scholarly journals Uptake of Travel Health Services by Community Pharmacies and Patients Following Pharmacist Immunization Scope Expansion in Ontario, Canada

Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherilyn K. D. Houle ◽  
Kristina Kozlovsky ◽  
Heidi V. J. Fernandes ◽  
Zahava Rosenberg-Yunger
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽  
The Public ◽  
Patient Awareness ◽  
Travel Health ◽  
Single Region ◽  
Insufficient Time

In December 2016, pharmacists in Ontario, Canada with authorization to administer injections saw an expansion in their scope from a restriction to the influenza vaccination only to now including an additional 13 vaccine-preventable diseases, largely those related to travel. It was uncertain whether this change in scope would see sufficient uptake, or translate to a corresponding expansion in other travel health service offerings from community pharmacies. In October/November 2017 a survey was conducted of all licensed community pharmacists in Ontario, followed by semi-structured interviews with 6 survey respondents in June 2018. A web-based survey of members of the public from a single region of the province was also conducted in September 2018 to assess uptake of expanded vaccination services. Broad variability in uptake of these services was noted, ranging from the dispensing of travel-related medications and vaccinations only through to vaccine administration and prescribing under medical directive; however, uptake was generally at the lower end of this spectrum. This was evidenced by 94% of pharmacists reporting administering fewer than 10 travel vaccinations per month, fewer than 10% of patients reporting receiving a travel vaccine administered by a pharmacist, and a maximum of 30 pharmacies (of nearly 6000 in the province) designated to provide yellow fever vaccinations. Fewer than 1 in 3 pharmacists reported performing some form of pre-travel consultation in their practice, often limited to low-risk cases only. Barriers and facilitators reported were similar for these services as they were for other non-dispensing services, including insufficient time to integrate the service into their workload, perceived lack of knowledge and confidence in travel health, and low patient awareness of these new services available to them through community pharmacies.

scholarly journals Community Pharmacists’ Motivation and Barriers to Providing and Billing Patient Care Services

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Liesl D. Reyes ◽  
Jenny Hong ◽  
Christine Lin ◽  
Jeffrey Hamper ◽  
Lisa Kroon
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptives ◽  
Postexposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Travel Health ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Naloxone Hydrochloride ◽  
Common Barriers ◽  
New Strategies

Recently, California (CA) pharmacists’ scope of practice has expanded to include independently prescribing self-administered hormonal contraceptives, nicotine replacement therapy medications, travel health medications, routine vaccinations, naloxone hydrochloride, and HIV preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis. However, previous reports indicate that practicing within this expanded scope has remained limited. Therefore, a 26-item, web-based survey was emailed to CA community pharmacists to assess pharmacists’ knowledge, intent, and barriers to prescribing and billing for these patient care services. A total of 216 chain, supermarket-based, independent, mass merchant, and health-system outpatient pharmacists were included. The primary services provided and medications prescribed are for vaccinations and naloxone. Most pharmacists agree that engagement in and implementation of new strategies to enhance patients’ access to care is important. Common barriers include patient unawareness of pharmacist-provided services, lack of payment for services, and difficulty incorporating services within pharmacy workflow. Pharmacists are confident in their ability to provide patient care services but are less knowledgeable and confident about billing for them. Enhancing promotion of pharmacist-provided services to patients, developing strategies to efficiently incorporate them into the workflow, and payment models can help overcome barriers to providing these services.

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 Artificial Ladies against corruption: searching for legitimacy at the Brazilian Supreme Audit Institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 31-50
Author(s):  
Fabrício Ramos Neves ◽  
Polyana Batista Da Silva ◽  
Hugo Leonardo Menezes de Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Digital Innovation ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
The Public ◽  
Technological Artifacts ◽  
And Diffusion

This study depicts the search for legitimacy by four information technology artifacts in helping auditors in the surveillance against fraud and corruption by the Brazilian Supreme Audit Institution (TCU). ALICE, ADELE, MONICA, and SOFIA are Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems proposed to aid auditing processes in the public sector. A web-based survey has been used to gather the responses from 60 auditors across Brazil and semi-structured interviews with the Chief Data Officer, three IT Developers and five TCU Audit Managers selected by purposive sampling. The research finds that the use of AI-based systems is low among auditors at the TCU due to the perceived limited benefit. While some respondents recognized the advantages of the AI-based systems, they are put off by the weak theorization and diffusion regarding the meaning and the use of AI-based systems within the organization; they showed a priority for using traditional auditing methods instead of digital innovation, restricting the potential of anticorruption control by technological artifacts.

scholarly journals The Implementation of the Professional Role of the Community Pharmacist in the Immunization Practices in Italy to Counteract Vaccine Hesitancy

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Rosagemma Ciliberti ◽  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽  
Alessandro Bonsignore
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacist ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Professional Role ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Immunization Programs ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Ease Of Access

In Italy, the National Vaccinal Prevention Plan has renewed the commitment of the Italian government to promote a culture of vaccination practices in the general population and especially among healthcare professionals, considering it as a strategic goal. The search for useful tools and techniques to promote a layered and widespread information network capable of restoring a climate of trust and confidence towards vaccination, leads us to reflect on the possibility, already adopted in numerous countries, of enlisting community pharmacies in immunization campaigns also in Italy, positively implementing the professional role of the community pharmacist in immunization. The pharmacist is often the first point of contact with both the patients and the public, both for the relationship of trust and confidence that binds him to the citizens, and for the ease of access in relation to the widespread distribution of community pharmacies in the territory, the availability of prolonged operating hours, the absence of need for appointments and positions near/outside of healthcare facilities. Currently, in Italy the role of the community pharmacist is limited to counseling and providing advice and information regarding the benefits and/or any risks of vaccination practices, but does not imply a direct engagement in immunization programs, rather a collaboration to avoid straining and overwhelming the vaccination centers. Some recent questionnaire-based studies have shown that Italian community pharmacists have attitudes that are favorable to vaccinations, even though their knowledge is rather limited. Together with expanding the engagement of community pharmacists in immunization programs, their educational gap should be addressed in order to significantly improve and enhance the protection of the public health.

scholarly journals 147. Pharmacist Attitudes Towards Using Clinical Decision Support in Community Pharmacies to Promote Antibiotic Stewardship in the Treatment of Uncomplicated UTI

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S84-S84
Author(s):  
Sena Sayood ◽  
Katie Suda ◽  
Michael Durkin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Clinical Decision Support ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Pharmacist Attitudes

Abstract Background Prior studies of prescribing practices have shown that providers frequently choose non-guideline concordant treatment regimens to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI). It has also been shown that uncomplicated UTI can be treated safely, and in a guideline concordant manner, by non-physician providers using an algorithm over the phone. The purpose of this study was to assess pharmacist attitudes towards using a clinical decision support (CDS) tool that would be used to evaluate and manage patients presenting with complaints of UTI in the community pharmacy setting. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews of community pharmacists (n = 21) from 2019 to 2020 until thematic saturation was reached. Pharmacists were questioned about their attitudes towards stewardship, workflow, interactions with patients and providers, and interest in using a computerized CDS tool. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and de-identified. Coding and analysis of the interviews was performed using NVivo version 12. Results Pharmacists were interviewed with practice experience ranging from 2 to 54 years (median 13, IQR 6, 27). All pharmacists expressed interest in using CDS to assist with patient evaluations and stewardship. They reported that patients routinely use the community pharmacy as a first stop for medical advice and that they have several interactions per day with patients in which they counsel them on a variety of issues, including UTI. Their assessment and management decisions of UTIs were based on personal knowledge and not on any standard of care. Communication difficulties with primary care offices often delayed management of these patients and lack of information sharing made it difficult for pharmacists to engage in stewardship practices. Conclusion Community pharmacies are an important point of contact for patients and represent a significant opportunity to implement outpatient stewardship interventions. Pharmacists had an overwhelmingly favorable response to the prospect of using a CDS tool, both to help in patient evaluation and to promote antimicrobial stewardship. Based on these results we can conclude that it would be feasible to pilot a CDS tool in community pharmacies to further evaluate its safety and efficacy in the treatment of UTI. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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.

scholarly journals New Zealand pharmacists’ experiences, practices and views regarding antibiotic use without prescription

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majd Dameh ◽  
Pauline Norris ◽  
James Green
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Customer Demand ◽  
Personal Use ◽  
Business Orientation

INTRODUCTION: Very few studies have investigated pharmacists’ views, experiences and practices regarding the use of antibiotics without prescription. This study aimed to explore through self-report and hypothetical scenarios what factors determine New Zealand pharmacists’ behaviour and attitudes towards non-prescription use of antibiotics. METHODS: A purposeful sample of 35 registered community pharmacists of differing ethnic backgrounds was selected from a mixture of pharmacies that predominantly either serve New Zealand European customers or customers of other ethnicities. Semi-structured interviews including general background questions and six hypothetical scenarios were used for the investigation. Pharmacists’ ethnicity, education, years of experience, and customers’ ethnicity may influence their views, experiences and practices regarding the use of antibiotics without prescription. Customer demand or expectation, business orientation and competitiveness within community pharmacies, standards and practice of fellow pharmacists, ethics and professionalism, legislation, enforcement of the legislation, and apprehension of the consequences of such practice were hypothesised to have an effect on antibiotic use or supply without prescription by pharmacists. FINDINGS: The supply of antibiotics without prescription is not common practice in New Zealand. However, personal use of antibiotics without prescription by pharmacists may have been underestimated. Pharmacists were aware of legalities surrounding selling and using antibiotics and practised accordingly, yet many used antibiotics without prescription to treat themselves and/or spouses or partners. Many pharmacists also reported that under certain legislative, and regulatory and situational conditions they would sell antibiotics without a prescription. CONCLUSION: Views and practices regarding antibiotic use without prescription by community pharmacists require further exploration. KEYWORDS: Non-prescription antibiotics; hypothetical scenarios; legislation enforcement; New Zealand

scholarly journals Training and Toolkit Resources to Support Implementation of a Community Pharmacy Fall Prevention Service

Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robinson ◽  
Renfro ◽  
Shockley ◽  
Blalock ◽  
Watkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Prevention Services ◽  
Prevention Service ◽  
Training Resources

Community pharmacies are an ideal setting to manage high-risk medications and screen older adults at risk for falls. Appropriate training and resources are needed to successfully implement services in this setting. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key training, tools, and resources to support implementation of fall prevention services. The service was implemented in a network of community pharmacies located in North Carolina. Pharmacies were provided with onboard and longitudinal training, and a project coach. A toolkit contained resources to collect medication information, identify high-risk medications, develop and share recommendations with prescribers, market the service, and educate patients. Project champions at each pharmacy received a nine-question, web-based survey (Qualtrics) to identify usefulness of the training and resources. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Thirty-one community pharmacies implemented the service. Twenty-three project champions (74%) completed the post-intervention survey. Comprehensive onboard training was rated as more useful than longitudinal training. Resources to identify high-risk medications, develop recommendations, and share recommendations with prescribers were considered most useful. By providing appropriate training and resources to support fall prevention services, community pharmacists can improve patient care as part of their routine workflow.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Infectious Diseases Related to Travel of Community Pharmacists in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 2147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgia Della Polla ◽  
Concetta Paola Pelullo ◽  
Francesco Napolitano ◽  
Chiara Lambiase ◽  
Caterina De Simone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Travel Medicine ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
The Public ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Travel Health ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Pharmacists should be educated about travel medicine, since they could influence their own choices and those of the individuals they encounter. This study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards infectious diseases related to travel among community pharmacists in Italy. The data was collected from September 2018 to September 2019 using semi-structured telephone interviews. Only 1.8% answered correctly to all seven questions regarding the infectious diseases related to travel. Community pharmacists who had heard about travel medicine and those who had received information were more likely to have good knowledge. More than two-thirds of the respondents believed that it is important to provide information to the public about travel medicine. Pharmacists who worked a higher number of hours per week, were more knowledgeable about the more frequent infectious diseases related to travel, believed that travel medicine was a pharmacist competency, believed that they could give advice to the public, and had received information from scientific journals and educational activities were more likely to have this positive attitude. More than two-thirds often/always informed the public about the importance of having travel health center counseling. Pharmacists who had heard about travel medicine and those who believed that they could give advice to the public were more likely to inform. Interventions are needed to improve knowledge in order that community pharmacists can play an active role in counseling the public.

scholarly journals A qualitative study of the views of healthcare professionals on providing vaccines information to patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Loftus ◽  
Laura J. Sahm ◽  
Aoife Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Patient Autonomy ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Perception Of Risk ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
The Public

AbstractBackground Healthcare professionals (HCPs) such as pharmacists, general practitioners and practice nurses are a trusted source of vaccines information for patients in primary care. Global regulators have highlighted the key role of HCPs in fostering confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. Objective This study aims to gain insight into the views and experiences of HCPs on providing vaccines information to patients. Setting Primary care general practice surgeries and community pharmacies in Ireland. Methods Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 HCPs (five General practitioners [GPs], four practice nurses and five community pharmacists) identified through purposive and convenience sampling. The interviews were analysed by inductive thematic analysis. Main outcome measure Participants’ views and experiences of providing vaccines information to patients. Results Five key themes were identified: roles and responsibilities, perception of risk, perception of the public, building a relationship, and emotion. HCPs were motivated by duty and care for their patients. They respected patient autonomy and were driven by their concern for public health. HCPs were influenced by their perception of risk and their perceptions of the public. HCPs practiced patient-centred care by providing tailored vaccines information. They favoured an approach of providing patients with information and support to make their own decision. The topic was emotive; HCPs empathised with patients but were also frustrated by their perceived inability to change some patients’ views. Conclusion The provision of vaccines information by HCPs to patients is multifactorial with participants mindful of patient autonomy and the HCP role to support vaccinations as a public health priority. Participants suggested that education and support on vaccines communication would enable them to support the vaccines uptake in their practice.

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