Management of erectile dysfunction with a novel orodispersible formulation of the PDE-5 inhibitor vardenafil

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a medical condition which can affect men of all ages. As men live longer and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes continue to increase, the problem of ED will become more prominent. The condition affects men both physically and emotionally. The profound psychological effect that this condition has on men should not be underestimated. A man with the problem of ED may feel robbed of his identity, may develop feelings of dissatisfaction with life in addition to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and a decrease in quality of lifepeer-reviewe

The treatment of asthma with leukotriene receptor antagonists

Over the past three decades the pharmacotherapy of asthma has been based on glucocorticoids, ß2 agonists and theophyllines. Research conducted over the past 10 years has led to greater understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of asthma, particularly the role of the underlying inflammatory process.peer-reviewe

Controlling asthma and improving quality of life

Asthma is a common chronic condition which usually presents with the symptoms of wheeze, cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness due to the underlying inflammation and bronchoconstriction present in the lungs. This condition causes considerable distress to the patient and negatively affects other members of the family. To date we cannot cure asthma, but we can aim to achieve optimum control as recommended by international guidelines.peer-reviewe

Counterfeit medicines

The issue of counterfeit medicines was mainly associated with developing countries, however it has now become of significant concern world-wide. While the exact extent of the problem is still unknown, the prevalence of counterfeit medicines is increasing, with a shift in focus from life style medicines to life saving medicines. As compared to 2005 the EU registered an increase of 380% of counterfeit medicines seized at EU borders in 2007.peer-reviewe

Diversity in practice

Following years of hard work we are pleased to announce that The Malta College of Pharmacy Practice has been included in the Fourth Schedule of the Health Care Profession Act as a professional organisation representing the Pharmacy Profession.peer-reviewe

COPD : a public health problem requiring attention

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The disease responsible for an estimated 2.75 million deaths each year, ranking it as the fourth leading cause of death. Recent data published from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease Study estimates that at least 10% of the world’s population over 40 years of age may be suffering from COPD.peer-reviewe

Anxiety and the management of asthma in an adult outpatient population

Review of the literature suggests that anxiety is more common among patients with asthma than among the general population, yet it does not appear to be given the attention it deserves as part of the overall management of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety and asthma management, in terms of Global Initiative for Asthma steps, lung function and medication. Methods: A total of 201 consecutive patients with respiratory physician-diagnosed asthma were recruited from an adult outpatient asthma clinic. Participants underwent a sociodemographic review, and a medical interview which included a detailed drug history. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values were recorded using a Micro Medical portable spirometer. The level of anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: A total of 51.5% of participants registered clinically significant levels of anxiety. Of these only 21% had already been diagnosed and were receiving treatment. Females reported significantly higher BAI scores than males (p<0.01). More females (66.3%) registered clinically significant levels of anxiety as compared with males (33.7%) (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the BAI score and the prescribed dose of inhaled glucocorticoids (rs¼0.150, p<0.05) and between anxiety and GINA treatment step (rs¼0.139, p<0.05). There was also a positive correlation between anxiety and the number of medicines taken by patients (rs¼0.259, p<0.001). Conclusions: Physicians treating patients with asthma should be sensitised to the association between asthma and anxiety, and should also consider assessing patients for the possibility of anxiety disorders as part of asthma management plans.peer-reviewe

Transforming health professional education and training in Malta

Enhancing the health workforce will be critical to transforming health services delivery to better respond to the changing needs and realities of the 21st century. This article describes new methods and approaches for facilitating interprofessional education and training during initial, graduate and continuous professional education and training of health professionals in Malta. By embracing the principles of transformative education and training, Malta is moving towards breaking down boundaries across levels of care and settings, thereby developing a health workforce that is fit-for-purpose to address contemporary health challenges.peer-reviewe

Clinical pharmacist evaluation of medication inappropriateness in the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Malta.

Appropriate prescribing remains an important priority in all medical areas of practice. Objective: The objective of this study was to apply a Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) to identify issues of inappropriate prescribing amongst patients admitted from the Emergency Department (ED). Method: This study was carried out at Malta's general hospital on 125 patients following a two week pilot period on 10 patients. Patients aged 18 years and over and on medication therapy were included. Medication treatment for inappropriateness was assessed by using the MAI. Under-prescribing was also screened for. Results: Treatment charts of 125 patients, including 697 medications, were assessed using a MAI. Overall, 115 (92%) patients had one or more medications with one or more MAI criteria rated as inappropriate, giving a total of 384 (55.1%) medications prescribed inappropriately. The mean SD MAI score per drug was 1.78 (SD=2.19). The most common medication classes with appropriateness problems were supplements (20.1%), antibiotics (20.0%) and steroids (19.8%). The most common problems involved incorrect directions (26%) and incorrect dosages (18.5%). There were 36 omitted medications with untreated indications. Conclusion: There is considerable inappropriate prescribing which could have significant negative effects regarding patient care

Erratum to: Clinical pharmacist evaluation of medication inappropriateness in the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Malta.

The following scoring details of the ‘Medication Appropriateness Index’ (MAI) originated by Hanlon, Schmader and their colleagues were unintentionally inverted erroneously in our artic, WEST, L.M., CORDINA, M. and CUNNINGHAM, S. 2012. Clinical pharmacist evaluation of medication inappropriateness in the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Malta. Pharmacy practice [online], 10(4), pages 181-187. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4321/s1886-3655201200040000