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Farmacia Hospitalaria : Organo Oficial... 2023
Topics: Humans; Pharmacy; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacies
PubMed: 36801093
DOI: 10.1016/j.farma.2023.01.005 -
La Tunisie Medicale Dec 2023Access to medication is a major public health issue worldwide and can be considered as an indicator of the quality of public health services in a country.
INTRODUCTION
Access to medication is a major public health issue worldwide and can be considered as an indicator of the quality of public health services in a country.
AIM
To evaluate patient satisfaction with the services provided by the external pharmacy in the drug distribution circuit in public healthcare facilities in Tunisia.
METHODS
To achieve this goal, a satisfaction survey was conducted on a sample of 200 patients at the external pharmacies of two university hospitals in Tunis, namely the La Rabta University Hospital and the Charles Nicolle University Hospital.
RESULTS
This survey revealed that despite the efforts made by the state and the importance of the drug market in Tunisia, 80% of patients reported difficulties in finding their medication in the healthcare facilities where they consult, and more than 60% are forced to obtain them from private pharmacies. The survey also highlighted a contrast between the quality of services provided by the external hospital pharmacy and those of private pharmacies. Indeed, only 25% of the surveyed patients were satisfied with the services provided by the external pharmacy. Although this satisfaction was conditioned by several factors, the main concern of the patients remained the availability of medication. In fact, with little difference in terms of care, 80.5% of the participants favored the idea of transferring the services provided by the external pharmacy to private pharmacies.
CONCLUSION
In summary, this study has highlighted the need to rethink the drug supply and distribution system and to explore alternative approaches to significantly improve access to medication and the quality of services provided by external pharmacies in Tunisian public hospitals.
Topics: Humans; Pharmacies; Tunisia; Pharmacy; Delivery of Health Care; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38477198
DOI: No ID Found -
Research in Social & Administrative... Sep 2019Control of blood glucose and a reduced risk of complications are important treatment goals in diabetes. Medication non-adherence can influence the outcome of diabetes.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Control of blood glucose and a reduced risk of complications are important treatment goals in diabetes. Medication non-adherence can influence the outcome of diabetes. Involvement of a pharmacist in diabetes care might help patients to achieve better treatment outcomes. Existing literature reviews have focused on a limited number of interventions and outcome measures, and have involved different healthcare professionals. None of the previous reviews have used a standardized effect size to compare the effects of different pharmacist-led interventions and different outcome measures.
OBJECTIVE
To review pharmacist-led interventions to improve medication adherence in patients with diabetes and to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on medication adherence.
METHODS
Six databases were systematically searched between March and September 2017 for randomized controlled trials: PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE, CINAHL, JSTOR, and Web of Science. The outcome measures used were: medication adherence, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post-prandial blood glucose (PPG), or random blood glucose (RBG). Cohen's d, a standardized effect size, enabled a comparison of studies with different outcome measures. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the studies.
RESULTS
Fifty-nine studies were included in this review. Pharmacist-led interventions enhanced outcomes in patients with diabetes (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.68; 95% CI -0.79, -0.58; p < 0.001). Sub-group analysis by intervention strategy, the type of intervention and outcome measures produced similar results. Further analysis showed that education, printed/digital material, training/group discussion, were more effective than other interventions.
CONCLUSION
This finding supports the role of the pharmacist in diabetes care to enhance medication adherence.
Topics: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Medication Adherence; Pharmacies; Pharmacists; Professional Role; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 30685443
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.09.021 -
Research in Social & Administrative... Dec 2021Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) is a scientific and practical human-centered discipline that studies and improves human performance in sociotechnical systems. HFE in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) is a scientific and practical human-centered discipline that studies and improves human performance in sociotechnical systems. HFE in pharmacy promotes the human-centered design of systems to support individuals and teams performing medication-related work.
OBJECTIVE
To review select HFE methods well suited to address pharmacy challenges, with examples of their application in pharmacy.
METHODS
We define the scope of HFE methods in pharmacy as applications to pharmacy settings, such as inpatient or community pharmacies, as well as medication-related phenomena such as medication safety, adherence, or deprescribing. We identify and present seven categories of HFE methods suited to widespread use for pharmacy research and clinical practice.
RESULTS
Categories of HFE methods applicable to pharmacy include work system analysis; task analysis; workload assessment; medication safety and error analysis; user-centered and participatory design; usability evaluation; and physical ergonomics. HFE methods are used in three broad phases of human-centered design and evaluation: study; design; and evaluation. The most robust applications of HFE methods involve the combination of HFE methods across all three phases. Two cases illustrate such a comprehensive application of HFE: one case of medication package, label, and information design and a second case of human-centered design of a digital decision aid for medication safety.
CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacy, including the places where pharmacy professionals work and the multistep process of medication use across people and settings, can benefit from HFE. This is because pharmacy is a human-centered sociotechnical system with an existing tradition of studying and analyzing the present state, designing solutions to problems, and evaluating those solutions in laboratory or practice settings. We conclude by addressing common concerns about the implementation of HFE methods and urge the adoption of HFE methods in pharmacy.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Ergonomics; Humans; Pharmacies; Pharmacy Research
PubMed: 33985892
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.04.024 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacies; Pharmacy; Policy
PubMed: 35619821
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.901847 -
Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official... Mar 2022The sale of tobacco products within American pharmacies has generated controversy for several decades, leading two U.S. states and 45 municipalities to adopt...
INTRODUCTION
The sale of tobacco products within American pharmacies has generated controversy for several decades, leading two U.S. states and 45 municipalities to adopt tobacco-free pharmacy policies. While previous research has reported cheaper cigarette prices in pharmacies, compared to other retailers, little is known about cigarette promotions in pharmacies, which are associated with increased youth smoking and unplanned cigarette purchases among adults.
AIMS AND METHODS
Between May and August 2015, trained data collectors conducted store audits at 2128 tobacco retailers located within 97 U.S. counties in 40 states. Observations were made for three types of cigarette promotions: special price (e.g., $0.30 off/pack), multi-pack promotions (e.g., buy one pack, get one free), and cross-product promotions (e.g., buy a pack of cigarettes and a get free can of snus). We calculated weighted estimates of the proportion of pharmacies and other retailer types with cigarette promotions and used weighted multivariable logistic regression to compare cigarette promotions by tobacco retailer type, accounting for clustering at the county level and controlling for county-level demographic characteristics.
RESULTS
Cigarette promotions were observed in 94.0% of pharmacies, more than any other retailer type (e.g., convenience stores: 82.0%, tobacco stores: 77.0%). All retailer types had lower odds of promotions for Marlboro, Newport, Camel, menthol, or any interior cigarette promotion, compared to pharmacies.
CONCLUSIONS
Nearly all pharmacies offered in-store cigarette promotions and pharmacies had greater odds of offering cigarette promotions than all other retailer types. Whether voluntarily or legislatively, tobacco-free pharmacies would eliminate a prevalent retail source of cigarette promotions.
IMPLICATIONS
This is the first known national study to examine prevalence of cigarette promotions in U.S. pharmacies compared to other retailer types. Nearly all pharmacies offered in-store cigarette promotions and pharmacies had greater odds of offering cigarette promotions than all other retailer types. These findings underscore the inherent contradiction of pharmacies serving both as an important component of the health care system, but also as purveyors and promotors of addictive and lethal tobacco products. Whether voluntarily or legislatively, tobacco-free pharmacy policies would eliminate a prevalent retail source of cigarette promotions.
Topics: Adolescent; Commerce; Humans; Marketing; Pharmacies; Tobacco Industry; Tobacco Products; United States
PubMed: 34624896
DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntab204 -
British Dental Journal Aug 2020
Topics: Pharmacies; Pharmacists; Pharmacy; Trust
PubMed: 32811913
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-2010-z -
JAMA Network Open Aug 2023Pharmacy deserts have increased, potentially affecting patient access and care. Historically, telepharmacies have been used to reduce pharmacy deserts to restore access,...
IMPORTANCE
Pharmacy deserts have increased, potentially affecting patient access and care. Historically, telepharmacies have been used to reduce pharmacy deserts to restore access, but states frequently restrict their operation.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze whether telepharmacy policy is associated with pharmacy deserts and access to pharmacy services.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This cohort study analyzed pharmacy location and census data from 2016 through 2019 for US states with new telepharmacy policies. Nearby control states were used for comparison in a pretest-posttest nonequivalent group design. Statistical analysis was performed from January 2022 to July 2023.
EXPOSURE
Intervention states were selected if a change in telepharmacy policy was adopted in 2017 or 2018.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Pharmacy deserts were defined as any geographic area located at least 10 miles from the nearest pharmacy. Primary outcomes included the change in number of telepharmacies, pharmacy deserts, and population in pharmacy deserts. Secondary outcomes included the percentage of telepharmacies located in medically underserved areas or populations (MUA/Ps), and the association between a telepharmacy opening nearby and the transition of a pharmacy desert into a nonpharmacy desert.
RESULTS
Twelve US states were included in the study (8 intervention states, 4 control states). Intervention states experienced an increase in the mean number of telepharmacies to 7.25 with a range of 4 (Arizona, Indiana) to 14 (Iowa), but control states remained at a mean of 0.25 telepharmacies with a range of 0 to 1 (Kansas). Compared with controls, intervention states experienced a 4.5% (95% CI, 1.6% to 7.4%) decrease in the percentage of places defined as pharmacy deserts (P = .001) and an 11.1% (95% CI, 2.4% to 22.6%) decrease in the population in a pharmacy desert (P = .03). Telepharmacies were more likely to be located in a MUA/P than traditional pharmacies (preperiod in MUA/P: 63.2% of telepharmacies [12 of 19] vs 33.9% of traditional pharmacies [5984 of 17 511]; P = .01; postperiod in MUA/P: 62.7% of telepharmacies [37 of 59] vs 33.7% of traditional pharmacies [5998 of 17 800]; P < .001). When a telepharmacy was established in pharmacy deserts, 37.5% (30 of 80) no longer met the study's definition of a pharmacy desert the following year. In contrast, only 1.8% of places (68 of 3892) where a nearby telepharmacy did not open experienced this change (χ21=416.4; P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this cohort study, intervention states experienced a reduced population in pharmacy deserts, suggesting an association with new telepharmacy openings. States aiming to improve pharmacy access might consider less restrictive telepharmacy policies to potentially elicit greater patient outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Pharmacies; Cohort Studies; Pharmaceutical Services; Medically Underserved Area; Pharmacy
PubMed: 37578793
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.28810 -
BMC Public Health Sep 2023Social determinants of health are drivers of vaccine inequity and lead to higher risks of complications from infectious diseases in under vaccinated communities. In many... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
Social determinants of health are drivers of vaccine inequity and lead to higher risks of complications from infectious diseases in under vaccinated communities. In many countries, pharmacists have gained the rights to prescribe and administer vaccines, which contributes to improving vaccination rates. However, little is known on how they define and target vulnerable communities.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to describe how vulnerable communities are targeted in community pharmacies.
METHODS
We performed a systematic search of the Embase and MEDLINE database in August 2021 inspired by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocols (PRISMA ScR). Articles in English, French or Spanish addressing any vaccine in a community pharmacy context and that target a population defined as vulnerable were screened for inclusion.
RESULTS
A total of 1039 articles were identified through the initial search, and 63 articles met the inclusion criteria. Most of the literature originated from North America (n = 54, 86%) and addressed influenza (n = 29, 46%), pneumococcal (n = 14, 22%), herpes zoster (n = 14, 22%) or human papilloma virus vaccination (n = 14, 22%). Lifecycle vulnerabilities (n = 48, 76%) such as age and pregnancy were most often used to target vulnerable patients followed by clinical factors (n = 18, 29%), socio-economical determinants (n = 16, 25%) and geographical vulnerabilities (n = 7, 11%). The most frequently listed strategy was providing a strong recommendation for vaccination, promotional posters in pharmacy, distributing leaflet/bag stuffers and providing staff training. A total of 24 barriers and 25 facilitators were identified. The main barriers associated to each vulnerable category were associated to effective promotional strategies to overcome them.
CONCLUSION
Pharmacists prioritize lifecycle and clinical vulnerability at the expense of narrowing down the definition of vulnerability. Some vulnerable groups are also under targeted in pharmacies. A wide variety of promotional strategies are available to pharmacies to overcome the specific barriers experienced by various groups.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Pharmacies; Vaccination; Pneumococcal Vaccines; Influenza Vaccines; Databases, Factual
PubMed: 37741997
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16601-y -
Farmacia Hospitalaria : Organo Oficial... 2023
Topics: Humans; Pharmacy; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacies
PubMed: 36963995
DOI: 10.1016/j.farma.2023.03.001