48 research outputs found

    Describing interruptions, multi-tasking and task-switching in the community pharmacy: A qualitative study in England

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    Background: There is growing evidence base around interruptions and distractions in the community pharmacy setting. There is also evidence to suggest these practices may be associated with dispensing errors. Up to date, qualitative research on this subject is limited. Objective: To explore interruptions and distractions in the community setting; utilising an ethnographic approach to be able to provide a detailed description of the circumstances surrounding such practices. Setting: Community pharmacies in England, July to October 2011. Method: An ethnographic approach was taken. Non participant, unstructured observations were utilised to make records of pharmacists’ every activities. Case studies were formed by combining field notes with detailed information on pharmacists and their respective pharmacy businesses. Content analysis was undertaken both manually and electronically, utilising NVivo 10. Results: Response rate was 12% (n=11). Over fifteen days, a total of 123 hours and 58 minutes of observations were recorded in 11 separate pharmacies of 11 individual pharmacists. The sample was evenly split by gender (female n=6; male n=5) and pharmacy ownership (independent n=5; multiple n=6). Employment statuses included employee pharmacists (n=6), owners (n=4) and a locum (n=1). Average period of registration as a pharmacist was 19 years (range 5-39 years). Average prescriptions busyness of pharmacies ranged from 2,600 – 24,000 items dispensed per month. Two key themes were: “Interruptions and task-switching” and “distractions and multi-tasking.” All observed pharmacists’ work was dominated by interruptions, task-switches, distractions and multi-tasking, often to manage a barrage of conflicting demands. These practices were observed to be part of a deep-rooted culture in the community setting. Directional work maps illustrated the extent and direction of task switching employed by pharmacists. Conclusions: In this study pharmacists’ working practices were permeated by interruptions and multi-tasking. These practices are inefficient and potentially reduce patient safety in terms of dispensing accuracy

    Surface-sampling mass spectrometry to study proteins and protein complexes

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    This review aims to summarise the current capabilities of surface mass spectrometry (MS) approaches that offer intact protein analysis, and that of non-covalent complexes. Protein analysis is largely achieved via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI), which is in itself a surface analysis approach or solvent-based electrospray ionisation (ESI). Several surface sampling approaches have been developed based on ESI, and those that have been used for intact protein analysis will be discussed below. The extent of protein coverage, top-down elucidation, and probing of protein structure for native proteins and non-covalent complexes will be discussed for each approach. Strategies for improving protein analysis, ranging from sample preparation, and sampling methods to instrument modifications and the inclusion of ion mobility separation in the workflow will also be discussed. The relative benefits and drawbacks of each approach will be summarised, providing an overview of current capabilities

    An exploration of parents’ preferences for foot care in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a possible role for the discrete choice experiment

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    Background: An increased awareness of patients’ and parents’ care preferences regarding foot care is desirable from a clinical perspective as such information may be utilised to optimise care delivery. The aim of this study was to examine parents’ preferences for, and valuations of foot care and foot-related outcomes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).<p></p> Methods: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) incorporating willingness-to-pay (WTP) questions was conducted by surveying 42 parents of children with JIA who were enrolled in a randomised-controlled trial of multidisciplinary foot care at a single UK paediatric rheumatology outpatients department. Attributes explored were: levels of pain; mobility; ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL); waiting time; referral route; and footwear. The DCE was administered at trial baseline. DCE data were analysed using a multinomial-logit-regression model to estimate preferences and relative importance of attributes of foot care. A stated-preference WTP question was presented to estimate parents’ monetary valuation of health and service improvements.<p></p> Results: Every attribute in the DCE was statistically significant (p < 0.01) except that of cost (p = 0.118), suggesting that all attributes, except cost, have an impact on parents’ preferences for foot care for their child. The magnitudes of the coefficients indicate that the strength of preference for each attribute was (in descending order): improved ability to perform ADL, reductions in foot pain, improved mobility, improved ability to wear desired footwear, multidisciplinary foot care route, and reduced waiting time. Parents’ estimated mean annual WTP for a multidisciplinary foot care service was £1,119.05.<p></p> Conclusions: In terms of foot care service provision for children with JIA, parents appear to prefer improvements in health outcomes over non-health outcomes and service process attributes. Cost was relatively less important than other attributes suggesting that it does not appear to impact on parents’ preferences.<p></p&gt

    A specific case in the classification of woods by FTIR and chemometric: discrimination of Fagales from Malpighiales

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    Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic data was used to classify wood samples from nine species within the Fagales and Malpighiales using a range of multivariate statistical methods. Taxonomic classification of the family Fagaceae and Betulaceae from Angiosperm Phylogenetic System Classification (APG II System) was successfully performed using supervised pattern recognition techniques. A methodology for wood sample discrimination was developed using both sapwood and heartwood samples. Ten and eight biomarkers emerged from the dataset to discriminate order and family, respectively. In the species studied FTIR in combination with multivariate analysis highlighted significant chemical differences in hemicelluloses, cellulose and guaiacyl (lignin) and shows promise as a suitable approach for wood sample classification

    Application of chemometric analysis to infrared spectroscopy for the identification of wood origin

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    Chemical characteristics of wood are used in this study for plant taxonomy classification based on the current Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification (APG III System) for the division, class and subclass of woody plants. Infrared spectra contain information about the molecular structure and intermolecular interactions among the components in wood but the understanding of this information requires multivariate techniques for the analysis of highly dense datasets. This article is written with the purposes of specifying the chemical differences among taxonomic groups, and predicting the taxa of unknown samples with a mathematical model. Principal component analysis, t-test, stepwise discriminant analysis and linear discriminant analysis, were some of the chosen multivariate techniques. A procedure to determine the division, class, subclass and order of unknown samples was built with promising implications for future applications of Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy in wood taxonomy classification

    Synthesis and reactivity of group 13 and group 14 dipyrrinato complexes

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    Herein, the synthesis, reactivity, and high pressure crystallographic studies of group 13 and group 14 dipyrrinato complexes is reported. A series of germanium(II) and tin(II) dipyrrinato complexes (3.1–3.14) have been synthesised with varying steric bulk through substitutions of the alpha-position with H, Me or Ph substituent, and at the meso-position with either H, Ph, Mes or Tmp substituent. Synthesis of group 14 dipyrrinato complexes with protons in the alpha- position are achieved via oxidation of the proligands in THF in situ, followed by deprotonation and the addition of 7 equivalents of the metal(II) halide. Whereas germanium(II) and tin(II) dipyrrinato complexes with bulkier alpha-substituents are synthesised via metathesis reactions between the lithium dipyrrinato complex and the metal(II) halide in THF. This lead to the first metal(II) complex stabilised by the ligand dipyrromethene (2.1). Complexes 3.4 and 3.7 were studies by high pressure crystallography. A series of homoleptic and heteroleptic gallium(III) dipyrrinato complexes (2.4-2.8) have been synthesised in a similar manner, via metathesis reactions with the lithium dipyrrinato complex and the metal(III) halide, and by varying the ratio of ligand to halide gives either the homoleptic or heteroleptic gallium(III) dipyrrinato complex. The BODIPYs 2.1-2.3 were synthesised and characterised by 1H, UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy to allow comparison of optical and electrochemical properties of the metal complexes. The germanium dipyrrinato complexes were reacted with a series of compounds to investigate the importance of the lone pair and chloride ion on the fluorescence of germanium dipyrrinato complexes. Reactions with sulfur and organic azides gave germanium(IV) dipyrrinato complexes 4.1-4.4, halide abstraction reactions resulted in germanium (4.6) and indium (4.5) dipyrrinato complexes depending on the halide abstraction agent used. The halide was also exchanged for an azide or tert-butoxide moiety (4.7 and 4.8)

    Synthesis and reactivity of group 13 and group 14 dipyrrinato complexes

    No full text
    Herein, the synthesis, reactivity, and high pressure crystallographic studies of group 13 and group 14 dipyrrinato complexes is reported. A series of germanium(II) and tin(II) dipyrrinato complexes (3.1–3.14) have been synthesised with varying steric bulk through substitutions of the alpha-position with H, Me or Ph substituent, and at the meso-position with either H, Ph, Mes or Tmp substituent. Synthesis of group 14 dipyrrinato complexes with protons in the alpha- position are achieved via oxidation of the proligands in THF in situ, followed by deprotonation and the addition of 7 equivalents of the metal(II) halide. Whereas germanium(II) and tin(II) dipyrrinato complexes with bulkier alpha-substituents are synthesised via metathesis reactions between the lithium dipyrrinato complex and the metal(II) halide in THF. This lead to the first metal(II) complex stabilised by the ligand dipyrromethene (2.1). Complexes 3.4 and 3.7 were studies by high pressure crystallography. A series of homoleptic and heteroleptic gallium(III) dipyrrinato complexes (2.4-2.8) have been synthesised in a similar manner, via metathesis reactions with the lithium dipyrrinato complex and the metal(III) halide, and by varying the ratio of ligand to halide gives either the homoleptic or heteroleptic gallium(III) dipyrrinato complex. The BODIPYs 2.1-2.3 were synthesised and characterised by 1H, UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy to allow comparison of optical and electrochemical properties of the metal complexes. The germanium dipyrrinato complexes were reacted with a series of compounds to investigate the importance of the lone pair and chloride ion on the fluorescence of germanium dipyrrinato complexes. Reactions with sulfur and organic azides gave germanium(IV) dipyrrinato complexes 4.1-4.4, halide abstraction reactions resulted in germanium (4.6) and indium (4.5) dipyrrinato complexes depending on the halide abstraction agent used. The halide was also exchanged for an azide or tert-butoxide moiety (4.7 and 4.8)

    Exploring the impact of evolving health policy on independent pharmacy ownership in England

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    Objective To study the impact of policy and contractual changes on community pharmacy ownership in England. Setting North West of England. Method Twenty nine male pharmacists were interviewed between September 2007 and February. 2008. The study involved semi-structured face to face interviews with theoretically sampled respondents. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Main outcome measure English community pharmacists’ opinions and experiences. Results Practice ownership attracted some respondents to pharmacy as a career. Respondents considered that a combination of legislative and policy changes in combination with contractual alterations had decreased the profitability of independent pharmacy businesses. Additionally, it seemed that community pharmacy corporate groups were able to out bid individual pharmacists for community pharmacy businesses. A proportion of respondents had sold community pharmacy businesses recently, in some cases in response to contractual and policy changes. Some considered that the declining proportion of independent pharmacies was likely to limit patient choice as well as affecting the profession. Some felt this made pharmacy a less attractive career choice. Conclusion It seems that recent policy and contractual changes have favoured the multiple community pharmacy sector in England, resulting in a declining proportion of independent community pharmacies. Policy makers must consider the far reaching consequences of this for pharmacists, the profession and patient choice
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