The role of a pharmacist in pharmacovigilance system

Introduction: Although they represent an important mediator between patients and National Pharmacovigilance Centre, pharmacists still don't participate enough in system of reporting adverse drug reactions (ADR). By reporting ADR both quality of therapy and quality of patient's life are improving, and pharmaceutical industry is also encouraged to invent and produce new formulations which will be better beared and whose use will significantly improve risk-benefi t ratio. Aim: The aim of this work is that by collecting information about ADRs, based on direct contact of a pharmacist and patients, explain and improve the role of a pharmacist in pharmacovigilance system. Subjects and Methods: Information about adverse reactions were being collected in three private pharmacies in Inđija and in one private pharmacy in Sombor. In period from 20.12.2017.-10.01.2018. pharmacists collected data about adverse reactions of medicines. In period from 11.01.-01.02.2018. patients were additionally informed about unexpected and adverse drug reactions. The standard form for reporting an adverse reaction, which was taken from the site of Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia (ALIMS), was fi lled for each reported case and sent to National Pharmacovigilance Center (NPC). Suspect drugs were classified in categories according to Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical classification (ATC). Results: In first period, there were 19 reported reactions. After additional information given to patients, there were 33 reported adverse reactions. The most numerous adverse drug reactions were reported for the group of cardiovascular drugs (32.7%), the group of anti-infective drugs with systemic effects (15.4%) and for group of drugs which affect nervous system (13.5%). After analyzing reported reactions, according to NPC all of reactions were expected (52), but 3 of them fulfilled criteria of seriousness. Conclusions: Thanks to additional information and direct communication between a pharmacist and patients, reporting unexpected and adverse drug reactions is significantly improving

Coping with the mental health impact of COVID-19: A study protocol for a multinational longitudinal study on coping and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundMental health is challenged due to serious life events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and can differ by the level of resilience. National studies on mental health and resilience of individuals and communities during the pandemic provide heterogeneous results and more data on mental health outcomes and resilience trajectories are needed to better understand the impact of the pandemic on mental health in Europe.MethodsCOPERS (Coping with COVID-19 with Resilience Study) is an observational multinational longitudinal study conducted in eight European countries (Albania, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia). Recruitment of participants is based on convenience sampling and data are gathered through an online questionnaire. gathering data on depression, anxiety, stress-related symptoms suicidal ideation and resilience. Resilience is measured with the Brief Resilience Scale and with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Depression is measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire, Anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and stress-related symptoms with the Impact of Event Scale Revised- Suicidal ideation is assessed using item 9 of the PHQ-9. We also consider potential determinants and moderating factors for mental health conditions, including sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender), social environmental factors (e.g., loneliness, social capital) and coping strategies (e.g., Self-efficacy Belief).DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to multi-nationally and longitudinally determine mental health outcomes and resilience trajectories in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study will help to determine mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic across Europe. The findings may benefit pandemic preparedness planning and future evidence-based mental health policies

Resilience and coping with COVID-19: the COPERS study

A year has passed, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world. Apart from its direct devastating health consequences, voices have been raised about decreasing mental health. [1] The introduction of social distancing measures and lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 led to a sudden change of routine, a drastic change of the physical and social environment (e.g., reduced social contacts and connection), a change of working conditions and economic losses, all are known to be important drivers for mental health and mental disorders