2 research outputs found
Development and implementation of blood pressure screening and referral guidelines for German community pharmacists
Involvement of community pharmacists in the detection and control of hypertension improves patient care. However, current European or NorthâAmerican guidelines do not provide specific guidance how to implement collaboration between pharmacists and physicians, especially when and how to refer patients with undetected or uncontrolled hypertension to a physician. The German Society of Cardiology and the ABDA â Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists developed and tested referral recommendations for community pharmacists, embedded in two guideline worksheets. The project included a guidelineâdirected blood pressure (BP) measurement and recommendations when patients should be referred to their physician. A âred flagâ referral within 4 weeks was recommended when SBP was >140 mm Hg or DBP >90 mm Hg (for subjects 160 mm Hg or >90 mm Hg (â„80 years) in undetected individuals, or >130 mm Hg or >80 mm Hg (140 mm Hg or >80 mm Hg (â„65 years) in treated patients. BP was measured in 187 individuals (86 with known hypertension, mean [±SD] age 62 ± 15 years, 64% female, and 101 without known hypertension, 47 ± 16 years, 75% female) from 17 community pharmacies. In patients with hypertension, poorly controlled BP was detected in 55% (n = 47) and were referred. A total of 16/101 subjects without a history of hypertension were referred to their physician because of uncontrolled BP. Structured BP testing in pharmacies identified a significant number of subjects with undetected/undiagnosed hypertension and patients with poorly controlled BP. Community pharmacists could play a significant role in collaboration with physicians to improve the management of hypertension
A cross-sectional study on practices and awareness in Germany
Educational material (EM) addresses particular safety information of medicinal products to healthcare professionals and patients. Since 2016, German national competent authorities label approved EM with a Blue Hand symbol. However, data is scarce regarding its usability as a safety communication tool in pharmacies to improve patient safety. The purpose of this study is to investigate for the first time pharmacistsâ awareness and perception of EM in the setting of community and hospital pharmacies in Germany.
The Drug Commission of German Pharmacists surveyed its nationwide network of 677 community and 51 hospital reference pharmacies, to investigate their awareness and perception of EM. The survey was conducted between January 16 and February 10, 2020 using SurveyMonkey. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.
A total of 373 community and 32 hospital pharmacists participated; response rates were 55.1% and 62.8%, respectively. Overall, 320 (85.8%) community and all hospital pharmacists confirmed awareness of EM. Community and hospital pharmacists fully (n = 172, 46.9% and n = 9, 28.1%) or rather (n = 109, 29.7% and n = 10, 31.3%) agreed that EM for healthcare professionals is suitable to reduce risks of medicinal products. Moreover, 237 (64.7%) community and 17 (53.1%) hospital pharmacists confirmed to inform patients or care facilities about EM. Asking pharmacists on their personal perception of EM, the refinement of readability and accessibility was indicated.
Pharmacists confirm awareness of EM and its suitability as a safety communication tool. However, from a pharmacistsâ perspective, the applicability and readability of EM still needs further adjustment to improve patient safety