Perceived current and future roles of UK-based community pharmacy professionals in the long-term management of acne.

Introduction: Acne is a common skin condition treated in community pharmacy but moderate to severe cases may need referral to general practice for treatment that may include topical or oral antimicrobial treatments. Pharmacy teams working in the community are well-placed to manage acne treatments in line with NICE guidance. Objectives: To explore the perceived current and future roles of community pharmacy (CP) teams alongside needs to achieve potential future roles. Additionally, usefulness of the TARGET acne 'How to' toolkit to support these roles was sought. Methods: A mixed-methods electronic survey of UK-based CP professionals and stakeholders in March 2023. Results: 54 pharmacy professionals and stakeholders responded to the survey. The current confidence of pharmacy professionals in managing acne was rated as moderate and reviewing long-term medications for acne prescribed by another healthcare professional was seen as a future role. The needs identified to undertake such a role were: training, availability of prescribing or supply frameworks, and appropriate remuneration. The TARGET acne resources were thought of as being very useful for acne management. Conclusions: Potential future roles for CP have been identified, alongside additional needs to undertake these roles; the TARGET acne 'How to' resources could support pharmacy professionals in the management and review of antimicrobial treatment for acne.

Culture, politics and being more equal than others in COVID-19: some psychological anthropology perspectives.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how we view the world, human behaviour, and societal structures and institutions. The emerging subdiscipline of psychological anthropology is well placed to provide a perspective on the way individuals and communities are affected by and respond to the pandemic, as well as the fallout from government responses and prevention strategies. Moreover, this viewpoint enables insights into the workings of societal structures and agents of power in the context of a health crisis that is worsened by poverty, inequality, and structural violence. How communities respond and adapt to the 'new normal' are critical to holding governing structures accountable in situations where poor leadership, mismanagement, and unethical behaviour have been evident.

Depressive symptoms in first year students at a rural South African University.

BACKGROUND: The rate of depressive illness in university students is currently regarded as being higher than the general population prevalence. While some students are insightful into the mental health issues they are facing and are voicing their concerns regarding the need for intervention services, many others are not wholly aware of the significance of their emotional states within the broader context of mental health problems. METHODS: A sample of 483 undergraduate first-year Psychology students at a rural-based university in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa was administered the University Student Depression Inventory (USDI). Reported symptom prevalence was examined for the overall sample as well as gender, rural/urban background, and age subgroups. RESULTS: Symptoms of hopelessness, loss of interest, low self-esteem and low mood were reported in over one-fifth of the participants, with 20.3% questioning whether life is worth living. Seven percent of participants admitted having had thoughts of suicide. LIMITATIONS: The study was conducted at one university only. Also, the investigation relied on self-reports of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The findings raise concern about the extent to which students' depressive symptoms affect their quality of life and their academic performance. The finding that 7% of the sample admitted to having thoughts of suicide is worrying and reinforces students' calls for mental health support on their university campuses.