Training Of Pharmacists Research Articles

Effectiveness of an Information Booklet on the Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) among Health Care Professionals in a Selected Primary Care Hospital

The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge on Antibiotics and its resistance among healthcare professionals and the effectiveness of an information booklet, which includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for to use of Antibiotics to prevent Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria change over time and no longer respond to medicines. Antimicrobial resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality. Knowledge of Antibiotics is essential in preventing from ill effects of AMR. According to the CDC, in 2018, inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics contributed to antibiotics-resistant conditions, which led to 2 million infections and killed about 23,000 Americans annually. In India, 4.95 million people died in 2019 suffered from drug-resistant infections and antibiotic resistance was the direct cause for 1.27 million of those deaths. An experimental research design employed non probability convenient sampling technique to select the 60 samples in a selected primary care hospital. The majority, 44 (73%), of health professionals were between the ages of 21 and 30 years, 40(67%) were nurses, 13(22%) were medical practitioners and 7(11%) were pharmacists. While considering their area of work majority 20(33%) of them, were from the ward and 14(23%) from the ICU setting. Level of knowledge gain score measured using Extended McNemar`s chi-square test revealed health professionals gained 20.27% with 95% CI and it was found statically significant (c2=43.81 P=0.001***). The study results recommend such an interdisciplinary approach of training doctors, nurses and pharmacists to become sensitive and update themselves to reduce the incidence of Antimicrobial resistance among the common public.

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.

A Preliminary Scoping Review of the Impact of e-Prescribing on Pharmacists in Community Pharmacies.

This scoping review aims to map the available literature and provide an overview of the published articles discussing the impact of electronic prescribing on medication errors and pharmacy workflow. The literature search was conducted using PubMed®, Web of Science®, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews®, as well as grey literature reports, using the search terms and related components of "pharmacists", "electronic prescribing", "medication errors", and "efficiency". The search included all articles that were published from January 2011 to September 2023. Twenty-two relevant articles were identified and fully reviewed, ten of which were included in this review. Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) provides a solution for some of the challenges that are associated with handwritten and paper prescriptions. However, the implementation of e-prescribing systems has been recognized as a source of new unforeseen medication errors in all the reviewed articles. Productivity in community pharmacies has been affected with receiving electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions) and having to deal with the issues that arise from them. The pharmacists' interventions were not eliminated with e-prescriptions compared to other prescription formats. The most frequently reported reason for intervention was related to incomplete instructions in the field of directions of use. Other common challenges with e-prescriptions were related to missing information, quantity, inappropriate dose, dosage form, and drug. This review demonstrates the scarcity of research about the impact of electronic prescribing on medication error and efficiency in community pharmacies. In the literature, most of the studies had mainly focused on hospital pharmacies. The literature search demonstrated that there are still some barriers to overcome with e-prescribing systems and that medication errors were not fully eliminated with e-prescriptions. New errors have been identified with e-prescriptions, all of which caused delays in processing, which affected the productivity of the pharmacy staff, and could have negatively impacted patients' safety if not properly resolved. e-Prescribing solved some of the challenges associated with illegibility of handwritten prescriptions. However, more time is required to allow e-prescribing systems to mature. Further training for prescribers and pharmacists is also recommended before and after the implementation.

Exploring Pharmacist Roles in Telepharmacy for Chronic Disease Management in New York State: A Qualitative Inquiry into Improving Implementation, Patient Communication, and Healthcare Technology Support.

Background This qualitative study aimed to collect information regarding pharmacists' roles in telepharmacy and chronic disease management (CDM).The literature review was conducted on historical overview, CDM overview, social determinants of health (SDOH), disparities, hospital readmissions, adverse drug events, best practices, and global implications of telepharmacy. Materials and methods Eleven licensed pharmacists from New York working in retail or hospital settings were interviewed using 16 questions. The interview covered topics such as CDM, hospital readmissions, adverse drug events, best practices, SDOH, and health disparities. The recordings of these interviews were transcribed and coded for each open-ended question, resulting in 136 different codes. Results According to the comprehensive review of interview transcripts, there is still an urgent need for communication between healthcare providers and patients, pharmacist training for telepharmacy services and SDOH, and healthcare technology support. CDM can be advanced by pharmacists by understanding patient barriers, SDOHs, health disparities, and pill burdens, as well as incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Pharmacists must facilitate open communication, overcome technological barriers, seek support from stakeholders for telepharmacy training, and integrate new mobile applications to improve telepharmacy implementation and operations for providing interventions. Conclusion The research provides insights into the comprehensive impact of telepharmacy on healthcare delivery and its potential to transform CDM. With the expansion of telepharmacy, individuals living with chronic diseases can experience improved medication adherence and overallhealth outcomes.

Exploration of Competency-oriented Standardized Training Model for Clinical Pharmacists

Objective: This study aims to explore a training model suitable for hospital pharmacy work, namely, a competency-oriented standardized training model for clinical pharmacists, and evaluate the teaching effectiveness of clinical pharmacists trained under this model, providing reference for improving the pharmaceutical service level of clinical pharmacists. Methods: A survey was conducted on students who participated in the standardized training for clinical pharmacists in our hospital from October 2020 to September 2023. By comparing assessment scores, the study explored the learning outcomes of clinical pharmacists under the competency-oriented training model compared to traditional training models. Results: The competency-oriented training model led to higher scores in bedside assessments, case assessments, training processes, and overall evaluation scores for trainees compared to traditional training methods. This teaching model exploration strengthens the core competencies of clinical pharmacists, making the training content more relevant to clinical work. Conclusion: The competency-oriented standardized training model aimed at enhancing the on-job competency of clinical pharmacists can improve the core professional competitiveness of pharmacists and promote the transformation and development of hospital pharmacy.

Vaccine preparation time, errors, satisfaction, and preference of prefilled syringes versus RSV vaccines requiring reconstitution: randomized, time and motion study

Aim The current study compared preparation time, errors, satisfaction, and preference for a prefilled syringe (PFS) versus two RSV vaccines requiring reconstitution (VRR1 and VRR2) in a randomized, single-blinded time and motion study. Methods Pharmacists, nurses, and pharmacy technicians were randomized to a preparation sequence of the three vaccines. Participants read instructions, then consecutively prepared the three vaccines with a 3–5-min washout period in between. Preparations were video recorded and reviewed by a trained pharmacist for preparation time and errors using predefined, vaccine-specific checklists. Participant demographics, satisfaction with vaccine preparation, and vaccine preference were recorded. Within-subjects analysis of variance was used to compare preparation time. Mixed-effects Poisson and ordered logistic regression models were used to compare the number of preparation errors and satisfaction scores, respectively. Results Sixty-three pharmacists (60%), nurses (35%), and pharmacy technicians (5%) participated at four sites in the United States. The least squares mean preparation time per dose for PFS was 141.8 s (95% CI = 156.8–126.7; p <.0001) faster than for VRR1, 103.6 s (95% CI = 118.7–88.5; p <.0001) faster than for VRR2, and 122.7 s (95% CI = 134.2–111.2; p <.0001) faster than the pooled VRRs. Overall satisfaction (combined “Very” and “Extremely”) was 87.3% for PFS, 28.6% for VRR1, and 47.6% for VRR2. Most participants (81.0%) preferred the PFS vaccine. Limitations The study is limited by the inability to completely blind observers. To minimize the effects of order, we utilized a 3-sequence block design; however, the order in which the vaccines were prepared may have affected outcomes. Participants were assessed once, whereas if repeated preparations were performed there may have been trained efficiencies gained for each vaccine. Conclusion PFS vaccines can greatly simplify the vaccine preparation process, allowing administrators to prepare almost four times more doses per hour than with vial and syringe systems.

A qualitative exploration of the over-the-counter availability of oral contraceptive pills in Australia.

The prevention of unintended pregnancy is a public health issue affecting women worldwide. In Australia, women are required to get a prescription to obtain the oral contraceptive pill (OCP), which may limit access and be a barrier to its initiation and continuing use. Changing the availability of the OCP from prescription-only to over-the-counter (OTC) is one solution, however, to ensure success policymakers need to understand women's preferences. Telehealth services also might serve as an alternative to obtain prescriptions and increase accessibility to OCPs. This study aims to explore the preferences for OTC OCPs among Australian women, and whether the expansion of telehealth impacted women's preferences. A mixed methods approach was used to explore women's preferences regarding access to the OCP. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to organically identify the preferences followed by an empirical ranking exercise. Three FGDs in two phases were conducted, pre and post-expansion of telehealth in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Convenience sampling was employed. The technique of constant comparison was used for thematic analysis where transcripts were analysed iteratively, and codes were allowed to emerge during the process to give the best chance for the attributes to develop from the data. Thematic analysis revealed that women perceived OTC availability of OCPs as a mechanism to increase the accessibility of contraception by reducing cost, travel time, waiting time, and increasing opening hours. They also believed that it would increase adherence to OCPs. However, some potential safety concerns and logistical issues were raised, including pharmacist training, access to patient's medical history, the ability to discuss other health issues or undertake opportunistic health screening, adherence to checklists, and privacy in the pharmacy environment. Following the expansion of telehealth, accessibility issues such as opening hours, travel time, and location of the facility were considered less important. The participants expressed their support for reclassifying OCPs to OTC, particularly for repeat prescriptions, as it would save valuable resources and time. However, some safety and logistical issues were raised. Women indicated they would balance these concerns with the benefits when deciding to use OTC OCPs. This could be explored using a discrete choice experiment. The expansion of telehealth was perceived to reduce barriers to accessing OCPs. The findings are likely to be informative for policymakers deciding whether to reclassify OCPs to OTC, and the concerns of women that need addressing to ensure the success of any policy change.

Assessment of community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and their willingness to provide vaccination services in Saudi Arabia.

Community pharmacists play an important role in increasing vaccination rates especially in countries where they offer vaccination services and administration. However, little is known about community pharmacist's willingness to provide vaccination services in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, willingness and beliefs of community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia towards providing vaccines at pharmacies. A cross-sectional, online questionnaire-based study using convenience sampling (Snowball technique) was used to obtain responses from community pharmacists across Saudi Arabia. The survey collected information on participants' demographics, knowledge about vaccine, attitude towards vaccine and their attitude to be immunization providers. Bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression models were employed to assess the relationships between demographic variables and outcomes. The study sample consisted of 384 community pharmacists. More than half of participants had poor knowledge about vaccines (54%). Only 8.4% of participants had good knowledge about vaccines. The results indicated that community pharmacists in the study sample have positive attitude toward vaccines and are willing to provide vaccination services. There was a significant relationship between knowledge about vaccine and attitude toward vaccines. Pharmacists with poor knowledge about vaccines had negative attitude toward vaccines as compared to those with high knowledge (β = -1.743; P-value = 0.024). Additionally, there was a significant relationship between knowledge about vaccine and attitude to be immunization providers. Pharmacists with poor knowledge about vaccines had negative attitude to be immunization providers as compared to those with high knowledge (β = -2.631; P-value = 0.002). Furthermore, a significant number of the community pharmacists reported facing critical barriers to provide vaccines including legal liability, lack of personal resources and lack of appropriate training. Comprehensive training and certification programs for pharmacists are crucial to improve their competencies in handling and administering vaccines to increase the rate of vaccinations in Saudi Arabia.

Embodiment of Pharmacist Intervention in Palliative Care and Augmentation of a Curriculum for its Assessment

Background Palliative care is the care of patients who have progressive, life-threatening illnesses and who are facing death in the foreseeable future. Since there is a growing need for pharmacist’s intervention in palliative care and there is a gap in the education of palliative care for pharmacy students, this study aims to identify roles and services that have to be performed by palliative care pharmacists in medication-related areas and also to formulate an add-on course to train pharmacy graduates. Materials and Methods A prospective interventional study was done in the palliative care centre in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India. Relevant data were pooled and analysed for drug-related problems. Necessary interventions were made. Results were interpreted and an add-on course for the training of pharmacy graduates was formulated. Results A total of 88 patients were included in the study. The most prevalent conditions in our palliative setting were kidney disease, liver disease, cancer and stroke. Notably, 38 and 10 cases were found to have drug interactions and drug duplications, respectively. Four patients required dosage adjustments. Fifty cases involved pharmacist intervention which improved the outcome by 80%. At the end of the study, a curriculum was formulated to implement a 3-month add-on course entitled ‘PALLIATIVE PHARMACY’ under the guidance of an Expert committee for training pharmacists and pharmacy students. Conclusion The study identified that there are various roles a pharmacist must undertake in a palliative setup. The involvement of pharmacists in patients’ treatment helps to prevent drug-related problems to a greater extent. The addition of an integrated course for the management of palliative care patients will help to improve the learning as well as practical skills of pharmacists. Incorporating basic and clinical sciences in the therapeutic course is an effective learning plan.

Do biobanks need pharmacists? Support of pharmacy students to biobanking of human biological material for pharmaceutical research and development.

This study aimed to assess the biobank awareness among Polish pharmacy students and how it affects their support for biobank research. A survey among 366 pharmacy students enrolled at two Polish medical universities: the Poznań University of Medical Sciences and Medical University of Lublin was conducted. Although most pharmacy students felt positivity about biobanking and expressed the willingness to donate their biospecimens for biomedical research, their awareness on research biobanks was low. Their willingness to participate was driven by the desire to benefit society, help advance science and develop new therapies. While students supported donation for most types of research, biobanks run by medical universities were the highest trusted research institutions. The primary factors associated with student's willingness to participate were religiosity and place of study. Notably, nonreligious students and those studying in Poznan exhibited more favourable attitudes toward donating for research and expressed greater support for the establishment of research biobanks in Poland. Since biobank awareness among future pharmacists is inadequate incorporating biobank competency domains into education and training of pharmacists is required.

Polypharmacy as Formal Training and a Model of Practice.

Traditional definitions of polypharmacy may largely not account for the market proliferation of herbal and dietary supplements, cannabis products, or incorporate the new science of pharmacogenomics (PGx). Polypharmacy is encountered by most pharmacists providing patient care in many settings. The "polypharmacist" can assist patients and providers with solving medication-related problems (MRPs) in this new and challenging environment of supplements and cannabis products by utilizing traditional pharmacology and pharmacokinetic principles, including PGx, broadly across many medical disciplines. One may encounter polypharmacy more in the geriatric population, though in an age of supplements and cannabis proliferation, polypharmacy is increasingly being encountered at younger ages. Not only is polypharmacy training at best fragmented in pharmacy curricula, but it may also not account for the above-mentioned products that may use the same metabolic pathways to increase drug interactions and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) regarding prescription medications. Polypharmacy being more formally prioritized in pharmacist training may better prepare pharmacists for commonly encountered polypharmacy and can be a viable model of practice.

Exploring experiences and perspectives of inclusivity amongst community pharmacists in their practice: a survey study

Abstract Introduction Inclusive healthcare is an essential component of promoting sustainable good health and wellbeing. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published their equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) strategy 2021-2026 to tackle discrimination and reduce health inequalities;[1] however, there are still significant disparities in healthcare access and outcomes faced by minority groups. Discrimination leads to higher rates of distrust, non-adherence, and poorer physical and mental health outcomes.[2] Community pharmacists can break down barriers to healthcare, but must feel a sense of inclusion themselves. Aim To explore the experiences and perspectives of inclusivity amongst community pharmacists in their practice, including training, and to investigate inclusivity-related interventions available in pharmacies. Methods Following a pilot study with 14 pharmacists, an online survey using Google Forms was distributed via email to 335 community pharmacists (based on Raosoft calculator at 95% confidence interval) in multiple London boroughs within a two-month period. To maximise response rates, paper surveys were distributed in person to pharmacies. The survey comprised 48 mixed-style questions, and was divided into four sections: experiences of inclusivity and discrimination, inclusive services provided in the pharmacy, pharmacist training, and demographics. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Results The response rate was 55% (n=184/335). 72% were &amp;lt;40 years old. 55% were men, 43% women and 2% identified as ‘Other’. 59% pharmacists were Asian, 7% Black (of any origin), 4% White and 32% ‘Other’ (including mixed heritage). 68% worked in independent pharmacies (&amp;lt;4 branches), 27% in small chains and 25% in large chains (&amp;gt;10 branches). 18% (n=33) self-reported they had experienced discrimination, primarily from patients (88%; n=29/33), with the majority experiencing racial discrimination (79%; n=26/33), followed by 30% (n=10/33) against age. A higher proportion (24%; n=44) experienced microaggressions and 25% (n=47) reported witnessing discrimination against a patient or colleague, with 98% (n=46/47) witnessing racial discrimination. Pharmacists who had experienced microaggression were statistically less likely to feel included in the workplace. Despite this, 86% (n=159) felt their services were inclusive. However, low levels of pharmacies offered sign language interpreters (3%; n=5), pictograms (11%; n=21), pronoun badges (13%; n=23) and hearing loop systems (19%, n=35), the latter of which large chain pharmacies were statistically more likely to provide. 43% (n=79) have completed some EDI training, but under a quarter of pharmacists undertook focused training, for example, identifying skin conditions on different skin tones (22%; n=17), or making services inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community (8%, n=6). Conclusion Although limited with a relatively small sample size, and limited but diverse geographical area, the findings suggest discrimination continues to persist in community pharmacy, especially related to race.[2] Accessible and culturally responsive resources such as discrimination reporting mechanisms are necessary. Although most pharmacists felt their services were inclusive, the findings demonstrate this was lacking in most pharmacies, with issues surrounding funding and structural barriers. Pharmacists must raise their awareness of simple, effective measures such as free pronoun badges but also require specific EDI training to fulfil their potential as inclusive practitioners.

The Role of Pharmacist Intervention in Improvement of Patient Adherhence to Medication and in preventing Complication After Bariatric Surgery

Background: Bariatric surgery is the most successful treatment for obesity regarding the degree and duration of weight loss. Aim of the Study: Evaluate the impact of pharmacist educational intervention and training in improving patient adherence and its association with the prevention of clinical nutritional complications after bariatric surgery. Patient and Method: A randomized comparative interventional study was conducted in Najaf Governorate, Iraq. The Intervention group included 58 patients who received standard care and training educational and support programs. The standard care group included 58 patients who received standard care after Bariatric surgery. Results: In the intervention group, at 3 months of follow-up, the mean total score was 5.8 and increased to 6.7 at the 6 months. Conversely, the score decreased in the standard care group from 5.3 at 3 months to 2.2 at 6 months. In contrast to the standard care group, an inverse significant correlation was found between the number of incident complications and the total eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) at 3 and 6 months in the intervention group. Conclusion: The pharmacist intervention leads to better patient adherence to guidelines after Bariatric surgery which results in decreased complications at three and six months after surgery.

Assessing the preparedness and future-readiness of Malaysian community pharmacists in Klang Valley regarding the use of medical marijuana

BackgroundThis study investigated community pharmacists' level of knowledge and attitude towards medical marijuana and its association with sociodemographic characteristics.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from 21 February 2022 to 15 November 2022. Community pharmacists working in Klang Valley were given a self-administered questionnaire. This survey instrument facilitated the collection of information about their sociodemographic attributes, training background, and knowledge and attitude concerning medical marijuana. Through rigorous analysis of the accumulated data, discernible factors correlating with the levels of knowledge and attitudes surrounding medical marijuana were identified.ResultsThe majority (n=149, 53.8%) of participants had low knowledge of medical marijuana. Participants with lower knowledge of medical marijuana tend to have a negative attitude toward medical marijuana. Besides that, male participants showed higher knowledge of medical marijuana than female participants. Furthermore, it was found that atheists had the most negative attitude among other religions toward medical marijuana.ConclusionMost community pharmacists in Malaysia lack sufficient knowledge about medical marijuana. This indicates that Malaysian pharmacists are not future-ready and need to equip themselves with adequate knowledge of the indications and adverse effects of medical marijuana if it is to be legalised one day. Thus, there is a need for improved training and education of pharmacists around cannabis-based medicines.

The academic formation challenges: what does retail expect from higher education institutions in pharmacy?

BackgroundThe drug retail represents the main area of activity for pharmacists worldwide. In Brazil, this sector is responsible for employing around 80% of professionals. Before this reality, the academic training of pharmacists requires specialized skills and knowledge so they can fulfill their tasks. In this sector, considering the influence of managers and mentors on the model of pharmaceutical practice, their perceptions about the demands of the market can help discussions related to the training of pharmacists.AimTo analyze the academic training of pharmacists for the drug retail market from the perspective of managers and mentors.MethodThis is a qualitative study conducted with managers and mentors of the drug retail market. A semi-structured interview guide was prepared and applied to the intentionally selected participants. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under the number 4,169,752. The interviews were conducted through videoconference by an experienced researcher. The data obtained were analyzed using Bardin’s analysis technique, following the steps of categorical thematic content analysis using the ATLAS.ti software.Results19 interviews were carried out. Among the reports, the interviewees highlighted the importance of retail in the employability of pharmacists, as well as inconsistency in the academic training for this sector, originating the following categories: curriculum reform to include the market demands, follow-up and career plan, training for entrepreneurship and sales, practical application of knowledge, and encouragement of experience.ConclusionPharmaceutical academic training is linked to several challenges, whether organizational, structural, or budgetary. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to unite the interested parties in the formulation and implementation of a strategy for the professionalization of pharmacists, considering their social role in patient care, aligned with the company’s sustainability, so that both coexist.

Designing a primary care pharmacist-led review for people treated with opioids for persistent pain: a multi-method qualitative study.

Opioids are frequently prescribed for persistent non-cancer pain despite limited evidence of long-term effectiveness and risk of harm. Evidence-based interventions to address inappropriate opioid prescribing are lacking. To explore perspectives of people living with persistent pain to understand barriers and facilitators in reducing opioids in the context of a pharmacist-led primary care review, and identify review components and features for optimal delivery. A multi-method qualitative study undertaken in the primary care setting in the UK. Adults with experience of persistent pain and taking opioids participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 15, 73% female) and an online discussion forum (n = 31). The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) provided a framework for data collection and thematic analysis, involving deductive analysis to TDF domains, inductive analysis within domains to generate sub-themes, and sub-theme comparison to form across-domain overarching themes. The behaviour change technique taxonomy (v1) and motivational behaviour change technique classification system were used to systematically map themes to behaviour change techniques to identify potential review components and delivery features. Thirty-two facilitator and barrier sub-themes for patients reducing opioids were identified across 13 TDF domains. These combined into the following six overarching themes: learning to live with pain; opioid reduction expectations; assuming a medical model; pharmacist-delivered reviews; pharmacist-patient relationship; and patient engagement. Sub-themes mapped to 21 unique behaviour change techniques, yielding 17 components and five delivery features for the proposed PROMPPT review. This study generated theoretically informed evidence for design of a practice pharmacist-led PROMPPT review. Future research will test the feasibility and acceptability of the PROMPPT review and pharmacist training.

Introduction of antimicrobial resistance education in pharmacy curricula in India: Lessons learned and future direction

IntroductionInsufficient training in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in the pharmacy curricula limits pharmacists’ participation in AMS activities in India. We explored the potential impact of an AMR curriculum implemented as part of a research project in one of the pharmacy colleges in Kerala, India. MethodsData were collected using documentary analysis (minutes of meetings and the AMR curriculum developed) and semi-structured qualitative interviews with key informants face-to-face or via the Zoom platform at the participant's convenience. Anonymized interview transcripts were thematically analyzed aided by NVivo 12 software. ResultsWe interviewed faculty (n = 4), clinical pharmacists (n = 3), and students (n = 6) involved in the design, implementation, and use of the new curriculum. The development and implementation of the new curriculum was conducted through strategically planned and established methodology with equal involvement from the pharmacy college and the research project team. Challenges in this process included a lack of human resources to take classes, time, limited interactions, and motivation of students during the online classes. Despite this, students who attended the classes agreed that the curriculum introduced them to AMS and AMR concepts which helped them during their clinical postings. They agreed that it would be beneficial if a similar curriculum was implemented in other pharmacy colleges. ConclusionLearnings from this study would be beneficial for other pharmacy colleges to implement a similar AMR curriculum for training pharmacy students to take key roles in AMS, especially in countries like India where postgraduate training for pharmacists remains limited.

Preparing Pharmacists for the Digital Age: How Pharmacy Courses are Adapting to Challenges and Opportunities

ObjectiveAs the digitalization of health accelerates, the fusion of pharmacy and informatics becomes crucial. Pharmacy education must adapt to equip professionals for this evolving landscape. This study aims to compare pharmacy curricula in Brazil and the United States of America, focusing on health informatics, to uncover challenges and opportunities in training pharmacists for the digital era. MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive analysis was conducted on pharmacy curricula from leading Brazilian and American universities in early 2024. Two independent researchers collected data, concentrating on health informatics–related courses. Curriculum analysis used the n-gram technique for linguistic pattern identification in course descriptions. ResultsThe analysis included curricula from 147 Brazilian and 140 American institutions. American programs had more health informatics courses, with greater integration into pharmacy and higher workloads. Brazilian courses were fewer, less specialized, and less integrated with pharmacy practice. Bi-gram analysis showed that the United States emphasized pharmaceutical practice and technologies, while Brazil focused more broadly on public health. Challenges include Brazil’s slower integration of health informatics, impacting competitiveness. The study highlights opportunities to enhance curricula in both countries, emphasizing the importance of health informatics courses. ConclusionUS pharmacy programs are further developed by providing specialized, high-quality digital health education with extensive coursework, reflecting a curriculum aligned with digital advancements. This stands in stark contrast to Brazilian programs, which show a need for comprehensive curriculum revision to effectively prepare pharmacists for the digital age. This study underscores the urgency for global pharmacy education reform and its alignment with the rapid evolution of digital health.

A 10-year retrospective study of antibacterial-induced thrombocytopenia in a women and children hospital using China Hospital Pharmacovigilance System and Visual Basic for Applications.

We aimed to investigate antibacterial-induced thrombocytopenia using the China Hospital Pharmacovigilance System (CHPS) in conjunction with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Between September 2011 and December 2022, a 2-phase workflow was employed to identify antibacterial-induced thrombocytopenia, including preliminary screening in phase (I) conducted by CHPS algorithms and causality assessment by trained pharmacists in phase (II) using VBA. The incidence of thrombocytopenia in each antibacterial was calculated, and comparisons were performed between paediatric and adult patients. CHPS algorithms identified 4080 cases from 485 238 admissions (including 223 735 admissions receiving at least 1 antibacterial treatment). After ruling out cases with chemotherapy and abnormal platelet count at admission, 3832 cases were available. Using VBA, pharmacists identified 1039 cases (1246 antibacterial treatments, 28 agents) as potential thrombocytopenia instances (κ =0.89), with an incidence of 0.46%. All antibacterial treatments correlated temporally with thrombocytopenia. Carbapenems (meropenem 1.77%), glycopeptides (vancomycin 1.55%) and lincosamides (clindamycin 0.44%) were prominent causal groups. The highest incidences of thrombocytopenia in the cephalosporins and penicillins groups were ceftazidime (2.04%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (1.24%), respectively. Among all antibacterial treatments, clindamycin showed the shortest time to onset (TTO), and erythromycin showed the longest TTO. Paediatric patients exhibited a longer TTO (61 vs. 29 h), extended time to nadir (83 vs. 37 h), lower platelet nadir count values (110 vs. 92 ×109/L), and a higher severe case proportion (12.37 vs. 3.86%) when compared with adults. Different antibacterial agents exhibit varying incidences of thrombocytopenia, with notable disparities between adults and children in the characteristics of thrombocytopenia.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of insulin among diabetic patients and pharmacists in Egypt: “cross-sectional observational study”

BackgroundDiabetes recently has been identified as a growing epidemic. Although insulin’s vital role in both types of diabetes, it is considered one of the harmful medications if used incorrectly. In Egypt, effective usage of insulin remains a challenge due to insufficient knowledge of insulin and diabetes management, leading to errors in insulin therapy. As pharmacists are experts in pharmacological knowledge, they are uniquely situated to assess adherence to treatment regimens, the effect of drug therapy, or potential alterations in drug therapy to meet patient goals. To provide effective patient education and counseling, community pharmacists in Egypt should be efficiently knowledgeable about diabetes and insulin.ObjectiveTo identify the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacists and patients about insulin. To identify pharmacists’ educational preparedness and confidence in counseling diabetic patients.MethodsA descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with two knowledge, attitude, and practice surveys. This study was carried out from September 2016 to February 2023. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients, and a paper-based questionnaire was administered to pharmacists. The two questionnaires were adapted from previous studies.ResultsA total of 492 patients and 465 pharmacists participated in this study. The mean knowledge score of correct answers among patients and pharmacists was 10.67 ± 1.9 and 15 ± 3.6. Most of the patients and pharmacists had a positive attitude regarding insulin’s role in improving health and to better control blood glucose. On the negative side, around half of the patients reported that they believe that regular use of insulin leads to addiction, while only 14.5% of the pharmacists believed that insulin could cause addiction. Self-confidence scores for pharmacists differed statistically with sex, years of experience, and pharmacist’s direct exposure to diabetic patients.ConclusionsThis study uncovers considerable deficiencies in patients’ and pharmacists’ knowledge about insulin therapy. This study also strongly recommends higher education and a more structured pharmacist training schedule.