scholarly journals Vaccination distribution by community pharmacists under the COVID-19 vaccine appointment system in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya Wen Lin ◽  
Che Huei Lin ◽  
Ming Hung Lin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The Public ◽  
Appointment System ◽  
Vaccine Availability ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Roll Out

AbstractPharmacists play a critical role in implementing and promoting public health policies, particularly during pandemics, thanks to their exceptional skills, knowledge, expertise, and accessibility to the public. This study aimed to increase the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in a coordinated manner to ensure equal accessibility to all Taiwanese residents. A total of 3301 health insurance special pharmacies, equivalent to 80% of all community pharmacies in Taiwan, are assisting the public in scheduling vaccines. Once pharmacists had ensured adequate vaccine availability, vaccinations were scheduled depending on the time of registration on the platform for vaccination appointments. The roll-out of this program saw a significant number of people register and receive the vaccine throughout the country, and the number of individuals who received both a first and second dose increased significantly. Community pharmacy-based distribution of the vaccine to the public signifies the novel and innovative involvement of pharmacists in government initiatives to promote public health. Our study shows that community pharmacies can potentially enhance the efficiency and equitable distribution of health supplies and resources, particularly during pandemics.

Curating the Evidence About COVID-19 for Frontline Public Health and Clinical Care: The Novel Coronavirus Research Compendium

2021 ◽  
pp. 003335492110587
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Redd ◽  
Lauren S. Peetluk ◽  
Brooke A. Jarrett ◽  
Colleen Hanrahan ◽  
Sheree Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Successful Model ◽  
Medical Response ◽  
Public Consumption ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The public health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a deluge of scientific research aimed at informing the public health and medical response to the pandemic. However, early in the pandemic, those working in frontline public health and clinical care had insufficient time to parse the rapidly evolving evidence and use it for decision-making. Academics in public health and medicine were well-placed to translate the evidence for use by frontline clinicians and public health practitioners. The Novel Coronavirus Research Compendium (NCRC), a group of >60 faculty and trainees across the United States, formed in March 2020 with the goal to quickly triage and review the large volume of preprints and peer-reviewed publications on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 and summarize the most important, novel evidence to inform pandemic response. From April 6 through December 31, 2020, NCRC teams screened 54 192 peer-reviewed articles and preprints, of which 527 were selected for review and uploaded to the NCRC website for public consumption. Most articles were peer-reviewed publications (n = 395, 75.0%), published in 102 journals; 25.1% (n = 132) of articles reviewed were preprints. The NCRC is a successful model of how academics translate scientific knowledge for practitioners and help build capacity for this work among students. This approach could be used for health problems beyond COVID-19, but the effort is resource intensive and may not be sustainable in the long term.

scholarly journals Lessons earned and lessons learned: What should be done next to counter the COVID-19 infodemic?

European View ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-163
Author(s):  
Nad’a Kovalčíková ◽  
Ariane Tabatabai
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
The World ◽  
Information Manipulation ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

As governments and citizens around the world have struggled with the novel coronavirus, the information space has turned into a battleground. Authoritarian countries, including Russia, China and Iran, have spread disinformation on the causes of and responses to the pandemic. The over-abundance of information, also referred to as an ‘infodemic’, including manipulated information, has been both a cause and a result of the exacerbation of the public health crisis. It is further undermining trust in democratic institutions, the independent press, and facts and data, and exacerbating the rising tensions driven by economic, political and societal challenges. This article discusses the challenges democracies have faced and the measures they have adopted to counter information manipulation that impedes public health efforts. It draws seven lessons learned from the information war and offers a set of recommendations on tackling future infodemics related to public health.

Undiagnosed prehypertension/hypertension in Canadian adolescents: The critical role of the public health nurse

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 837-845
Author(s):  
Shelley Spurr ◽  
Carol Bullin ◽  
Jill Bally ◽  
Diane Allan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Public Health Nurse ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Nurse

Utilisation of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) through Community Pharmacies in Malaysia

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.S. Chua ◽  
T. Paraidathathu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Shoulder Pain ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Cox 2 ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by consumers who obtained these drugs from community pharmacies. Factors that influenced community pharmacists in their choice of NSAIDs were also determined. Personal interviews were conducted on consumers who visited the 25 participating community pharmacies throughout Malaysia. Of the 389 respondents, 49% requested for an NSAID by name, 42% asked the pharmacist to recommend a medication and 9% had a doctor's prescription. NSAIDs were mainly purchased for joint/shoulder pain and the most commonly dispensed was diclofenac. Elderly respondents were more likely to be dispensed a selective COX-2 inhibitor than those below 60. NSAIDs were recommended based mainly on the pharmacist's perception of their efficacy, cost and safety. Community pharmacists play an important role in assisting patients in choosing the most appropriate NSAID for their health problems. Asia Pac J Public Health 2005; 17(2): 117-123.

scholarly journals Public Health Literacy for Lawyers

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy E. Parmet ◽  
Anthony Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
The World ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Public Health Literacy

Public health professionals recognize the critical role the law plays in determining the success of public health measures. Even before September 11, 2001, public health experience with tobacco use, HIV, industrial pollution and other potent threats to the health of the public demonstrated that laws can assist or thwart public health efforts. The new focus on infectious threats and bioterrorism, starting with the anthrax attacks through the mail and continuing with SARS, has highlighted the important role of law.For lawyers to serve as effective partners in public health, they should have a basic familiarity with public health: how public health professionals see the world and the key issues they tackle. A practical grasp of public health can be acquired, and often is acquired, “on the job.”

scholarly journals Dispensing of Banned Phenolphthalein and Ketoconazole: Simulated Patients Method

2021 ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alshakka ◽  
Wafa Badulla ◽  
Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Safety ◽  
The Public ◽  
Ease Of Access

Introduction: Banned and harmful medicines can affect patient’s health, safety and life.                    There are two medicines available in Aden community pharmacies (phenolphthalein (PP) and ketoconazole (KZ)) that are globally banned. The objective of this study was to evaluate the availability and dispensing of banned phenolphthalein and ketoconazole by community pharmacists. Methods: A preliminary cross-sectional simulated patients method was carried out. The study gathered data on dispensing behavior. Simulated patients were trained to access the availability of banned drugs existing in the community pharmacies. The availability of these two banned drugs was observed and recorded. The pharmacists were asked about the availability of a PP laxative for treating constipation called in Yemen a khat laxative (Sharbat Alkhat) and KZ for fungal infections in 50 convenient samples of community pharmacies that were selected based on ease of access by the simulated patients. Results: PP was found in 3/50 (6%) pharmacies, while 31/50 (62%) pharmacies kept KZ in the premise.  Conclusion: The availability of these drugs in Yemeni pharmacies is worrisome.  It can affect the safety of the public.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Antibiotics and Its Resistance: Two Phases Mixed-Methods Online Study Among Pakistani Community Pharmacists to Promote Rational Antibiotics Use

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faiz Ullah Khan ◽  
Farman Ullah Khan ◽  
Khezar Hayat ◽  
Tawseef Ahmad ◽  
Amjad Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Rational Use ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Rational Use Of Antibiotics

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is an emerging global threat to public health. Substantial evidence has indicated that community pharmacists (CPs) can play a critical role in managing the ever-increasing threat of antibiotic resistance. The study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of CPs (n=180) towards antibiotics and antibiotic resistance as well as to improve the rational use of antibiotics. Two phases of mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) online study were conducted in Pakistan from August 2019 to March 2020 by using validated questionnaires and semi-structured interview data. Different statistical methods were used to tabulate the quantitative data whereas inductive thematic analysis was conducted to categorize themes from the qualitative data and draw conclusions. Approximately 64.4% were male (mean: 29-33 years old). Overall, CPs had good knowledge of and were familiar with superbugs and their roles in ABR (65.6%, Median=1, IQR=1) although they were poor in differentiating some antibiotic groups with their respective ABR patterns (31.1%, Median=1, IQR=1). Most CPs have a positive attitude towards antibiotics with most (90.0%) having identified ABR as a critical issue in public health (Median=1, IQR=0). Overall, CPs' practices towards antibiotics were reasonable where they tend to educate patients about the rational use of antibiotics (52.8%, Median=1, IQR=1). Two main themes (antibiotics and counseling of patients) were related to self-medication with while educational interventions are the sub-theme. ABR is multifactorial where the subthemes related to budget, time constraints incompetent staff, the absence of CPs, the lack of training, enforcement of laws and regulations are the need of the hour in Pakistan. Effective antibiotic stewardship programs, patient education, and awareness campaigns about antibiotics and ABR along with training of the CPs are important factors that have to be addressed in a timely manner.

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