Contribution of Slovenian community pharmacist counseling to patients’ knowledge about their prescription medicines: a crosssectional study

Aim To assess patients’ knowledge about prescription medicines they are taking and their view on how much community pharmacist counseling contributed to their knowledge. Methods An observational study was designed to obtain information about patients’ knowledge, their view on pharmacist counseling, and physicians’/pharmacists’ provision of information. This study used a specifically designed questionnaire, which served as an interview guide. 400 patients picking up a prescription medicine were structurally interviewed upon leaving one of the 20 randomly chosen Slovenian pharmacies. The interviews took place in November and December 2013. Results Patients were familiar with general information about the medicines and their application (93%-100% of patients). Knowledge about considerations (16% of patients) and adverse effects (20% of patients) was limited. Factors associated with patient knowledge were physicians’/pharmacists’ adequate provision of information (β = 0.259), patient’s age (β = - 0.149), patient’s education (β = 0.100), and prescription type (β = -0.104). Patients’ responses were mostly consistent with the Summaries of Product Characteristics (72%-96% of responses). However, 42% of responses to the question about taking medicine with meals were incorrect. Pharmacists routinely informed the patients about medication purpose, dose, application rate, and timing of medication (in 72%, 89%, 89%, and 77% of cases, respectively). Other information was rarely offered. Patients with new prescriptions received significantly more counseling (pharmacist counseling score 5.9, 5.2, and 4.7 of maximum 10 for new, regular, and refill prescriptions, respectively, P = 0.001) and obtained adequate labeling (69%, 26%, and 17% of patients for new, regular and refill prescriptions, respectively, P < 0.001) than patients with regular or refill prescriptions. Conclusion Patients were familiar with basic information about administration of their prescription medicines, but lacked knowledge about medication safety. This could be attributed to pharmacist counseling, which primarily focused on medicine use instructions

Medication adherence and health-related quality of life among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

This study evaluated medication adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Slovenian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and examined the factors associated with HRQoL. Demographic and therapy information was collected from 65 patients through interviews. The St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale were used to evaluate HRQoL and adherence, resp. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess the association between the factors and HRQoL. The mean St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score (range 0–100, with higher scores indicating lower HRQoL) was 41.4. COPD affected patients’ daily activities more than their social and psychological functioning. Slightly more than 53 % of the patients were optimally adherent, while 12 % were non-adherent. Patients with lower HRQoL had a larger number of medications for concomitant diseases, experienced COPD exacerbation in the last year, and had less education. No statistically significant correlation was found between medication adherence and HRQo

Skeletal muscle and fiber type-specific intramyocellular lipid accumulation in obese mice

In obesity, accumulation of lipid droplets in skeletal muscle fibers and a shift towards fast muscle fiber types can both contribute to insulin resistance. However, it is not yet clear how intramyocellular lipid accumulation and fiber type changes are associated. Therefore, we investigated to what extent the lipids accumulated in a fiber type-specific manner in the functionally similar fast-, intermediate- and slow-twitch gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus muscles, respectively, in high-fat diet-induced obese 54-week-old female C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice (n = 9) compared to control standard-diet-treated lean mice (n = 9). A high-fat diet was administered for 26 weeks. Fiber-type specific intramyocellular lipid content analysis and muscle fiber typing were performed using histochemical analysis of lipids with Sudan Black and immunohistochemical analysis of myosin heavy chains on serial sections of skeletal muscles. Compared to the lean mice, the lipid accumulation was most prominent in types 2a and 2x/d fibers (p < 0.05) of fast-twitch gastrocnemius and intermediate plantaris muscles in the obese mice, while in slow-twitch soleus muscle, there was no significant lipid accumulation in the obese animals. Furthermore, the slow-twitch soleus muscle of the obese mice with no significant change in muscle fiber diameters exhibited the most pronounced shift towards fast-type myosin heavy chain isoform expression (p < 0.05). In contrast, the fast-twitch and intermediate-twitch gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles, respectively, in which the muscle fiber diameters increased (p < 0.05), were more resistant toward myosin heavy chain expression changes. In conclusion, we demonstrated both muscle- and fiber-type specificity in intramyocellular lipid accumulation in obese mice, suggesting that in obesity, similar muscle fiber types in different muscles accumulate lipids differentially

PRACTISE Survey-PhaRmAcist-led CogniTIve Services in Europe: first results

Poster presented at the 10th PCNE Working Conference, 1-4 February 2017, Bled, SloveniaN/

Community pharmacist-led medication review procedures across Europe: characterization, implementation and remuneration

Background: Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) proposed a definition and classification system (type 1, 2a, 2b, 3) for medication review in 2016. However, to date, a description of the implementation and remuneration of such procedures across Europe is lacking. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the medication review procedures and the level of implementation and remuneration in community pharmacies across Europe. Methods: An online survey was developed to characterize medication review procedures (PCNE classification), level of implementation (considering regional or national) and remuneration by a third party. This survey was sent to a purposive sample of three individuals per country, with a working background in community pharmacy, pharmacy practice research, or health policy to ensure reliable data. Data triangulation was used and consensus sought between the responses. Results: Data were received from 34 out of 44 targeted European countries (November 2016–October 2017) [response rate = 77%]. Overall, 55.9% of the countries provided at least one type of medication review as an implemented service or project. Type 1 medication review (based on the medication history) was provided in 13 countries, type 2a (medication history + patient interview) in 14, type 2b (medication history + clinical data) in two, and type 3 medication review (medication history + patient interview + clinical data) in four countries. Ten of the mentioned services or projects were remunerated by a third-party. Conclusion: Substantial heterogeneity was observed across Europe in various aspects, including the procedures, implementation level and remuneration obtained. Type 1 and 2a medication review services seem to be more feasible to implement in the community pharmacy than type 2b and 3. A large number of medication review projects were ongoing in community pharmacies, which suggests that new medication review services could become implemented in the coming years.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PRACTISE - PhaRmAcist-led CogniTIve Services in Europe: preliminary results

Communication presented at the 2nd International Congress of CiiEM: Translational Research and Innovation in Human and Health Sciences. 11-13 June 2017, Campus Egas Moniz, Caparica, PortugalN/

Skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain expression and 3D capillary network changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic female mice

It is not well-understood how type 1 diabetes (T1DM) affects skeletal muscle histological phenotype, particularly capillarisation. This study aimed to analyze skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain (MyHC) fibre type changes and 3D capillary network characteristics in experimental T1DM mice. Female C57BL/6J-OlaHsd mice were categorized into streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic (n = 12) and age-matched non-diabetic controls (n =12). The muscle fibre phenotype of the soleus, gluteus maximus, and gastrocnemius muscles were characterized based on the expression of MyHC isoforms, while capillaries of the gluteus maximus were assessed with immunofluorescence staining, confocal laser microscopy and 3D image analysis. STZ-induced diabetic mice exhibited elevated glucose levels, reduced body weight, and prolonged thermal latency, verifying the T1DM phenotype. In both T1DM and non-diabetic mice, the gluteus maximus and gastrocnemius muscles predominantly expressed fast-twitch type 2b fibers, with no significant differences noted. However, the soleus muscle in non-diabetic mice had a greater proportion of type 2a fibers and comparable type 1 fiber densities (26.2 ± 14.6% vs 21.9 ± 13.5%) relative to diabetic mice. T1DM mice showed reduced fiber diameters (P = 0.026), and the 3D capillary network analysis indicated a higher capillary length per muscle volume in the gluteus maximus of diabetic mice compared to controls (P < 0.05). Overall, T1DM induced significant changes in the skeletal muscle, including shifts in MyHC fibre types, decreased fibre diameters, and increased relative capillarisation, possibly due to muscle fibre atrophy. Our findings emphasize the superior detail provided by the 3D analytical method for characterizing skeletal muscle capillary architecture, highlighting caution in interpreting 2D data for capillary changes in T1DM

TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICE OF CAPTURING AND PRODUCING WEB STREAM VIDEO

Spletni pretočni video spada med multimedijske vsebine, ki v zadnjem času doživljajo še posebej hiter razvoj. Vse večjo uveljavitev spletnega pretočnega videa omogočata dosegljivost zmogljivejše strojne opreme in širokopasovnih spletnih povezav. V zadnjih letih so se uveljavile video pretočne vsebine z nekoliko nižjo kvaliteto, danes pa se vse bolj uveljavljajo tudi spletne pretočne video vsebine višje ločljivosti. V diplomski nalogi smo izvedli primerjavo različnih vrst pretočnega videa in ugotavljali zadovoljstvo uporabnikov s kvaliteto posamezne vrste videa. Diplomska naloga je razdeljena na dva dela. V teoretičnem delu so predstavljene najbolj uveljavljene tehnologije za zajem, obdelavo, distribucijo in predvajanje spletnih pretočnih vsebin. Predstavljeni so tudi najpogostejši formati spletnih pretočnih vsebin. V empiričnem delu naloge smo uporabnike prosili, da primerjajo štiri spletne pretočne videe različnih kvalitet. Prosili smo jih, da po ogledu videov le-te primerjajo in ocenijo njihovo kvaliteto po vnaprej določenih parametrih. Rezultati kažejo, da je po mnenju večine uporabnikov obstoječa tehnologija že primerna za ogled pretočnih video vsebin visoke ločljivosti.Streaming video is one of those multimedia features that have recently been experiencing considerable development. This is directly related with the improved availability and affordability of better computer hardware and broadband internet connections. Over the past few years low definition streaming video was the standardtoday, however, high-definition streaming video is becoming more and more common. The diploma paper features a comparison of various types of streaming video and measures the users\u27 satisfaction with the quality of a particular video. The diploma paper is divided into two parts. The theoretical part features the most established technology for capturing, processing, distribution and playing of streaming video. It also presents the most common formats of streaming video. In the empirical part we asked the users to compare four streaming videos of various qualities. We asked them to compare them and asses their quality according to the previously-defined parameters. Results show that most users consider the existing streaming video technology to be good enough for watching high-definition videos

Translation and validation of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) into the Slovenian language

Background The European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) is a self-assessment tool for standardised measurement of health literacy. Aim To translate HLS-EU-Q47 into the Slovenian language and to investigate its reliability and validity in Slovenia. Method HLS-EU-Q47 was translated into Slovenian, back-translated, and subjected to a pilot test. The accepted Slovenian version of the questionnaire was mailed to 2500 randomly selected adult residents of the Republic of Slovenia. Reliability was examined using Cronbach’s alpha for the 1-, 3-, 4-, and 12-factor models addressing health literacy, three main health contexts, four health information processing competencies, and 12 combinations, respectively. Validity was explored with confirmatory factor analysis, univariate analysis, and multiple linear regression. Results A total of 517 responses were collected (21% response rate). The highest Cronbach’s alpha was obtained for the 1-factor model (0.950), followed by the 3-, 4-, and 12-factor models. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the 12-factor model provided the most valid results (CFI 0.812RMSEA 0.067, CI 0.065 to 0.070), followed by the 3-, 4-, and 1-factor models. In the multiple regression model, only the association between self-assessment of health and the health literacy index was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion The Slovenian version of HLS-EU-Q47 is a reliable instrument for measuring health literacy. All models of the questionnaire showed reasonable model fit, but none fully satisfied all validity criteria. Respondents differentiated better between the three main health contexts (health care, disease prevention, and health promotion) than the four health information processing competencies (access, understand, appraise, and apply)