Pharmaceutical Services Research Articles

European Pharmaceutical Industry Medical Information: A Role to Play in the Provision of Medicine-Related Information to Patients.

European pharmaceutical companies have a professional and legal obligation to provide objective, factual and non-promotional medicine-related information to both healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients on request and have establishedMedical Information services to fulfil this need. Also, medicines are supplied with a package leaflet for patients and/or users-this usually includes the contact details for the company's Medical Information service. There is a large scale of patient enquiry interactions across the European region. A survey conducted in 2021 by the Medical Information Leaders in Europe (MILE) association revealed that 21% of all enquiries managed by Medical Information services in 2020 were from non-HCPs. Eighteen companies collectively managed over 140,000 non-HCP enquiries-while supporting so many patients, this is also a potentially rich source of insights to real-life patient experiences. When interacting with patients, companies are cautious not to interfere with the relationship between the patient and their HCP. This can limit the information provided, with many being referred to their busy treating physicians. Unfortunately, this approach can fall short of patients' expectations or needs. MILE recognises the potential to be more helpful and companies are keen to evolve to deliver more patient-centric support. MILE member companies have collaborated in the collation and publication of best-practice principles for handling unsolicited requests for medicine-related information from patients, caregivers and members of the general public (MOPs). This will help improve accessibility to quality information support, harmonise the patients' experience and build confidence in the pharmaceutical industry services. MILE continues to invite stakeholders, including patient associations, HCPs, pharmaceutical companies, regulators and national industry associations to engage and help advance these core principles for handling patient enquiries. This publication does not constitute legal advice; decision making and accountability remains with each pharmaceutical company.

The allocation and fairness of hospital pharmacist human resources in China: a time-series study

BackgroundTo address the rational use of medicines in healthcare institutions, the Chinese government enacted legislation for pharmacists in 2021, emphasizing the importance of pharmacists in medical services. The allocation and equity of pharmacist human resources in healthcare institutions directly affect people’s accessibility to pharmaceutical services. The study aims to analyze the supply and demand of pharmacist human resources in Chinese healthcare institutions and evaluate the equity of their distribution to provide a reference for the rational management of pharmacist resources.MethodsThis was a time-series study that was conducted using data obtained from Health and Health Statistical Yearbook that is performed every year by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. The study included 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions and 34,354 medical institutions in mainland China, which were classified into different economic regions based on their level of economic development. The study collected healthcare technicians and pharmacist data from national healthcare institutions between 2016 and 2020. The study evaluated the level of pharmacist human resource allocation using the health resource density index. The study explored the equity of pharmacist human resource allocation from two aspects: population and geographic area, using the Gini coefficient and Theil index.ResultsThe average annual growth rates of healthcare technical staff and pharmacists in Chinese medical institutions from 2016 to 2020 were 5.67% and 3.03%, respectively. The Gini coefficients of healthcare personnel resources based on population distribution were all below 0.119, while those based on geographical area were all above 0.655. The total Theil indexes of pharmacist human resources based on population distribution were all below 0.010, while those based on geographical area were all above 0.511. In addition, the contribution rates of the within-group Theil indexes of pharmacist human resources based on population and geographical area distributions to the total Theil index were all greater than or equal to 50%.ConclusionsThe allocation level of pharmacist human resources in China continues to improve, but there are differences in different economic development areas. Currently, allocation based on population shows equity, but allocation based on geographic area shows inequity. In the future, more attention should be paid to the geographic accessibility of pharmacist human resources, and resource allocation should consider both the population served and geographic area.

Pharmaceutical care for patients with coronary heart disease: transformation of pharmaceutical practice

The implementation of the National Recovery Plan of Ukraine in the field of “Health Care”, namely the restoration of the pharmaceutical sector, improving the population’s access to medicines and their proper use, taking into account the regulatory and legal field harmonized with European legislation, in the context of providing the qualified pharmaceutical care and pharmaceutical services requires application of modern approaches based on evidence-based medicine and implementation in pharmaceutical practice. Patients with cardiovascular diseases, who are provided with medication under the Reimbursement Program and prescriptions from doctors, must be accompanied by pharmaceutical care based on evidence-based medicine to ensure proper use of drugs and rational pharmacotherapy. The aim of the study was to investigate Ukrainian information and scientific databases, scientometric databases, i. e.: Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library to identify, generalize, and systematize scientific sources of medical and pharmaceutical data on providing patient-oriented pharmaceutical care to patients with coronary heart disease and predict the future vector of research on the specified topic. Results. The analysis of the main strategies of providing pharmaceutical care to patients with cardiovascular diseases, in particular, coronary heart disease in pharmaceutical practice was carried out; the most researched clusters of providing pharmaceutical care were identified; modern trends and tendencies in the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients with coronary heart disease were summarized. Conclusions. The development of providing qualified pharmaceutical care to patients with cardiovascular diseases is based on the principles of patient-oriented pharmacy and evidence-based medicine, which requires the design and implementation into the pharmaceutical practice of a sustainable conceptual model of providing patient-oriented pharmaceutical care by clinical pharmacists and pharmacists of pharmacy institutions with the expansion of the main roles, respectively the standards of Good Pharmacy Practice.

Short-term outcome of personalized theory-based pharmaceutical care service on the medication administration problems of family caregivers: a pre-post intervention study.

Family caregivers face many problems during administration of medications. Pharmacists are reliable and accessible healthcare providers in addressing family caregivers' medication related inquiries in primary care. This study aimed to evaluate theshort-term outcome of apersonalized theory-based pharmaceutical care service on the medication administration problems of family caregivers. This pre-post intervention study was carried out among family caregivers at a community pharmacy in Istanbul, Türkiye from May through December 2022. The service was developed by mapping problems using theTheoretical Domains Framework and selecting related behavioural change techniques. The primary outcome was the change in the scores on the Turkish version of the Family Caregiver Medication Administration Hassles Scale (FCMAHS-TR) from baseline to the one-month follow-up assessment. Secondary outcomes were their ability to read health related materials, care burden, and satisfaction. Among family caregivers (n = 100), total score of FCMAHS-TR was significantly reduced after receiving theory based pharmaceutical care service (median [IQR]23.0 [17.0-27.0] vs 17.0 [10.3-20.0]; p < 0.001). The proportion of family caregivers with high ability to read health related materials was significantly increased (34.0% vs 48.0%; p < 0.05) with non-significant change in the proportion of family caregiver with high burden (97.0% vs 94.0%; p > 0.05). Younger family caregivers had significantly higher scores on the Turkish version of Patient-Oriented Pharmacy Services Questionnaire (PSPSQ) 2.0 when compared with the older ones (≥ 65 y) (p < 0.05). Family caregivers' medication administration problems werereduced after receiving thetheory based pharmaceutical care service. Long term impact and national implementation of this service should be assessed in the further studies.

Evaluation Of Medicine Logistics Management In Pharmacy Installations

Background: Puskesmas is a primary health care facility that focuses on promotive and preventive efforts. In carrying out its duties to serve the community, community health centers carry out drug management which includes pharmaceutical, health and laboratory services. Drug logistics management is a series of activities that include planning, procurement, storage, distribution and optimal destruction of drugs. Objective: This study aims to evaluate drug logistics management at the Lubuk Pakam Community Health Center pharmacy installation. Method: The research uses a qualitative approach with in-depth interview methods. Results: The results showed that drug planning was based on use in the previous year and existing disease patterns. Medicines are procured every two months using the LPLPO form, while medicines are received by matching the medicines received with the invoice. The drugs received are stored using the FIFO, FEFO method, and are arranged alphabetically. Distribution of medicines from Puskesmas is carried out to sub-district health centers and Poskedes. Expired medicines are destroyed by collecting and recording expired medicines before they are sent to the Health Service pharmacy installation. In general, drug logistics management is running quite well, although drug procurement is still done manually. Suggestion: Researchers suggest that Community Health Centers can improve drug logistics management to become more efficient.

АНАЛИЗ ПРАКТИЧЕСКИХ АСПЕКТОВ СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЯ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЙ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТИ ФАРМАЦЕВТИЧЕСКИХ РАБОТНИКОВ В ОБЛАСТИ ВЗАИМОДЕЙСТВИЯ С МАЛОМОБИЛЬНЫМИ ПОСЕТИТЕЛЯМИ АПТЕЧНЫХ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЙ С ОГРАНИЧЕННЫМИ ВОЗМОЖНОСТЯМИ ЗДОРОВЬЯ

Currently, pharmacies are part of the healthcare system and must comply with the requirements for providing an accessible environment for people with disabilities, including providing them with the opportunity to receive the necessary pharmaceutical services. The aim of the study is to analyze the practical aspects of improving the professional competence of pharmacists in the field of interaction with people with limited mobility and disabilities in pharmacies. The texts of regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation and also systemic and logical methods of their interpretation have been used in this study. It has been revealed that the current federal state educational standards of higher education and secondary vocational education in the specialty «Pharmacy» do not directly provide for the need to train future pharmacists in the basics of professional interaction with people with disabilities, but they establish the possibility of introducing additional competencies and/or new academic disciplines into the curricula for more in-depth training of graduates. It has been shown that pharmacists are required to have knowledge of the anatomical and functional characteristics of various groups of people with limited mobility and disabilities, their physiological states and pathological processes that directly affect their ability to receive pharmaceutical services in pharmacies. The possibility of pharmacists of pharmacies to consult people with limited mobility and disabilities on the necessary pharmacy goods online has been analyzed, taking into account possible functional disorders in these people – in various formats: text, audio only or using video communication. It has been proposed to introduce training on relevant aspects of their professional interaction with visitors to pharmacies with disabilities into educational programs for training and professional development of pharmacists.

PELATIHAN DIGITALISASI FARMASI IKATAN APOTEKER INDONESIA (IAI) PC KOTA SALATIGA

Pharmacists/pharmacy services need to improve their professionalism in order to keep up with the rapid development of technology. Digitalization applied in the pharmaceutical world needs to be accompanied by a “human touch”. One of the efforts that can be made by IAI PC Salatiga City members is to understand and innovate in the use of health service technology. The solution to the problems that occur is to conduct training and understanding of digital transformation which has now become a necessity for the industrial world, especially the pharmaceutical sector. One of the factors that accelerates the process, so that many business operations today can be shortened and more efficient due to digitalization. One of the important characteristics of the pharmacist profession is adaptability. There was a significant increase in participants' knowledge before and after the training, this was based on the increasing enthusiasm of the participants in asking questions and actively participating in this activity. The IAI Salatiga City pharmacy digitalization training is expected to create enthusiasm to be able to continue to develop the knowledge and insights of participants, especially members of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) PC Salatiga City to improve services to the community.Suggestions for IAI PC Salatiga City members, frequent training activities for digitalization of pharmaceutical services and preparing members who understand digitalization to be able to achieve health development targets, especially the change from the analog to the digital era.

Innovative healthcare solutions for resource-limited settings expanding pharmaceutical care to remote populations

Access to essential healthcare and pharmaceutical services remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings. This paper explores innovative strategies for expanding pharmaceutical care to remote populations, focusing on the integration of mobile health technologies and community-based interventions. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies, including telemedicine and mobile pharmacies, offer a cost-effective means of delivering healthcare services, enhancing access, and improving real-time monitoring. Community-based interventions, such as the deployment of community health workers, health education campaigns, and peer support groups, play a critical role in addressing healthcare disparities and improving health literacy and medication adherence. The paper also discusses the integration of pharmaceutical care models, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among healthcare providers, pharmacists, and community health workers. Future directions highlight emerging innovations like AI and blockchain technology, while policy recommendations emphasize the need for investment in healthcare infrastructure, professional training, and regulatory support. By leveraging these strategies and innovations, healthcare outcomes and equity in resource-limited settings can significantly improve.

Medication Management in Portuguese Long-Term Care Facilities: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study.

Population ageing has been a pressing global issue for decades. Older adults, especially those residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), often experience frailty and polypharmacy, which can lead to negative clinical outcomes. In Portugal, LTCFs provide essential care for individuals aged 65 or older, offering temporary or permanent accommodation. These facilities are not considered healthcare providers, and as a result, pharmaceutical services are not mandatory. This study aimed to evaluate medication management practices in Portuguese LTCFs, identify which professionals are responsible for managing medications, and identify potential gaps in safety and efficacy. A cross-sectional electronic questionnaire was sent by email to 2552 Portuguese LTCFs from the Portuguese "Carta Social" database. Data collection took place between 20 July and 2 August 2023, yielding a response rate of 15.4% (392 institutions). Most LTCFs (94.39%) oversee their resident's medication, with 75.95% using the same pharmacy. Individualised medication packaging is used by 57.84% of facilities, and 97.84% provide medication reconciliation and review, mainly conducted by physicians and nurses. Medication is often stored in nursing offices (81.12%) but also in kitchens or dining rooms. Nurses are responsible for medication storage (87.50%) and preparation (81.89%), although non-nursing staff are also involved. In 63.27% of LTCFs, the same individual is responsible for both the preparation and verification of medication. Assistants are involved in both the checking (30.56%) and administering (45.66%) of medication. The results presented illustrate the current status of LTCFs in Portugal. Medication management presents a significant challenge, and it is notable that the role of the pharmacist in this process is not as prominent as it is in other countries.

Behavioral Nudges to Encourage Appropriate Antimicrobial Use Among Health Professionals in Uganda

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health concern exacerbated by inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing practices, particularly in low-resource settings such as Uganda. The research aimed to develop a culturally sensitive behavioral intervention, leveraging a “nudge” strategy, to improve healthcare provider adherence to the 2016 Uganda Clinical Guidelines (UCG 2016) in five Ugandan hospitals. This intervention formed part of broader antimicrobial stewardship initiatives led by the United States Agency for International Development Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services Program. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining formative research and behavioral intervention. Guided by the Deloitte Behavioral Insights Framework, the research team conducted key informant interviews to identify prescribing barriers and motivators and developed three suitable behavioral interventions: perceived monitoring, ward leaderboards, and educational workshops. The study evaluated the interventions’ impact through point prevalence surveys (PPS), using the World Health Organization PPS methodology at three stages: pre-intervention, immediate post-intervention, and one-month post-intervention. Results: Key behavioral themes across individual, social, environmental, and organizational elements informed the intervention design and implementation. The behavioral intervention package increased antimicrobial prescription compliance with the UCG 2016 from 27% at baseline to 50% immediately post-intervention, though these effects diminished at one-month post-intervention. Conclusions: Our study addresses an existing gap in behavioral nudges-based operational research on antimicrobial prescribing in low- and middle-income countries. These results showed an immediate improvement in adherence to the UCG 2016 among healthcare providers in Ugandan hospitals, though the effect was attenuated at one-month follow-up. Despite the attenuation, behavior change presents a feasible, cost-effective, and sustainable approach to improving antimicrobial prescribing practices and addressing AMR.

Overview of the Knowledge Level of Pharmaceutical Technical Personnel on the Prevention of Covid-19 in Balikpapan City

Coronavirus disease 19 is a disease caused by a new type of coronavirus, COVID-19. This virus has been declared a pandemic and can spread rapidly through direct human contact. COVID-19 has an impact on pharmaceutical services, especially Pharmaceutical Technical Personel (PTP), therefore it is important to describe the level of knowledge of PTP in preventing COVID-19 in Balikpapan City. The purpose of this study is to describe the level of knowledge of pharmacy technical personnel on COVID-19 prevention in Balikpapan City. This research uses quantitative method, this type of research is descriptive (non-experimental) observational with cross sectional approach. The data of this study were obtained from the research subjects, namely pharmacy technicians working in Balikpapan City through questionnaires. Data analysis method is bivariate analysis and univariate analysis to see the frequency of PTP knowledge level in Balikpapan City on COVID-19 prevention. The results showed that there is a relationship between PTP characteristics on place of work, education, and age with knowledge level on COVID-19 prevention. Meanwhile, PTP characteristics on gender and type of job have no relationship with the level of knowledge on COVID-19 prevention in Balikpapan City. The knowledge level of PTP on COVID-19 prevention in Balikpapan City is obtained by 6.50% in good category, 24.80% in fair category, and 68.70% in poor category.

Assessing Patient Feedback on the Feasibility of the YourRx Telepharmacy Mobile Application.

Background: Telepharmacy is a method utilized in pharmacy practice that delivers pharmaceutical care services via telecommunication technology. In the Philippines, the current process for patients to avail of telepharmacy services utilizes a variety of existing applications or websites instead of a single application. Objectives: This study aimed to assess patient feedback on the feasibility of the newly developed telepharmacy mobile application, YourRx. Specifically, it evaluated the application's functionality, usability, security, and performance. Methods: The study had 3 phases: (1) the design and development phase, (2) the implementation phase, wherein the pharmacists and patients were oriented beforehand with the use of YourRx mobile application, and (3) the evaluation phase, where the mobile application was evaluated for its functionality, usability, security, and performance by the patients through the use of a survey questionnaire and an interview. Results: YourRx application was developed and evaluated successfully. It is available for Android users and has primary features, including video calls, sharing, and setting an appointment. A total of 46 patients used the YourRx. Most of the patients were very satisfied with the navigation, service acquisition, and overall design of the YourRx. They expressed convenience in acquiring telepharmacy services because the application was easy to understand, use, and navigate. Conclusion: YourRx is a pioneering telepharmacy mobile application in the Philippines. The results of this study substantiate that YourRx is a user-friendly platform that provides patients convenient access to telepharmacy services with less time and effort thus improving patient health outcomes.

Advancing Pharmaceutical Care in Community Pharmacies in Poland: A Blueprint for Enhanced Patient Care Quality.

Background: This article reviews the current state of pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies in Poland and proposes a collaborative framework for its advancement. While pharmaceutical care has evolved significantly worldwide, with Europe leading the way, Poland has lagged in its development. Although Polish pharmacists are well-qualified and community pharmacies are numerous, pharmaceutical care remains underdeveloped. Methods: We conducted a literature review and analyzed case studies from European countries with advanced pharmaceutical services. Based on these findings, we collaborated with policy makers, commissioners, and academics to develop a framework for enhancing pharmaceutical care in Poland. The plan emphasizes integrating seven key services into Polish community pharmacies. Results: Our proposed framework outlines seven essential pharmaceutical services: medicine use reviews, new medicine services, minor ailment services, repeat prescription services, integrated prevention programs, cardiovascular disease prevention programs, and vaccination programs. Evidence from other European countries suggests that implementing these services could significantly improve health outcomes and patient quality of life. This is particularly important in light of Poland's ageing population, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and the healthcare system's increasing burden due to polypharmacy. Conclusions: The proposed framework presents a practical and collaborative approach to advancing pharmaceutical care in Poland. By adopting these key services, community pharmacies could play a more integral role in improving patient care quality and alleviating pressure on the broader healthcare system.

Satisfaction and preference for home delivery pharmaceutical services among patients attending primary care settings in Qatar during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesDuring the COVID-19 epidemic, due to the high risk associated with travel and group gatherings, the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar introduced home delivery of pharmaceutical services. This study...

VirtualPharm: Bridging healthcare through telepharmacy

The word "telepharmacy" refers to a type of pharmaceutical care in which patients and pharmacists communicate by information and communication technology (ICT) even though they are not in the same location. Telepharmacy has been used to solve the scarcity of pharmacists and offer pharmaceutical services to underprivileged communities. Due to geographic and demographic constraints, however, rural inhabitants and towns frequently may not have easy access to healthcare services. A more recent term for pharmaceutical service delivery is telepharmacy, which allows patients who live far from a hospital, pharmacy, or other healthcare facility to receive healthcare services from a qualified pharmacist, including medication review, patient counseling, and prescription verification. Increased comfort with the medication-use system, patient safety, and job satisfaction were shown by nurses' survey results.Actually, after a pharmacist's intervention, there has been evidence of better control over hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes, successful smoking cessation, and a decrease in hospitalization among heart failure patients. Telepharmacy services are developed and offered using a range of technology, care models, and interventions, catering to a diverse range of individuals with various clinical conditions. Video conferencing is used in pharmacy for management, instruction, and training needs. The telephone has evolved from a device for dialing and speaking to a multimodal communication tool. Refill authorization, prior authorization, prescription counseling, and formulary compliance monitoring are all provided by call centers, while medical equipment are being connected to phone lines to provide remote monitoring and therapy. Telepharmacy is a useful tool for community pharmacies to improve drug dispensing safety and lessen the strain on the healthcare system.

The effect of clinical pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care services on medication adherence, clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with stroke: a randomised controlled trial.

Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pharmaceutical care services play a significant role in managing the risk factors associated with stroke. This study aimed to examine the effects of a one-year pharmaceutical care programme on medication adherence, quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with stroke. This study was conducted as a randomised controlled trial at the neurology clinic of a university hospital in Türkiye. Patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or usual care group (IG vs UCG). A simple randomization method using computer-based random numbers was used to assign participants in a 1:1 ratio. The IG received pharmaceutical care including medication reconciliation, medication review and patient education in addition to routine health services. The medication adherence, quality of life and clinical parameters of the patients were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the 12th month. This study included 193 patients (89 and 104 patients in the IG and the UCG, respectively; mean age: 60.1years), of whom 67.4% were male. At the one-year follow-up evaluation, the percentage of adherent patients (86.5% vs 47.1%, p < 0.001) and the total Stroke-Specific Quality of Life score (184.9 vs 166.0, p < 0.001) were higher in the IG than in the UCG. The stroke recurrence rate at the one-year follow-up (2.2% vs 10.6%, p = 0.044) was lower in the IG than in the UCG. Pharmaceutical care services improved the medication adherence, quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with stroke. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06129318; Study Registration Date: 13 November 2023.

Addressing the second victim phenomenon among community pharmacists and its impact on clinical pharmacy practice: a consensus study.

The second victim phenomenon, denoting the harmful effects of patient safety incidents on healthcare practitioners, remains insufficiently examined within the pharmacy workforce. This study aimed to investigate the second victim phenomenon in community pharmacies, focusing on its triggers, impacts on pharmacists' well-being, and effects on pharmaceutical care and safety. This consensus study with the Nominal Group Technique involved 27 community pharmacists in three equal groups. The final ranks of the statements scored by participants from 5 to 1 were recalculated using the Van Breda method, combining three distinct data sets with higher values for a higher impact on the output evaluated. Statistics were applied to ascertain event distribution and investigate the potential relationships between event categories and outcomes for patients and pharmacists. "Patient-centric anxiety" (6.8) was the top mental health issue, followed by "Personal responsibility and resilience" and "Future concerns and career aspirations" (6.0 each). The dominant support was "Colleague/Peer support" (5.3). The most frequent patient safety incidents were "Inadequate pharmaceutical service" (8.0) and "Wrong drug dispensed" (7.8). Most errors (63%) were dispensing failures, primarily wrong drug dispensed (44.4%). Of these, 50% were near misses, 25.0% caused no harm, and 16.7% had serious consequences. Field notes suggest contributing factors like inadequate supervision, crowding, and storage issues. This study revealed the second victim phenomenon among pharmacists, which potentially stems from breaches in practice standards. The impact on the quality and safety of pharmaceutical care and its influence on pharmacists' well-being should be studied in further studies.

Impact of a short-term pharmacy study abroad Program: student outcomes and program evaluation

ObjectiveThis study examined the impact of a short-term study abroad program, focusing on program evaluation, attendee satisfaction, and acquired knowledge and skills. A questionnaire survey was conducted covering various aspects including demographics, program evaluation, and feedback.ResultsResults indicated higher female participation due to gender imbalances in pharmacy students in Egypt, with senior students recognizing the value of international experience. Attendee satisfaction was high, with positive feedback on accommodation, tours, and workshop materials. Field visits and workshops provided valuable experiential learning, with attendees suggesting extending the program’s duration. The program equipped attendees with knowledge and skills relevant to pharmaceutical products and services, leading to improved competences and perceptions. The study concludes that such study abroad experiences profoundly impact personal growth and recommends integrating them into educational curricula for valuable experiences.

Investigating the Public Awareness and Utilization of Health Screening Services Offered by Community Pharmacies

Background: Community pharmacies are the integral part of the healthcare system offering healthcare services for patients. Pharmacists are expanding their roles by providing pharmaceutical services and comprehensive pharmaceutical care. Health screenings played an important role in early detection of diseases and potential risk factors. Objectives: To assess the extent of awareness, utilization and impact of using health screening services offered by community pharmacy among public and to identify the barriers to access these services. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in different cities of Punjab, Pakistan. Data was collected using validated questionnaire after getting consent from general public. The sample size for this study was 151. SPSS version 26th was used as a statistical tool to analyze data. P-value &lt; 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: Health screening services were more used by middle age individuals and adults. Individuals holding bachelor’s degree (41.2%) and female respondents (42.9%) showed more satisfactory response than male respondents. Blood pressure screenings (53.6%), diabetes screenings (28.5%) and other services (34.4%) were mostly used by the participants Barriers to health screening services include lack of awareness, lack of time and preference to visit doctor. Conclusion: Screening services offered at community pharmacies are found satisfactory, convenient and economical by most people. However utilization of these services is less frequent indicating a need for improved awareness and public education about the services offered by community pharmacy. Attention should be given to reduce barriers to the use of health screening services.

Analisis waste pada depo rawat jalan dengan menggunakan lean hospital di Rumah Sakit Islam Siti Hajar Mataram

Pharmaceutical installations can provide substantial revenue if managed properly and efficiently. Good or bad service can affect patient satisfaction. For this reason, pharmaceutical installations must improve quality in terms of patient satisfaction, one of which is by reducing waste that occurs in the pharmaceutical service process in hospitals. This study aims to analyze what waste occurs in outpatient depot services to improve service efficiency. This research is descriptive qualitative. Data were obtained through document review, direct observation, interviews. Waste identification uses Value Stream Mapping and Fishbone Diagram to determine the root causes of critical waste that occurs. The results showed that the highest percentage of value added was in the ordinary prescription service of 63.41%, the highest percentage of necessity but non-value added was in the prescription service that required drug distribution from the warehouse unit of 70.79%, and the highest non-value added was in the compounded prescription service process of 36.59%. By using lean hospital, it can be identified that many wastes occur including waiting, transportation, and defects. Increasing service efficiency at the Siti Hajar Mataram Islamic Hospital Outpatient depot can be done by minimizing non-value added activities.