The Impact of a Digital Vaccine Consent Form in a Large Community Pharmacy Chain

Background: A large community pharmacy chain implemented a new digital platform to eliminate the need for patients to fill out a traditional vaccine consent form in the pharmacy. The new digital vaccine consent form allowed patients to complete the form online, where it was transmitted directly to the pharmacy’s network. Objectives: To identify the characteristics of patients who used an online digital vaccine consent form to receive vaccinations and to evaluate patient satisfaction and confidence in utilizing the digital vaccine consent form to receive pharmacy services. Methods: This three-month prospective study was conducted in the Mid-Atlantic division of a large community pharmacy chain. A 16-question survey was developed using information from the literature to collect demographic information and patient confidence and satisfaction with the digital vaccine consent form. An email was sent to pharmacy staff containing instructions on the procedure for posting a recruitment flyer, distributing the survey post-vaccination, and how to return completed surveys. Univariate and bi-variate analysis were conducted. Results: Thirty-six participants responded to the survey, majority of participants were female (56%). Two patients used the digital vaccine consent form; both used because it was more convenient and were likely to use the form again. For those who did not use the digital vaccine consent form, 32% feel somewhat unconfident in using digital technologies for pharmacy services. A majority of patients prefer to be notified about new online services by email (39%) or advertisements in the pharmacy (31%). When asked the likelihood of using the digital vaccine consent form in the future, majority stated unlikely (34%) or neutral (25%). Conclusions: Most participants did not utilize the new digital vaccine form. This provides an opportunity to further engage patients on the availability and use of the digital vaccine consent form in order to advance digital technologies for pharmacy services.

Diuretics: Is non-prescription leave possible?

Relevance. Diuretics currently play an important role in modern clinical practice. However, at present, diuretics are increasingly used and not “for medical purposes”: to reduce excess weight for cosmetic purposes or by people involved in sports, in those forms where weight categories are provided, or to reduce the concentration of a prohibited substance in urine. In this case, diuretic therapy is associated with the development of a large number of undesirable drug reactions, the likelihood of which increases with the “over-the-counter” dispensing of drugs and, accordingly, with their uncontrolled consumption. Aim. Using an anonymous questionnaire to reveal the demand for diuretics among the visitors of Tyumen pharmacies and the readiness of pharmacists for their over-the-counter dispensing. Materials and methods: analysis of the results of an anonymous survey, visitors and employees of the pharmacy chain (n = 70) in Tyumen. Results. In 42.9% of cases, respondents applied for “over-the-counter” purchase of diuretics (no hard copy). All non-prescription consumers were of working age: 70% were between the ages of 30 and 60, and 30% were under 30. In 20% of cases, over-the-counter dispensing of diuretic drugs was denied by pharmacy staff. 12.5% of non-prescription consumers reported adverse drug reactions to diuretics. An anonymous survey of “non-prescription respondents” under 30 revealed that in 50% of cases, diuretics were used to eliminate edema, in 25% of cases – for weight loss for cosmetic purposes, and in 25% – for weight loss by people involved in sports. In 37.5% of cases, respondents noted the development of unwanted drug reactions in the form of arterial hypotension, seizures, and decreased performance. Conclusion. Non-prescription leave dispensing of diuretics is noted in 42.9% of cases. The main consumers of non-prescription leave diuretics are people of working age. There is a low awareness of consumers about adverse drug reactions of diuretics, which requires not only to limit the over-the-counter dispensing of this group of drugs, but also to educate the population about the dangers of self-medication.

Perceptions and Attitudes of Pharmacogenomics Through the Lens of Community Pharmacists and Patients

Background Pharmacists represent some of the most accessible healthcare workers and are in an opportune position to spearhead new clinical initiatives, such as pharmacogenomics (PGx) services. It is important that we understand the perceptions and attitudes both pharmacists and patients have regarding PGx and potential barriers of implementing it into routine clinical practice. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted across one regional division of a large community pharmacy chain to assess the perceptions and attitudes of pharmacists and patients regarding PGx in California. A secondary aim was to determine perceived barriers to PGx implementation into community pharmacies. Results The majority (67%) of pharmacists agreed or strongly agreed to understanding PGx compared to 35% of patients being aware of PGx (p<0.001). More patients (62%) preferred their pharmacist compared to pharmacists (43%) preferring themselves as a provider to manage patients' medications based on their PGx results (p<0.01). Many patients (88%) expressed interest in participating in a PGx test; both pharmacists (84%) and patients (85%) were unlikely to have participated or know someone who has participated in PGx testing. Pharmacists and patients expressed similar concerns about privacy of their PGx data by employers (p=0.287) and insurers (p=0.953), a potential barrier to PGx implementation. Conclusion Pharmacists are well positioned to spearhead PGx consultations and patients are interested in pharmacists using PGx to help manage their medications; however, various barriers were identified that must be overcome for PGx to become incorporated in routine practice.

Peculiarities of effective management of products assortment depending on different sizes of pharmacy chains

The aim of the work is to study the features of effective management of product's assortment in small, medium and large pharmacy chains. Materials and methods. The study of the features of the assortment policy of pharmacies that are part of pharmacy chains of different sizes was conducted using a questionnaire of 421 heads of pharmacies. The relationship between the size of the pharmacy chain and the approaches used to form the product's assortment is studied and the presence of the procedure of product's assortment formation in pharmacies is analyzed using Pearson's criteria c2 and c2 maximum likelihood (M-L c2). The importance of the influence of the size of the pharmacy network on the scores of the efficiency of the business process of forming the product range, as well as its width and intensity of updating using non-parametric analysis of variance Kraskal-Wallis; Manfer-Whitney test with Bonferroni correction for pairwise comparisons of pharmacy network clusters and correlation analysis. The presence of drugs in treatment protocols was analyzed using the Z-test to compare the frequency of drug administration. Peculiarities of introduction and withdrawal of drugs and medical products to the range of different size pharmacy chains criteria c2 Pearson's and maximum likelihood (M-L c2) are determined. System and logical analysis is used to systematize the existing approaches to product's assortment management in pharmacy chains of different sizes. Results. It is established that with the increase in the size of pharmacy chains the tendency to use a centralized approach to the analysis and formation of the range in chains increases, when the list of assortment items is fully created and approved at the head office of the chain. The importance of the relationship between the breadth of the assortment of pharmacies and the size of the chain, which includes a pharmacy. Thus, large and mega-chains support the assortment, which on average includes up to 8.5 thousand items of medicines and medical devices, medium - 4-5 thousand assortment's items, and in half of the establishments of small pharmacy chains the range may include from 2,5 to 3 thousand names of medicines and medical devices. It is established that regardless of the size of the pharmacy chain, the inclusion of medicines / medical products in the range of pharmacies most often takes into account the factor of seasonality of demand and taking into account the core range, i.e. the list of 100-150 most popular items in the pharmaceutical market. When withdrawing medicines or medical products from the assortment of pharmacies from all three clusters are often guided by indicators of low profitability of sales and lack of orders for goods for more than three months. Conclusions. The analysis of the assortment policy of pharmacy chains of different sizes showed that in most of the studied institutions it is quite effective. The obtained results allow us to conclude that the effectiveness of the formation and analysis of the assortment is achieved through the use of different approaches to the centralization of this business process depending on the size of the pharmacy chain

Research on Meeting the Demand of the Population for a Group of Medicines Intended for the Treatment of Skin Diseases

The problem of the spread of skin diseases in Russia and abroad in the last period is quite acute. Among the reasons for the development of this group of diseases, researchers determine genetic factors, poor ecology, impaired liver function, etc. In this regard, those suffering from this group of diseases are necessarily provided with qualified medical care, and pharmacy institutions form the necessary range of drugs that can improve the standard of living of patients. For this reason, we consider it necessary to analyze the level of demand for certain drugs used for the treatment of skin diseases in the pharmacy network of Belgorod, as well as factors that allow us to assess certain aspects that affect the formation of the range of these drugs in pharmacies. The purpose of the work was defined as follows: to conduct a study of meeting the demand of the population for groups of medicines intended for the treatment of skin diseases. The conducted analysis shows the following. Drugs intended for the treatment of skin diseases are in high demand (59.09%); 22.73% of drugs are in low demand, the lack of demand was observed in 18.18% of the studied group of drugs. In this paper, recommendations were formulated to optimize the assortment policy of the World of Medicines pharmacy chain in Belgorod. Since it was determined that high demand drugs such as Argosulfan, Belosalic, Avekort, Cinocap, Candiderm, Alorom, Lomaherpan, and, Nitrofungin. It is for this reason that it is necessary to increase the volume of their purchases to better meet the demand of the population for these drugs. It was also revealed that it is necessary to reduce the volume of purchases of drugs, the demand for which is reduced. It is drugs such as Daktarin, Adolen, Camadol, Ammifurin, Bramisil, Batrafen, and Hiporhamin (they came in the results of ABC-analysis to the group C). In addition, the pharmacy should promote this group of drugs to familiarize consumers with them and offer them at a reduced price, so as not to burden the turnover of medicines and not to reduce the effectiveness of the pharmacy. The paper concluded that, according to the study, the demand for medicines used in the treatment of skin diseases is quite high. At the same time, the administration of the pharmacy chain should pay more attention to the analysis of the purchased groups of medicines in this category in order to prevent overloading the pharmacy balance with drugs, the demand for which is reduced, as this negatively affects the effectiveness of the pharmacy organization. In this regard, it is advisable to conduct an ABC analysis of the assortment groups of drugs at least once a quarter, as well as take the necessary measures to promote drugs used in the treatment of skin diseases that are in insufficient demand among the population.

"PHARMACY DRUGS" IN RUSSIA (BASED ON MATERIALS FROM THE MOSCOW REGION)

The article reviews current problems related to mono - and combined use of medications (Tropicamide, Pregabalin ("Lyrica")). The article presents statistics on the detected use of medicines in 2016-2019 in Moscow for non-medical purposes. A review of domestic and foreign studies of the clinical aspect of consumption of these substances is conducted. A number of acute regulatory and legal problems related to the turnover of drugs in the pharmacy chain are highlighted. The authors conclude that, given the recent increase in the number of people abusing Tropicamide and Pregabalin, strict prescription control over their release in the pharmacy chain should be recommended. Caution should be exercised when prescribing these drugs for therapeutic purposes.

Research on Meeting the Demand of the Population for A Group of Medicines Intended for the Treatment of Skin Diseases

The paper concluded that, according to the study, the demand for medicines used in the treatment of skin diseases is quite high. At the same time, the administration of the pharmacy chain should pay more attention to the analysis of the purchased groups of medicines in this category in order to prevent overloading the pharmacy balance with drugs, the demand for which is reduced, as this negatively affects the effectiveness of the pharmacy organization. In this regard, it is advisable to conduct an ABC analysis of the assortment groups of drugs at least once a quarter, as well as take the necessary measures to promote drugs used in the treatment of skin diseases that are in insufficient demand among the population

An educational intervention to improve the ability of community pharmacists in Sri Lanka to detect drug related problems

Background: Drug related problems (DRPs) in prescriptions could result in patient harm. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an educational workshop on detecting DRPs in prescriptions by a cohort of community pharmacists. Methods: Pharmacists working in a large community pharmacy chain in Sri Lanka were invited for an educational workshop on detecting DRPs in prescriptions. Participants were asked to review three mock prescriptions containing hypothetical DRPs before the workshop. After an interactive teaching session, pharmacists were asked to review the same three prescriptions again. Results: All pharmacists who attended the workshop (N=58) participated. The mean score for detecting DRPs per pharmacist at pre-assessment was 5.3±2.1 which increased to 8.5±1.7 at post-assessment (p<0.001). Conclusion: An educational intervention improved the community pharmacists’ ability to detect DRPs related to completeness and legality of prescriptions but failed to make a significant impact on detecting serious pharmacological issues like medicine duplications and interactions.