Warfarin remains the preferred anticoagulant for many patients with CHD. The complexity of management led our centre to shift from a nurse-physician-managed model with many providers to a pharmacist-managed model with a centralized anticoagulation team. We aim to describe the patient cohort managed by our Anticoagulation Program and evaluate the impact of implementation of this consistent, pharmacist-managed model on time in therapeutic range, an evidence-based marker for clinical outcomes.

A single-centre retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the transition to a pharmacist-managed model to improve anticoagulation management at a tertiary pediatric heart centre. The percent time in therapeutic range for a cohort managed by both models was compared using a paired t-test. Patient characteristics and time in therapeutic range of the program were also described.

After implementing the pharmacist-managed model, the time in therapeutic range for a cohort of 58 patients increased from 65.7 to 80.2% (p < .001), and our Anticoagulation Program consistently maintained this improvement from 2013 to 2022. The cohort of patients managed by the Anticoagulation Program in 2022 included 119 patients with a median age of 24 years (range 19 months–69 years) with the most common indication for warfarin being mechanical valve replacement (n = 81, 68%).

Through a practice change incorporating a collaborative, centralized, pharmacist-managed model, this cohort of CHD patients on warfarin had a fifteen percent increase in time in therapeutic range, which was sustained for nine years.

Both public and private sector pharmacists were instrumental in containing this health crisis in Tunisia. The high workload had a considerable impact on their mental health during the outbreak of the Corona Virus.

This study aims to assess burnout and the psychological toll of the pandemic among pharmacists in Tunisia during covid-19.

258 Tunisian pharmacists working in the public and private sector participated in a questionnaire. Burnout was assessed by the Maslach burnout scale. Regression analysis was used to assess the impact of the pandemic on Tunisian pharmacists.

80% of the respondents were women. Participants ranged in age from 22 to 62, 60% were married, 57% had at least one child, and 42% had been working for less than five years. The burnout scale revealed 76% burnout among them. Univariate linear regression showed that female gender (p = 0.014 <0.05) was associated with the development of burnout.

The considerable prevalence of burnout among pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia can be attributed to the enormous and overwhelming responsibilities that any health care worker endured.

No significant relationships.

In a disaster aftermath, pharmacists have the potential to provide essential health services and contribute to the maintenance of the health and well-being of their community. Despite their importance in the health care system, little is known about the factors that affect pharmacists’ disaster preparedness and associated behaviors.

The goal of this study was to determine the factors that influence disaster preparedness behaviors and disaster preparedness of Australian pharmacists.

A 70-question survey was developed from previous research findings. This survey was released online and registered Australian pharmacists were invited to participate. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the factors that influenced preparedness and preparedness behaviors among pharmacists.

The final model of disaster preparedness indicated that 86.0% of variation in preparedness was explained by disaster experience, perceived knowledge and skills, colleague preparedness, perceived self-efficacy, previous preparedness behaviors, perceived potential disaster severity, and trust of external information sources. The final model of preparedness behaviors indicated that 71.1% of variation in previous preparedness behaviors can be explained by disaster experience, perceived institution responsibility, colleague preparedness, perceived likelihood of disaster, perceived professional responsibility, and years of practice as a pharmacist.

This research is the first to explore the significant factors affecting preparedness behaviors and preparedness of Australian pharmacists for disasters. It begins to provide insight into potential critical gaps in current disaster preparedness behaviors and preparedness among pharmacists.

Older persons with parkinsonism (PWP) are at high risk for hospitalization and adverse outcomes. Few effective strategies exist to prevent Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalization. The interdisciplinary Geriatrics Clinic for Parkinson’s (“our clinic”) was founded to address the complexity of parkinsonism in older patients, supported by a pharmacist-led telephone intervention (TI) service. Our primary objective was to study whether TI could avert ED visits in older PWP.

Using a prospective, observational cohort, we collected data from all calls in 2016, including who initiated and reasons for the calls, patient demographics, number of comorbidities and medications, diagnoses, duration of disease, and intervention provided. Calls with intention to visit ED were classified as “crisis calls”. Outcome of whether patients visited ED was collected within 1 week, and user satisfaction by anonymous survey within 3 weeks.

We received 337 calls concerning 114 patients, of which 82 (24%) were “crisis calls”. Eighty-one percent of calls were initiated by caregivers. Ninety-three percent of “crisis calls” resolved without ED visit after TI. The main reasons for “crisis calls” were non-motor symptoms (NMS) (39%), adverse drug effects (ADE) (29%), and motor symptoms (18%). Ninety-seven percent of callers were satisfied with the TI.

Pharmacist-led TI in a Geriatrics Clinic for Parkinson’s was effective in preventing ED visits in a population of older PWP, with high user satisfaction. Most calls were initiated by caregivers. Main reasons for crisis calls were NMS and ADE. These factors should be considered in care planning for older PWP.

The novel 2019 coronavirus outbreak that first appeared in Wuhan has quickly gained global attention, due to its high transmissibility and devastating clinical and economic outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the possible roles of Jordanian pharmacists in minimizing the stage of community transmission.

A cross-sectional survey using Google forms targeting Jordanian pharmacists was conducted during March 2020 and distributed electronically by means of social media. Using the survey tool, we measured the pharmacists’ knowledge, the educative activities they perform, and their perceptions regarding undertaking traditional and untraditional roles during the COVID-19 outbreak, as specified by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version-19.

Jordanian pharmacists (n = 449) reported performing various educative activities, and in general, they were knowledgeable about various aspects of the COVID-19 disease (median knowledge score: 20 [range, 13-25]), but certain gaps in knowledge were detected that must be addressed. Pharmacists had positive perceptions about both their traditional and untraditional roles specified by the FIP, the median perceptions score was 4 (range, 1-5).

Jordanian pharmacists can be used to reduce community transmission of the outbreak. However, more actions are required to keep pharmacists knowledgeable with recent disease updates to enable them to perform their tasks effectively during times of crisis.

Our objective was to explore the processes and determinants leading physicians to integrate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in their drug prescriptions

Access to patients’ eGFR would allow primary care pharmacists to optimise their role in the procedure of safe prescribing. Some rare physicians actively integrate eGFR in their prescriptions, in a sporadically and uncoordinated manner.

Qualitative study using semi-directed interviews conducted among 12 French physicians who integrated eGFR in their drug prescriptions, (February 2016–April 2017). These voluntary participants were recruited through different means: Twitter®, forums, direct contact and snowball sampling. Data analysis was based on the grounded theory approach, underpinned by a comprehensive perspective of interactionist orientation.

Residency and training, professional experience – including experiences of adverse drug reactions – and the membership in various communities of professionals were key drivers for the integration of eGFR in prescriptions. The theoretical aim was above all safe prescribing in order to reduce adverse drug reactions, with the control by a dispensing pharmacist and/or other healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, none of the physicians had received any feedback from any healthcare professionals. Despite their disappointment, the physicians remained convinced of the interest of integrating eGFR in their prescriptions and would continue to do so. Characteristics associated with integration of eGFR in drug prescriptions belong partly to Roger’s theory of innovations. If a widespread diffusion of this habit takes place, it will be necessary to evaluate its adoption by both physicians and pharmacists.

Roles for pharmacists in general practice are developing in Australia. It is known that pharmacists can provide effective smoking cessation services in other settings but evidence in general practice is lacking.

To determine whether a pharmacist can provide effective smoking cessation services within general practice.

Data from smoking cessation consultations were obtained for 66 consecutive patients seen by one practice pharmacist. The pharmacist tailored interventions to the individual. Medication was offered in collaboration with community pharmacists and general practitioners. Quit coaching, based on motivational interviewing, was conducted. Smoking status was ascertained at least 6 months after the intended quit date and verified by a carbon monoxide breath test where possible.

The patients’ median age was 43 years (range 19–74 years); 42 were females (64%). At baseline, the median (i) number of pack years smoked was 20 (range: 1–75); (ii) Fagerstrom Test of dependence score was 6 (1–10); and (iii) number of previous quit attempts was 3 (0–10). Follow-up after at least 6 months determined a self-reported point prevalence abstinence rate of 30% (20/66). Of all patients who reported to be abstinent, 65% (13/20) were tested for carbon monoxide breath levels and were all below 7 ppm. The biochemically verified smoking abstinence rate was therefore 20% overall (13/66). Successful quit attempts were associated with varenicline recommendation (69% v 25%), increased median number of practice pharmacist consultations (4 v 2 per patient) and mental health diagnosis (85% v 51%).

Our observed abstinence rate was comparable or better than those obtained by practice nurses, community pharmacists and outpatient pharmacists, indicating the general practice pharmacist provided an effective smoking cessation intervention. A larger randomised trial is warranted.

Emergency departments (EDs) are recognized as a high-risk setting for prescription errors. Pharmacist involvement may be important in reviewing prescriptions to identify and correct errors. The objectives of this study were to describe the frequency and type of prescription errors detected by pharmacists in EDs, determine the proportion of errors that could be corrected, and identify factors associated with prescription errors.

This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching ED on 25 consecutive weekdays. Pharmacists reviewed all documented prescriptions and flagged and corrected errors for patients in the ED. We collected information on patient demographics, details on prescription errors, and the pharmacists’ recommendations.

A total of 3,136 ED prescriptions were reviewed. The proportion of prescriptions in which a pharmacist identified an error was 3.2% (99 of 3,136; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5–3.8). The types of identified errors were wrong dose (28 of 99, 28.3%), incomplete prescription (27 of 99, 27.3%), wrong frequency (15 of 99, 15.2%), wrong drug (11 of 99, 11.1%), wrong route (1 of 99, 1.0%), and other (17 of 99, 17.2%). The pharmacy service intervened and corrected 78 (78 of 99, 78.8%) errors. Factors associated with prescription errors were patient age over 65 (odds ratio [OR] 2.34; 95% CI 1.32–4.13), prescriptions with more than one medication (OR 5.03; 95% CI 2.54–9.96), and those written by emergency medicine residents compared to attending emergency physicians (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.18–4.14).

Pharmacists in a tertiary ED are able to correct the majority of prescriptions in which they find errors. Errors are more likely to be identified in prescriptions written for older patients, those containing multiple medication orders, and those prescribed by emergency residents.

Numerous practice reports recommend roles pharmacists may adopt during disasters. This study examines the peer-reviewed literature for factors that explain the roles pharmacists assume in disasters and the differences in roles and disasters when stratified by time.

Quantitative content analysis was used to gather data consisting of words and phrases from peer-reviewed pharmacy literature regarding pharmacists’ roles in disasters. Negative binomial regression and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric models were applied to the data.

Pharmacists’ roles in disasters have not changed significantly since the 1960s. Pharmaceutical supply remains their preferred role, while patient management and response integration roles decrease in context of common, geographically widespread disasters. Policy coordination roles, however, significantly increase in nuclear terrorism planning.

Pharmacists’ adoption of nonpharmaceutical supply roles may represent a problem of accepting a paradigm shift in nontraditional roles. Possible shortages of personnel in future disasters may change the pharmacists’ approach to disaster management. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:563–572)

To identify the appropriate service provider attendees of emergency departments (EDs) and walk-in centres (WiCs) in North East London and to match this to local service provision and patient choice.

An anonymous patient survey and a retrospective analysis of a random sample of patient records were performed. A nurse consultant, general practitioner (GP) and pharmacist used the presenting complaints in the patients’ records to independently stream the patient to primary care services, non-National Health Services or ED. Statistical analysis of level of agreement was undertaken. A stakeholder focus group reviewed the results.

Adult health consumers attending ED and urgent care services in North East London.

The health user survey identified younger rather than older users (mean age of 35.6 years – SD 15.5), where 50% had not seen a health professional about their concern, with over 40% unable to obtain a convenient or emergency appointment with their GP. Over a third of the attendees were already receiving treatment and over 40% of these saw their complaint as an emergency. Over half of respondents expected to see a doctor, one-quarter expected to see a nurse and only 1% expected to see a pharmacist across both services, although WiCs are nurse-led services. More respondents expected a prescription from a visit to a WiC, whereas in the ED a third of respondents sought health advice or reassurance.

A number of unscheduled care strategies are, or have just been, developed with the emphasis on moving demand into community-based services. Plurality of services provides service users with a range of alternative access points but can cause duplication of services and repeat attendance. Managing continued increase in emergency and unscheduled care is a challenge. The uncertainties in prospective decision making could be used to inform service development and delivery.