Point-of-care testing and counseling at community pharmacies

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Sevikyan ◽  
I Kazaryan ◽  
L Vardanyan ◽  
A Amirkhanyan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Health Information ◽  
General Health ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract An increasing number of patients seek advice at community pharmacies in terms of prevention, detection and initial management of certain conditions and diseases. Some countries have introduced pharmacy-based screening programs and counseling. The objective of this work was to analyze the situation on providing screening and counseling at community pharmacies in Armenia. The staff of randomly selected community pharmacies located in various regions of Armenia was asked to complete pre-tested questionnaire. The data were analysed with SPSS statistical software, version 22.0. 62.9% of 353 responded professionals reported availability of conditions for monitoring blood pressure, 14.4% - for monitoring glucose level, 11.3% - for doing pregnancy test, 9.6% - for testing cholesterol, 2.0% - for monitoring asthma using peak flow meter. 86.7% indicated accessibility of conditions for private discussion with patients. Small number of pharmacy professionals reported that during the last year they were engaged in diabetes management (10.2%) and HIV/AIDS/TB management (7.9%). 7.4% of respondents were involved in family planning activity. 97.5% of pharmacy professionals considers that being active in providing general health information to patients is important and 89.2% reported about being active. The number of professionals who are active in providing general health information to patients is significantly higher among those who attended continuing education courses than among those who did not (p = 0.003). Only part of community pharmacies is able to provide point-of-care testing. Professionals are rarely involved in disease management. They are active in providing general health information. Continuing education improves situation with engagement of pharmacy professionals in public health activity. Key messages There is need to improve the situation with providing point-of-care testing at community pharmacies. Training increases involvement of community pharmacists in public health.

scholarly journals Trust in national health information sources in the United States: comparing predictors and levels of trust across three health domains

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 978-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily B Peterson ◽  
Wen-Ying Sylvia Chou ◽  
Dannielle E Kelley ◽  
Brad Hesse
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
National Health ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
General Health ◽  
Trust In Government ◽  
Health Organizations ◽  
Government Health ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Multiple Health

Abstract Public trust in traditional sources of health information is essential for public health agencies and organizations to perform necessary public health functions. Little research has examined levels and predictors of trust in government health agencies and national health organizations. Additionally, few studies have simultaneously analyzed trust in multiple health topics. The major aim of this study was to compare levels and factors associated with trust in national health sources across three health topics: information about tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and general health. Data from two cycles of the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey collected in 2015 and 2017 were merged and analyzed for this study (n = 5,474). A series of weighted multivariable logistic regression models calculated odds of high trust in government health agencies and health organizations for each health topic. More respondents reported high trust in health organizations than for government health agencies across all topics. More participants reported high trust in these sources tobacco information, as compared to general health or e-cigarette information. Logistic models found that those higher in information seeking confidence were more likely to report high trust across all models. Other demographic variables were inconsistent predictors of trust across topics. This study highlights inconsistent sociodemographic predictors of trust across multiple health topics and national health sources. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers should consider the unique context of specific health topics in health promotion campaigns, partner with existing community-based organizations, and encourage and enable health information seeking.

Review of the cultural safety of a national Indigenous point-of-care testing program for diabetes management

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Shephard ◽  
Christopher O'Brien ◽  
Anthony Burgoyne ◽  
Jody Croft ◽  
Trevor Garlett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cultural Safety ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Torres Strait

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have approximately three-fold higher rates of diabetes than non-Indigenous Australians. Point-of-care testing, where pathology tests are conducted close to the patient, with results available during the patient consultation, can potentially deliver several benefits for both the Indigenous client and the health professional team involved in their care. Currently, point-of-care testing for diabetes management is being conducted in over 180 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services as part of a national program called Quality Assurance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services (QAAMS). The cultural safety of the Program was reviewed by sourcing the views of the QAAMS Indigenous Leaders Team in a focus group setting and by surveying the point-of-care testing operators enrolled in QAAMS, via an electronic questionnaire. The current study confirms that QAAMS remains a culturally safe program that fills a permanent and positive niche within the Indigenous health sector. The study demonstrates that QAAMS provides a convenient and accessible ‘one-stop’ pathology service for Indigenous clients with diabetes and empowers Aboriginal Health Workers to have a direct role in the care of their diabetes clients.

scholarly journals Quality Management for Point-Of-Care Testing of Pathogen Nucleic Acids: Chinese Expert Consensus

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Mo ◽  
Xueliang Wang ◽  
Zhaoqin Zhu ◽  
Yuetian Yu ◽  
Dong Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Expert Consensus ◽  
Nucleic Acid Detection ◽  
Point Of Care Testing

COVID-19 continues to circulate globally in 2021, while under the precise policy implementation of China’s public health system, the epidemic was quickly controlled, and society and the economy have recovered. During the pandemic response, nucleic acid detection of SARS-CoV-2 has played an indispensable role in the first line of defence. In the cases of emergency operations or patients presenting at fever clinics, nucleic acid detection is required to be performed and reported quickly. Therefore, nucleic acid point-of-care testing (POCT) technology for SARS-CoV-2 identification has emerged, and has been widely carried out at all levels of medical institutions. SARS-CoV-2 POCT has served as a complementary test to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) batch tests, thus forming an experimental diagnosis platform that not only guarantees medical safety but also improves quality services. However, in view of the complexity of molecular diagnosis and the biosafety requirements involved, pathogen nucleic acid POCT is different from traditional blood-based physical and chemical index detection. No guidelines currently exist for POCT quality management, and there have been inconsistencies documented in practical operation. Therefore, Shanghai Society of Molecular Diagnostics, Shanghai Society of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology Division of Shanghai Society of Microbiology and Shanghai Center for Clinical Laboratory have cooperated with experts in laboratory medicine to generate the present expert consensus. Based on the current spectrum of major infectious diseases in China, the whole-process operation management of pathogen POCT, including its application scenarios, biosafety management, personnel qualification, performance verification, quality control, and result reporting, are described here. This expert consensus will aid in promoting the rational application and robust development of this technology in public health defence and hospital infection management.

scholarly journals Performance evaluation of the point-of-care SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test for detection of SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonny M Assennato ◽  
Allyson V Ritchie ◽  
Cesar Nadala ◽  
Neha Goel ◽  
Hongyi Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Patient Management ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Analytical Sensitivity ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Clinical Sensitivity

AbstractNucleic acid amplification for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory samples is the standard method for diagnosis. These tests are centralised and therefore turnaround times can be 2-5 days. Point-of-care testing with rapid turnaround times would allow more effective triage in settings where patient management and infection control decisions need to be made rapidly.Inclusivity and specificity of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 assay was determined by in silico analyses of the primers and probes. Analytical and clinical sensitivity and specificity of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test was evaluated for analytical sensitivity and specificity. Clinical performance was evaluated in residual clinical samples compared to the Public Health England reference tests.The limit of detection of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test is 250 cp/mL and is specific for detection of 2 regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The clinical sensitivity was evaluated in 172 clinical samples provided by the Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge (CMPHL), which showed a sensitivity of 98.9% (95% CI 94.03-99.97%), specificity of 100% (95% CI 95.55-100%), PPV of 100% and NPV of 98.78% (92.02-99.82%) compared to testing by CMPHLSAMBA detected 3 positive samples that were initially negative by PHE Test. The data shows that the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test performs equivalently to the centralised testing methods with a much quicker turnaround time. Point of care testing, such as SAMBA, should enable rapid patient management and effective implementation of infection control measures.

scholarly journals CANCER AND COVID-19. A COMBAT STRATEGY

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazar Lukavetskyy ◽  
◽  
Nataliya Volod'ko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
European Society ◽  
Medical Oncology ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Medical Industry ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Advanced Stages

Strict quarantine measures and the unpreparedness of the medical industry have exacerbated public health problems on all continents. The number of patients with advanced stages of cancer has increased at the end of the year. Several approaches could mitigate the negative effects of Covid-19 on screening programs. International oncology organization «European Society of Medical Oncology» (ESMO) has launched a section COVID 19 on its website. We believe that some aspects of the ESMO recommendations should be widely presented. The feasibility of vaccinating cancer patients against COVID-19 is undeniable

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