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Journal of the American College of... Nov 2015Team-based cardiovascular care, including the use of clinical pharmacists, can efficiently deliver high-quality care. This Joint Council Perspectives paper from the... (Review)
Review
Team-based cardiovascular care, including the use of clinical pharmacists, can efficiently deliver high-quality care. This Joint Council Perspectives paper from the Cardiovascular Team and Prevention Councils of the American College of Cardiology provides background information on the clinical pharmacist's role, training, certification, and potential utilization in a variety of practice models. Selected systematic reviews and meta-analyses, highlighting the benefit of clinical pharmacy services, are summarized. Clinical pharmacists have a substantial effect in a wide variety of roles in inpatient and ambulatory settings, largely through optimization of drug use, avoidance of adverse drug events, and transitional care activities focusing on medication reconciliation and patient education. Expansion of clinical pharmacy services is often impeded by policy, legislation, and compensation barriers. Multidisciplinary organizations, including the American College of Cardiology, should support efforts to overcome these barriers, allowing pharmacists to deliver high-quality patient care to the full extent of their education and training.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Humans; Medication Adherence; Pharmacists; Pharmacy Service, Hospital
PubMed: 26541925
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.09.025 -
Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the... 2022Anti-doping (AD) education for athletes is mainly one-way and through passively attended lectures. As such, learning about prohibited substances and highly technical... (Review)
Review
Anti-doping (AD) education for athletes is mainly one-way and through passively attended lectures. As such, learning about prohibited substances and highly technical doping rules is often difficult for athletes. Therefore, having athletes passively attending lectures is not enough to prevent unintentional doping violations caused by medicines and supplements. Therefore, it is important for athletes to acquire knowledge about individual prohibited substances as well as active learning and practical knowledge about AD measures. "Doping Guardian" is an educational card game that has been developed to help prevent unintentional doping violations. Participants (pharmacists) of this game can learn how to use medicines and supplements from an AD perspective while simulating the life of an athlete. This presentation will provide an overview of this card game and how it has been used to date.
Topics: Athletes; Dietary Supplements; Doping in Sports; Games, Experimental; Health Education; Humans; Knowledge; Pharmacists; Problem-Based Learning; Sports
PubMed: 35110446
DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.21-00169-3 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2020Severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in China in December 2019 which was later declared to be a public... (Review)
Review
Severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in China in December 2019 which was later declared to be a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). This virus proved to be very contagious resulting in life-threatening respiratory intricacies posing overall public health and governance challenges. Amid the coronavirus pandemic and the unprecedented increase in healthcare demands, only inventive and adaptive practice among healthcare professionals is the need of the hour. Pharmacy services are an important mainstay in the public health and have considerable potential to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Pharmacists working in several localities and health facilities are linked to patients either directly or indirectly. They can act swiftly in public health response such as drafting professional service guidance to pharmacists working in various healthcare facilities, ensuring effective medicine supply system, monitoring and resolving drug shortage issues, establishing and promoting remote pharmacy services, counseling the public on infection prevention basics, educating about proper use of personal protective equipment, discouraging self-medication, participating in clinical trials, small-scale manufacturing of sanitizers and disinfectants, busting the prevailing myths, and conducting drug evaluation and active surveillance. These interventions will help ease unprecedented burden on healthcare facilities during the ongoing pandemic and eventually will add value to patients and the healthcare system. The current manuscript accentuates the potential roles and activities that pharmacists can initiate in various healthcare facilities to help in relieving pressure on the overwhelmed healthcare system. The information and suggestions offered in this review could help in the restructuring of existing pharmacy services by governments, public health bodies, and policy makers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, this manuscript will underscore any unrealized potential among pharmacists working in various sectors including community, hospital, industry, and drug regulatory authorities.
Topics: COVID-19; China; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Pharmacists; Professional Role; Public Health; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33364224
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.561924 -
Advances in Therapy Oct 2016In order for the global healthcare system to remain sustainable, healthcare spending needs to be reduced, and self-treating certain conditions under the guidance of a... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
In order for the global healthcare system to remain sustainable, healthcare spending needs to be reduced, and self-treating certain conditions under the guidance of a pharmacist provides a means of accomplishing this goal. This article was developed to describe global healthcare trends affecting self-care with a specific focus on the role of the pharmacist in facilitating over-the-counter (OTC) medication management. Potential healthcare-related economic benefits associated with the self-care model are outlined. The importance of the collaboration between healthcare providers (HCPs), including specialists, primary care providers, and pharmacists, is also discussed. The evolving role of the pharmacist is examined and recommendations are provided for ways to successfully engage with other HCPs and consumers to optimize the pharmacist's unique qualifications and accessibility in the community. Using the management of frequent heartburn with an OTC proton-pump inhibitor as a model, the critical role of the pharmacist in patient self-treatment of certain symptoms will be discussed based on the World Gastroenterology Organization's recently published guidelines for the community-based management of common gastrointestinal symptoms. As the global healthcare system continues to evolve, self-care is expected to have an increasing role in treating certain minor ailments, and pharmacists are at the forefront of these changes. Pharmacists can guide individuals in making healthy lifestyle choices, recommend appropriate OTC medications, and educate consumers about when they should consult a physician.
FUNDING
Pfizer Inc.
Topics: Cooperative Behavior; Humans; Nonprescription Drugs; Patient Care Management; Pharmacists; Professional Role; Self Care
PubMed: 27535290
DOI: 10.1007/s12325-016-0395-5 -
Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the... 2016Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center has formed a heart failure team. Here, I report on the role of the pharmacist in this heart failure team at this... (Review)
Review
Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center has formed a heart failure team. Here, I report on the role of the pharmacist in this heart failure team at this hospital. Patient education is one of the roles of the pharmacist. It is the pharmacist's responsibility to improve medication adherence among patients. For this purpose, the pharmacist uses a brochure created by the heart failure team. The brochure outlines drug information in an easy-to-understand manner. The roles of a pharmacist were addressed in a lecture presented to the heart failure team. These lectures helped improve the pharmaceutical knowledge of the team, allowing the team to prescribe medicines more safely and appropriately. Maintaining co-operation between hospital and community pharmacies is another important role of a hospital pharmacist. This allows patients to be properly educated by pharmacists even after discharge from the hospital.
Topics: Community Pharmacy Services; Drug Information Services; Heart Failure; Humans; Intersectoral Collaboration; Japan; Patient Care Team; Patient Compliance; Patient Education as Topic; Pharmacists; Pharmacy Service, Hospital; Professional Role
PubMed: 27477729
DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.15-00271-3 -
Research in Social & Administrative... 2017Much has been studied in regard to non-prescription medicines (NPMs), but the impact of greater emphasis toward patient self-selection of such agents is still not well... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Much has been studied in regard to non-prescription medicines (NPMs), but the impact of greater emphasis toward patient self-selection of such agents is still not well understood, and evidence in the literature might be equivocal.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to examine whether or not pharmacist interventions are important in the sale of NPMs and to summarize the evidence of pharmacists' contribution in maintaining patient safety and improving the quality of consultations involving NPMs.
METHODS
Seven online databases were searched to identify the literature on studies conducted within the UK and in countries comparable to the UK reporting on consultations and selling of NPMs published between 1980 and 2013. All study designs except for quantitative surveys were eligible for inclusion into the review. The data extraction and quality assessment were performed according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. The data extracted from the studies were analyzed and presented qualitatively.
RESULTS
Eighty-three studies from an original 12,879 citations were included in this review. Just under half of the studies were published between 2000 and 2009 (n = 38; 46%). Thirty-three (44%) of the studies were conducted in the UK. The review showed that in terms of the contribution of community pharmacy staff in consultations for NPMs, non-pharmacist staff dealt with a large proportion of the consultations and pharmacists were usually involved in the consultation through referral from non-pharmacist staff member. Counseling was not consistently offered to everyone. Where counseling was provided it was not always of sufficient quality. Consultations were performed much better when symptoms were presented compared to when people made a direct product request. Pharmacists were reported to conduct better consultations than non-pharmacist staff. There was evidence to suggest that where counseling was appropriately provided this afforded the person a safe environment to utilize their NPMs.
CONCLUSIONS
Seeking methods to develop better engagement with customers accessing pharmacy services for NPMs is necessary to enhance the interaction between these two parties. Efforts to enhance the community pharmacy environment to bring about a more positive experience for people using pharmacy is needed at present and will be important if the model for the selection of NPMs is modified in the UK. More studies are needed to allow a better understanding of the impact self-selection may have on patient safety in the community pharmacy context.
Topics: Commerce; Community Pharmacy Services; Counseling; Humans; Nonprescription Drugs; Pharmacists; Professional Role; Self Care; United Kingdom
PubMed: 27033426
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.02.010 -
American Journal of Pharmaceutical... Mar 2013The role of the pharmacist as a "communicator" of information and advice between patients, other healthcare practitioners, and the community is recognized as a vital... (Review)
Review
The role of the pharmacist as a "communicator" of information and advice between patients, other healthcare practitioners, and the community is recognized as a vital component of the responsibilities of a practicing pharmacist. Pharmacy education is changing to reflect this, although the difficulty is in designing a curriculum that is capable of equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills, using activities that are effective in promoting communication competency. The objective of this review was to identify published, peer-reviewed articles concerning communication training in pharmacy education programs, and describe which communication skills the structured learning activities aimed to improve and how these learning activities were assessed. A systematic literature search was conducted and the articles found were analyzed and divided into categories based on specific communication skills taught and type of learning activity used. Oral interpersonal communication skills targeted at patients were the most common skill-type described, followed by clinical writing skills. Common teaching methods included simulated and standardized patient interactions and pharmacy practice experience courses. Most educational interventions were assessed by subjective measures. Many interventions were described as fragments, in isolation of other learning activities that took place in a course, which impedes complete analysis of study results. To succeed in communication training, integration between different learning activities and progression within pharmacy educations are important.
Topics: Communication; Curriculum; Education, Pharmacy; Educational Measurement; Humans; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacists; Professional Competence; Professional Role; Students, Pharmacy
PubMed: 23519011
DOI: 10.5688/ajpe77236 -
The British Journal of General Practice... Mar 2020Many UK GP practices now employ a practice pharmacist, but little is known about how GPs and pharmacists work together to optimise medications for complex patients with...
BACKGROUND
Many UK GP practices now employ a practice pharmacist, but little is known about how GPs and pharmacists work together to optimise medications for complex patients with multimorbidity.
AIM
To explore GP and pharmacist perspectives on collaborative working within the context of optimising medications for patients with multimorbidity.
DESIGN AND SETTING
A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with GPs and pharmacists working in the West of England, Northern England, and Scotland.
METHOD
Thirteen GPs and 10 pharmacists were sampled from practices enrolled in the 3D trial (a complex intervention for people with multimorbidity). Participants' views on collaborative working were explored with interviews that were audiorecorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. Saturation of data was achieved with no new insights arising from later interviews.
RESULTS
GPs from surgeries that employed a pharmacist tended to value their expertise more than GPs who had not worked with one. Three key themes were identified: resources and competing priorities; responsibility; and professional boundaries. GPs valued pharmacist recommendations that were perceived to improve patient safety, as opposed to those that were technical and unlikely to benefit the patient. Pharmacists who were not known to GPs felt undervalued and wanted feedback from the GPs about their recommendations, particularly those that were not actioned.
CONCLUSION
A good working relationship between the GP and pharmacist, where each profession understood the other's skills and expertise, was key. The importance of face-to-face meetings and feedback should be considered in future studies of interdisciplinary interventions, and by GP practices that employ pharmacists and other allied health professionals.
Topics: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Community Pharmacy Services; Cooperative Behavior; England; Female; General Practice; General Practitioners; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pharmacists; Primary Health Care; Qualitative Research; Scotland
PubMed: 32041767
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X708197 -
American Journal of Pharmaceutical... Sep 2019To use a comprehensive job analysis to identify and describe the roles and responsibilities of pharmacist preceptors. After gathering input from local pharmacist...
To use a comprehensive job analysis to identify and describe the roles and responsibilities of pharmacist preceptors. After gathering input from local pharmacist preceptors, a task inventory questionnaire was created that included 92 tasks divided among nine domains related to the job of preceptors. The task inventory questionnaire was distributed to expert pharmacist preceptors in the United States, which were those who had been recognized for excellence in precepting by a national organization. Participants evaluated each task and determined whether they were responsible for the task, as well as the importance, difficulty, and frequency of each task. A composite score for each task was calculated based on a unique combination of these ratings. Descriptive statistics summarized the findings for each task and across the domains. Nineteen pharmacist preceptors completed the task inventory questionnaire. The three most salient domains were professionalism (M=41.9, SD=12.9), communication (M=37.0, SD=11.7), and interpersonal skills (M=37.0, SD=10.3). The three most critical tasks related to professionalism were maintaining professional composure in stressful situations, demonstrating a commitment to service and the profession, and engaging in sound ethical and moral decision-making. This study represents the first attempt of using a job analysis to define pharmacist preceptor roles and responsibilities. More research is needed to fully understand the implications of these results, to understand how the relative significance of tasks may vary based on the population assessed (eg, learners and less experienced pharmacists), and to improve and validate the findings of the task inventory questionnaire developed in this study.
Topics: Adult; Education, Pharmacy; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacists; Preceptorship; Students, Pharmacy; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
PubMed: 31619831
DOI: 10.5688/ajpe7196 -
American Journal of Pharmaceutical... May 2015The shift in the pharmacist's role from simply dispensing medications to effective delivery of pharmaceutical care interventions and drug therapy management has... (Review)
Review
The shift in the pharmacist's role from simply dispensing medications to effective delivery of pharmaceutical care interventions and drug therapy management has influenced pharmacy education.(1-3) The educational focus has shifted from basic sciences to clinical and integrated courses that require incorporating active-learning strategies to provide pharmacy graduates with higher levels of competencies and specialized skills. As opposed to passive didactic lectures, active-learning strategies address the educational content in an interactive learning environment to develop interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills needed by pharmacists to function effectively in their new roles.(4-6) One such strategy is using educational games. The aim of this paper is to review educational games adopted in different pharmacy schools and to aid educators in replicating the successfully implemented games and overcoming deficiencies in educational games. This review also highlights the main pitfalls within this research area.
Topics: Audiovisual Aids; Curriculum; Education, Pharmacy; Games, Experimental; Humans; Learning; Pharmacists; Problem-Based Learning; Students, Pharmacy; Teaching
PubMed: 26089568
DOI: 10.5688/ajpe79459