implemented the Arabic MRB-QoL tool during routine medication reviews for 227 admitted patients. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified key themes that highlighted the acceptability, usability, benefits, as well as facilitators, and barriers the CPs faced in implementing the tool in their routine clinical practice. In addition, the SUS survey showed an average score of 82.2, indicating excellent usability of the tool in facilitating medicines optimisation services.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study confirmed the clinical utility of the MRB-QoL Arabic in pharmacist-led medicines optimisation services in UAE hospitals, highlighting preliminary evidence of its acceptability, usability, and benefits, as well as facilitators and barriers to implementation. By promoting patient-centred medicines optimisation, the Arabic MRB-QoL tool has the potential to help healthcare providers gain insights into patients' experiences with medicines and the key dimensions of medication burden patients encounter, optimise medicines regimens, and improve patients' quality of life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100620"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144261768","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":"Enhancing pharmacists' engagement and collaboration in sport and exercise medicine: An intervention mapping study using the behaviour change wheel","authors":"Alison D. Hooper ,&nbsp;Jodie Marquez ,&nbsp;Beata Bajorek ,&nbsp;Joyce M. Cooper ,&nbsp;David Newby","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pharmacists are accessible, trusted healthcare professionals who are well-positioned to contribute to Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM), yet their roles remain underutilised. Previous research using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM<img>B) model identified behavioural barriers and enablers influencing pharmacists' engagement in SEM and collaboration with physiotherapists.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To design a theory-informed intervention toolkit to enhance pharmacists' engagement in SEM and support pharmacist–physiotherapist collaboration, using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) framework.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A structured, three-stage intervention mapping approach guided by the BCW was used. This included: (i) understanding behaviour and identifying influencing factors using COM-B analysis; (ii) identifying appropriate intervention functions and supporting policy categories; and (iii) selecting Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) and preferred modes of delivery based on the APEASE criteria.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Pharmacists' engagement in SEM is influenced by multiple barriers, including unclear role definitions, limited training and systemic constraints such as time and remuneration. Key enablers include pharmacists' medicines expertise, accessibility and motivation to collaborate. Six intervention functions and five policy categories were identified as suitable. Fifteen BCTs (e.g., goal setting, social support, prompts/cues) were selected to inform intervention content and delivery strategies, with various modes of delivery proposed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The BCW framework provided a structured method for developing an intervention toolkit aimed at enhancing pharmacists' engagement in SEM and collaboration with physiotherapists. The resulting strategies address key behavioural determinants and offer a foundation for future implementation. However, as the study focused on intervention design rather than implementation, further research is needed to assess the feasibility and real-world impact of the proposed strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100619"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144240304","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":"Impact of clinical pharmacist video-based education on self-care and glycemic control in Sudanese adults with type 2 diabetes: A pre-post interventional study","authors":"Safaa Badi ,&nbsp;Sara Zainelabdein Suliman ,&nbsp;Rayan Almahdi ,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Aldomah ,&nbsp;Habab Khalid Elkheir ,&nbsp;Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Mohamed H. Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100617","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100617","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diabetes affects various body systems, increasing the risk of complications.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study assessed the impact of clinical pharmacist-associated education on diabetes self-care practices and glycemic control in Sudanese individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).</div></div><div><h3>Design and methods</h3><div>This quasi-experimental study with no control group recruited 110 adults with T2DM from a diabetes clinic over 12 months using simple random sampling. We collected data through interviews and calls. Participants received 12 educational videos covering diabetes management. The intervention was video-based and delivered over 5 months. We analyzed data using SPSS version 28.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean age of participants was 56.2 ± 10.3 years. Self-care practices significantly improved over time. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels decreased by 16.7 mg/dL at 6 months (<em>p</em> = 0.009) and 41.9 mg/dL at 12 months (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Two-hour postprandial glucose levels dropped by 18.7 mg/dL at 6 months (<em>p</em> = 0.006) and 61.8 mg/dL at 12 months (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). HbA1c levels decreased by 1 % at6 months (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and 1.9 % at 12 months (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). The effect size (Cohen's d) was increased from 0.26 at 6 months to 0.74 at 12 months. Similarly, it was increased for 2hrsPPG from 0.2 at 6 months to 0.74 at 12 months. For HbA1c, it was increased from 0.62 at 6 months to 1.25 at 12 months, indicating clinically meaningful improvement in long-term glycemic control following the pharmacist intervention. LDL decreased by 9.2 mg/dL at 12 months (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), and HDL increased by 5.5 mg/dL at 12 months (<em>p</em> = 0.002). Changes in BUN and serum creatinine were insignificant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Clinical pharmacist education improved diabetes self-care practices and metabolic outcomes, including glycemic control and lipid profiles, demonstrating its role in achieving therapeutic goals for patients with T2DM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100617"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205237","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":"An international portrait of pharmacists' professional role identities: A Q-methodology innovative study","authors":"Kaitlyn E. Watson ,&nbsp;Theresa J. Schindel ,&nbsp;Sherly Meilianti ,&nbsp;Ross T. Tsuyuki ,&nbsp;Yazid N. Al Hamarneh","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100616","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Professional identities shape who pharmacists are, what they do, and what they stand for as professionals. Novel research methodologies have potential to illuminate pharmacists' professional identity and roles in new and innovative ways. This study aimed to explore international pharmacists' identity through reflection on their professional roles.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Q Methodology, which uses quantitative techniques to systematically study subjectivity, was used to allow for an in-depth analysis of professional identity. The participants were self-identified pharmacists working in patient-facing roles who attended the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Congress in Brisbane, Australia, from September 24–28, 2023. They completed Q methodology online activities to sort the Q-Set within a fixed quasi-normal distribution grid.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty participants completed the Q-Sort activity. Participants came from 10 countries (five of the six World Health Organization regions), two thirds identified as women and approximately one third practiced in hospital and community pharmacy settings, respectively. Three factor arrays are described, which explain 52 % of the variance; Factor 1: Pharmacists as autonomous healthcare providers AND clinical team members; Factor 2: Pharmacists as healthcare providers for individual patients; and Factor 3: Pharmacists as managers first, then healthcare providers.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study offers a new perspective, revealing how various roles may converge to form a pharmacist's professional role identity: for example, autonomous healthcare providers AND clinical team members AND patient-focused practitioners AND leaders mindful of management responsibilities. Viewing the Q Methodology with a systems thinking lens illuminates pharmacists' professional identities as neither a mere sum of the roles and services they provide, nor represented by a singular aspect of their professional work. Recognizing the complexity of the pharmacists' identities as individuals helps to break free from the cognitive dissonance that has plagued the profession suggesting that professional identity is represented by singular or often competing roles as the scope of pharmacy practice evolves.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100616"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185126","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 involve pharmacists as direct service providers for people with tuberculosis? A narrative review of current evidence","authors":"Cut Ainul Mardhiyyah ,&nbsp;Kevin Aprilio ,&nbsp;Sumarheni ,&nbsp;Shubashini Gnanasan ,&nbsp;Dian Ayu Eka Pitaloka ,&nbsp;Ivan Surya Pradipta","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Effective management of tuberculosis (TB) necessitates the utilization of all available healthcare resources. Despite a paradigm shift in pharmacy practice from a product-centric to a patient-centered model, pharmacists remain underutilized in direct TB care. This narrative review explores the role of pharmacists in TB management, highlighting the effects of direct pharmaceutical care (PC) practices for TB treatment outcomes by identifying challenges and proposing strategic interventions to enhance pharmacists' engagement in TB services.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a literature search across major medical databases to describe existing studies on the effect of direct PC practice on TB case management. We then discussed the challenges and potential strategies for its implementation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We identified several PC models, including drug therapy monitoring, home-based care, patient counseling, and adherence support. These models mitigate drug-related problems, adverse drug reactions, and medication non-adherence. However, pharmacists face numerous barriers to providing direct TB care, including insufficient clinical training, limited interdisciplinary collaboration, a lack of organizational support and incentives, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and low awareness of pharmacists' potential contributions. To address these challenges, proposed strategies include strengthening pharmacist education and training, fostering collaboration within healthcare teams, developing standardized practice guidelines, ensuring adequate facilities and financial support, and increasing awareness among policymakers and the public on pharmacists' roles in TB care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Strengthening the role of pharmacists in TB management requires a multi-faceted approach involving targeted policy reforms, enhanced professional training, and interdisciplinary collaboration. A coordinated effort among national and local TB programs, healthcare institutions, professional organizations, and academic institutions is essential to optimize pharmacists' contributions to TB prevention, treatment, and patient support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100613"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124029","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":"Impact of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination on hematological parameters in patients maintained on clozapine: A retrospective study from Qatar","authors":"Dalia Albahari ,&nbsp;Oraib Abdallah ,&nbsp;Shatha Mahmud Ismail Alqam ,&nbsp;Mohammed Faisal Hamad Mohammed ,&nbsp;Mohamed Ali Siddig Ahmed ,&nbsp;Ovais Wadoo","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>COVID-19 vaccines are known to cause transient changes in white blood cell counts as part of the immune activation process. Clozapine, an antipsychotic agent primarily prescribed for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, possesses both immunosuppressive and pro-inflammatory properties that may influence vaccine-related immune responses. The concurrent use of clozapine during COVID-19 vaccination has therefore raised concerns regarding potential hematological adverse effects. Despite increasing global research in this area, data from Arab populations remain scarce, highlighting the need for region-specific evidence. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of white blood cell and absolute neutrophil count abnormalities in patients receiving clozapine who were vaccinated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A retrospective study was conducted within Qatar's public mental health services. The study included patients on clozapine who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine between February 2020 and November 2022. Hematological parameters were assessed at three time points: pre-vaccination, shortly post-vaccination, and three months post-vaccination. Demographic, clinical, and vaccine-related factors were also examined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 111 vaccinated patients, 74 had complete blood test data across the three time points. No cases of agranulocytosis or other serious hematological adverse effects were observed. Mild leukopenia occurred in 6.8–8.1 % of patients, and mild neutropenia in 5.4–6.8 %. These changes were transient and not associated with clozapine dosage, vaccine type, or other clinical variables.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>COVID-19 mRNA vaccines appear safe for individuals maintained on clozapine, with only minor, temporary changes in white blood cell counts. These findings support continued vaccination efforts in this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100614"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130991","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":"Parent perspectives on a pharmacist-disseminated vaping educational tool for vaping prevention","authors":"Olufunmilola Abraham ,&nbsp;Virginia Quach ,&nbsp;Jenny S. Li","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Adolescent e-cigarette use is a major public health issue which can lead to respiratory damage and mental health problems. However, there is a lack of reliable educational resources for adolescents and parents. A vaping educational tool can educate parents about e-cigarettes and support discussions with their children. Pharmacists can leverage their accessibility to integrate educating families about vaping within their practice. This study aimed to explore parent perspectives on adolescent vaping, a pharmacist-led vaping educational tool, and pharmacists' potential role in vaping intervention and prevention.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Parents of adolescents were recruited for virtual semi-structured interviews on vaping knowledge, opinions on pharmacist vaping intervention, and feedback on the Pharmacist-led <em>E</em>-cigarette and Vaping Educational Resource (pH-EVER). Interviews were analyzed on Dedoose software with inductive thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Interviews from 46 parents led to five primary themes: vaping knowledge, exposure, and opinions; pH-EVER availability, feedback and usage; parental and school role in vaping intervention; receptiveness to learning about vaping; and pharmacist role in vaping intervention. Most participants expressed that they had limited vaping knowledge but were aware of some health consequences. Participants found the Ph-EVER to be useful for starting conversations with family. Many participants trusted and respected pharmacists to receive education from them. The Ph-EVER was described as important with potential use to inform and initiate conversations with adolescents on e-cigarette risks.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Parent participants found the Ph-EVER to be a helpful educational tool that can be disseminated in public settings with further need to explore integration into pharmacy practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100615"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144105952","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":"Let's chat(GPT): Implementation of a ChatGPT-generated social determinants of health activity","authors":"Karl R. Kodweis,&nbsp;Theodore J. Cory,&nbsp;Elizabeth A. Hall,&nbsp;Christa M. George,&nbsp;Katherine L. March","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Artificial intelligence (AI)- powered chatbots have provided some notable benefits for learners. Educators are beginning to explore their possible utility and find ways to leverage AI in their classrooms.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of ChatGPT-generated social determinants of health (SDOH) activity in a team-based pharmacy education course.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Instructors asked the software to generate a set of learning objectives, an in-class activity, assessment strategies, and summative assessments for a student's conceptual understanding of SDOH. During a required first-year, team-based pharmacy course at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, participants (<em>n</em> = 95) completed a ChatGPT-generated, in-class activity on SDOH within groups. The students' views on the quality of the activity were evaluated using five Likert-scale questions. Four of the questions assessed the applicability and usefulness of the assignment, with rankings on a scale of 1–4 (1 = strongly disagree; 4 = strongly agree). The fifth question evaluated the quality of the activity compared to activities generated by the instructor, using a scale of 1–5 (1 = far worse; 5 = far better).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>For applicability and usefulness,”94.7 % (<em>n</em> = 90) of students agreed that “This in-class exercise was valuable to my professional development as a pharmacist;” 96.8 % (<em>n</em> = 92) agreed with “It is necessary for pharmacists to understand SDOH;” 94.7 % (n = 90) agreement with the statement, “<em>The quality of this in-class activity was on-par with other in-class activities in the course</em>;” and 90.5 % (<em>n</em> = 86) agreed with “<em>This in-class exercise was just as impactful to my professional development as other in-class activities.</em>” The majority of students (63.2 %; <em>n</em> = 60) selected either “somewhat better” (40 %; <em>n</em> = 38) or far better (23.2 %; <em>n</em> = 22) for, “Regarding quality, I feel the in-class activity was ____ than other in-class activities.”</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Most students reported that the ChatGPT-generated activity on social determinants of health was useful, applicable, and somewhat or far better than instructor activities. However, AI can generate incorrect information and potentially hinder student learning of conceptual frameworks; thus, instructors should review all output carefully.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100553"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143936626","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":"Exploring the barriers and facilitators to effective communication with people with age-related hearing loss in community pharmacy settings","authors":"Shanice Thomas ,&nbsp;Jane Griffiths ,&nbsp;Gabrielle Saunders ,&nbsp;Denham Phipps ,&nbsp;Chris Todd ,&nbsp;Penny Lewis","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>As populations age, there is a growing number of people who are affected by age-related hearing loss, who are living with chronic health conditions, treated using multiple medicines. Community pharmacy plays an important role in ensuring safe and effective medicine use.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explored the barriers and facilitators to effective communication with people with age-related hearing loss in the community pharmacy setting.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen pharmacy users with self-reported age-related hearing loss in the United Kingdom (UK). Eight community pharmacists took part across two focus groups and one interview<em>.</em> Using a deductive-inductive approach to framework analysis, three overarching themes were generated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>‘Navigating the environment’ highlights barriers related to pharmacists reportedly high workloads and time pressures, also reflected in pharmacy user's accounts. Background noise reduced the confidentiality and effectiveness of communication. Participants had differing views on the extent to which hearing aids could overcome these challenges. ‘Debating the need to communicate and to disclose hearing loss’ reflects barriers relating to pharmacy users' tendency to not disclose their needs, in relation to their personal feelings (embarrassment), perceptions of, and limited contact with, community pharmacy services. Yet, pharmacists emphasised a need to know about hearing loss to adapt communication effectively. Participants reported similar and distinct perspectives regarding ‘coping strategies and solutions to communicate effectively’.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Participants identified a need to improve pharmacists' capacity to implement communication adaptations for people with hearing loss, for which pharmacists suggested digital interventions, and to visibly recognise sensory needs, to promote disclosure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 100573"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937790","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":"A qualitative non-participant observational study of non-prescription counseling in community pharmacies","authors":"Helene Marie Haldorsen Gombos ,&nbsp;Tonje Krogstad ,&nbsp;Marthe Rambøl Bjørknes ,&nbsp;Hege Sletvold ,&nbsp;Milada Cvancarova Hagen ,&nbsp;Karin Svensberg","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The global rise in self-care and non-prescription product sales allows more people to self-treat minor ailments, and pharmacies have a key role in guiding this use. However, discrepancies between counseling standards and practice suggest a gap in ensuring safe and informed self-medication, necessitating exploration and understanding.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study investigates counseling on all non-prescription products in pharmacies, with the following objectives: 1) assess compliance with The Norwegian OTC Counseling Standard (the Standard), 2) identify factors predicting standard compliance, and 3) describe the content of non-prescription counseling.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A non-participant observation study (<em>n</em> = 275) was conducted in the self-care section of Norwegian pharmacies (<em>n</em> = 7) from September 2022 to March 2023. During the encounters, 494 products were purchased. Notes from the observations were transformed into transcripts. The transcripts were analyzed using Content Analysis, where codes were quantified and compiled into a spreadsheet. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests and Logistic regression to evaluate standard compliance and predictive factors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Full compliance with the standard was 14.6 %; however, ∼40 % of product inquiries did not meet the requirements. Busier pharmacies showed higher standard compliance compared to quieter, and counseling starting at the shelves was more comprehensive. Moreover, pharmacists were likelier than pharmacy technicians to provide information about OTC products (<em>p</em>-value = 0.01). Standard compliance was higher for other non-prescription products than for OTC products. Assessment of the customer's product needs typically revolved around previous use, the intended user, and symptoms, with less emphasis on patient-specific factors (e.g., contraindications, interactions). Information was usually practical, for example, instructions on use and dosage, while discussions on effects and adverse drug reactions depended on customer prompts.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study found infrequent compliance with the standard, with information often being generic and not tailored to customer needs. OTCs have lower standard compliance than other products sold in pharmacies. Further efforts need to be made to improve counseling, including revising the standard focusing on communication skill promotion and expanding to consider all health-related products in the self-care section. This could improve self-treatment and reduce the burden on other healthcare providers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100611"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143923602","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}