Ceftobiprole mono-therapy versus combination or non-combination regimen of standard antibiotics for the treatment of complicated infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Various bacteria produce complicated infections that are difficult to treat worldwide. Ceftobiprole is effective against resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. METHODS: This review assessed effectiveness and safety of ceftobiprole monotherapy for severe infections. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing clinical cure, microbiological cure, and safety of ceftobiprole alone to a combination or non-combination antibiotic regimen was conducted. Until December 20, 2022, we searched a major databases. RESULTS: This study includes 4168 patients from six trials. Ceftobiprole and comparator-received patients had similar clinical responses for all patient population. Also, the eradication rate of all organisms and specific pathogenic bacteria in microbiologically examined patients was comparable between the groups. Ceftobiprole induced more gastrointestinal side events than comparable drugs, mostly nausea [OR 1.91 (1.26-2.90), p=<0.01]. While skin-related adverse events were significantly associated with comparator antibiotics [6 trials, 4062 patients; OR 0.77 (0.60-0.99), p=0.03]. CONCLUSION: Ceftobiprole monotherapy is effective and safe for severe infections caused by Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria.

The Clinical Efficacy of Adding Ceftazidime/Avibactam to Standard Therapy in Treating Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumonia with blaOXA-48-like Genes.

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ-AVI) is FDA-approved for managing infections caused by resistant gram-negative bacilli, particularly infections via carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales pathogens. The clinical data are still limited, particularly those in Saudi Arabia. The present study is a retrospective cohort study that was carried out at the Armed Forces Hospital in the southern region of Saudi Arabia to compare the clinical and microbiological outcomes for CAZ-AVI-treated patients as monotherapy and as an add-on to standard therapy for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (CRKP) OXA-48 infections to those treated with standard drugs. The study included CRKP OXA-48-like infected patients who were administered antibiotics for more than seven days from 1 August 2018 to May 2023. Patients' baseline characteristics and demography were extracted from the clinical records, and their clinical/microbiology efficiencies were assessed as per the corresponding definitions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to identify the potential independent variable for CAZ-AVI efficiency. A total of 114 patient files were included for the evaluation. Among these patients, 64 used CAZ-AVI combined with standard therapy and were included in the intervention group, and 50 of them used standard therapy and were included in the comparative group. Following analysis, CAZ-AVI's clinical success was 42.2% (p = 0.028), while the intervention versus comparative groups showed decreased 30-day all-cause mortality (50.0% versus 70.0%; p = 0.036) and infection recurrence (7.8% versus 24.0%; p = 0.019), as well as substantially increased rates of microbial eradication (68.8% versus 42.0%; p = 0.007). CAZ-AVI add-on therapy rather than monotherapy showed statistically significant favored clinical and microbial outcomes over the standard therapy. Furthermore, sex (female %), ICU admission, and fever were negatively associated with patients' 30-day all-cause mortality, serving as independent negative factors. Only fever, CRP bio levels, inotropes, and ICU admissions were significant predictors influencing the CAZ-AVI's clinical efficiency. The duration of CAZ-AVI therapy positively influenced CAZ-AVI's microbial eradication, while both WBC counts and fever experiences were negative predictors. This study shows the effective usage of CAZ-AVI against CRKP OXA-48-like infections. The influencing independent variables depicted here should recommend that clinicians individualize the CAZ-AVI dose based on co-existing risk factors to achieve optimal survival and efficacy. Prospective multicenter and randomized control studies are recommended, with individualized CAZ-AVI precision administration implemented based on patients' characteristics.

Evaluation of pharmaceutical care services in the Middle East Countries: a review of studies of 2013-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmaceutical care services (PCs) have evolved significantly over the last few decades, with a greater focus on patient's safety and proven effectiveness in a wide range of contexts. Many of the evidence supporting this technique comes from the United States, the evaluation and adoption of (PCs) which differ greatly across the globe. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to identify and assess the efficacy of pharmaceutical care services in various pharmaceutical aspects throughout seventeen Middle Eastern nations. METHOD: The Arkesy and O'Malley technique was used to conduct a scoping review. It was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Springer Link, Clinical Trials, and Web of Science etc. The Van Tulder Scale was utilized in randomized trials research, whereas the dawn and black checklists were used in non-randomized trials research. A descriptive and numerical analysis of selected research was done. The scope of eligible PCs, pharmaceutical implementers, study outcomes, and quality were all identified by a thematic review of research. RESULTS: There were about 431,753 citations found in this study, and 129 publications were found to be eligible for inclusion after analysing more than 271 full-text papers. The study design was varied, with 43 (33.3%) RCTs and 86 (66.7%) n-RCTs. Thirty-three (25.6%) of the studies were published in 2020. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey were home to the majority of the studies (25.6%, 16.3%, and 11.6%) respectively. Thirty-seven studies (19.7%) were concerned with resolving drug related problems (DRPs), whereas 27 (14.4%) were concerned with increasing quality of life (QOL) and 23 (12.2%) with improving drug adherence. Additionally, the research revealed that the average ratings of the activities provided to patients improved every year. CONCLUSION: Studies in the Middle East continue to provide evidence supporting the positive impact of pharmaceutical care services on both hard and soft outcomes measured in most studies. Yet there was rare focus on the value of the implemented services. Thus, rigorous evaluation of the economic impact of implemented pharmaceutical care services in the Middle East and assessment of their sustainability is must.

Community pharmacists preparedness and barriers for cancer health promotion in North Cyprus.

INTRODUCTION: The role of a community pharmacist is well recognized in the literature as the most accessible health care provider that promotes health wellness and disease prevention. Evidence supports their role in cancer health promotion though this is not seen yet in practice. The aim of the study was to assess community pharmacists' preparedness in terms of knowledge, role perception and barriers for providing cancer health promotion in North Cyprus. METHODS: A cross-sectional face-to-face questionnaire-based study was carried among a randomly selected representative sample of community pharmacists in North Cyprus between June 2020 and August 2020. A pre-validated 31-item questionnaire tool was revised by an expert panel and adopted for purpose of this study. RESULTS: 200 (64.5%) out of 310 approached community pharmacists' have accepted and responded to the questionnaire of which 183 were fully answered. The community pharmacists' awareness of cancer was moderate, as 70% answered correctly. Most respondents (93.4%) agree that pharmacists should be involved in cancer health promotion. Most respondents (> 90%) agree that pharmacist's lack of interest in oncology, lack of educational material and pharmacist's hesitancy about their knowledge of cancer are respectively the most important barriers for cancer health promotion. CONCLUSION: The study shows that community pharmacist well perceives their role in cancer health promotion despite moderate awareness of cancer related facts and hesitancy of their knowledge necessary for assuming their role. Lack of interest, motivation and cancer educational materials availability are also major barrier to address.

Test performance of self-report adherence tools in patients with hypertension: A systematic review and a meta-analysis.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES: Adherence has proved to have a positive influence on achieving plausible treatment outcomes. Self-report questionnaires are widely used in evaluating adherence, creating thus a high-powered research field. This review aims to provide an update of scales used in hypertension, which are compared and analysed against reliability and validity. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched in May 2022 to identify studies. We extracted the study characteristics and evaluated their quality. A random-effects model with subgroup analysis was used to calculate estimates and heterogeneity parameters as well as regressions, funnel and forest plots. A bivariate model was selected to conduct validity analyses and draw receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Fifty-five articles were identified and classified into 22 different reliable and validated tools. Pooled analyses predicted an overall good Cronbach's alpha of 0.76 (95%CI:0.67-0.83), a good ICC of 0.8 (95%CI:0.72-0.86) and an excellent correlation coefficient of 0.91 (95%CI:0.86-0.95), which all showed high heterogeneity and slight detection of asymmetry. Regression analyses showed that only time and the number of items/scale type influenced significantly retest and alpha, respectively. Overall validity showed acceptable sensitivity of 0.65 (95%CI:0.53-0.75) and specificity of 0.57 (95%CI:0.47-0.67) with a good Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.637. Upon comparison, four tools showed superiority over Morisky's scale. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Adherence is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, which deems scales to be highly variable or complex; thus, complicating the selection process. Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) is the most promising free non-inferior alternative to Morisky, the most used scale.

Efficacy and safety of novel glycopeptides versus vancomycin for the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare between current evidence of novel glycopeptides against vancomycin for the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review and meta-analysis was done. Major databases were searched for eligible randomized control trials that assessed clinical success, microbiological success and safety profile of novel glycopeptides versus vancomycin for infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included eleven trials (7289 participants) comparing telavancin, dalbavancin and oritavancin with vancomycin. No differences were detected between novel glycopeptides and vancomycin for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) among modified intent-to-treat patients (OR: 1.04, CI: 0.92-1.17) as well as within the clinically evaluable patients (OR: 1.09, CI: 0.91-1.30). Data analysed from SSTIs, HAP and bacteremia studies on telavancin showed insignificant high clinical response in microbiologically evaluable patients infected with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (OR: 1.57, CI: 0.94-2.62, p: 0.08) and in the eradication of MRSA (OR: 1.39, CI: 0.99-1.96, P:0.06). Dalbavancin was non-inferior to vancomycin for the treatment of osteomyelitis in a phase II trial, while it was superior to vancomycin for the treatment of bacteremia in a phase II trial. Data analysed from all trials showed similar rates of all-cause mortality between compared antibiotics groups (OR: 0.67, CI: 0.11-4.03). Telavancin was significantly related with higher adverse events (OR: 1.24, CI: 1.07-1.44, P: <0.01) while dalbavancin and oritavancin were associated with significant fewer adverse events (OR: 0.73, CI: 0.57-0.94, p: 0.01; OR: 0.72, CI: 0.59-0.89, p: <0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Efficacy and safety profiles of both dalbavancin and oritavancin were the same as vancomycin in the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections in different clinical settings, while telavancin might be an effective alternative to vancomycin in MRSA infections, but caution is required during its clinical use due to the high risk of adverse events, especially nephrotoxicity.

Management of urinary tract infections and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates.

AIM OF STUDY: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections affecting individuals of different ages worldwide. Antimicrobial agents are usually the first-line treatment for UTIs, and the use of the prescribed antibiotic is escalating, resulting in increased rates of bacterial resistance and UTI recurrence. The current study aimed to identify the causative bacteria in Jordan, to explore their resistance pattern to antibiotics and to describe drug-related problems (DRPs) associated with UTI management. METHODS: This prospective, descriptive study was conducted in two major health institutions in two cities in Jordan over a period of six months. The study population included inpatients and outpatients diagnosed with UTIs. Patients' data were collected directly from patients using data collection sheet and from patients' charts. RESULTS: A total of 273 patients were included, of whom 56.4% were women. Urine cultures were obtained from 81% of the patients. Escherichia coli was the most common causative pathogen (50.6%), followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (10.8%). Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli was the most commonly detected organism across all types of UTIs. Ceftriaxone and imipenem/cilastatin were most commonly administered to hospitalised patients, whilst ciprofloxacin and co-triamzaxole were the most commonly prescribed in outpatient clinics. The susceptibility results for parenteral antibiotics showed high rates of resistance to cefazolin and ticarcillin. Additionally, high rates of resistance to fluoroquinolones were identified. Further, several DRPs were identified. High rates of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics were detected. DRPs (ie, inappropriate antibiotic dosage, unnecessary antibiotic prescribing, inappropriate duration of therapy and prescribing of ineffective antibiotics) were relatively common. CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the need for clinical pharmacists to manage the high level of drug related problems by providing updated information about proper drug selection, rational drug use and patient education and counselling.

Preparing lifelong learners for delivering pharmaceutical care in an ever-changing world: a study of pharmacy students.

BACKGROUND: Continuing professional development (CPD) continues to gain acceptance as a model for health care professionals to engage in lifelong learning (LLL). Many pharmacy schools have not adopted yet specific programs targeting the development of LLL skills, though LLL is widely accepted as an essential competence. This paper examines the effectiveness and utility of a longitudinal CPD training program. METHODS: A CPD simulation course was introduced to a cohort of fifth year students in Northern Cyprus in the 2018-2019 academic year. The program was delivered as an interactive orientation course in one semester; meanwhile, in the second semester, the students applied the CPD cycle and completed their portfolios during their final experiential practice. A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the outcomes of the intervention using students' preparedness for lifelong learning (SPLLL) self-administered questionnaire delivered pre-post program, focus group sessions for students to reflect on the course experience, and instructors' evaluations of portfolios. RESULTS: Following the implementation of the course, students' assessment scores were significantly higher overall and for all scale domains, including "knowledge, skills, attitude and practice", compared to the baseline assessment. Additionally, compared to fifth year students who responded to the second SPLLL questionnaire, the intervention group students' assessment was significantly higher in knowledge, skills, and practice. The qualitative analysis reported high student satisfaction and achievement of the course objectives. Nineteen of the students scored high on their portfolios. CONCLUSION: The CPD simulation course provided students with opportunities to practice and develop self-assessment and self-management skills that are all desirable for lifelong learning and prepared them for CPD.

Efficacy and Safety of Capecitabine Alone or in Combination in Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Previously Treated with Anthracycline and Taxane: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Capecitabine is frequently used alone or combined with other chemotherapy agents for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in relapsed patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of capecitabine monotherapy versus combination in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients pretreated with anthracycline and taxane. METHODS: Eligible randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy and safety of capecitabine alone compared to capecitabine combination were systematically searched. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and grades 3-4 drug-related adverse events were the outcomes assessed. RESULTS: A total of 6,714 patients of 9 trials were involved in the pooled analysis. Our findings demonstrated that capecitabine combination is significantly superior to capecitabine monotherapy in improving PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% CI 1.13-1.54, p < 0.0001) and ORR (risk ratio [RR] 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.83, p < 0.001), but it was insignificant in OS (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.98-1.22, p = 0.12). On the other hand, the incidence of non-hematological adverse events such as hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea was lower in capecitabine combination compared to capecitabine monotherapy. CONCLUSION: Capecitabine-based combination chemotherapy showed superiority over capecitabine monotherapy in terms of PFS and ORR, with no significant difference in OS. Non-hematological adverse effects such as hand-foot syndrome were fewer with a combination regimen. However, hematological adverse events were fewer with capecitabine monotherapy regimen.

The rational use of thromboprophylaxis therapy in hospitalized patients and the perspectives of health care providers in Northern Cyprus.

BACKGROUND: Despite the presence of effective strategies and standard guidelines for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a considerable proportion of patients at risk of developing thromboembolism did not receive prophylaxis during hospitalization, while others received it irrationally, thus led to unwanted side effects. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the current thromboprophylaxis practice and management of hospitalized patients at risk of developing DVT, along with the assessment of health care providers (HCPs) knowledge, and attitudes regarding DVT prevention. METHODS: An observational study was conducted in the general wards of two leading tertiary university hospitals in Northern Cyprus in which patients from multiple clinics were enrolled to investigate the rational use of DVT prophylaxis using the Caprini risk assessment tool. Patients were also followed for possible complications two weeks post-hospitalization. A cross-sectional study followed to assess the knowledge and attitude of HCPs regarding DVT risks and prophylaxis. RESULTS: Of the 180 patients enrolled, 47.7% were identified as irrationally managed, 52.3% were identified as rationally managed, 77.8% of patients were identified as having a high level of risk. Notably, Four of thirteen patients who received more thromboprophylaxis developed minor complications. Additionally, 73.3% of nurses had not received DVT education. Furthermore, more than 50% of physicians and nurses achieved a low knowledge score for DVT risks and prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: A high degree of irrationality in the administration of thromboprophylaxis therapy to hospitalized patients was observed. The overall scores for HCPs indicated insufficient knowledge of DVT risk assessments and prophylaxis.

Preparing competent graduates for delivering pharmaceutical care: an experience from Northern Cyprus.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a clinical pharmacy practice (CPP) course in Northern Cyprus. The course covered a range of subjects, including internal medicine, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and drug information services. METHODS: An 8-week structured CPP course was designed for fifth-year students. Students' competencies were assessed using an objective structural clinical examination (OSCE) before and after the intervention. The course addressed all CPP competence domains and learning outcomes, and it utilized a wide variety of learning activities. Student perceptions, experience and preceptor evaluations were assessed using surveys. RESULTS: Students reported that the learning objectives of the course were met. Substantial knowledge and skills in different areas of CPP were gained. A significant overall enhancement in the average grades on the OSCE was identified (23.09 ± 0.75 and 27.51 ± 0.71 out of 40). Students received the highest scores in drug information data retrieval and interpretation (4.4 ± 0.13), communication skills (4.2 ± 0.09) and public health promotion (3.92 ± 0.12). The lowest scores were recorded in clinical prescription management problems (2.5 ± 0.23) and pharmacotherapy application (2.54 ± 0.18). CONCLUSION: Students' scores significantly improved from the baseline in the core competence domains. Most students found the structure, process and outcomes of the course to be beneficial and satisfactory.

Counseling of inhalation medicine perceived by patients and their healthcare providers: insights from North Cyprus.

Background In order to achieve patient adherence, individuals require different levels of information. Basic and adequate information must be provided by different health care providers to patients. Objective To assess the information level of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to determine the source of their information regarding the medicine they use in addition to their satisfaction, inhalation usage techniques and perception of the information providing role of health care professionals. Setting Respiratory disease clinics in Nicosia and Famagusta state hospitals and community pharmacies in North Cyprus. Method A cross-sectional multicentered observational study was carried out in respiratory disease clinics and community pharmacies. Patients' knowledge and healthcare providers' perceptions of their roles were evaluated using "The satisfaction with information about medicines scale". Evaluation of patient's inhalation techniques was performed using a validated checklist. Main outcome measure (a) Patients' knowledge of their medication and satisfaction with the information provided by health care professionals, (b) the prevalence of critical inhalation mistakes, (c) health care professionals' perceptions of their patient counseling practice. Results A total of 110 patients were evaluated, and 6 physicians and 76 pharmacists were recruited for the interview. The health care professionals reported that they talk about the action and the use of medicines with the patients. The standardized average patients' satisfaction score for action and use was 0.35 (± 0.21), whereas for potential side effects, it was 0.26 (± 0.15). Even though 92% of patients believed that they use their inhaler properly, 75% of the patients made at least one critical mistake while using the inhalation demo, which would likely affect the delivery of the medicine to the lungs. Conclusion In spite of health care professionals feeling comfortable with their counseling practices, the majority of patients reported dissatisfaction with the information they provided about medicine, and three out of four patients were making critical mistakes in the use of inhalers. More effort is warranted by health care professionals on patient education to limit critical mistakes.

Pharmacogenomics-based practice in North Cyprus: its adoption by pharmacists and their attitudes and knowledge.

Background Pharmacogenomics is a branch of biotechnological science integrating medicine, pharmacology, and genomics techniques. Moreover, it focuses on creating drug therapies in order to analyze genetic differences in patients causing various responses to a single therapeutic regimen. Objective This cross sectional study aimed to examine the attitude, knowledge and adoption among pharmacists in North Cyprus and the most appropriate method to improve education among them. Setting Community pharmacy setting. Method A total of 103 out of 140 pharmacists responded to a pre-tested and validated questionnaire consisting of 25 items during July through September 2016. Main outcome measure Pharmacists attitude, knowledge and adoption towards pharmacogenomic tests. Result Data showed that most of the pharmacists in North Cyprus had positive attitude and knowledge scores with mean value of 28.3 ± 5.3 (out of 40) and 6.9 ± 0.8 (out of 10) respectively, further findings showed that there is a significant difference among age groups in their total attitude score (p < 0.05). Conclusion Even though pharmacogenomics is a field promising a variety of benefits, it is vital to implement it in clinical settings in order to improve outcomes. Our findings highlight the necessity for more education on the availability and interpretation of pharmacogenomics tests.

Applying Beers Criteria for Elderly Patients to Assess Rational Drug Use at a University Hospital in Northern Cyprus.

BACKGROUND: Several regulations for potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) have been published specifically for elderly patients to rationalize drug use in such vulnerable communities. OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion and characteristics of PIMs in patients receiving one or more drugs according to Beers Criteria 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective analysis of 451 inpatients admitted between September 25 and October 25, 2016, was conducted in Near East University Hospital, Northern Cyprus. Data were extracted from the patient medical records using special forms. RESULTS: A total of 119 elderly patients were identified (26.4%) and evaluated, of which 107 were eligible and 12 were excluded. Of the 1039 prescribed medicines, 16.9% were PIMs during hospitalization, whereas 12% were at discharge. The most prevalent PIM group during hospitalization was identified as the "medications to be avoided in older adults" (48.8%), whereas it also formed 52% of medications prescribed at discharge. PIMs of the class "drugs used with caution" formed 19.4% of prescribed medicine during hospitalization and 18.4% on discharge. The prevalence of polypharmacy was 79.4%, mainly identified as unpreventable polypharmacy of elders. CONCLUSION: A significantly higher prevalence of PIMs was observed in hospitalized patients than those discharged, with high prevalence of polypharmacy. These results necessitate a nationwide assessment, and responsible bodies who adopt strategies should act to reduce or overcome the aforementioned high prevalence in Northern Cyprus.

The role of the pharmacist in the multidisciplinary approach to the prevention and resolution of drug-related problems in cancer chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Clinical pharmacists have important roles in implementing scientifically valid knowledge and advice on safe, reasonable use of pharmaceuticals. Clinical pharmacy services were introduced and evaluated in oncology clinic in a tertiary university hospital. METHODS: A prospective interventional study was conducted from November 2017 to March 2018. Drug-related problems were classified using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe drug-related problem classification tool v8.01. The main outcome measure is the proposed interventions aimed at identification of the drug-related problems, the role of the pharmacists in the resolution, and the rate of acceptance of these recommendations by physicians. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included in the study, who were treated with at least two cycles of any cancer type and stage. A total of 55 (53.9%) patients had 251 drug-related problems. Drug-related problems mainly involved antihypertensive (31.6%), antidiabetic (17.8%), and herbal agents (31.6%). Treatment effectiveness was the major type of drug-related problems (50.2%) followed by treatment safety (29.1%). A total of 211 (100%) interventions were accepted and regarded as clinically relevant. Prescriber informed only were the most common types of intervention at the prescriber level. Eighty-six point four percent identified drug-related problems were solved, 9.8% of the problems were partially solved, 2.3% problems were unsolved. CONCLUSION: Clinical pharmacy services may have optimized therapy effectiveness, prevent adverse effects and unclear/compliant problems. The pharmacist interventions were highly acknowledged by oncologists and patients; this may indicate the presence of a great convenience and need to implement Clinical pharmacy services in alternative hospitals in Northern Cyprus.

Insights on Allergic Rhinitis Management from a Northern Cyprus Perspective and Evaluation of the Impact of Pharmacist-Led Educational Intervention on Patients' Outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: the global prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is rising and yet there is scarce information concerning the diagnosis, management and treatment patterns of AR in Northern Cyprus (NC). This study aims to provide a unique perspective on AR management as well as assessing the effectiveness of the pharmacist-led educational intervention for improving care of AR patients. METHODS: across-sectional survey was carried out with community pharmacists (n = 70), patients (n = 138) and ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists (n = 12) in NC. For a controlled interventional trial, trained pharmacists provided a brief education on management of AR and nasal spray technique for patients while other pharmacists provided the usual care. Quality of life (QoL) and other outcome measures on the perceived symptom severity of the two groups were compared after a 6-week period. RESULTS: only 33.3% of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists and 15.7% of the community pharmacists are aware of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines. The majority of patients (63%) self-managed with over-the-counter medications. Nasal congestion (96.4%) is the most bothersome symptom and oral antihistamines are the most commonly purchased medications (51.4%), indicating a pattern of suboptimal management. The pharmacists-led educational intervention has resulted in statistically more significant improvement in regards to nasal congestion and QoL for the intervention group patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: the current management of AR has not been in accordance with the ARIA guidelines in NC. An educational intervention of the pharmacists can enhance the symptom management and improve the QoL in patients with AR.

Introducing clinical pharmacy services to cardiovascular clinics at a university hospital in Northern Cyprus.

Background Clinical pharmacists are the primary source of scientifically valid information and advice on the safe, rational, and cost-effective use of medications. However, ward-based clinical pharmacy services are not well optimized in Northern Cyprus. Objective Ward based clinical pharmacy services were introduced and evaluated in cardiovascular clinics. Setting Cardiology and cardiovascular surgery departments in a tertiary university hospital. Methods A prospective interventional study introduced and documented clinical pharmacy services for 120 days. Drug-related problems were classified using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe PCNE DRP classification tool V6.2. Main outcome measure Interventions proposed and acceptance rate of recommendations. Results A total of 133 patients were reviewed, and, 81 patients had drug-related problems. Only 402 (93.1%) of the 432 suggested interventions were accepted and regarded as clinically relevant. Drug-related problems primarily involved antihypertensive, diuretic, and antithrombotic agents. Treatment effectiveness was the major type of drug-related problems (107; 49.3%) followed by adverse drug reactions (74; 34.1%). Drug dose and selection were the most frequent causes of drug-related problems. Add/change/stop medications were the most common types of intervention at the prescriber level. A total of 171 (78.8%) of the identified 217 drug-related problems were solved, 4 (1.8%) of the problems were partially solved, 32 (14.7%) problems were unsolved, and 10 (4.6%) problems had unknown outcomes. Conclusion Clinical pharmacy services may have optimized therapy effectiveness and prevent adverse effects. The pharmacist interventions were highly accepted by cardiologists; this may indicate the presence of a great opportunity and need to optimize and implement CPS in other hospitals in Northern Cyprus.