Pharmacists In Community Pharmacies Research Articles

Vaccination services in community pharmacy practice: a scoping review

Abstract Introduction Vaccination services in community pharmacy practice is an important advancement in public health and has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent of vaccination in community pharmacy practice and stakeholders’ views of vaccination services has not been recently reported. Aim This scoping review explores the provision of vaccinations in community pharmacy (vaccine type and to which patient groups provided) and key stakeholders’ (patients/carers and pharmacists) views of the vaccination services provided. Methods The study was registered with Open Science Framework, and Joanna Briggs Institute guidance was used to define the following inclusion criteria:[1-2] Participants: Studies involving patients of any age and other demographic variables receiving a vaccination service in any community pharmacy setting. Concept: Studies that reported on the implementation and evaluation of all vaccination services provided by pharmacists in the community pharmacy setting. Evaluation studies of vaccination services considered evaluation by patients and pharmacists. Context: Studies involving provision of vaccination services by pharmacists in community pharmacy in any geographical location. Vaccination services provided by other healthcare professionals were not included. Searches were performed in CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE (EBSCO) on 06/03/2023 using database-relevant controlled vocabulary (e.g., ‘pharmacy’, ‘vaccination’ and ‘service’). Grey literature searching was undertaken in MedNar. All study designs were considered for inclusion without publication date limits. Titles and abstracts were reviewed independently by two researchers and discrepancies resolved via discussion. Data extraction was undertaken using a modified JBI data extraction form. A mixed methods approach to data synthesis was used, with study characteristics analysed quantitatively and patients’/pharmacists’ views on vaccination services analysed qualitatively. Results A total of 3245 records were identified from the database searches for screening, with a further 211 from the grey literature. A total of 102 studies were included. Most studies were undertaken in the United States of America (43; 42.2%), Canada (17; 16.7%) and the UK (8; 7.8%). Study types included cross-sectional (67; 65.7%), retrospective observational studies (15; 14.7%) and non-systematic reviews (10; 9.8%). The influenza vaccine (40; 39.2%) was most commonly provided, followed by COVID-19 (14; 13.7%). Other vaccines provided included herpes zoster and human papillomavirus. Vaccinations were targeted to all age-groups relevant to the vaccine supplied. Patient satisfaction rates were high across various countries with experiences focussing on access, professionalism and quality of information provided. Pharmacists reported having a positive outlook on their role in providing vaccination services. Pharmacists viewed vaccination services based in community pharmacies as an opportunity to contribute to the well-being of their communities and improve immunisation rates. Pharmacists also reported barriers to vaccine service provision which included regulation, training, remuneration and storage, which may consequently limit service expansion. Conclusion A range of vaccines are available in community pharmacy, which has led to increases in patients availing of vaccination services. Patients’ and pharmacists’ perceptions towards the service are positive. Future research could address barriers, identified by pharmacists, which prevent expansion of vaccination services. Screening and data extraction involving seven reviewers was a strength of the study. As a scoping review, the study is limited as records were not quality appraised.

Norwegian Community Pharmacists' Experiences with COVID-19 Vaccination-A Qualitative Interview Study.

Immunising the population became important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Community pharmacies in Norway collaborated with municipalities to offer a vaccination services to increase the vaccination rate. Only some pharmacies were allowed to offer this service in the pandemic's early phase. This study learns about pharmacists' experiences during this first period of COVID-19 vaccination services in community pharmacies, which is relevant for informing policy and organisational decision makers about the feasibility and acceptability of pharmacy vaccination. Individual interviews were conducted with 13 pharmacists in community pharmacies offering a COVID-19 vaccination service. Informants were recruited from the eleven pharmacies that first offered COVID-19 vaccinations. The key themes in the interview were COVID-19 vaccination, what the pharmacists think about the vaccination service, and how it is performed. The data were analysed using systematic text condensation. Three main themes and eight subthemes were identified. The main themes were creative solutions, organising and making resources available, and professionally satisfying and an important mission. The interviewed pharmacists experienced the COVID-19 vaccination service as hectic but something important that they would prioritise. They experienced their efforts to be substantial in the pandemic's early phase. Pharmacists in community pharmacies were a resource for increasing the vaccination rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pharmacies' easy accessibility and the pharmacists' ability to adjust their daily workflow for a new service should be considered when an expanded healthcare service is needed.

Analisis Pelaksanaan Konseling oleh Apoteker di Apotek Komunitas

This study aims to analyze factors that influence the implementation of counseling by pharmacists in community pharmacies in the Malang Regency area. The method used was observational research carried out cross-sectionally using a questionnaire instrument. The research results show a significant relationship (p<0.05) for each independent variable with the implementation of counseling. In conclusion, the availability of infrastructure is the variable that has the most decisive influence on the performance of counseling by pharmacists, followed by the variables of attitude, knowledge, and policy.
  
 Keywords: Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Counseling, Pharmaceutical Services

Collaboration between pharmacists in community pharmacy and ambulatory clinic settings: Current state and future directions

AbstractPharmacists in the community and ambulatory settings are primed for collaboration that can optimize care. Now is the time to capitalize on the momentum and positive disruption of the COVID‐19 pandemic that propelled pharmacists and their organizations to respond with agility to deliver care in new ways, pivot to develop new partnerships, and leverage technology. The growth of collaborative practice agreements within ambulatory care settings, the enhancement of clinically integrated networks, and the growth in professional organization support create an environment ripe for implementation of pharmacist‐to‐pharmacist collaborations. The American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2022 Clinical Practice Affairs B Committee sought out literature, as well as prepublication contemporary examples, demonstrating models of intraprofessional collaboration among pharmacists in community and ambulatory settings. The committee formulated six key recommendations to optimize pharmacist collaborations in the community and ambulatory settings and formed a framework for practical implementation strategies at the levels of individual pharmacists, organizations, and educational institutions and for legislative advocacy.

Awareness, practices and perceptions of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship in Libya: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCommunity pharmacists play a vital role in promoting appropriate use of antibiotics in the community. This study evaluated the practices and perceptions of community pharmacists towards antibiotic use, antibiotic resistance, and antimicrobial stewardship in Libya.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among community pharmacists in Libya using a 47-item validated, pre-tested online questionnaire. Data was collected from December 2021 to February 2022 and was analysed using descriptive and inferential analyses.ResultsOf the 114 questionnaires included in the analysis, 54.4% were females, 78.1% had < 10 year working experience (78.1%), and 81.6% had a Bachelor of Pharmacy. Most (78.1%) strongly agreed/agreed that community pharmacists have an important role to play to reduce antibiotic resistance. Overall, the participants had a moderate perception towards antimicrobial resistance (median score: 21.5; IQR [16–28] out of 35.0). More than 40% supply antibiotics when patients requested them specifically, because if they do not supply them, patients will just go to another pharmacy. About 47% strongly agreed/agreed that if a patient cannot afford a full course of antibiotics all in one go, they will give them a smaller amount that they are able to afford at that time, even when a longer duration of treatment is required. Most (66.7%) had no previous involvement in antibiotics awareness campaign due to ‘I have never heard about the campaign’ (48.7%) and ‘I do not have enough time to participate’ (22.4%). Overall, the perception towards antimicrobial stewardship was good (20 [13–25] out of 25.0). Raising awareness of rational antibiotic use, including antimicrobial resistance, among pharmacy students (83.4%) and patient education by pharmacists in community pharmacies at the time medicines are supplied to patients (81.6%) were the most common strategies to improve rational use of antibiotics in community pharmacy.ConclusionsCommunity pharmacists in Libya recognise their role in reducing antimicrobial resistance. They had a moderate perception towards antimicrobial resistance and a good perception towards antimicrobial stewardship. However, inappropriate antibiotic practices were common. The most common strategies to improve rational use of antibiotics in community pharmacy were raising awareness about the rational antibiotic use among pharmacy students and patient education by community pharmacists at the time antibiotics are dispensed to patients. Regulations are needed to restrict dispensing antibiotics without prescription among community pharmacists.

Self-care and self-medication as central components of healthcare in Germany – on the way to evidence-based pharmacy

In Germany, self-care is, above all interpreted as the prevention and treatment of minor injuries and illnesses by the patients themselves – that is, without a physician's prescription or medical advice. Maintaining one's health in the sense of a preventive approach through non-medicinal measures also plays an important role. Self-medication in this context is the treatment with approved over-the-counter-(OTC)-medications. In addition, other OTC-products such as dietary supplements as well as complementary and alternative medicines including homeopathic medications are frequently requested options by pharmacy customers. OTC-medications are central components of the German healthcare system, with expert advice from pharmacists in community pharmacies (CP) enabling safe and effective treatment. Additionally, screening for appropriate self-medication by pharmacists ensures that serious illnesses receive timely medical attention.In addition to prescribed medication, self-medication is an important part of the CP business in Germany. In contrast to prescription products, the price of OTC-products is not regulated. As a consequence, the price of OTC-products (including also pharmacy-only drugs) is influenced by competition among CPs and mail-order pharmacies, respectively. The sales of OTC-products for self-medication outside pharmacies, e.g. in drugstores and supermarkets, is restricted to a limited number of specific products.Evidence-based counseling in CPs, while generally advocated still remains a challenge. The evidence for the usage of OTC-products from clinical studies is not yet optimally integrated into everyday pharmacy practice. Information tools such as EVInews offering regular newsletters and a database have been developed to reduce the evidence-to-practice gap and to improve the overall counseling quality. Furthermore, the switching of drugs from prescription-only to pharmacy-only status also challenge CPs to provide adequate and updated guidance.

An instrument to assess the role of clinical pharmacists in community pharmacies: Evidence for the validity of content and construct

The role of the clinical pharmacist is expanding all over the world, and knowing the work process of these professionals, who work in community pharmacies, may aid in improving professional practice. To develop and validate an instrument to Assess the Role of Clinical Pharmacists (ARCP). A psychometric study was conducted in four phases and eight stages for the validation of the instrument, describe as follows: 1) Specification of the construct from literature review; 2) Designing the items, with 53 items spread in three dimensions; 3) Outcome space, to evaluate the opinion of experts and target population. The suggestions of experts were evaluated in two rounds, considering the change and exclusion of items when the value of the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) was less than 0.99. Four items were excluded, and one item was subdivided in two. The instrument product of this stage was 50 items adequately understood by the target population. 4) Measurement model, for internal assessment and reliability of the instrument. The internal assessment was studied in factor analysis and the adequate reliability was measured by Cronbach's alpha and Mcdonald's Omega. A total of 40 items was considered in the factor analysis that preliminarily indicated a model with three factors, in which 12 items were excluded. After the removal of the items, factor analysis indicated a model with two dimensions, which showed satisfactory reliability. The last version was constituted of 28 items and two dimensions, called clinical-care and clinical-educational. The ARCP Instrument showed evidences of validity and reliability for the assessment of the role of clinical pharmacists who work in community pharmacies.

Adaptations in the role of pharmacists under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundCommunity pharmacists actively engage in managing the health of local residents, but the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid adaptations in practice activities.ObjectivesWe sought to identify the specific adaptations in practice and the expanded roles of community pharmacists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of published studies reporting the tasks of pharmacists in community pharmacies or who were involved in pharmacy practices addressing the pandemic. Two investigators independently searched PubMed (December 2019–January 2022) for eligible articles. We conducted a meta-analysis to measure the frequencies of practical activities by pharmacists in response to COVID-19.ResultsWe identified 30 eligible studies. Meta-analysis of these studies found that the most commonly reported adaptation in pharmacist practice activities was modifying hygiene behaviors, including regular cleaning and disinfection (81.89%), followed by maintaining social distance from staff and clients (76.37%). Educating clients on COVID-19 was reported by 22 studies (72.54%). Telemedicine and home delivery services were provided to clients by 49.03 and 41.98% of pharmacists, respectively.ConclusionsThe roles of community pharmacists in public health activities have adapted and expanded in response to COVID-19, notably by incorporating public health education activities.

Pharmacy Deserts and Pharmacies' Roles Post-Extreme Weather and Climate Events in the United States: A Scoping Review.

The effects of climate change are seen with a rise of extreme weather and climate events (EWCEs) which lead to the closures of many healthcare facilities, such as community pharmacies. Pharmacists in community pharmacies are seen as the most accessible healthcare professional to the public and are responsible for the continued delivery of care to patients. However, amid closures due to EWCEs and the emergence of pharmacy deserts, there is decreased access to pharmacies and a disruption of care. It is important to address the preparedness and accessibility of pharmacies post-EWCEs to guide future research and policy. Additionally, to tackle health disparities that arise due to pharmacy deserts, the populations most affected by a decreased access to pharmacies should be identified. We conducted a scoping review to assess the preparedness and accessibility of pharmacies post-EWCEs and to identify populations most affected by pharmacy deserts. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1, 2012 to September 30, 2022 and included all English-language, peer-reviewed primary literature that examined the preparedness and accessibility of community pharmacies in the United States post-EWCEs and addressed disparities within pharmacy deserts. Studies meeting these criteria were screened of their titles and abstracts by the first author and discrepancies were resolved with co-authors. We used Covidence for data extraction. A total of 472 studies were identified (196 duplicates removed) and after screening, 53 studies were assessed for eligibility. The results of included publications (N = 26) showed that pharmacists and pharmacies are not equipped with the necessary emergency protocols which could lead to decreased access of pharmacies in the wake of EWCEs. Pharmacy deserts disproportionately affect residents living in rural, lower income, and Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods. The lack of preparedness of pharmacies post-EWCEs could worsen medication access. This scoping review addresses challenges impacting pharmacies and patients post-EWCEs and within pharmacy deserts. In times of increased need, these challenges implicate the well-being of communities affected by EWCEs by breaking the continuum of care and access to medications. Here we offer suggestions for future research and directions for policy change.

Identifying vaccination deserts: The availability and distribution of pharmacists with authorization to administer injections in Ontario

Introduction:Pharmacist-administered immunizations have been associated with improved vaccination rates; however, little is known about whether areas with little to no access to this service (“vaccination deserts”) exist. The objective of this work is to determine the geographic availability of pharmacists with authorization to administer injections in the province of Ontario.Methods:Ontario College of Pharmacists registry data were used to identify patient care–providing pharmacists in community pharmacies and their ability to administer injections. Their number of hours worked was converted into full-time equivalents (FTEs), assuming 40 hours per week represents 1 FTE. Practice site(s) were mapped by postal code and presented by Public Health Unit (PHU) area. Communities within PHUs were further categorized as urban or rural and northern or southern, with ratios of FTEs per 1000 population calculated for both injection-trained and non-injection-trained pharmacists.Results:In total, 74.6% of Ontario’s practising community pharmacists are authorized to provide injections. Northern PHUs had slightly better access to pharmacist injectors (0.61 FTEs/1000 overall vs 0.56/1000 in the south), while rural communities had lower availability (0.41 FTEs/1000) than urban communities (0.58 FTEs/1000). PHUs with greater population size and density had greater availability of pharmacist immunizers, while PHUs with greater land area were more likely to not have any immunizing pharmacists present (p < 0.001 for all).Discussion:As pharmacists increasingly become preferred vaccination providers, awareness of disparities related to access to pharmacy-based immunizations and collaboration with public health and primary care providers to address them (e.g., through mobile vaccination clinics) will be required to ensure equitable access. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2022;155:xx-xx.

Management of Medicines Wastage, Returned Medicines and Safe Disposal in Malaysian Community Pharmacies: A Qualitative Study.

IntroductionIn supplying medicines to patients and consumers waste can occur in prescribing, dispensing, and leftover stages. Pharmacists in community pharmacies play a crucial role in dispensing and should share information on appropriate medicines disposal with consumers. This qualitative study explored how Malaysian community pharmacists manage medication wastage, returned medicines, and medicines disposal by eliciting their opinions on medicines wastage, the challenges faced, and feasibility of medicine return and safe medicine disposal in the setting of Malaysian community pharmacy.MethodsTelephonic interviews were conducted using a pre-validated interview guide among community pharmacists. Purposive sampling was used to ensure heterogeneity of participants in terms of gender, age, and position in the pharmacy. The interview was conducted until a point where no new information was obtained. Interview data were thematically analyzed.ResultsThe analysis identified nine themes organized into four domains. The results revealed that pharmacists have positive perceptions of the safe disposal of medicines. Pharmacists mentioned that medicine returns to service in community pharmacies are not common due to a lack of facilities in the management of unwanted, expired, and returned medicines. As such pharmacists have suggested a few ways to minimize medicinal wastage.ConclusionsRespondents aimed to minimize medicines wastage (unused medicines) in order to minimize loss of revenue. Respondents did not usually accept returned medicines due to the operational costs of safe disposal. Disposal of unused medicines was undertaken by centralizing the stocks at an organization facility before being disposed of by outsourced waste management companies.

Adaptation and validation of the patient assessment of chronic illness care in United States community pharmacies

BackgroundRoles for United States (US)-based community pharmacists in caring for persons with chronic conditions have greatly expanded. The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) was developed to assess patients’ perspectives of care received. However, successful application of this instrument in community pharmacies is uncertain. The objective of this study was to adapt the PACIC for use in community pharmacies (CP-PACIC), assess validity of the CP-PACIC and examine CP-PACIC scale score differences relative to patient characteristics.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed chronically ill adults in Indiana, US who receive care from pharmacists in community pharmacies. The modified CP-PACIC scale consisted of 20-items, which were rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (none of the time) to 4 (always). The total possible score ranged from 0 – 80. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to assess performance and dimensionality. CP-PACIC validity, including face validity, construct validity (via exploratory factor analysis) and internal consistency were assessed. Relationships between patient characteristics and scale scores were evaluated using appropriate statistical tests.ResultsFive hundred forty-six respondents’ data were analyzed. EFA revealed a 2-factor solution (termed advanced pharmacy chronic illness care (AP) and traditional pharmacy chronic illness care (TP) subscales) accounting for 64.7% of variance; all 20 items were retained. The total 20-item CP-PACIC scale had a Cronbach’s alpha (internal consistency) of 0.96; with a 12-item AP subscale Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97 and 8-item TP subscale Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89. Median total score was 12.0 [interquartile range = 27.3]. Median CP-PACIC sores varied across many respondent demographics (i.e., survey administration type, age, sex, education, health condition, number of pharmacy services received, community pharmacy type) such as whether respondents participated in one or more pharmacy service or not (29 vs. 10; p < .001).ConclusionsUnlike the original 5-subscale (patient activation, delivery system design, goal setting, problem solving, and follow-up/coordination) PACIC, analysis demonstrated a 2-factor (AP, TP) solution for the CP-PACIC scale with good internal consistency. As there are no standardized evaluation tools that exist, community pharmacies could find great value in using this CP-PACIC tool to benchmark performance and inform quality improvement strategies for patient care delivery.

Nature and extent of counseling practice in community pharmacies in Sulaimani city, Iraq: A cross-sectional study

Background and objective: Community pharmacists play an important role in the best use of drugs and in improving patient outcomes. Evidence demonstrates that pharmacists' counseling improves the quality of life, clinical outcomes, and drug and disease knowledge and reduces the utilization of health services. This study aimed to investigate the nature and extent of counseling practices of community pharmacists in community pharmacies in Sulaimani region of Kurdistan, Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in community pharmacies in Sulaimani city, in a one-month duration from November to December 2020. The sample size was 100 community pharmacies, which were selected randomly. The data were stored and analyzed using Excel 2016 and expressed as frequencies and percentages. Results: According to the completed questionnaires, about 78.8% of pharmacists would do counseling spontaneously each time they dispense any drug. Only 61% of the pharmacists would ask the patients if they understood what was said during their communication to assess the understanding of advice given to their patients. The most common barrier observed during patient counseling was the patient's lack of time. Conclusion: This study indicates that community pharmacists counsel the patients in an appropriate way. They provide information orally and in written form. However, further research is needed to evaluate the quality of patient counseling by using different methods like pseudo-patient methodology to gain real counseling data. Keywords: Counselling; Community pharmacist; Community pharmacy; Counselling barriers.

Knowledge and Practice of Breast Cancer Screening Methods among Female Community Pharmacists in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives Our study is aimed at exploring the knowledge and personal practice of breast cancer screening among female community pharmacists in Jordan. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a nonrandom sample selection method for pharmacists in community pharmacies. Results A total of 551 female pharmacists completed the questionnaire. The mean age of pharmacists was 29.1 ± 7.3 years (range 21–67), and most have bachelor degrees in pharmacy (89.1%). The mean score of knowledge of breast cancer signs and symptoms was 4.2 ± 1.5 out of 6 points (range 0–6). The mean score of knowledge of risk factors was 7.6 ± 1.9 out of 12 points (ranging from 2–12). The mean score for knowledge of screening guidelines was 2.8 ± 0.9 out of 4 points (range 0–4). Overall, 452 pharmacists (85.8%) had acceptable knowledge while 75 pharmacists (14.2%) had poor knowledge of breast cancer. Pharmacists surveyed were aware of the different screening methods of breast cancer. The percentage of pharmacists who has performed breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography was 46.6%, 16.5%, and 5.4%, respectively. The most common reason for the lack of BSE and CBE performance was the absence of breast symptoms. Not being at the age recommended for mammography was the most common reason for not undergoing this screening method. Knowledge and practice of screening methods were influenced by age, years of experience, geographic region, personal history of breast cancer, and educational level among community pharmacists. Conclusions This study revealed some gaps in the knowledge of breast cancer among female community pharmacists. The practice of the different screening methods was suboptimal, and variable reasons were indicated for the low uptake of these screening methods. Community pharmacists need to practice preventive behaviors to a satisfactory level to encourage women in the community to adopt similar behavior.

Roles and reimbursement of pharmacists as South Africa transitions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): An online survey-based study.

BackgroundThe implementation of Universal Health Coverage in SA has sought to focus on promoting affordable health care services that are accessible to all citizens. In this regard, pharmacists are expected to play a pivotal function in the revitalization of primary health care (PHC) during this transition by the expansion of their practice roles.ObjectivesTo assess the readiness and perceptions of pharmacists to expand their roles in an integrated health care system. To determine the availability and pricing of primary health care services currently provided within a community pharmacy environment and to evaluate suitable reimbursement for the provision of such services by a community pharmacist.MethodsCommunity pharmacists’ across SA were invited to participate in an online survey-based study. The survey consisted of both open- and closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics for closed-ended questions were generated and analysed using Microsoft Excel® and Survey Monkey®. Responses for the open-ended questions were transcribed, analysed, and reported as emerging themes.ResultsSix hundred and sixty-four pharmacists’ responded to the online survey. Seventy-five percent of pharmacists’ reported that with appropriate training, a transition into a more patient-centered role might be beneficial in the re-engineering of the PHC system. However, in order to adopt these new roles, appropriate reimbursement structures are required. The current fee levied by pharmacists in community pharmacies that offered these PHC services was found to be lower to that recommended by the South African Pharmacy Council; this disparity is primarily due to a lack of information and policy standardisation. Therefore, in order to ensure that fees levied are fair, comprehensive service package guidelines are required.ConclusionsThis study provides baseline data for policy makers on pharmacists’ readiness to transition into expanded roles. Furthermore, it can be used as a foundation to establish appropriate reimbursement frameworks for pharmacists providing PHC services.

Pharmacists' Efforts in Community Pharmacy to Achieve Health Protocol Compliance During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Lamongan

Pharmacists also play a role in helping control infections Covid-19, so this study aims to determine the efforts of Pharmacists in Community Pharmacy to achieve compliance with health protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic in Lamongan. This research is a descriptive observational study using a cross-sectional study with a validated questionnaire. There were 52 Pharmacists who practice at the Apothecaries. The results showed that most of the pharmacists made efforts such as: providing hand washing facilities(78.8%),preparing personal protective equipment (75.0%) and procuring multivitamins, handsanitizers (71.1%). Other efforts that are quite important for pharmacists are reminding each other to comply with the Covid-19 protocol by always wearing a mask, washing hands regularly, checking body temperature, disinfection of rooms and tools that are prone to contact with other people. Based on this, it appears that the existence of pharmacists during this pandemic is quite large

The development, feasibility and acceptability of a coach-led intervention to ease novice community pharmacists' transition to practice.

Despite reported benefits of transition support programmes for other healthcare professionals, no evidence-based support interventions exist to ease newly-registered novice community pharmacists' (NCPs) transition into practice. To develop an intervention to provide psychosocial support, support the development of professional behaviours and skills of novice pharmacists in community pharmacy and conduct an evaluation. The Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance for developing complex interventions was applied to develop a 17-week, pharmacist coach-led intervention, using a social media group, a face-to-face introductory workshop, two webinars, weekly case studies, portfolios (reflective logs and development plans) and a handbook. Twelve newly-registered NCPs participated. A coach log and semi-structured interviews collected data on feasibility, acceptability and perceived impact. Findings suggest the intervention was feasible and highly acceptable to NCPs, who perceived the coach and social media group to be the most valuable components. The coach was described as non-judgemental, approachable and collaborative. Provision of guided one-to-one reflection was viewed as useful for debriefing, feedback and meaningful reflection, and supported development of reflection-in-action. The face-to-face workshop was considered important for establishing rapport and trust. The social media group was most valued for providing an accessible, confidential and responsive support network, in which NCPs felt psychologically safe to learn. This component was reported to present opportunities for developmental discourse and shared reflection with peers, thus reducing the sense of professional isolation. NCPs reported that the intervention led to increases in meaningful learning, confidence, critical reasoning, self-awareness and self-reflection. The webinars and handbook were identified as the least valuable components. A transition-support intervention using an experienced pharmacist coach, delivered within a safe, supportive, albeit online facilitated learning environment, appeared feasible and valuable in supporting guided reflection and developmental discourse. This facilitates transformative learning, and supports NCPs to gain proficiency and become independent reflective practitioners.

Pharmaceutical service in the community pharmacy in Romania – present and future trends

Objectives. Highlighting the role of pharmacists in Romanian community pharmacies, in order to build rational approaches, and to establish the legal framework for the implementation of the pharmaceutical services. Analysis of activities carried out in community pharmacies in Romania and evaluation of the potential of pharmacists to provide quality pharmaceutical services. Results. Most pharmacists in community pharmacies in Romania provide advice on medicines and other health services, without them being acknowledged or remunerated. The implementation and recognition of the pharmaceutical service is imperative and involves the establishment of unitary, quantifiable quality standards for each service, so as to benefit the patient, the medical staff and the health system. Conclusions. Maximizing the intervention of community pharmacists in optimizing public health, by implementing pharmaceutical services, could reduce health care costs, and relieve medical staff, making it easier to manage current or crisis situations.

Implementation and evaluation of an interprofessional physical assessment skills workshop for Wisconsin pharmacists

BackgroundPharmacists have a critical, expanding role in health care delivery. In particular, pharmacists in community pharmacy and ambulatory care settings are important and frequent access points for health care services. ObjectiveWe describe the interprofessional development and implementation of an interactive, broadly applicable physical assessment skills–based continuing pharmacy education program to provide an avenue for the attainment of this warranted set of skills for pharmacists who desire to provide advanced patient care services in their respective practices. MethodsPharmacists, in collaboration with family medicine and emergency medicine physicians, developed workshop content, design, and flow. The structure of the workshops consisted of didactic training, hands-on practical application, simulated practice, and case-based certification examinations. ResultsOn a postworkshop survey, all respondents answered “agree” or “strongly agree” when asked if the workshops were useful, advanced their skills, and advanced their confidence. It was also found that more than 50% of the participants used their physical assessment skills monthly and 11% daily. The most common assessment performed was obtaining an accurate manual blood pressure. ConclusionThe interprofessional development and implementation of workshops dedicated to physical assessment skills education is feasible and led to the incorporation of these skills into pharmacists’ practice, particularly in the community and ambulatory care settings.

COPD Management in Community Pharmacy Results in Improved Inhaler Use, Immunization Rate, COPD Action Plan Ownership, COPD Knowledge, and Reductions in Exacerbation Rates.

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot community pharmacy care model for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to improve: 1) inhaler technique; 2) medication adherence; and 3) uptake of non-pharmacological treatment and prevention activities.Patients and MethodsForty “host” pharmacies in Sydney were invited to recruit eligible patients and to provide a counselling room/area in their pharmacy for service provision. Eligible patients were referred to two “consultant” pharmacists, specifically trained to deliver a specialized pharmacy COPD service which involved 3 in-pharmacy visits and 2 follow-up phone calls over a 6-month period. The service consisted of 1) inhaler technique assessment; 2) medication adherence assessment; and 3) referrals to the patient’s general practitioner (GP) to facilitate the uptake of non-pharmacological resources as well as to review COPD medications/devices, as required. Pre-post analyses were conducted using paired Student’s t-test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for independent variables and chi-squared tests for proportional data.ResultsNine “host” pharmacies recruited 40 patients, of whom 37 completed the baseline Visit and 27 completed all Visits. A total of 270 interventions were provided by the “consultant” pharmacists with most provided at Visit 1 (176). The most common interventions were addressing patient gaps in COPD knowledge and inhaler technique. A total of 119 referrals were made to GPs for various reasons, the most common being for a COPD action plan, pulmonary rehabilitation, or pneumonia vaccination. There were significant improvements pre-post intervention in inhaler use competence, COPD knowledge, immunization rate for pneumonia, exacerbation rate and COPD plan ownership.ConclusionIn this pilot study, the specialized pharmacy-based COPD care model delivered by “consultant” pharmacists in community pharmacies provided significant health benefits for patients. Further research is needed to assess the model’s effectiveness in a larger population as well as when measured against standard care.