Current Issue : January - March Volume : 2016 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 8 Articles
Drug-drug interactions became a common problem at present. The alteration in the effect of one drug as a result of co-administration of another drug is called a drug-drug interaction. The prescriber should be aware of potential interactions while prescribing more than one drug to a patient because the consequences of drug-drug interactions may often lead to drug related morbidity and mortality. In our study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of drug-drug interactions. This was a retrospective study carried out for a period of six months. Case records of all the in-patients from the medical records department were included and the outpatients were excluded from the study. All the collected cases were subjected to check for the interactions by using medscape multi drug interaction checker and were categorized based on the severity of the interaction into minor, significant and serious. Out of 490 cases collected, a total of 342 cases were observed with possible drug-drug interactions. Among the 342 cases, a total of 1433 possible drug-drug interactions were observed. Out of these 1433 possible drug-drug interactions, 92 (6.5%) were found to be serious, 960 (66.9%) were found to be significant and 381 (26.6%) were found to be minor drug-drug interactions. Among the total cases observed with possible drug-drug interactions, 195 (57%) were found to be male and 147(43%) were found to be female. In our study, the prevalence of patients with drug-drug interactions was found to be 0.69 (69%). Although there are a large number of studies delineating the potential drug-drug interactions in India, there is still no evidence of the proper management of clinical effects of those DDIs. Despite this high prevalence of DDIs in in-patients there are solely restricted studies aimed towards reducing the prevalence of these DDIs. Finally more extensive research is required to identify and minimize the factors associated with the occurrence of DDIs and to evaluate and manage the effects of interventions, thus recommending the distinguished role of a clinical pharmacist in this modern health care system....
The need to develop An Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework for Australia\n(the ââ?¬Å?APPFââ?¬Â) was identified during the 2010 review of the competency standards for\nAustralian pharmacists. The Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework Steering Committee, a\ncollaborative profession-wide committee comprised of representatives of ten pharmacy\norganisations, examined and adapted existing advanced practice frameworks, all of which\nwere found to have been based on the Competency Development and Evaluation Group\n(CoDEG) Advanced and Consultant Level Framework (the ââ?¬Å?CoDEG Frameworkââ?¬Â) from the\nUnited Kingdom. Its competency standards were also found to align well with the Domains\nof the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia (the\nââ?¬Å?National Frameworkââ?¬Â). Adaptation of the CoDEG Framework created an APPF that is\ncomplementary to the National Framework, sufficiently flexible to customise for recognising\nadvanced practice in any area of professional practice and has been approved by the\nboards/councils of all participating organisations. The primary purpose of the APPF is to\nassist the development of the profession to meet the changing health care needs of the\ncommunity. However, it is also a valuable tool for assuring members of the public of the\ncompetence of an advanced practice pharmacist and the quality and safety of the services\nthey deliver....
Objective: This article explores the importance of having a vision within pharmacy practice to create a\nLeadership Legacy (L2). This is shown through the study of current literature and data gathered by the researcher\nfrom prominent pharmacists who hold or have held national positions within the profession. The article includes a\nleadership vision activity that pharmacists can implement.\nSetting: The research was conducted through extensive one hour interviews with national and international\npharmacist practitioners. This data was reviewed for themes and the highlights of the results from four U.S.\npharmacists are provided in the article.\nPractice description: Pharmacists who hold or have held national positions within the profession share their\nthoughts on their Leadership Legacy (L2). The information pertaining to their specific vision is incorporated into the\narticle.\nPractice intervention: A vision can guide a pharmacist�s practice and provide ways to navigate goals and\noutcomes within the profession.\nEvaluation: Four US pharmacists were asked about their Leadership Legacy (L2). The aspects of an L2 include\nvision, foundation, intentional focus, meaningful relationships, resiliency, and sustainability. The qualitative data\nand comments provided by the pharmacists explore their ideas and ways they have incorporated a vision into\nprofessional practice.\nResults: The pharmacists interviewed offered insight into how their specific visions, as well as how they\nincorporated it into their professional lives. These highlights include wisdom from the various pharmacists and ways\nto continuously improve the profession in various areas with a vision.\nConclusion: Incorporating a vision into practice can allow a pharmacist to have a focus for the intended future.\nIt is a way to ensure that the practice and profession are on track for better outcomes for patients...
Background: The purpose of this study was to highlight concerns with the current pharmacy practice program\nand suggest aspects for improvement. A further aim of the study was to enhance the educational effects of the\nprogram, from the studentsââ?¬â?¢ point of view.\nMethods: We surveyed 1,607 pharmacy students in Japan who had completed the pharmacy practice program in\neither 2010 or 2011. The students completed a self-descriptive questionnaire comprising 48 questions examining\ntheir experience of the pharmacy practice program.\nResults: For community pharmacy practice, four factors were extracted through exploratory analysis: ââ?¬Å?satisfactory\nlearning (pharmacy),ââ?¬Â ââ?¬Å?support system of the university,ââ?¬Â ââ?¬Å?creation and clarification of the training plan,ââ?¬Â and\nââ?¬Å?dialogue with patients.ââ?¬Â When comparing the mean values for each of the four factors between 2011 and 2012,\nthe 2012 group scored significantly higher (p < 0.001) on ââ?¬Å?support system of the universityââ?¬Â only. In the free\nresponses, it became apparent that, for the joint training held in certain regions, students evaluated such training to\nbe useful and effective. Moreover, we conducted an overall evaluation of the pharmacy practice programs. From\nthe results of McNemarââ?¬â?¢s test, from 2011 to 2012, there was a significant decrease in the number of students who\nwere unable to experience ââ?¬Å?charge system of patientsââ?¬Â at neither hospitals nor pharmacies (p < 0.01).\nConclusions: For community pharmacy practice, there were no significant differences found for the factors, with\nthe exception of the ââ?¬Å?support system of the university.ââ?¬Â In addition, to accomplish the learning objectives, community\npharmacy practice program introduced some initiatives. Furthermore, conducting training at multiple facilities deepens\nstudent learning and assists with the correction of problems, such as the disparities within the teaching system and\nlearning content at each of the training facilities....
Objective: Reporting of medication errors in Malaysia is currently low. Consequently, the objective of the study\nis to explore the perceptions of doctors and pharmacists towards reporting of medication errors and to explore\nperceived factors that could cause or prevent medication errors.\nMethod: The study was a cross-sectional mail survey. All eight primary outpatient care clinics under Kuala Muda\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nthese clinics. The survey questionnaire consisted of two domains ââ?¬â? perceptions of medication errors reporting and\nexploration of perceived preventive factors of medication errors. The Rasch model was used in data analysis.\nResults: A total of sixty-seven questionnaires were received from the eight clinics, giving a response rate of\n!\"\"#$\n\n%\n\n\n&\n\n$\n\n\n$\n\n\n\nmost important preventing factors of medication errors. Pharmacists believed that compliance with the standard\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n%\n&\n\n$\n\n\n\n\nimportant preventing factors. Regarding reporting of medication errors, both doctors and pharmacists had relatively\n\n\n\n\n'\n\n\n\nObjective: Reporting of medication errors in Malaysia is currently low. Consequently, the objective of the study is to explore the perceptions of doctors and pharmacists towards reporting of medication errors and to explore perceived factors that could cause or prevent medication errors.\n\nMethod: The study was a cross-sectional mail survey. All eight primary outpatient care clinics under Kuala Muda District Health Office, Kedah, Malaysia were included. The study targeted all doctors and pharmacists working in these clinics. The survey questionnaire consisted of two domains ââ?¬â? perceptions of medication errors reporting and exploration of perceived preventive factors of medication errors. The Rasch model was used in data analysis.\n\nResults: A total of sixty-seven questionnaires were received from the eight clinics, giving a response rate of 100%. Doctors believed that patientsââ?¬â?¢ knowledge about their medications and counselling by pharmacists are the most important preventing factors of medication errors. Pharmacists believed that compliance with the standard operating procedures, decreasing the heavy workload and patientsââ?¬â?¢ knowledge about their medications are the most important preventing factors. Regarding reporting of medication errors, both doctors and pharmacists had relatively the same perceptions. While they did not agree that their workload interferes with their ability to report medication errors, both pharmacists and doctors moderately agreed that individuals could be blamed when an error is reported in the department.\n\nConclusion: The study findings showed that the workload was not a barrier to medication error reporting.\nMoreover, both doctors and pharmacists stated that prevention of medication errors is a high priority in their work place. However, the fear of blame could prevent some doctors and pharmacists from reporting medication errors.Consequently, reporting medication errors needs be encouraged in the Malaysian primary care setting building on the current initiatives and activities in Malaysia. This could further promote the culture of medication safety and error reporting.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n$\n\n\nerrors, both pharmacists and doctors moderately agreed that individuals could be blamed when an error is reported\nin the department.\nConclusion: \n \n\n \n \n $\n \n \n \n\n\n%\n$\n\n\n\n\n%\n\n\n\n\n\n\nplace. However, the fear of blame could prevent some doctors and pharmacists from reporting medication errors.\nConsequently, reporting medication errors needs be encouraged in the Malaysian primary care setting building on\nthe current initiatives and activities in Malaysia. This could further promote the culture of medication safety and error\nreporting...
Counterfeiting is intensely imbedded in our lives as it is being practiced since ancient times. Counterfeiting not only implies to the clothing, apparels, watches and the software technologies, but also the pharmaceuticals mainly because of their higher market share, ease of production and greater profit margins. The review provides deep insight into the era of counterfeiting, the market share fuelled by the counterfeit medicines and the impact of these counterfeit medicines on the consumers worldwide. Review also focuses on what drives the counterfeiting and what shall be the necessary steps to be taken at the consumer and/or government level in order to reduce the chances of counterfeit drugs illegally entering into the legitimate distribution channels. With this huge impact on revenue and lives of people, manufacturers presently resort to the novel anti-counterfeiting techniques to keep track of their product and distinguish fake from the real ones....
Purpose: In Pakistan, courses in pharmacy practice, which are an essential component of the PharmD curriculum, were\nlaunched with the aim of strengthening pharmacy practice overall and enabling pharmacy students to cope with the\nchallenges involved in meeting real-world healthcare needs. Since very little research has assessed the efficacy of such\ncourses, we aimed to evaluate students� perceptions of pharmacy practice courses and their opinions about whether\ntheir current knowledge of the topics covered in pharmacy practice courses is adequate for future practice. Methods: A\ncross-sectional study was conducted over two months among the senior pharmacy students of two pharmacy colleges.\nA content- and face-validated questionnaire was used to collect data, which were then analysed using SPSS version 20.\nDescriptive analysis and logistic regression were performed. Results: Research in pharmacy practice (30.2%), applied\ndrug information (34.4%), health policy (38.1%), public health and epidemiology (39.5%), pharmacovigilance (45.6%),\nand pharmacoeconomics (47.9%) were the major courses that were covered to the least extent in the PharmD curriculum.\nHowever, hospital pharmacy practice (94.4%), pharmacotherapeutics (88.8%), and community pharmacy practice\n(82.8%) were covered well. Although 94% of students considered these courses important, only 37.2% considered themselves\nto be competent in the corresponding topics. Of the participants, 87.9% agreed that the pharmacy courses in the\npresent curriculum should be redesigned. Conclusion: Our results showed that the pharmacy practice courses in the current\nPharmD curriculum do not encompass some important core subjects. A nationwide study is warranted to further\nestablish the necessity for remodelling pharmacy practice courses in Pakistan....
BACKGROUND:\nCommunity pharmacists require access to consumers' information about their medicines and health-related conditions to make informed decisions regarding treatment options. Open communication between consumers and pharmacists is ideal although consumers are only likely to disclose relevant information if they feel that their privacy requirements are being acknowledged and adhered to.\nOBJECTIVE:\nThis study sets out to explore community pharmacy privacy practices, experiences and expectations and the utilization of available space to achieve privacy.\nMETHODS:\nQualitative methods were used, comprising a series of face-to-face interviews with 25 pharmacists and 55 pharmacy customers in Perth, Western Australia, between June and August 2013.\nRESULTS:\nThe use of private consultation areas for certain services and sensitive discussions was supported by pharmacists and consumers although there was recognition that workflow processes in some pharmacies may need to change to maximize the use of private areas. Pharmacy staff adopted various strategies to overcome privacy obstacles such as taking consumers to a quieter part of the pharmacy, avoiding exposure of sensitive items through packaging, lowering of voices, interacting during pharmacy quiet times and telephoning consumers. Pharmacy staff and consumers regularly had to apply judgement to achieve the required level of privacy.\nDISCUSSION:\nManagement of privacy can be challenging in the community pharmacy environment, and on-going work in this area is important. As community pharmacy practice is increasingly becoming more involved in advanced medication and disease state management services with unique privacy requirements, pharmacies' layouts and systems to address privacy challenges require a proactive approach....
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