ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As of 2014, community pharmacies in Japan are approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to measure lipid panel, HbA1c, glucose, ALT, AST and γ-GTP, but not to screen for influenza virus. We provided influenza virus screening tests at a community pharmacy to triage people with symptoms suggestive of influenza. Participants were given appropriate advice on how to prevent the spread of and safeguard against influenza. We subsequently evaluated the effects of community pharmacy-based influenza virus screening and prevention measures. METHODS: Local residents with symptoms suggestive of influenza participated in this study. Influenza virus screening tests using nasal samples were provided to the pharmacy, and we assessed samples for the presence of influenza virus. The study consisted of a preliminary interview, informed consent, and screening test on Day 1, and mail-in survey on Day 14. RESULTS: A total 52 local residents participated in the study. The number of participants and influenza virus positive results followed the same trend as the influenza epidemic in the study area. Influenza virus was found in 28.8% of samples. There was no significant difference between the appearance ratios of subjective symptoms among influenza-positive and influenza-negative groups. The percentages of participants who were first screened at the pharmacy, and those who were first screened at a clinic and then tested again at the pharmacy, were 71.2% (37/52) and 28.8% (15/52), respectively. In the latter group, 14 of 15 were negative by screening at the clinic, and one was diagnosed with influenza without testing. Subsequently, 46.8% (7/15) of participants tested positive for influenza by pharmacy-based screening. According to the mail-in survey, all influenza-positive (100%, 7/7) and 35.3% (6/17) of influenza-negative participants visited the clinic after being tested at the community pharmacy; test results between the community pharmacy and clinic were consistent. A total 64.7% (11/17) of symptomatic participants who tested negative recovered spontaneously at home. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of influenza virus screening followed by provision of appropriate advice for both influenza-positive and influenza-negative participants at the community pharmacy showed a significant effect on improving the health of the local community.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to determine whether a food delivery service can improve the nutritional status of elderly persons living at home alone. METHODS: The subjects were 74 elderly women (age range, 70-90 years; average age 80.2 +/- 3.6 years) living in T town, Miyazaki Prefecture. All were independent in activities of daily living and their nutritional status was individually evaluated using anthropometric, biochemical and dietary methods. We then compared the nutritional status between persons who used the delivery service for more than 3 months and persons who lived alone and did not use the delivery service or who lived with their families. RESULTS: Based on the anthropometric examination, all persons appeared to be in a good nutritional state. However, their total serum protein and albumin levels demonstrated some undernutrition. Total serum protein, albumin, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol were all higher in persons who received food from a delivery service than in the control group living alone. Persons who lived with their families had similar levels as persons using the delivery service. Individuals who lived alone tended to eat sweets more frequently than those with their families. The food delivery service resulted in a higher consumption of fat. CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional status of elderly persons living alone may be improved by dishes high in fat delivered for lunch or supper. These results suggest that food delivery services run by municipalities are efficient for nutritional care.