110 research outputs found
Joining the professional doctorate in pharmacy
The Pharm D programme is a new post-graduate course
being offered by the Department of Pharmacy of the
University of Malta in collaboration with the College
of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago in
Chicago, USA. This course was developed to provide for the
rapidly growing niche in pharmacy related to a professional
doctorate. It is a means to develop professionals with a
research-oriented approach and with skills in advanced
clinical pharmacy practice with a focus on patient safety.
Pharmacists who would like to take up the area of Clinical
Pharmacy as their specialisation will be able to develop
the skills and attributes of undertaking research in the field
while reading for a level 8 Doctorate level degree.peer-reviewe
Joining the professional doctorate in pharmacy
The Pharm D programme is a new course being offered
by the Department of Pharmacy of the University of
Malta in collaboration with the College of Pharmacy at
the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, USA. This
course was developed to provide for the rapidly growing
niche area in pharmacy related to a professional doctorate.
It is a means to develop professionals with a research oriented
approach and with skills in advanced clinical
pharmacy practice.peer-reviewe
Labelling and testing of foods designated as suitable for diabetic and low calorie diets
The aim of this project was to
assess whether consumers, especially
those following a diabetic or low
calorie diet, would benefit from newly
designed food labels denoting
glycaemic load and whether these
labels would help them make a faster
food selection.peer-reviewe
Storing medicines while reducing electricity consumption
Temperature storage requirements
for medicinal products stored at room
temperature were compiled. The rate
of heat loss in a local pharmacy was
investigated. Necessary measures
required to achieve temperature
controlled storage conditions in the
most efficient manner were proposed.
Energy efficiency together with carbon
emission reductions were calculated.peer-reviewe
Extemporaneous preparations from the past
Compounding involves the preparation, packaging and
labelling of a drug specifically for a particular patient
according to a medical prescription.
Until the mid-1900s, the compounding of such 'ondemand'
pharmaceutical preparations, also known as
extemporaneous preparations, was the basis of pharmacy.
In Italy, in 1580, descriptive catalogues and standards for
quality and uniformity of pharmacy formulas for
pharmaceutical preparations were compiled. These
became known as the 'pharmacopoeia' . In the 1930s and
1940s, about 60% of all drugs were compounded.
However, in the 1960s, manual preparation declined. 2
The objectives of the study were to demonstrate
different methods of preparations of various drug
formulations irrespective of the active ingredients used
and to compile a List of extemporaneous preparations that
were compounded between the years 1955 to 1965.peer-reviewe
Compliance with protocols in dental conditions
The aims of this study were to
assess compliance with the developed
treatment protocols through the
dissemination of case studies. Out of
203 questionnaires distributed, 125
(62%) were collected. Community
pharmacists were asked to complete
case studies within a fortnight to
indicate their line of action in three
conditions presented. Average
percentage compliance with the
protocols was 73%.peer-reviewe
Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme and management of hypertension
Objective: The aim of this project was to assess
pharmacist intervention in patients suffering from
hypertension to improve management of their condition by
identifying risk factors, evaluating side-effects, monitoring,
assessing drug-drug interactions and providing advice to
help control blood pressure.
Method: Two questionnaires were used in the study; the
first questionnaire intended to identify drug-related problems
and risk factors and a second questionnaire was developed as
a shorter version of the first questionnaire. The questionnaires
were used on 3 occasions when the patients came to collect
their Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) medications from a local
community pharmacy. The first questionnaire was used at
time=0 (visit 1) and the second questionnaire was used twice,
at t=2 months (visit 2) and t=4 months (visit 3). Blood pressure
and pulse readings were recorded each time and patients
were referred in cases of abnormal readings and in cases of
interactions or side-effects. Advice was given to the patients
on all the 3 occasions and any care issues were addressed.
Key findings: Out of the 35 patients who
participated, initially 22 patients were hypertensive. This
number decreased to 20 patients at t=2 months and 16
patients at t=4 months. Abnormal pulse readings were
initially found in 7 patients that in the subsequent visits
decreased to 4 patients with 2 patients being investigated.
The need for patient referral decreased from 24 patients at
t= 0, to 21 patients at t= 2 months and 17 at t= 4 months.
Conclusion: Pharmacist intervention in patient
monitoring of chronic conditions supported patients in
managing their blood pressure. Several comorbidities and
mortalities can be reduced when the patient is regularly
monitored by a pharmacist and any drug-related problems
identified, addressed and patient is referred as necessary.peer-reviewe
Perception and critical analysis of the medicines entitlement system
OBJECTIVES: To determine the perceived, actual and
desired knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding
free medicines’ entitlement, to identify strengths and
weaknesses of the present entitlement system and to
recommend improvements to the system to enhance
patient care and sustainability.
METHOD: Qualitative interviews with the Medicines
Entitlement Unit (MEU) staff were carried out to identify
customer care-related issues encountered. This information
was used to devise a questionnaire to assess perceived,
actual and desired knowledge on medicines’ entitlement.
The questionnaire was distributed to physicians,
pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. A strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis of the
medicines’ entitlement system was undertaken through
qualitative interviews.
KEY FINDINGS: A total of 26 strengths, 7
weaknesses, 6 opportunities and 15 threats on the present
entitlement system were identified during the discussion
sessions with 20 participants. Strengths included legislation,
reference documentation and customer care service while
the main weakness identified was the current IT system.
Opportunities included an improved IT system and
premises. Threats identified included manual applications,
misconceptions by the public and healthcare professionals
and patients’ attitudes and expectations. A total of
207 physicians, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
from different professional backgrounds completed the
questionnaire. The participants obtained an average
score of 72.2%. The respondents obtained a significantly
higher mean score (p<0.001) for questions related to
Fifth (V) Schedule conditions and entitlement (81.60%),
compared to the mean score for the questions related to
the Government Formulary List (GFL) and related policies
(63.57%). Pharmacists obtained a significantly (p=0.005)
higher total mean score (75.89%) than physicians (66.21%).
A positive relationship between the self-rating and actual
overall knowledge was found; the mean total scores vary
significantly between the overall knowledge self-rating
(p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: The results show that healthcare
professionals have appropriate insight of the medicines’
entitlement system and are very interested in improving
their knowledge. Measures to increase their knowledge
should be considered. The weaknesses and opportunities
identified should be addressed to improve the current
entitlement system both for the patients and healthcare
professionals.peer-reviewe
Pharmacist-led diabetic patient monitoring
Objective: To assess pharmacist intervention in
diabetic patients on patient compliance to medication
and blood glucose self-monitoring and to evaluate
patient therapeutic plans through monitoring of glycated
haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.
Method: Thirty type 2 diabetic patients receiving their
medication through the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC)
scheme were assessed. Patient compliance to medication and
to self-blood glucose monitoring was reported before (t=0)
and following pharmacist intervention (t=1). The pharmacist
intervention included an educational session and distribution
of a ‘Diabetes Patient Information Leaflet’. HbA1c testing
was performed and patients with out-of-range values were
referred.
Key findings: Patient compliance to medication
improved following pharmacist intervention, with 24
patients claiming to ‘rarely miss a dose’ of medication prior
to the intervention (t=0), decreasing to 8 patients at t=1. At
t=0, 1 patient reported to ‘never miss a dose’ of medication
which increased to 22 patients at t=1. Fifteen patients
reported to monitor glucose levels less than once a month
at t=0, while 23 patients claimed to monitor their glucose
levels on a weekly basis at t=1. The mean value for HbA1c
was 6.5%. Two patients obtained HbA1c values of 7.0 and
7.1% and were referred.
Conclusion: Pharmacist-led medication reviews,
through monitoring of blood glucose and HbA1c levels and
suggesting optimal pharmacological treatment, can help
diabetic patients use their medications more effectively to
achieve maximal treatment benefits. Point-of-care HbA1c
testing may be an accessible means of assessing glucose control
and may motivate patients who seek to monitor glycaemia
more closely.peer-reviewe
Use of NSAIDs and patient safety
Objective: To assess the pattern of use of nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and propose
methods whereby pharmacists can help to improve patient
safety when these drugs are used.
Method: A psychometrically-evaluated questionnaire
was administered to 261 patients aged 18 and over
who visited 13 different community pharmacies, 1 from
each electoral district in Malta and Gozo, chosen by
stratified random sampling. Information about the sociodemographic
status, symptoms and disease states and the
drugs taken in the past 6 months was collected. Analysis of
data was carried out using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and
the Biomedical Data Package (BMDP ) Software.
Key findings: Results show a high prevalence of
analgesic (>80% per district) and NSAID use (about 50%
per district). The first drug of choice to relieve analgesia
was paracetamol (67.1%) followed by diclofenac (37.2%).
Ibuprofen was the fourth drug of choice (7.3%). About
65% of patients who took diclofenac stated that they
self-prescribe the medication. Statistical analysis of data
showed an association between the use of NSAIDs,
musculoskeletal pain and menstrual pain (both p=0.010).
A number of patients at risk of gastro-intestinal bleeds,
cardiovascular events and those suffering from asthma
reported taking NSAIDs occasionally. The presence of risks
of drug interactions was identified with various drugs.
Conclusion: NSAIDs are overused in Malta and
are often administered indiscriminately. Pharmacist
intervention could ensure the rational and safe use of
NSAIDs. This could be achieved by having a shared protocol
between pharmacists and prescribers for appropriate
prescribing and dispensing and by identifying scenarios
where pharmacist prescribing can be carried out to ensure
that the analgesic used is appropriate for the individual
patient.peer-reviewe
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