Elderly drug utilization in the community assessed through pharmacy dispensing data

People of 65 years and above now comprise a greater share of the world's population than ever before, and this proportion will increase during the 21st century. In Spain, between 55 and 90% of the elderly consume a drug. This study characterizes the use of drugs by elderly through dispensing data at the community pharmacy. This study was conducted at a community pharmacy in Madrid, Spain in 2011. A retrospective and descriptive consumption study was conducted using computerized pharmacy dispensing records for all pensioner patients. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification code of all drugs dispensed was recorded in this database accordingly and this classification was used. The 10 most widely used ATC subgroups (2nd level) were determined. These most widely used ATC subgroups were examined using ATC-codes of the 5th level, thus mostly consumed drugs were estimated. A total of 40, 177 drugs were dispensed to patients with prescriptions for pensioners. Antiinflammatory and analgesic were by far the most widely used drugs: 37.2% of all elderly used drugs from this subgroup. The use of drugs from the remaining nine subgroups was considerably lower, ranging from 9.0% (drugs for obstructive airway diseases) to 4.5% (antineoplastic and beta blocking agents). Cardiac therapy and psycholeptic were used by 7.8%. Diuretic were used by 7.5% of elderly people, while antibacterial for systemic use and psycoanaleptic were used by 5.6%. Psychoanaleptics was consumed in 5.6%, mostly represented by venlafaxine and citalopram. According to the dispensing data, drug use in this sample is similar to that reported by other studies conducted in Spain and abroad. Majority of the elderly were exposed to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and drugs for obstructive airway diseases. Other ATC-subgroups for treatment of cardiovascular conditions were used. This study demonstrates the need for involvement of pharmacists to ensure efficacy and safety in the use of drugs by sensitive populations such as elderly at the community setting

Prospective of Intercultural Teaching Competencies in Relation to Technology and Neuroeducation

The objective of this research is to analyze the prospective of intercultural teaching competence in relation to technology and neuroeducation. The research design is nonexperimental, descriptive, explanatory and regression. The sample, by convenience, is formed by students from Spanish and foreign universities, in 605 participants. A Likert scale questionnaire, constructed ad hoc, was applied. The quantitative methodology was developed through automatic linear regression modeling and a decision tree. The most relevant results show that this prospective is possible, determining that it is necessary to promote inclusion and to know the different cultures in the classroom, since they are the reason why intercultural teaching competence will undoubtedly develop, on the other hand, if we want to promote intercultural teaching competence, we must adopt neuroeducation as a basis, being of great help to use technological teaching competences, which in turn must have a neuroeducational character

Communicative competence: an initial assessment in student teachers

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar as percepções sobre a competência comunicativa, nas funções de emissor e receptor, dos alunos docentes. Utilizou-se um delineamento descritivo-transversal não experimental com uma amostra de 184 estudantes selecionados por amostragem não probabilística. Um instrumento confiável foi aplicado para identificar as conquistas e limitações nas funções de receptor e emissor por meio da autoavaliação dos sujeitos nas dimensões de subcompetências linguísticas e pragmáticas. Os resultados indicam que as mulheres têm uma percepção um pouco melhor de suas habilidades de comunicação. Os alunos ensino fundamental valorizam,em alguns itens,melhores habilidades linguísticas do que os alunos que estudam na série infantil, além de serem considerados melhores receptores do que emissores. Sugere-se a necessidade de aprofundar a pesquisa e a integração da competência comunicativa nos programas de formação de professores.Este trabajo se propone analizar las percepciones sobre la competencia comunicativa, en las funciones emisor y receptor, de los estudiantes de magisterio. Se usó un diseño no experimental de tipo descriptivo-transversal con una muestra de 184 estudiantes seleccionada mediante un muestreo no probabilístico. Se aplicó un instrumento confiable para identificar los logros y limitaciones en las funciones de receptor y emisor a través de la autovaloración de los sujetos en las dimensiones de las subcompetencias lingüística y pragmática. Los resultados indican que las mujeres tienen una ligera mejor percepción de sus habilidades comunicativas. Los alumnos del grado de maestro de primaria valoran en algunos ítems unas mejores competencias lingüísticas que los alumnos que cursan el grado de infantil, yse consideraren mejores receptores que emisores. Se sugiere la necesidad de profundizar en la investigación e integración de la competencia comunicativa en los programas de formación de maestro.This article aims to analyze the perceptions of communicative competence in the roles of sender and receiver among student teachers. A non-experimental descriptive-cross-sectional design was used, with a sample of 184 students selected through non-probabilistic sampling. A reliable instrument was administered to assess the achievements and limitations in the roles of receiver and sender through self-assessment of the subjects in the dimensions of linguistic and pragmatic sub-competencies. The results indicate that women perceive their communication skills slightly better. In some items, Elementary school students value better linguistic skills than students studying in the preschool series, and they are considered better receivers than senders. Further research and integrating communicative competence into teacher formation programs are suggested

Los desafíos de la educación superior en África frente a los cambios en la práctica farmacéutica: reflexiones desde el contexto lusófono

La educación superior en África encara los desafíos de contribuir al desarrollo sostenible y consecución de los más altos niveles de calidad de vida y desarrollo humano de sus poblaciones. Este artículo se propone identificar algunos fundamentos que sustentan la necesidad de perfeccionar la educación farmacéutica en las universidades africanas a partir del análisis de documentos nacionales e internacionales, normas jurídicas y proyectos curriculares focalizados en el contexto luso africano. Se esboza el currículo de farmacia de Angola y Cabo Verde y el desbalance en el desarrollo de la educación superior en África entre los bloques anglófono, francófono y lusófono. La educación farmacéutica en el concierto de la universidad africana deberá encarar desde la reflexión y la cooperación el desafío de la financiación, la acreditación de la calidad y armonización de sus programas de estudio para formar un farmacéutico capaz de responder a las necesidades sanitarias de los ciudadanos. Palabras clave: África; universidad; retos; educación superior; educación farmacéutica

Medication errors in a Spanish community pharmacy: nature, frequency and potential causes

Background Medication safety has long been recognized as a key issue within the broader patient safety agenda. Errors can occur at any step along the way, from prescribing to the ultimate provision of the drug to the patient. Objective To study the nature, frequency and potential causes of medication errors in one Spanish community pharmacy. Methods A study was conducted over a 13-month period. The data included three types of written reports of incidents: prescribing errors, dispensing near-misses, and dispensing errors. Data for medication errors were collected through the internal records of the pharmacy. Results The sample consisted of 42,000 individual prescriptions, in which there were 2,117 medication errors consisting of 1,127 prescribing errors, 216 dispensing errors, and 774 dispensing near-misses. On the basis of the number of prescriptions handled during the study period, we calculated an error rate of 5.0 % (95 % confidence interval 4.8-5.2 %). The most common cause was illegible prescription (26.2 %). Conclusion This study has shown the incidence of medication errors in the health system and the possibility of detecting them in the community pharmacy. Most of the errors that occurred were reported in the prescribing stage; dispensing errors were reported less frequently

Cultural competence and global pharmacy commitment in Caribbean pharmacy education: Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti

AbstractA lack of cultural competence can negatively affect engagement among students, professionals, and countries worldwide. For the advancement of global health partnerships, pharmacy practice, and education, stakeholders, including pharmacy students, professors, and pharmacists, need to understand the political, cultural, economic, and health conditions affecting populations in all countries involved. This study explores the cultural factors necessary for fostering collaborations, specifically between the pharmacy faculties/schools in Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, and their counterparts around the world. First, it provides general information about Caribbean countries and territories, based on bibliographic research. It then presents cultural and health profiles from Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, aiming to inspire the establishment, enhancement, and support of alliances between these Caribbean nations and others worldwide

Elderly drug utilization in the community assessed through pharmacy dispensing data.

People of 65 years and above now comprise a greater share of the world's population than ever before, and this proportion will increase during the 21st century. In Spain, between 55 and 90% of the elderly consume a drug. This study characterizes the use of drugs by elderly through dispensing data at the community pharmacy. This study was conducted at a community pharmacy in Madrid, Spain in 2011. A retrospective and descriptive consumption study was conducted using computerized pharmacy dispensing records for all pensioner patients. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification code of all drugs dispensed was recorded in this database accordingly and this classification was used. The 10 most widely used ATC subgroups (2nd level) were determined. These most widely used ATC subgroups were examined using ATC-codes of the 5th level, thus mostly consumed drugs were estimated. A total of 40, 177 drugs were dispensed to patients with prescriptions for pensioners. Antiinflammatory and analgesic were by far the most widely used drugs: 37.2% of all elderly used drugs from this subgroup. The use of drugs from the remaining nine subgroups was considerably lower, ranging from 9.0% (drugs for obstructive airway diseases) to 4.5% (antineoplastic and beta blocking agents). Cardiac therapy and psycholeptic were used by 7.8%. Diuretic were used by 7.5% of elderly people, while antibacterial for systemic use and psycoanaleptic were used by 5.6%. Psychoanaleptics was consumed in 5.6%, mostly represented by venlafaxine and citalopram. According to the dispensing data, drug use in this sample is similar to that reported by other studies conducted in Spain and abroad. Majority of the elderly were exposed to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and drugs for obstructive airway diseases. Other ATC-subgroups for treatment of cardiovascular conditions were used. This study demonstrates the need for involvement of pharmacists to ensure efficacy and safety in the use of drugs by sensitive populations such as elderly at the community setting