Pharmacy Assistants Research Articles

Management strategies and corticophobia among healthcare professionals involved in the care for atopic dermatitis: a Dutch survey.

Many healthcare professionals (HCPs) deliver care for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Although pivotal, management strategies and the relation with corticophobia among HCPs have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate management strategies for AD and its relation with corticophobia among HCPs. Dutch general practitioners (GPs), youth healthcare physicians (YHPs), pediatricians, dermatologists, pharmacists, and pharmacy assistants participated in a survey on management strategies and corticophobia. The Topical Corticosteroid Phobia questionnaire for professionals (TOPICOP-P) was used to measure attitudes toward topical corticosteroids (TCS). Higher scores reflect a more negative attitude. A total of 407 HCPs (124 GPs, 33 YHPs, 51 pediatricians, 56 dermatologists, 58 pharmacists, and 85 pharmacy assistants) participated. Compared to dermatologists other HCPs were more reluctant with TCS as illustrated by the portion (50%) of GPs that reported to prescribe TCS of only mild potency for infants with severe AD, compared to dermatologists (9%). Dermatologists had lowest TOPICOP-P scores (median: 19, IQR:12-28). GPs and pharmacy assistants had highest scores (GPs median: 36, IQR:31-44, pharmacy assistants: median: 36, IQR:31-42). More corticophobia was significantly associated with prescription of a lower TC potency class (B -0.04, 95%CI: -0.07-0.01, P=0.01), and a trend was found between more corticophobia and longer perceived durability of one TCS tube. This study shows the differences in management of AD and reluctance towards TCS in HCPs. Furthermore, corticophobia among HCPs and its effect on management of AD was confirmed. To reduce corticophobia and improve care for AD, more education is needed.

Mise en place d’une antenne pharmaceutique de blocs opératoires dans un centre hospitalier universitaire

An operating room pharmaceutical unit centralizes medical devices and drugs for various surgical specialities. The aim of this work is to present the methodology used in our establishment to set up the operating room pharmaceutical unit. This approach involved the formation of multi-professional working groups. The needs of operating theatres were defined based on an analysis of healthcare product consumption and stock inventories. Material sheets were defined for each procedure. On the basis of simulations, material supply arrangements were selected, specifying material flows, equipment, workstations and information systems. Over 3200 healthcare product references were identified and 862 equipment files were created. Local stocks have been limited to medical trolleys for nursing staff. Emergency operating packs have been deployed for unforeseen operations. Cabinets have been dedicated to transporting re-sterilizable medical devices, and carts have been purchased for programmed operating packs. The equipment is made available by logistics agents and pharmacy assistants under pharmaceutical responsibility. This innovative approach is a model for facilities desiring to centralize and secure the logistics of healthcare products in the operating room. Ongoing adjustments will be required to meet new operating rooms needs.

KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS OF GENERIC MEDICATIONS AMONG FINAL YEAR DIPLOMA IN PHARMACY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

Introduction: The Diploma in Pharmacy programme in Malaysia equips students with the essential skills and knowledge to become proficient pharmacy assistants. Exploring their understanding of the knowledge and perceptions of generic medications is crucial for ensuring their readiness to contribute efficiently to healthcare settings. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using convenient sampling. This survey is designed to assess students' knowledge and perceptions of generic medications. Data was collected via Google Forms from final-year students undergoing hospital training in 13 hospitals across Malaysia. Results: The majority of participants demonstrated adequate knowledge about generic medications, scoring a mean of 3.62 (±0.537) on a 5-point Likert scale. Seventy percent of the students acknowledged the efficacy of generic medications as comparable to brand-name drugs. Moreover, students expressed confidence in distinguishing between brand-name and generic medicines, with 65.5% indicating perceived knowledge. Overall, students held positive perceptions regarding generic medications, scoring an average of 3.56 (±0.516) on the Likert scale. Conclusion: Final year Diploma in Pharmacy students in Malaysia exhibit satisfactory knowledge and positive perceptions of generic medications. This suggests that the curriculum effectively prepares students to understand and appreciate the existence of generic medication in healthcare settings. However, continuous education and reinforcement of the importance of generic medications could further help in enhancing students’ understanding and utilization of generic medications in the future.

Characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacy personnel in supporting tuberculosis treatment: A multicenter cross-sectional study in a high-burden tuberculosis country

BackgroundPositive roles of community pharmacy in tuberculosis (TB) care have been widely reported. However, the actual practice of supporting TB treatment is not optimal yet. ObjectivesWe analyzed the current practice of community pharmacy personnel and its factors in supporting the successful treatment of TB patients in Indonesia, aiming to develop strategies for effective and sustainable TB practice models for the community pharmacy. MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional survey in 3 areas representing Indonesia's eastern, central, and western parts. Development and validation of the questionnaire were conducted to assess 4 domains, that is, characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practice of community pharmacy personnel in supporting the successful treatment of TB patients. Data were collected with purposive convenience sampling using online and offline questionnaires. Descriptive analyses were used to summarize factors in each domain, while binary logistic regression was used to analyze the associated factors of the practice. ResultsThirty-five questionnaire items indicated a valid instrument, and the study successfully included 844 participants who comprised pharmacists (n = 473, 56%) and pharmacy assistants (n = 371, 44%). Although most of the knowledge items were correctly answered by more than 60% of the participants, items related to TB signs, risk groups, drug regimens, and medicine uses were still less than 60%. This was in line with exposure to updated TB training in only 51% of the participants (n = 426). Most of the participants had a positive attitude toward their professional role (n = 736, 87%), capability (n = 646, 77%), and consequences (n = 655, 78%) in supporting TB treatment. However, this was not aligned with the actual practice of supporting TB treatment, intensively performed by only 1.3% of participants (n = 11). We identified several factors associated with the practice, that is, a pharmacy assistant background (P < 0.05), short working time (P < 0.05), experience in TB training (P < 0.001), and a positive attitude (P < 0.001). ConclusionThis study highlighted a limited number of community pharmacy personnel intensively practicing as TB treatment supporters in Indonesia. An interventional package considering the identified factors is needed to develop effective and sustainable practices in the real world.

Performance And Evaluation of Diagnosis Training Need for Pharmacy Assistants

Training is undoubtedly one of the most important current issues when it comes to competitiveness, innovation, and continuous improvement of a company. This process involves the detection of needs, planning, implementation, evaluation, feedback, and monitoring of results. The fundamental axis of this process is the Diagnosis of Training Needs (DNC), since it indicates precisely the aspects on which the trainer must work. After a national and international review and the results obtained in the supervision carried out in the municipality, it was possible to detect the existence of training needs for pharmacy assistants. To realize a diagnosis of the training needs of the pharmacy assistants of the Santa Clara Municipality. To prepare the Diagnosis of Training Needs, the Comparative Method was used. This method is based on the differences between what is and what should be, by comparison, makes it possible to verify the requirements that need to be covered. The interview and the survey were used as techniques. Finally, after analyzing all the data obtained from the matrices and open questions, the final diagnosis of training needs was prepared and delivered to the Pharmacy and Optics Company. These results showed that this company needs to immediately implement training activities for its pharmacy assistants in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Academic Recognition of Pharmacy Assistants in Spain: from the professional diploma to the official degree (1939-2015)

Academic Recognition of Pharmacy Assistants in Spain: from the professional diploma to the official degree (1939-2015)

Impact of Just-in-Time TeamSTEPPS Training on Team Performance in a Pediatric Escape Room Interprofessional Experience

ObjectiveTo compare differences in observed and self-reported team dynamics between those who received versus those who did not receive TeamSTEPPS training prior to an interprofessional escape room scenario. MethodsFinal-year pharmacy (N = 27) and physician assistant (N = 88) students participated in an escape room featuring pediatric dosing, asthma, otitis media, type 1 diabetes, and vaccine fundamentals. In total, 29 teams were randomized to control (14) or intervention arm (15). The control group went to the escape room and then returned to the classroom for a team-building module including TeamSTEPPS training. The intervention group started with the team-building module then went to the escape room. One faculty observer was assigned to each team and utilized the Performance Assessment Communication and Teamwork (PACT) expert-observer form to assess team performance. Post-event, students completed an abbreviated PACT post-assessment and a self-reflection on the prompt “What were the most important takeaways from today's interprofessional education experience?” ResultsOn the PACT expert-observer form, significantly higher global scores were noted for the intervention arm on all items except situation monitoring. On the aggregate observer data from all stations, leadership emerged as statistically different between the 2 groups. On the PACT post-assessment, the intervention arm reported significantly more leadership during the simulation. On the self-reflections, 70.9% versus 64% in the control arm recognized the importance of teamwork in managing patients. ConclusionsJust-in-time TeamSTEPPS training improved observed and to a lesser extent, self-reported teamwork and communication skills. Incorporating TeamSTEPPS training immediately prior to an interprofessional education experience may enhance team performance.

A qualitative study of pharmacists' perceptions and awareness of homoeopathic medicines in Durban, South Africa.

There is growing interest in the demand for and use of homoeopathic medicines by the public; however, little is known about the perspectives of pharmacists regarding the use of these medicines, particularly in the South African private health context. A qualitative approach using an exploratory cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 15 participants comprising pharmacy managers, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants from six different conveniently selected private pharmacy retail outlets. Data were collected using individual interviews utilising a semi-structured interview guide. An audiotape was used to record the data which were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically, following Tech's steps of data analysis. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Durban University of Technology's Institutional Research Ethics Committee. The findings of this study revealed four superordinate themes related to pharmacists' perceptions and self-reported awareness regarding homoeopathic medicines. These are (1) negative perceptions regarding homoeopathic medicines, (2) perceived benefits of homoeopathic medicines, (3) poor knowledge and awareness of homoeopathic medicines and (4) capacity development and curriculum aspects. The findings highlight the need for an educational intervention on homoeopathic medicines targeting pre-service and in-service pharmacy practitioners, to enable them to provide effective education regarding all types of medicines as the demand for homoeopathic medicines increases.Contribution:The study findings provide evidence to support advocacy for an educational intervention to improve awareness and knowledge of pharmacists to enable provision of effective health education for patients. More research, however, is required to inform the contents of this training intervention for pharmacists.

The workload and satisfaction of pharmacists and pharmacy assistants after installation of an automated tablet dispensing and packaging system in a tertiary university hospital in Malaysia.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of pharmacy automation on the workload and satisfaction of pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in an inpatient setting. This was an observational, cross-sectional survey using a convenience sampling method conducted at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) In-Patient Pharmacy. A validated online questionnaire assessed user satisfaction and task duration. A total of 21 pharmacists and 18 pharmacy assistants participated in the survey. Most pharmacists (n = 17/21) were confident in the system, and both pharmacists and pharmacy assistants perceived it to be beneficial for patients (n = 33/39) and for reducing medication errors (n = 32/39). Pharmacy assistants spent approximately 5.34 hours on traditional work including filling medication orders (1.44 hours) after automated tablet dispensing and packaging system (ATDPS) implementation. Pharmacists spent 1.19 hours filling medication orders and 1.71 hours checking/verifying them, in contrast. Pharmacists focused mainly on clinical duties with healthcare colleagues, while pharmacy assistants handled various medication orders. Nevertheless, ATDPS reduced pharmacy staff workload in medication handling, achieving user satisfaction.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Sales in Pharmacies in Medellín, Colombia 2023.

Describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the sale of antibiotics in pharmacies in Medellín, Colombia. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 277 selected pharmacies using a stratified sampling method with proportional allocation to represent all areas of the city. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) were assessed using a scale, analyzed with absolute and relative frequencies for each item, and represented in a global score ranging from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better KAPs. Data were analyzed using relative frequencies with 95% confidence intervals, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and linear regression. Of the included pharmacies, 52.6% were chain pharmacies, 48.4% were attended by pharmacy assistants, and 59% of pharmacists had more than 5 years of experience. The median knowledge score was 70.8 (IQR 58.3-87.5), with 35.3% of pharmacists believing that antibiotics are effective in treating the common cold, 35.2% for treating COVID-19, and 29.4% considering them available for sale without a medical prescription. The attitude score was 53.3 (40.0-66.7), with 60.9% agreeing that prohibiting the sale of antibiotics without a prescription would decrease their sales. The practice score was 62.5 (40.0-79.2), with 65.4% of pharmacists stating that they sometimes sell antibiotics without a prescription due to patients struggling to obtain a medical consultation, 61.3% admitting to selling antibiotics without a prescription for urinary tract infections, and 41.3% for upper respiratory tract infections. Practices were predominantly influenced by pharmacy type (chain or independent) and, to a lesser extent, by knowledge and attitudes. Pharmacists in Medellín exhibit inadequate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the use and sale of antibiotics without a medical prescription. These findings align with international evidence highlighting the need for educational and regulatory strategies promoting rational antibiotic use in pharmacies.

How can we help you? A qualitative study of the provision of care to culturally and linguistically diverse clients in community pharmacy.

Clients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds experience challenges in receiving care from community pharmacies, resulting in poorer health outcomes compared with the majority population. The aim of this study was to explore migrants' and pharmacy staff's understanding of the facilitators for the delivery of care to CALD clients. Focus groups were conducted with predominantly older, female Nepali-speaking migrants. Individual interviews were undertaken with pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. Verbatim and translated transcripts were inductively coded to establish themes. Three major themes emerged: getting the message across, building trust, and improving understanding. Key findings included the need to increase the use of professional interpreters, and empathy and patience from pharmacy staff. Modifications to communication using re-phrasing and more detail about the community pharmacy system in post-arrival orientation for migrants are required. Multilingual staff is an effective way to overcome the language barrier, but its use is limited by staff resources. Pharmacy staff should be required to use the services of professional telephone interpreters to surmount language barriers. Modification of communication techniques and having an empathetic attitude improve communication and care provision. Pharmacists should liaise with migrant support services to provide orientation for new arrivals.

Development of medication reconciliation through the integration of hospital pharmacy assistants at the Saint-Omer Regional Hospital

Development of medication reconciliation through the integration of hospital pharmacy assistants at the Saint-Omer Regional Hospital

Preliminary Study on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Selling Over-the-Counter Oral Medicines by Pharmacy Workers in Colombo District

Over-the-counter is also known as non-prescription medicine. Although, OTC can be bought without a prescription, self-medication and overusing the medications can cause many side effects. Hence, responsible selling of drugs with recommendations on proper and safe use is a key role of pharmacists and other pharmacy workers. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of selling orally administered OTC medicines by pharmacy workers in the Colombo district. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among pharmacy workers in the Colombo district, including pharmacists and non-pharmacists using a structured questionnaire. The ethical clearance was obtained from Ethics Review Committee, CINEC Campus. Out of 100 participants, 45 were males and 55 were females. As a percentage, 15% were pharmacists, 37% were assistant pharmacists and 48% were supporting workers in the pharmacy. Although Paracetamol is an OTC drug that is commonly sold in pharmacies, only 42% of the participants know the maximum adult daily dose as four g/day. The remaining 58% were not aware of the correct daily adult dose for Paracetamol and among those 13.79% were pharmacists. Further, 86% of the participants were aware that generally antacids should be taken 30 minutes before the meal to get effective action and 14% were unaware. Out of this, 14.28%, 35.71% and 50% are pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and other support staff respectively. Although antibiotics are not OTC medicine, 17% disagreed with the statement that “Antibiotics should not dispense for the common cold on patient demands”. Among the participants, 47% believe pharmacists are only responsible for dispensing and counselling patients on the drug prescribed by physicians. Although 44 % of participants never issued non-OTC medicine without a prescription, 48% have issued prescription-only drugs without a prescription occasionally, while 8% have issued non-OTC medicine without a prescription. According to the results, some workers were still unaware of the correct information regarding the OTC. It is concluded that some of the healthcare workers at pharmacies require further knowledge of OTC oral medicines.

Beyond the PharmD

Few pharmacy programs in the United States confer students a pharmacy and physician assistant (PharmD-PA) dual degree after graduation. The objective of this study is to determine students’ perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree as an alternative method for career advancement. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a 3-year pharmacy program in a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Students were asked about their familiarity with the PharmD-PA dual degree and its associated benefits and limitations. Students’ perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree on their career outlook, quality of life, salary, and its ramifications on the healthcare sector were assessed. Descriptive and chi-square analysis were conducted. Seventy-two students completed the survey from all 3 years of pharmacy school, and only 35 students (48.6%) were familiar with the PharmD-PA dual degree program. Students noted the benefits of pursuing the PharmD-PA dual degree to be acquiring prescriptive authority (44.4%), improved clinical knowledge (29.2%), and better career opportunities (18.0%). The main limitations included the additional time in school (40.3%), financial barriers of the program (26.4%), and increased school workload (16.7%). Most students believed that the PharmD-PA dual degree had positive effects on their job prospects, salary, career satisfaction, and allowed for overall improvements in patient care. Overall, pharmacy students had positive perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree program. Schools of Pharmacy should look into the development of PharmD-PA dual degree programs as a unique marketing opportunity for admissions and as a nontraditional method of career advancement.

‘[Now] that I look back, I’m like oh my goodness why did I think like that?’: using critical reflection in training Pharmacy Assistants and Pharmacy Dispensary Technicians working with Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence: a case study from Australia

ABSTRACT Despite recognition of the importance of critical reflection for professional development in social and health care – particularly regarding professional competency and self-awareness – the use of reflective practice in professional training has received less examination. This paper evaluates the use of critical reflection as a pedagogical approach in training allied health professionals – in this instance, training Pharmacy Assistants (PAs) and Pharmacy Dispensary Technicians (PDTs) towards increasing critical reflection of their service delivery to Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) consumers. Specifically, this paper examines a) the embedding of a critical reflection model within training materials; and b) the experiences of participants who undertook this training, including their experiences of applying their learnings to professional practice. Findings present a mixed picture. Despite the training unearthing and deconstructing problematic values and assumptions in the service delivery of MATOD treatments in pharmacy settings, some participants found the recognition of their own biases and prejudices overwhelming. Hence, although the critical reflection model used in the analysis has enormous potential to tackle stigma and discriminatory attitudes towards opioid dependence and MATOD and improve professional practice, greater attention to scaffolding, designing and implementing the process of critical reflection is needed.

Barriers and facilitators for providing self-care advice in community pharmacies: a qualitative study

BackgroundCommunity pharmacies are easily accessible for self-care advice. Guidelines for providing self-care advice were introduced in several countries, including the Netherlands in the 1990s. Previous studies have indicated room for improvement in self-care advice in daily pharmacy practice.AimTo identify barriers and facilitators for providing self-care advice.MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or online with pharmacists and pharmacy assistants using a topic guide based on the Theoretical Domains Framework. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were deductively analysed to identify barriers and facilitators for self-care counselling. COREQ guidelines were followed.ResultsIn total, 13 pharmacists and 12 pharmacy assistants were interviewed to reach data saturation. In general, most themes addressed by pharmacists and pharmacy assistants belonged to similar domains. The following domains were frequently mentioned: environmental context and resources (e.g. priority for prescription drugs, privacy, collaboration with general practitioners, access to patients’ records), intentions (providing reliable advice), skills (communication, decision-making), knowledge (ready guideline knowledge), beliefs about consequences (patient safety), social influences (patient awareness of pharmacist role), reinforcement (lack of reimbursement for relatively time-consuming advice).ConclusionThis study identifies barriers and facilitators for evidence-based self-care advice. Pharmacists should first support pharmacy assistants by helping them keep their knowledge and skills up to date and creating suitable pharmacy preconditions to facilitate improvements in self-care counselling. Second, collaboration with general practitioners regarding minor ailments should be improved.

Experiences and learnings of pharmacists, students, and clinical assistants working collaboratively in a COVID-19 vaccination clinic: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe involvement of pharmacists and pharmacy clinical assistants (CAs) in hospital clinics has demonstrated benefits for improving medication safety and care delivery. Internationally, pharmacy staff played a crucial role in the safe storage, provision and administration of vaccines, as well as reinforcement of pharmacovigilance efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Australia, healthcare providers collaborated to rapidly facilitate a phased COVID-19 vaccination program. The perspectives of the pharmacy team, including pharmacy students, involved in implementing novel health services are underexplored in the literature. ObjectiveTo describe the key learnings in how a team of pharmacists, CAs and pharmacy students contributed to the COVID-19 vaccine service, and to explore their preparedness and experiences working at a vaccination clinic within a quaternary hospital. MethodThis study involved semi-structured interviews with pharmacy students, CAs and pharmacists. All pharmacy staff who worked in the clinic were invited to participate in the study and a snowball strategy was used to maximise recruitment. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic techniques to identify major themes. ResultsA total of 11 participants were interviewed including: four pharmacists, four CAs and three undergraduate students. Using thematic analysis, five main themes were identified: (1) Potential for student value and experiential learning; (2) Adaptive procedures and work practices in a rapidly changing environment; (3) Clear leadership, with role clarity, role expansion and interchangeability; (4) Supportive learning environment and (5) Stakeholder drivers for service delivery and to optimise societal benefit. These five themes often interacted with each other, highlighting the complexities of implementing and operating the service. ConclusionsThe vaccine clinic service provided a novel and valuable opportunity for students, CAs, and pharmacists to work collaboratively, extending their scope of practice to contribute to better national health outcomes. Participants expressed their support for future initiatives involving pharmacy students and healthcare staff collaborating in hospital settings.

Creating opportunities for telehealth education, assessment, and care through Hotspotting (CO-TEACH): An interprofessional telehealth delivery curriculum and guide

Telehealth offers a healthcare solution when functional, social, or geographic barriers arise; however, many clinical education curricula are ill-equipped to prepare learners for effective, multidisciplinary telehealth consultations. The COVID-19 pandemic drastically expanded reliance on telehealth in clinical practice and highlighted the urgent need to educate students across health professions in telehealth delivery. To address this educational gap, student and faculty collaborators from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill utilized a developmental evaluation approach to rapidly design and pilot a compact, five-session, virtual curriculum to train students from a broad range of health professions in telehealth delivery. Through focused readings, large group didactics, and small group discussion, the curriculum provided a general overview of telehealth, addressed specific issues in health equity and access in virtual care both locally and nationally, introduced skills for conducting telehealth visits, and employed a patient simulation for students to practice their newly learned skills. The curriculum was delivered virtually over eight weeks to 36 students from ten health professions programs (occupational therapy, social work, pharmacy, audiology, speech-language pathology, dentistry, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and physician assistants) across two universities. End-of-course feedback surveys identified that students most valued the opportunity to work with learners from different professions, practical instruction for telehealth, and a standardized patient experience. On post-course surveys students reported high self-efficacy in their telehealth competencies and indicated very positive attitudes toward interprofessional education. Overall, the compact nature of this curriculum facilitates adaptability to other student-led groups.

Dental Bite-Sized Bits: A Module for Teaching Common Oral Health Conditions to Multidisciplinary Students.

The Surgeon General's report in the year 2000 highlighted the association between chronic diseases and oral health infections. Current healthcare education programs, regrettably, report only 1 to 3h of oral health instruction within curricula. In the years 2020-2022, as part of their respective oral health curricula, 278 first-year physician assistant and 12 pre-clinical second-year pharmacy students were invited to participate in a voluntary survey examining the effectiveness of animated succinct, online video-based oral health units. Among all student responses for the post-use survey, respondents "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that learning objectives of the unit(s) were achieved after reviewing the videos. Of the participants, 97% "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that the videos helped them understand information of which they had no prior knowledge. Similarly, 98% "strongly agreed" or "agreed" the information was appropriate for their level of knowledge. Most students, 93%, "strongly agreed" or "agreed" the exercise was a valuable learning experience. Regarding the importance of future interprofessional collaboration pertaining to a mutual patient's oral health, 95% of participants "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that they would be likely to collaborate. This study demonstrates the importance of oral health as a critical area of focus in healthcare education. The study also confirms the hypothesis that Dental Bite-Sized Bits units deliver engaging, valuable oral health education for preclinical healthcare learners, incorporating interprofessional perspectives from the disciplines of dental, pharmacy, and physician assistant.

Exploring pharmacists' perspectives on preparing discharge medicine lists: A qualitative study

BackgroundHospital pharmacists play an important role in the discharge process, including conducting medicine reconciliation, counselling patients or carers, and generating discharge medicine lists. These contribute to medicine handover at transition of care from hospital discharge. However, pharmacists face numerous barriers to providing comprehensive discharge services. AimTo gain a deeper understanding of the hospital pharmacists discharge processes. MethodQualitative study design was used to explore pharmacists' experiences and opinions regarding (1) the use of technology and software to prepare patient discharges, (2) involvement of pharmacy assistants in discharge processes, and (3) challenges and facilitators in preparing patient discharges. An independent researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 pharmacists between 29 October and 22 December 2021 (mean interview 21 min). Interview transcriptions were analysed using thematic analysis. ResultsInterviews revealed four overarching themes: patient safety, staff involved in discharge processes, discharge handover procedures and electronic health software. Barriers to completing discharges included staff workloads, poor medical record software integration and lack of advanced discharge notice. Good communication between pharmacists and other clinicians, including the presence of a discharge nurse on the inpatient unit, made discharges more efficient, and most pharmacists favoured utilisation of pharmacy assistants in preparing discharge medicine lists. ConclusionPoor integration between medical software systems negatively impacts pharmacists' ability to complete discharge medicine lists. Pharmacists require advance notice of upcoming discharges to effectively prioritise high workloads, while increased utilisation of trained pharmacy assistants may facilitate discharge workflows.