The use of community pharmacies in North West England: an observational study

Introduction Tonsillopharyngitis is the most common ear, nose and throat emergency admission, with 80,000 episodes recorded in England in 2015–2016. Despite this, there is a paucity of evidence addressing the supportive management of tonsillopharyngitis in inpatients. The aim of this retrospective multicentre observational study was to consider the Best Supportive Management for Adults Referred with Tonsillopharyngitis (BeSMART) in the inpatient setting, and to establish any associations between practice and outcomes. Methods Seven hospitals in North West England and North East Scotland participated in the study. Overall, 236 adult patients admitted with tonsillopharyngitis were included. The main outcome measures were interval to return to soft diet, length of stay (LOS), pain scores and readmissions. Results Women were more likely to seek professional help before presenting to secondary care (p=0.04). Patients admitted at the weekend were more likely to have a shorter LOS (p=0.03). There was no relationship between day of admission and seniority or specialty of the doctor initially seen. Prescription of corticosteroid, analgesia and a higher initial intravenous fluid infusion rate were not related to a shorter LOS. Conclusions This study is the first to yield valuable insights into the inpatient management of tonsillopharyngitis. This work represents part of an ongoing project to establish the evidence for common medical interventions for sore throat. Patient and professional surveys as well as a prospective interventional study are planned for the future.

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Pregabalin dispensing patterns in Amman-Jordan: An observational study from community pharmacies

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal ◽

10.1016/j.jsps.2018.01.012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 306-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Amneh Al-Husseini ◽

Rana Abu-Farha ◽

Mayyada Wazaify ◽

Marie Claire Van Hout

Keyword(s):

Observational Study ◽

Community Pharmacies

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Expectations, concerns, and needs of patients who start drugs for chronic conditions. A prospective observational study among community pharmacies in Serbia

European Journal of General Practice ◽

10.1080/13814788.2017.1388778 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 19-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Katarina M. Vučićević ◽

Branislava R. Miljković ◽

Bojana C. Golubović ◽

Marija N. Jovanović ◽

Sandra D. Vezmar Kovačević ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Observational Study ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Prospective Observational Study ◽

Community Pharmacies

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A characterization of the current communication patterns in Danish community pharmacies – An observational study

Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy ◽

10.1016/j.sapharm.2012.10.003 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 958-964 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Susanne Kaae ◽

Anna Mygind ◽

Sahdia Saleem

Keyword(s):

Observational Study ◽

Communication Patterns ◽

Community Pharmacies

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e50 Biologic monotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective observational study of real life practice in the North West

Rheumatology ◽

10.1093/rheumatology/key075.591 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 57 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Rosalind Benson ◽

Deepti Kapur ◽

Nicola Goodson ◽

Rikki Abernethy ◽

Theresa Barnes

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Observational Study ◽

Real Life ◽

Retrospective Observational Study ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

Biologic Monotherapy

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Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and habits towards antibiotics dispensed without medical prescription: a qualitative study of Spanish pharmacists

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015674 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. e015674 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Juan Vazquez-Lago ◽

Cristian Gonzalez-Gonzalez ◽

Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro ◽

Paula Lopez-Vazquez ◽

Margarita Taracido ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Continuing Education ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

Data Interpretation ◽

Methodological Principle ◽

Group Method ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Theory Approach ◽

Medical Prescription ◽

North West ◽

Structural Identity

ObjectiveTo investigate community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and habits with regard to antibiotic dispensing without medical prescription in Spain.MethodsA qualitative research using focus group method (FG) in Galicia (north-west Spain). FG sessions were conducted in the presence of a moderator. A topic script was developed to lead the discussions, which were audiorecorded to facilitate data interpretation and transcription. Proceedings were transcribed by an independent researcher and interpreted by two researchers working independently. We used the Grounded Theory approach.SettingCommunity pharmacies in Galicia, region Norwest of Spain.ParticipantsThirty pharmacists agreed to participate in the study, and a total of five FG sessions were conducted with 2–11 pharmacists. We sought to ensure a high degree of heterogeneity in the composition of the groups to improve our study’s external validity. Pharmacists’ participation had no gender or age restrictions, and an effort was made to form FGs with pharmacists who were both owners and non-owners, provided in all cases that they were Official Colleges of Pharmacists-registered community pharmacists. For the purpose of conducting FG discussions, the basic methodological principle of allowing groups to attain their ‘own structural identity’ was applied.Main outcome measurementsCommunity pharmacists’ habits and knowledge with regard to antibiotics and identification of the attitudes and/or factors that influence antibiotic dispensing without medical prescription.ResultsPharmacists attributed the problem of antibiotics dispensed without medical prescription and its relationship to antibiotic resistance to the following attitudes: external responsibility (doctors, dentists and the National Health Service (NHS)); acquiescence; indifference and lack of continuing education.ConclusionsDespite being a problem, antibiotic dispensing without a medical prescription is still a common practice in community pharmacies in Galicia, Spain. This practice is attributed to acquiescence, indifference and lack of continuing education. The problem of resistance was ascribed to external responsibility, including that of patients, physicians, dentists and the NHS.

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