Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Pharmacy Practice (pharmacy + practice)
Selected AbstractsDo researchers use pharmacists' communication as an outcome measure?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 4 2010A scoping review of pharmacist involvement in diabetes care Abstract Objectives, Pharmacy practice increasingly revolves around obtaining and interpreting information. We investigated whether and how pharmacy practice researchers design their studies in ways that acknowledge verbal communication between pharmacists and patients with diabetes. Methods, We conducted a scoping review of pharmacists' interventions with patients previously diagnosed as having diabetes with the aim of assessing how many used communication (quality and quantity) as an outcome measure. A scoping review identifies gaps in the literature and draws conclusions regarding the overall state of a research programme, but does not necessarily identify gaps in the quality of the studies reviewed. Quality assessment, therefore, was not conducted. MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched from 2003 to 2008 to identify relevant studies published in English. Reference lists of key studies were also scanned to identify additional studies. Randomized controlled trials and related studies of pharmacists verbal communication with diabetic patients were included. Key findings, Some 413 abstracts were identified through database and reference searching. Of these, 65 studies met abstract inclusion criteria and 16 studies met full-text inclusion criteria necessary for this review. The majority of included studies report on patients' health outcomes, beliefs about drugs, self-reported health-related quality-of-life scales or some combination of these measures as indicators of pharmacists' interventions. Nine studies included information on the duration of the initial interaction between pharmacists and patients with diabetes; 13 reported on the number of follow-up contacts with pharmacists, and seven studies indicated that pharmacists participating in interventions had received training in diabetes management or in patient-centred care. No studies included or evaluated transcripts of pharmacist,patient interactions. Summary, Results reveal a gap in the existing literature. In studies of diabetes, pharmacy practice researchers do not appear to consider the influence of pharmacists' communication skills on health outcomes. Future studies should be designed to incorporate a communication research component. [source] The impact of portfolios on health professionals' practice: a literature reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 6 2008Andrzej Jerzy Kostrzewski senior principal pharmacist in education Objectives The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the use of a portfolio and discuss the evidence for the impact of a portfolio on professional practice, in particular pharmacy practice. Method A literature review was performed using databases from health care and education, namely AMED, BEI, CINAHL, Embase, ERIC, IPA, MedLine, PHARM-LINE, Psycinfo, TIMELIT and ZETOCs, as well as a manual search of relevant journals and documents between 1991 and 2007. The search terms included portfolio, progress files and assessment, and these were linked with pharmacy. Articles were included in the review if they had a focus on the portfolio as a contribution to professional practice. Key findings Portfolios have been used in the education field for over decade. A total of 26 out of 1901 papers were identified which examined portfolios in a post-registration setting. The majority of these publications were from medicine (12), with education (six), pharmacy (five) and nursing (three) making up a small proportion. Portfolios were seen as (a) a tool for use in feedback, (b) a useful trigger for reflection and (c) a link between academic learning and practice. A similar set of findings were seen in the educational context. In addition, a portfolio (a) requires motivation to record and (b) can change behaviour towards colleagues. Conclusions There is still confusion about the meaning of a professional portfolio in health care professions. It is suggested that portfolios should be classified according to a modified system from the teaching profession. The evidence that portfolios can contribute to practice is limited. This review suggests the need for more studies into the impact of portfolios on professional practice, in particular in a pharmacy context. [source] Extemporaneous product use in paediatric patients: a systematic reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 1 2008Ms Jennifer A Giam pharmacist, postgraduate student Objective To identify the relative extent of extemporaneous product use reported in the paediatric population and the implications for pharmacy practice. Method A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify the prevalence of extemporaneous product use in paediatric patients including those studies examining both ,off-label' and unlicensed medicine use from which extemporaneous products were separately identified and compared to licensed drug use. Key findings Twenty studies were identified and evaluated in which extemporaneous products prepared by a pharmacy or licensed manufacturer could be identified. Although prescribing of unlicensed drugs and licensed drugs used ,off-label' occurs more frequently in younger children and for more serious conditions, the use of extemporaneous products is consistent across all age groups and therapeutic areas. Studies using pharmacy dispensing records identified details of extemporaneous products more accurately than studies using prescribing records. Despite efforts to improve the availability of suitable licensed medicine products for children, extemporaneously prepared products are still needed to ensure that optimal drug therapy is available to children in accurate and effective doses and dosage forms. Conclusions Paediatric patients have a continuing need for extemporaneously prepared medicines when suitable dose forms are unavailable from manufacturers. Pharmacists require access to stability, compatibility and formulation information, as well as appropriate training to ensure patients are supplied with high-quality, safe and effective preparations. [source] Educating Australian pharmacists about the use of online information in community pharmacy practiceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 2 2005Margaret Bearman Lecturer Objectives Community pharmacists practice in an information technology-rich society, however many have not been educated in internet use for professional practice. The aims of this study were to investigate how community pharmacists use the internet in their practice; to develop an intervention to address their educational needs; and to examine the benefits and weakness of a flexible delivery programme. Method We conducted two focus groups investigating community pharmacists' internet use and education needs. We subsequently developed and provided a four-module educational course on CD ROM, ,Advanced web skills for pharmacists: finding quality on the internet'. In total, 147 pharmacists participated. A survey was conducted to evaluate the impact of the course. Key findings The focus group findings provided a clear rationale for an educational intervention. One-hundred and four pharmacists completed the course. Participating pharmacists were highly positive about the learning experience, in particular the provision of education by flexible delivery. Many reported specific changes to practice. They also described the time-consuming nature of the course as the biggest barrier to further education. Conclusions This project demonstrates the need for community pharmacists to have access to internet education. Flexible CD ROM-based learning provided a successful delivery medium. [source] Improving Australian pharmacists' attitudes to internet use in community pharmacy practiceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 2 2005Margaret Bearman Lecturer Objective The internet now provides a significant part of consumers' healthcare information. While little is known about how community pharmacists regard the internet, there is some suggestion that issues of confidence and motivation may provide significant barriers to appropriate use. The objectives of this study were to measure any changes in pharmacists' attitudes towards the internet after completing a four-module educational course, ,Advanced web skills for pharmacists: finding quality on the internet'. Method We developed a 30-item instrument measuring pharmacists' attitudes toward the internet. Pharmacists completed the survey upon enrolment, then again on completion of the CD ROM course and for a third time three months after completing the course. Key findings The instrument was completed prior to the course by 147 participating pharmacists. The numbers of responses at the end of the course and 3,4 months post-course were 104 and 88 respectively. We established a reliable measure of pharmacists' attitudes to the internet with an appropriate degree of face validity. There was a significant improvement in attitude after course completion (P <0.005) and a further significant improvement in attitude three months after course completion (P <0.01). Conclusions A short distance education programme in internet skills can markedly improve community pharmacists' attitudes to the internet. [source] Pharmacist prescribing in the UK , a literature review of current practice and researchJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2007A. P. Tonna MRPharmS MSc Abstract Objective:, To review the research literature to date on pharmacist prescribing in the United Kingdom (UK) and to explore the main areas of care and practice settings including any benefits and limitations. Findings:, There are two models of pharmacist prescribing in the UK: pharma\cist supplementary prescribing (SP) introduced in 2003, involving a voluntary partnership between the responsible independent prescriber (a physician or a dentist), the supplementary prescriber and the patient, to implement an agreed patient-specific clinical management plan; and pharmacist independent prescribing (IP) introduced in 2006, responsible for the assessment and consequent management, including prescribing of both undiagnosed and diagnosed conditions. There have been narrative reports of pharmacist SP in different health care settings including primary care, community pharmacies, secondary care and at the primary/secondary care interface; published research within these areas of care is conflicting as to which setting is more suitable for pharmacist prescribing. Initial research reports that almost 50% of pharmacist supplementary prescribers self-reported prescribing with both benefits of and barriers to implementing SP. Research involving other healthcare professionals has indicated that encroachment of traditional roles is likely to occur because of the advent of pharmacist prescribing. A small-scale study has concluded that patients are likely to accept pharmacist prescribing favourably, with another study showing pharmacist prescribing leading to improved adherence to guidelines. There is no published research yet available about practices involving pharmacist IP. Discussion:, Most of the literature focuses on pharmacists' perceptions of SP, with little information referring to other stakeholders, including patients. There is also limited published research focusing on clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist SP. Conclusion:, This is a rapidly changing aspect of pharmacy practice in the UK, particularly with the more recent introduction of pharmacist IP. It is likely that this area of research will expand rapidly over the coming years. [source] Ensuring seamless care at hospital discharge: a national surveyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2000J. Sexton MSc BPharm MCPP MRPharmS Aim: To identify the services that hospital pharmacies were providing in 1999 to facilitate seamless care upon patient discharge. Design: Postal questionnaire containing closed and open questions. Subjects and setting: U.K. Trust hospitals. Questionnaire addressed to Chief Pharmacists to be completed by themselves or most appropriate deputy, then returned anonymously in prepaid envelope. Results: The response rate was 73·4% (163/222). 71·2% of responses came from general hospitals and 23·3% from teaching hospitals. Junior medical staff members were responsible for preparing virtually all discharge prescriptions, which were checked against the ward prescription chart by pharmacists in three-quarters of U.K. Trusts. Hospitals used a wide variety of methods to communicate information about medicine regimens to GPs. There was also wide variation in the provision of discharge counselling, telephone ,help-lines' and clear medication records to patients. Few hospitals involved community pharmacies routinely in the discharge process. Conclusion: There is still wide variation within hospital pharmacy practice in meeting the medicines-related needs of patients at discharge. [source] | ||||||||||