scholarly journals A new experimental community pharmacy internship module for undergraduate pharmacy students in western Nepal: overview and reflections

Author(s):  
Sangita Timsina ◽  
Bhuvan K.C. ◽  
Dristi Adhikari ◽  
Alian A. Alrasheedy ◽  
Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim ◽  
...  

Community pharmacies in Nepal and other South Asian countries are in a mediocre state due to poor regulation and the fact that many pharmacies are run by people with insufficient training in dispensing. This has led to the inappropriate use of medicines. The problems due to poor regulation and the mediocre state of community pharmacies in South Asia encompass both academia and clinical practice. In this paper, a 2-week community pharmacy internship programme completed by 2 graduating pharmacy students of Pokhara University (a Nepalese public university) at Sankalpa Pharmacy, Pokhara, Nepal is illustrated. During the internship, they were systematically trained on store management, pharmaceutical care, counselling skills, the use of medical devices, pharmaceutical business plans, medicine information sources, and adverse drug reaction reporting. An orientation, observations and hands-on training, case presentation, discussion, and feedback from 2 senior pharmacists were used as the training method. A proper community pharmacy internship format, good pharmacy practice standards, and a better work environment for pharmacists may improve the quality of community pharmacies.

2017 ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Quoc Duong Doan ◽  
Thi Ha Vo

Background: Community pharmacists play an important role in counseling of rational drug use for population. The study aimed to characterize counselling activities of drug use and demand of counselling tools at some community pharmacies at Hue City. Materials and method: A 17-question survey were asked to fill pharmacy staffs of a convenient sample of 100 community pharmacies at Hue City from 2/2017 to 7/2017. Results: There were 58 pharmacies (58.0%) answered this survey. Cough, headache, fever, high blood pressure and diabetes were the most popular symptoms/diseases presented in pharmacies. Patients often need counselling about dose (82.8%) and when to take medicine (79.3%). The main bariers for counselling were a lack of time (53.4%), and of skills/medthods for counseling (31.7%). About 96.6% pharmacies demanded counselling tools and favorite formats were book (32.9%) or pocket handbook (29.3%). Conclusion: Most pharmacies demanded counselling tools. Other studies should be conducted to develop supporting tools for counseling and to assess the quality of counseling in pharmacies. Key words: community pharmacy, counseling of drug use, pharmacist, Hue


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimon C Miranda ◽  
Erini S Serag-Bolos ◽  
Timothy Dy Aungst ◽  
Rowshan Chowdhury

The objectives of this workshop were to characterise the use of mobile health (mHealth) devices among second year pharmacy students, discover perception of their potential use in practice and obtain workshop feedback. The workshop consisted of two sessions. The first session introduced the concept of mHealth and allowed for hands-on experience with wireless mHealth devices such as blood pressure cuffs, scales and smart body analysers, personal health devices and glucometers. The second session consisted of a facilitated discussion and lecture that addressed these concepts. Students completed a preworkshop and postworkshop survey. 106 students completed the preworkshop survey and 96 students completed the postworkshop survey. 22% of the class owned an mHealth device and a majority of students reported increased knowledge of mobile health devices due to this simulation. The workshop was successful in introducing mHealth technology. The change in students’ perception that such devices could be useful in practice or easily incorporated could be due to technical difficulties and cost of the devices.


2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 442-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd A. Boyle ◽  
Andrea C. Bishop ◽  
Craig Overmars ◽  
Kaleigh MacMaster ◽  
Thomas Mahaffey ◽  
...  

Quality-related events (QREs), including medication errors and near misses, are an inevitable part of community pharmacy practice. As QREs have significant implications for patient safety, pharmacy regulatory authorities across North America are increasing their expectations regarding QRE reporting and learning. Such expectations, commonly encapsulated as standards of practice (SoP), vary greatly between pharmacy jurisdictions and may range from the simple requirement to document QREs occurring within the pharmacy, all the way to requiring that quality improvement plans have been put in place. This research explores the uptake of QRE reporting and learning SoP and how this uptake varies based on pharmacy characteristics including location, prescription volume, and pharmacy type. Secondary data analysis of 91 community pharmacy assessments in Nova Scotia, Canada, was used to explore uptake of QRE standards. Overall, pharmacies are performing relatively well on reporting QREs. However, despite initial success with basic QRE reporting, community pharmacy uptake of QRE learning activities is lagging.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margie E. Snyder ◽  
Caitlin K. Frail ◽  
Lindsey V. Seel ◽  
Kyle E. Hultgren

In 2010, the Purdue University College of Pharmacy established the Medication Safety Research Network of Indiana (Rx-SafeNet), the first practice-based research network (PBRN) in Indiana comprised solely of community pharmacies. In the development of Rx-SafeNet and through our early project experiences, we identified several "lessons learned." We share our story and what we learned in an effort to further advance the work of the greater PBRN community. We have formed the infrastructure for Rx-SafeNet, including an Executive Committee, Advisory Board, member pharmacies/site coordinators, and Project Review Team. To date, 22 community pharmacies have joined and we have recently completed data collection for the network's first project. Lessons learned during the development of Rx-SafeNet may benefit PBRNs nationally. Although community pharmacy PBRNs are not yet commonplace in the U.S., we believe their development and subsequent research efforts serve as an important avenue for investigating medication use issues.   Type: Idea Paper


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark V Siracuse ◽  
Bartholomew E Clark

Objectives. To describe pharmacy students’ work experience for pay; examine student attitudes towards work; examine student perceptions of how pharmacist preceptors feel about their jobs; and determine how pharmacy student work environment influences career aspirations and whether or not gender or academic pathway have any influences. Methods. An electronic survey was administered to third-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students at a Midwestern school of pharmacy over five consecutive years. Results. Four hundred eighty nine students (response rate = 61.0%) completed the electronic survey instrument. Over 90% reported working in a pharmacy by the time their advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) began. Of these respondents, 67.4% reported working in a community pharmacy while 23.0% reported working in hospital inpatient pharmacy. Students working for independent pharmacies were most likely to feel that this type of practice site would offer an optimal work schedule and work environment for their career. Conclusions. Most students are working in community pharmacy practice. Having a fulfilling career and a desirable work schedule was the variable most strongly associated with optimal career choice. Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties.     Type: Original Research


2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 1911-1917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shalom I Benrimoj ◽  
Alison S Roberts

OBJECTIVE To describe Australia's community pharmacy network in the context of the health system and outline the provision of services. DATA SYNTHESIS The 5000 community pharmacies form a key component of the healthcare system for Australians, for whom health expenditures represent 9% of the Gross Domestic Product. A typical community pharmacy dispenses 880 prescriptions per week. Pharmacists are key partners in the Government's National Medicines Policy and contribute to its objectives through the provision of cognitive pharmaceutical services (CPS). The Third Community Pharmacy Agreement included funding for CPS including medication review and the provision of written drug information. Funding is also provided for a quality assurance platform with which the majority of pharmacies are accredited. Fifteen million dollars (Australian) have been allocated to research in community pharmacy, which has focused on achieving quality use of medicines (QUM), as well as developing new CPS and facilitating change. Elements of the Agreements have taken into account QUM principles and are now significant drivers of practice change. Although accounting for 10% of remuneration for community pharmacy, the provision of CPS represents a significant shift in focus to view pharmacy as a service provider. Delivery of CPS through the community pharmacy network provides sustainability for primary health care due to improvement in quality presumably associated with a reduction in healthcare costs. CONCLUSIONS Australian pharmacy practice is moving strongly in the direction of CPS provision; however, change does not occur easily. The development of a change management strategy is underway to improve the uptake of professional and business opportunities in community pharmacy.


2019 ◽  
pp. 089719001988527
Author(s):  
Timothy Nguyen ◽  
Elaine Wong ◽  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Tamara Goldberg

Objectives: To evaluate and compare students’ ability to perform in each area of the subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) note during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) within an academic year. This study also aimed to compare the quality of SOAP notes between semesters: summer (1-3 rotation blocks), fall (4-6 rotation blocks), and spring (7-9 rotation blocks). Methods: During internal medicine and acute-care APPEs, students were required to submit a minimum of 2 SOAP notes. Each SOAP note was assessed by a full-time faculty member at a College of Pharmacy. Students were rated on the ability to perform in each area of the SOAP note using a rubric with a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = unacceptable/needs significant improvement, 5 = exemplary). This study was granted exempt approval by the Long Island University institutional review board. Results: Quality of the SOAP note summer versus fall versus spring rotations: Thirty-four SOAP notes were assessed during the summer, 48 SOAP notes were assessed during the fall, and 46 SOAP notes were assessed during the spring. Students performed similarly regardless of the semester they took for “subjective/objective, assess, and plan.” All P values were nonstatistically significant. Performance on SOAP note #1 versus SOAP note # 2: On overall rubrics for SOAP notes 1 versus SOAP notes 2, students did better on SOAP notes 2 after feedback, and an opportunity to improve was provided. There were statistically significant differences on all areas of SOAP note “subjective/objective, assess, and plan.” Conclusion: Overall, students performed adequately on the SOAP note activity during APPE rotations. Students performed similarly regardless of the semester/time when students took the APPEs during an academic year.


1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen B. Farris ◽  
Duane M. Kirking

Objective To present a framework that facilitates quality assessment of pharmaceutical care (PC) so that the profession and the public may identify pharmacists in ambulatory settings who provide quality care in all aspects of their practices. Data Sources A MEDLINE search augmented by a review of International Pharmacy Abstracts was used to identify pertinent quality assessment and pharmacy practice literature; indexing terms included quality assurance, healthcare, pharmacists, community pharmacy services, ambulatory, pharmacy, and process and outcome assessment. Study Selection All identified quality assessments of community pharmacy practice were considered. Studies that documented the effectiveness of specific pharmacist activities and patient satisfaction were also included. Data Extraction The literature was independently reviewed by the primary author. Data Synthesis The structure–process–outcome paradigm is presented as a framework for quality assessment of PC. Structure should be assessed at periodic intervals because it identifies the potential for the provision of quality care. Process, the care that pharmacists provide, must be documented and linked to outcomes before either structure or process can be used to make inferences about the quality of PC. Technical and interpersonal processes should be examined. Outcomes require an interdisciplinary approach that not only considers other medical care inputs but also recognizes the psychologic, economic, and social factors that affect health status and quality of life. Process and outcome must both be assessed to distinguish the contribution of pharmacists from that of other healthcare providers. Examples of criteria are provided and a model to integrate PC within the healthcare system is discussed. Conclusions It is pharmacists’ duty to ensure that patients receive an acceptable level of PC. The structure-process-outcome paradigm provides a framework to identify and link pharmacists’ processes with patients’ outcomes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1039-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Simon Bell ◽  
Minna Väänänen ◽  
Harri Ovaskainen ◽  
Ulla Närhi ◽  
Marja S Airaksinen

OBJECTIVE: To describe the provision of patient care in community pharmacies in Finland. FINDINGS: The network of 799 community pharmacies across Finland dispensed 42.1 million prescriptions in 2005. Medication counseling has been mandated by law since 1983 and only pharmacists are permitted to provide therapeutic advice in pharmacies. Measurable improvements in the rates of pharmacists' medication counseling have been observed since 2000. Long-term national pharmacy practice initiatives commenced with the World Health Organization EuroPharm Forum's Questions to Ask About Your Medicines campaign from 1993 to 1996. This was followed by the larger Customized Information for the Benefit of Community Pharmacy Patients project. Since the late 1990s, Finnish pharmacies have actively participated in ongoing national public health programs, initially in the areas of asthma and diabetes, and more recently in the treatment and prevention of heart disease. Automated dose dispensing and electronic prescribing are in the process of wider uptake and implementation. A nationwide multidisciplinary project to improve the use of drugs in older people has recently been announced and research in this area is underway. DISCUSSION: Research has focused on improving the quality of patient care as a strategic priority in community pharmacies. The development of community pharmacy services in Finland has been characterized by strong collaboration among the professional associations, university departments of social pharmacy, continuing education centers, and practicing pharmacists. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of new patient care services has required long-term, systematic, and well coordinated actions at the local and national levels. Future services will seek to promote the quality use of medications and to ensure that rising costs do not limit uniform access to drugs by all Finnish residents.


Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Alaa Burghle ◽  
Rikke Nørgaard Hansen ◽  
Lotte Stig Nørgaard ◽  
Ulla Hedegaard ◽  
Susanne Bendixen ◽  
...  

The community pharmacy has a number of attributes that makes it an excellent setting for research and development projects, as it is a highly accessible part of the healthcare system and is staffed by highly trained health care professionals. The big turnover in patients in the community pharmacy makes it possible to reach a great number of patients and collect a lot of data in a relatively short time. However, conducting nation-wide research and development projects can be a rather time-consuming process for the individual community pharmacy, and can thus require collaboration with other community pharmacies and researchers. This will help ensure strong results and better implementation. Thus, the Danish Network for Community Pharmacy Practice for Research and Development (NUAP) was established in Denmark by a number of highly committed community pharmacies and researchers. NUAP consists of 102 member pharmacy owners in addition to a number of researchers. The aim of the network is to strengthen pharmacy practice and pharmacy practice research in Denmark by providing a forum where community pharmacy practitioners and researchers meet and work together. The network is led by a steering committee elected by the members in the network.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document