Role Of Pharmacy Research Articles

Scoping the requirements for a genomic competency framework to inform the integration of genomics into pharmacy undergraduate curricula

Abstract Introduction The application of genomics is due to have a significant impact on the role of pharmacy within future healthcare systems. Since 2021, the updated GPhC education standards have included a requirement to apply the principles of genomics,1 but a lack of consistency across UK pharmacy programmes has led to inequity of genomics literacy for pharmacy students.1 National UK genomic workforce strategies include a pharmacy undergraduate indicative syllabus focussing on upskilling the NHS workforce in readiness for the wider implementation of genomics.2,3 There is a lack of UK research exploring the undergraduate genomic education requirements of pharmacy professionals. Aim Scope the requirements of a genomic competency framework for undergraduate pharmacy curricula. Methods Ethics approval was obtained from Swansea University ethics committee in July 2023. Fifteen multi-professional stakeholders from across the UK, perceived as genomic experts and/or pharmacy educationalists from each devolved nation, were selected using purposive sampling and all were invited to participate within a virtual semi-structured interview (SSI) and a consecutive focus group. SSIs and the focus group were facilitated and recorded using Microsoft® Teams and pre-designed open question topic frameworks were used. All data was anonymously transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Twelve participants consented and SSIs were held between September/October 2023. Five participants attended the consecutive focus group in December 2023. Five SSI themes were identified: Competency development - where the need for pharmacists to have comprehensive knowledge of the aspects and factors affecting the use of genomic testing within clinical practice (e.g. research and consent) was identified, whilst others described the need for pharmacists to focus on pharmacogenomics only; Curriculum approach – where there were variations in the depth of general genomic training and appropriate topics needed by pharmacists and the requirement for genomics to be scattered throughout undergraduate programmes; Future practice roles - the current postgraduate pharmacogenomic module could be used to establish the future undergraduate requirements and the need for pharmacy curricula to focus on the application of genomics to medicines rather than as a diagnostic tool; Genomic topics - participants acknowledged the complex nature of determining the genomic undergraduate curricula requirements without routine mainstream use of genomics within clinical practice but suggested pharmacy genomic competencies needing further refinement; Level of knowledge - participants highlighted the need for overall genomic pharmacy knowledge but a deeper level of pharmacogenomic knowledge and recommended that the competency framework should be relevant and achievable across healthcare sectors. Discussion and conclusion Genomic competencies should be established for pharmacy professionals as appropriate to their job roles. Once genomics is widely implemented, clarity around genomic competence requirements will develop, following workforce upskilling. The varied backgrounds of study participants impacted their opinions which were potentially influenced by their knowledge of the pharmacist role across sectors and their lack of familiarity with current pharmacy training. Study limitations are small participant numbers and low data generalisability. A genomic competency framework is needed to standardise pharmacy training and study findings will be used to develop a UK consensus for UK genomic undergraduate pharmacy training.

How do people use community pharmacies to manage sleep problems? A cross-sectional survey of pharmacy customers in England, UK

Abstract Introduction Insomnia and sleep problems have become increasingly common in the UK population, with research indicating a rise in the prevalence of sleep issues and the use of hypnotic medications1. Poor sleep can severely affect overall health and has been linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions2. Community pharmacies are ideally positioned to advise people about sleep, but there is limited information about how people currently utilise them for sleep problems. Aim To understand how people use community pharmacies to manage problems with sleep Methods A researcher-administered questionnaire with customers at 16 community pharmacies in the East Midlands from the 6th to 25th of March 2023. People aged 18 and older were approached to take part. Survey questions included demographic information, general pharmacy use, and specific questions related to health-seeking advice for sleep problems. Responses were recorded using the Qualtrics survey platform and descriptive statistics derived using MS Excel. Ethical approval was given by the School of Pharmacy Research Ethics Committee at the University of Nottingham (2017-017er). Results 13,127 customers were approached to take part, and 4,985 consented and completed the questionnaire (response rate = 38.0%). Two thirds of participants were female (66.3%), half were above the age of 50 years (51.1%), and the majority identified as white ethnicity (79.8%). Just under one-third of participants reported purchasing a medicine, herbal remedy, or other product to help with sleep in the past (28.2%), of which 81.8% had purchased from a community pharmacy. The most common medicines purchased were anti-histamines (43.7%), followed by herbal remedies (34.1%). Only 19.1% of participants had previously sought advice for a sleep problem, of which 64.9% had sought advice from a GP/other healthcare professional, and 29.2% had sought advice from a community pharmacy. The most common advice received from a community pharmacy was to use a medicine (32.2%), with the second most common being sleep hygiene/lifestyle advice (22.8%). The most common advice received from a GP was also to use a medicine (36.4%). Discussion / Conclusion A significant proportion of survey participants reported purchasing a medicine, herbal remedy, or other product to help with sleep from a community pharmacy, highlighting the significant role of pharmacies in managing sleep issues. However, considerably fewer customers had sought advice for their sleep problem, identifying a potential gap in care. Current national guidelines do not recommend medication as first-line treatment for insomnia, emphasising sleep hygiene and behavioural therapy, with no role for sedative anti-histamines3. Despite this, our survey indicated the most common advice focused on medicines. This suggests an opportunity for enhancing the education of healthcare professionals and improving public awareness of managing sleep problems. Whilst this survey involved a large number of participants, we recognise it may not be fully representative of the wider UK population or practice. Further analysis of this survey and interviews with customers and pharmacists would help understand how the role of community pharmacies in managing sleep could be further developed to improve care.

Embracing the Changing Season: Quantifying Pharmacy's Role in Improving Medication Quality and Safety.

As a profession, pharmacy is experiencing its own changing season. The health care industry's capacity for addressing pharmacy's role in medication quality and safety is becoming more favorable. State pharmacy associations continue to expand pharmacists' scope of practice, and ASCP and other national pharmacy associations are united in their push for the passage of the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act (H.R. 1770/S. 2477) legislation. These forward-looking policy priorities are creating a climate that is ripe for change in pharmacy. Further, the need for team-based approaches to address the soaring costs and increasing complexity of medication therapies could not be more apparent. Undoubtedly, pharmacists and pharmacy team members are essential in improving medication quality and safety, especially in the older population, but accurately and consistently quantifying the impact of pharmacists remains complex and challenging.

The Role of Online Pharmacies and Telehealth in Medication Abortion Access Post–Dobbs v Jackson Decision

The Role of Online Pharmacies and Telehealth in Medication Abortion Access Post–Dobbs v Jackson Decision

Online Medication Abortion Direct-to-Patient Fulfillment Before and After the Dobbs v Jackson Decision

Online pharmacies have emerged as stakeholders in abortion care since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed in-person dispensing requirements in 2020. The role of online pharmacies in dispensing abortion medications following the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization decision on June 24, 2022, is understudied. To describe medication abortion prescription fulfillment patterns for 1 online pharmacy 1 year before and after the Dobbs v Jackson decision, considering patient, prescriber, and state policy characteristics. This cross-sectional study assesses deidentified medication abortion prescription fulfilment data from 1 online pharmacy. Prescribers sent prescription requests to the online pharmacy, which dispensed abortion medications to patients by mail. The study sample included prescription requests fulfilled by the online pharmacy between June 20, 2021, and June 24, 2023, for patients aged at least 18 years who received the combined medication abortion regimen. Data were analyzed from July 2023 to July 2024. The US Supreme Court Dobbs v Jackson decision on June 24, 2022. Patient and prescriber characteristics are described, including patient age, state to which the prescription was sent, medications prescribed, and prescribing prescriber's clinic care modality (in-person only, hybrid [in-person and virtual], and virtual only). States were grouped according to the Guttmacher Institute classification of policy support for abortion (most or very supportive, somewhat supportive, and somewhat restrictive). Fulfillment trends were disaggregated by prescriber modality and state policy environment; 2 states with similar telehealth but differing coverage policies (Illinois and Colorado) were compared. The dataset included 87 942 observations. Most prescriptions were sent to individuals younger than 30 years (57.1%), with a mean (SD) age of 28.7 (6.4) years. Throughout the study period, the greatest volume of prescription requests came from states with most or very supportive policies and from prescribers at virtual-only platforms. More prescriptions were sent in the year after Dobbs v Jackson (daily mean [SD], 88.5 [47.2] prescriptions in March 2022 vs 201.5 [97.5] prescriptions in March 2023) with fulfillment spikes following the Dobbs v Jackson leak on May 2, 2022, and decision on June 24, 2022. State policy contexts mirrored the overall trends, while prescriber modality trends were unique, with a big spike in fulfillment at 12 weeks after the Dobbs v Jackson decision for hybrid clinics compared with in-person-only clinics and telehealth-only platforms, which saw their largest spikes in mean daily prescription fulfillment the week immediately after Dobbs v Jackson. Illinois and Colorado had similar fulfillment trends, with spikes immediately following the Dobbs v Jackson decision and overall higher fulfillment after Dobbs v Jackson, with a daily mean (SD) of 10.5 (7.0) prescriptions in Illinois and 8.8 (5.7) prescriptions in Colorado in March 2022 versus 26.6 (13.6) prescriptions in Illinois and 16.7 (10.1) prescriptions in Colorado in March 2023. These findings illustrate the increasingly critical role online pharmacies play in direct-to-patient abortion care provision in the US and the strong linkages between virtual-only prescribers and online pharmacies. These findings suggest that barriers to accessing online pharmacies for abortion care should be removed.

Designing state-level policies to support independent pharmacies in providing specialty care services in rural regions

This review paper explores the critical role of independent pharmacies in rural regions, emphasizing their potential to deliver specialty care services despite facing significant challenges. These challenges include financial constraints, regulatory barriers, and limited specialized training and resource access. The paper argues that comprehensive state-level policies are necessary to support these pharmacies, enabling them to overcome these obstacles and enhance healthcare access in rural areas. Key policy recommendations include providing financial incentives such as grants and subsidies, regulatory reforms to streamline licensing processes and expand the scope of practice for pharmacists, and promoting partnerships between pharmacies, healthcare providers, and telehealth services. The paper also highlights the importance of integrating independent pharmacies into state health programs and adopting advanced technologies like telepharmacy and electronic health records. Future research directions are suggested, focusing on the impact of digital health technologies and evolving healthcare payment models on independent pharmacies in rural regions. The paper concludes by underscoring the need for targeted policy interventions to strengthen the role of independent pharmacies in rural healthcare, thereby improving health outcomes and quality of life for rural populations.

Reducing the water quenching processes using heavy water in capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection

Water, ubiquitous in analytical methods, is renowned for its fluorescence quenching properties, influencing techniques like fluorescence spectrophotometry or techniques with fluorescence detection. This study explores the impact of water (H₂O) substitution for heavy water (D₂O) on the fluorescence behavior of anthraquinones and anthracyclines. Anthraquinones and anthracyclines play crucial roles in pharmacy, serving as essential components in various therapeutic formulations, particularly in cancer treatment and other pharmacological interventions. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with heavy water as the background electrolyte (BGE) solvent offers superior sensitivity to the separation and detection of these analytes. Experimental results demonstrate the improved detection limits and separation efficiency of selected anthraquinones rhein (RH), aloe-emodin (AE), and anthracyclines doxorubicin (DOX), epirubicin (EPI) and daunorubicine (DAU) in heavy water-based buffers, highlighting the potential of heavy water in advancing analytical chemistry.

The Strategic Roles of Satellite Pharmacies in Hospital Settings

The Strategic Roles of Satellite Pharmacies in Hospital Settings

Antibiotic prescribing for acute uncomplicated cystitis among community pharmacists in Thailand.

This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of community pharmacists toward acute uncomplicated cystitis regarding diagnosis, referral, and conformity to guidelines of the chosen antibiotic and to identify the associated factors with the pharmacist's knowledge. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire. Data was collected from 349 community pharmacies in upper southern Thailand between December 2021 and February 2022. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with an inappropriate diagnosis of acute uncomplicated cystitis. The variables with P-value < 0.2 were included in the multivariate model. The statistically significant level was set as P-value < 0.05. Three hundred and forty-nine pharmacists from 349 community pharmacies were included. Approximately 65% and 69% of the participants had the knowledge to identify which patients should be considered for cystitis and which patients should be considered for acute uncomplicated cystitis. Ninety eight percentage of pharmacists could select the appropriate antibiotic for uncomplicated cystitis patients. The most prescribed antibiotics were ciprofloxacin (44.7%), norfloxacin (40.7%), and ofloxacin (10.3%). Inappropriate diagnosis was significantly related to age (P = 0.016) and role in the community pharmacy (P = 0.033). The majority of participants had misconceptions about the differential diagnosis between complicated and uncomplicated cystitis. These were related to the community pharmacists' advanced age. Continuous pharmacy education should be established to advocate rational antibiotic use, especially in a country where community pharmacists are legally allowed to dispense antimicrobials without a prescription.

Orlando Veterans Affairs stratification tool for opioid risk mitigation (STORM) very high risk interdisciplinary team review: A brief report

BackgroundCompared to the general population, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients have higher rates of mental illness, chronic pain, and substance use disorders (SUD), conditions that increase risk for opioid-related adverse events. VHA developed the Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Mitigation (STORM) and mandated case reviews by an interdisciplinary team (IDT) for patients identified as very high risk, a process implemented and led by clinical pharmacist practitioners at the Orlando Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (OVAHCS) in 2018. ObjectiveTo evaluate and describe the implementation and process for IDT reviews of patients identified as very high risk by the STORM clinical decision support tool at OVAHCS. MethodsA single center, retrospective, observational chart review was conducted. Veterans reviewed by the STORM IDT between January and September 2018 were reviewed for change in Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD), naloxone, nonopioid analgesics, medications for SUD, benzodiazepines, engagement with clinical services (e.g., mental health, SUD, and pain clinic), and overdose or suicide attempts in the year prior versus the year after IDT review. The frequency of follow-up IDT reviews was evaluated. ResultsSeventeen patients were identified. Four were excluded due to nonopioid related death within 12 months after review. The average baseline MEDD was 82.2 mg (range 10–496 mg) and average 12 months after review was 7.5 mg (range 0 – 67.5 mg), a decrease of 74.7 mg, or 90.9% reduction. An increase in medications for SUD (3 patients; 23%), SUD engagement (3 to 6 patients), and urine drug tests was observed (79% increase). Benzodiazepine use decreased by 50%. ConclusionThis report provides insight on the IDT case review process at OVAHCS, a process that may vary widely across facilities. A reduction in MEDD, increase in SUD treatment, and improved risk mitigation was observed. The central role of clinical pharmacy and expanded process for continued follow-up warrants further study.

Harmony of Healing: Exploring Ayurveda's Timeless Wisdom in Pharmacy Practices: A Review

Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine originating from the Indian subcontinent, has gained significant attention and recognition worldwide. Ayurveda emphasizes a holistic approach to health and disease management, focusing on the balance between mind, body and spirit. Traditional Ayurvedic practices incorporate various therapeutic interventions, including herbal medicines, dietary modifications, yoga, meditation and lifestyle modifications. With growing interest in natural and alternative therapies, Ayurveda has become a subject of extensive scientific investigation and integration into modern pharmaceutical practices. This review is to provide an updated and comprehensive understanding of Ayurveda¢s role in pharmacy and its potential contributions to the field of healthcare.

Qualitative Assessment of Barriers to Buprenorphine Access: The Role of Pharmacies

Background Patients continue to face challenges accessing medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) despite attempts to loosen prescribing restrictions and streamline service provision. Past research has mainly focused on potential barriers surrounding prescribing practices for buprenorphine, but has had limited investigation into the role of pharmacies. Objective This study investigates the role of both pharmacists and pharmacies in creating or circumventing barriers to accessing buprenorphine for individuals in Georgia seeking medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Methods Semi-structured interviews of pharmacists across 12 access and no access pharmacies were used to create a codebook of 179 discreet statements. The (N = 12) 20–35-minute phone interviews included questions addressing substance use, pharmacy practices, treatment, harm reduction, and psychoeducation. Results Pharmacists widely agreed that opioid use has caused negative effects on community members (N = 11), that buprenorphine formulation stocking decisions are made based on patient needs (N = 11), and that buprenorphine is relatively easy to stock (N = 10). Additionally, respondents generally stated that buprenorphine is a helpful tool for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) (N = 12) but some reported positive experiences while others reported challenging or negative experiences with patients receiving buprenorphine (N = 7). Finally, few (N = 4) pharmacists agreed that they could benefit from extra training despite many asserting that training is important to inform their own practice (N = 8). Conclusion Results from respondents generally show that training may be beneficial for pharmacists to develop an enhanced understanding of addiction and treatment. Enhanced effort to stock different formulations or dosages of buprenorphine and develop relationships with prescribers may increase community access.

Linking Inner Context and Innovation Factors: Examining a pharmacy-based intervention through the eyes of pharmacy staff

Introduction: Community pharmacies, as unique and accessible healthcare venues, are ideal locations to implement interventions aiming to improve patient care. However, these interventions may increase workload or disrupt workflow for community pharmacists, technicians, and other staff members, threatening long-term sustainment. There are growing calls from the field of implementation science to design for intervention sustainment and maintenance by maximizing innovation fit. Senior Safe™, an intervention to facilitate safer over-the-counter (OTC) product selection by older adults, serves as a case study to examine the congruence between Innovation Factors and community pharmacy Inner Context constructs and their implications for workload and sustainment.Methods: Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework, this qualitative study identified factors surrounding Senior Safe implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff from pharmacies where Senior Safe was implemented. Two coders independently analyzed interview transcripts using deductive analysis based on EPIS constructs. Thematic analysis was used to generate three themes that encapsulated innovation fit.Results: Nineteen pharmacy staff members participated, with the majority reporting no significant change in their workload or workflow due to Senior Safe. Interview feedback supported a pre-existing culture of the healthcare system to engage patients, of leadership commitment to patient safety initiatives, and of an amplified role of pharmacy technicians.Discussion and Conclusion: Pharmacy staff interviews revealed congruence between Innovation Factors and Inner Context that likely yielded intervention workload neutrality. This study highlighted the importance for researchers to consider maintenance and sustainability when designing and implementing an intervention and the critical influence of culture and leadership support during this process.

Nutrition's Role in Quality Healthcare in the United States: Opportunities and Education for Pharmacists to Take a Bite of the Apple and Strengthen Their Skills.

With global chronic disease rates on the rise, diet and nutrition remain pivotal yet under-appreciated aspects of healthcare, including in pharmacy practice. This perspective paper delves into how current United States health policies support nutrition's role in healthcare and its integration into pharmacy practice. The paper also reviews the landscape of nutrition education and training for pharmacists, pharmacy roles in multidisciplinary teams and interprofessional nutrition care, and the opportunities for post-graduate nutrition-focused certification, training, and continuing education. It advocates for a paradigm shift towards greater emphasis on nutrition within pharmacy practice, to improve skills and benefit quality patient nutrition care.

Sustainability challenges concerning the effects of high-priced drugs on the day-to-day operations of community pharmacies in Finland

BackgroundHigh-priced drugs pose a challenge for health budgets, policies, and patient safety. One of the key roles of community pharmacies is to ensure availability to prescription drugs regardless of their price. This has been identified as challenging in certain situations concerning high-priced drugs. ObjectivesThe aim is to investigate the views of proprietary pharmacists regarding the effects of high-priced drugs on the day-to-day operations of pharmacies. MethodsThe data collection of the study was performed as a national cross-sectional online survey. The inclusion criteria were being a proprietary pharmacist and a member of the Association of Finnish Pharmacies. The survey contained questions yielding both quantitative and qualitative answers. The study focused on the qualitative data which was analysed by deductive thematic analysis. ResultsIn total 604 proprietary pharmacists were sent the survey, and 174 eligible answers were included in the study, giving a response rate of 29%. The result describes the relationships between the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development based on a framework by Wanamaker, with respect to high-priced drugs and community pharmacy operations as viewed by proprietary pharmacists. The main findings of the study show that proprietary pharmacists find the implementation of real-time reimbursement payments, a further reform of the pharmacy tax, and the abolishment of return bans to the wholesaler as risk mitigations and means to attain sustainability with respect to high-priced drugs and pharmacy practice. They experience that these changes would diminish high-priced drugs unnecessarily ending up as medical waste and improve the working conditions of the pharmacy staff by alleviating stress. ConclusionsAccording to the respondents, high-priced drugs pose challenges for community pharmacies and the legislation and reimbursement system need to adapt to these challenges. If not, community pharmacies in Finland continue to face severe financial declines based on the study results.

The vital role of clinical pharmacy services within the hospital at home interdisciplinary team.

Hospital at home (HaH) program development, spurred by hospital congestion during the COVID-19 pandemic, is moving from a novel idea to a standard of inpatient practice. Understanding pharmacy's clinical role in the HaH patient care team is exceedingly important as programs across the country continue to develop, implement, and expand. The purpose of this study is to describe how clinical pharmacy services are currently provided for home hospital patients and to explain the vital role of pharmacists within the HaH care team. A descriptive study was designed to evaluate pharmacy services provided for home hospital patients from January 1, 2023, to February 28, 2023. Prior to the study period, a focused group of pharmacists routinely active in HaH patient care met to define a standard process for documenting pharmacy services using an electronic documentation system (i-Vent) within the EHR. During the study period, a total of 221 patients were admitted to home hospital at either site representing 3,258 inpatient medication orders with 2,997 medication administrations. Pharmacists signed 903 progress notes and documented 561 interventions across all types. The top 3 pharmacy intervention types were drug administration change (37%), medication reconciliation (29%), and antimicrobial stewardship (15%). Each of the top 3 types were further evaluated by subtype. Documented pharmacy services encompassed a variety of intervention types. The overwhelming majority of patients admitted to the program received pharmacy consultative services, demonstrating how pivotal pharmacists are to the operational success of these programs and clinical care of HaH patients. More research is needed to expose pharmacy potential and facilitate growth for pharmacists practicing in HaH programs.

A survey of community pharmacists’ and healthcare advisors’ views and experiences on the provision of a Test and Treat Service for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in a retail pharmacy chain in Ireland

Abstract Introduction The use of Point of Care Testing (POCT) as an aid to guide antibiotic prescribing has been highlighted in Ireland’s second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025 (iNAP2).[1] The role of community pharmacy is expanding with the introduction of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) POCT strategies. Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are frequent and burdensome in the community. With antibiotic resistance on the rise amongst uropathogens, AMS efforts to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for urinary symptoms are paramount. Aim To evaluate community pharmacy staff views and experiences on the provision of a Cystitis Test-and-Treat Service for uncomplicated UTIs, while identifying opportunities for service improvement and expansion. Methods An electronic survey on Microsoft® Forms was distributed within a large retail pharmacy chain in Ireland during November 2021, with two reminders issued. Pharmacists and Healthcare advisors over the age of 18, working in 88 pharmacies that provided the Velieve Cystitis Test-and-Treat Service were eligible to participate. The survey was subdivided into participant demographics, local UTI information, views and experiences of participants on the Cystitis Test-and-Treat Service, the patient information leaflet and the training completed by pharmacy staff providing the service and included open-ended and closed-ended or Likert-scale questions. The survey was developed based on the literature and was revised following the contributions of pharmacy chain pharmacists and its Research Governance Committee who have a working knowledge of Service. Data were analysed using Microsoft® Excel and IBM® SPSS® statistics version 28.0. Qualitative data from the open-ended survey questions were analysed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 43 pharmacy staff (18 pharmacists and 25 healthcare advisors) participated in the study (overall participation rate of 10.2%). The majority of participants were female (83.7%) and most pharmacies were located in a town/suburb area (55.8%). The majority of participants (76.7%) estimated that service users with symptoms suggestive of UTI present to the pharmacy first, before visiting their GP. Participants believed that the Cystitis Test-and-Treat Service improved service user satisfaction in symptom management, reduced antimicrobial prescribing, alongside reduced general practitioner workload. High acceptability was attributed to the speed and convenience of the service, while time cost and time required explaining the service were identified as barriers. The associated smartphone application was identified as a service weakness. Participants recommended extended training on service user eligibility with perhaps training videos to improve overall confidence. While the low response rate and small sample size is a limitation of this study, the inclusion of participants from two differing pharmacy roles strengths the findings. Conclusion This study highlights that POCT are feasible AMS initiatives that enhance management of uncomplicated UTI and could be incorporated into community pharmacy practice. The perceived ‘poor public awareness of the service’ reported by the participants, suggests the need for increased promotion and advertising.

The role of community pharmacists and pharmacies in physical activity promotion: an interdisciplinary e-Delphi study

BackgroundPhysical activity has a key role in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. Community pharmacists are an accessible source to provide brief advice to people on how to be more physically active. Nonetheless, there is a limited understanding of stakeholders' perspectives on their role in promoting physical activity, to inform policy and practice. The present study addresses this gap.AimTo determine consensus from different health professionals on the role of pharmacists and pharmacies in brief physical activity counselling in Portugal.MethodThis cross-sectional study used a two-round e-Delphi panel. The questionnaire was organised into four domains of physical activity promotion and comprised 37 items. Interdisciplinary experts rated their level of agreement using a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was set at the outset as 75% or more of participants scoring 4 or 5 (consensus “in”) or 1 or 2 (consensus “out”).ResultsForty-two health professionals involved in promoting physical activity in the ambulatory setting in Portugal were selected through purposive quota sampling. Eighteen out of 37 items were consensual in the first round and five more achieved consensus after the second round (62.2%). Physical activity promotion was seen as the role of all healthcare workforce and pharmacies were considered as suitable spaces for service provision, regardless of remuneration.ConclusionThis study endorses a set of roles for physical activity promotion in community pharmacy from an interdisciplinary perspective. Consensually established perspectives can inform policy making and practice, streamlining the coordination of pharmacies with the national health service.

The impact of digital health technologies on pharmacy services and patient care

This comprehensive review delves into the profound impact of digital health technologies on the landscape of pharmacy services and patient care. The integration of electronic prescribing medication adherence apps, and tele-pharmacy services has revolutionized medication management in pharmacies. This amalgamation has not only streamlined processes but has also significantly minimized errors, leading to enhanced operational efficiency. Pharmacists, equipped with wearable devices, now engage in remote patient monitoring, allowing for personalized interventions and proactive healthcare strategies. The incorporation of genomic data, data analytics, and clinical decision support systems marks a transformative shift towards precision medicine within pharmacies. These technologies empower pharmacists to design tailored treatment plans based on individual genetic profiles, thereby optimizing therapeutic outcomes. As pharmacies increasingly embrace these digital tools, they metamorphose into dynamic healthcare hubs. Beyond traditional roles, pharmacies now offer virtual consultations and actively participate in patient education initiatives. This paradigm shift underscores a commitment to patient-centered care, exemplified by improved medication safety and a more interconnected healthcare ecosystem. The ongoing integration of digital health technologies holds promise for continued advancements in pharmacy services. This trajectory signifies a significant departure towards a more proactive, personalized, and technologically driven approach to patient care. The review underscores the transformative potential of digital health technologies in redefining the role of pharmacies and elevating the standards of patient-centered healthcare delivery.

Patient's and Consultant's Views and Perceptions on Switching from an Originator Biologic to Biosimilar Medication: A Qualitative Study.

The aim of this study was to describe the opinions of patients undergoing treatment with originator biologics and medical consultants managing their conditions and identify the barriers and enablers to transitioning from originator biologics to equivalent biosimilars. This study was undertaken prior to biosimilar switching at a large teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Five gastroenterology, rheumatology, and dermatology consultants were interviewed. Two focus groups were conducted with patients prescribed infliximab (n = 2) and etanercept originators (n = 7). Four main themes emerged, as follows: (1) 'Benefit to the NHS'; (2) 'Evidence for efficacy and safety'; (3) 'Team roles'; and (4) 'Effective communication during switching', with sub-themes such as (4a) 'What patients want to know' and (4b) 'How it should be communicated'. Recognition of the ability to save NHS money was an enabler for both patients and consultants, with patients wanting to be reassured that the money saved would be used to benefit other patients. Consultants did not always believe that biosimilars had similar efficacy as the originators or that the manufacturing standards were the same. Effective interventions to address these concerns are required. Offering patients the opportunity to revert back to their originator if necessary was seen as an enabler, as was the provision of readily available mechanisms for reporting suspected adverse events resulting from switching. The role of pharmacy in the process of switching from originator biologics to biosimilars can range from educating consultants regarding the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, explaining the rationale for switching patients, and providing a route for reporting adverse events.