ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, and it is increasingly prevalent in the Portuguese population. Pharmacists' role in promoting physical activity (PA) is still not well established, although health promotion is foreseen by law in Portugal. Competing tasks and location where the pharmacy is embedded can hinder this promotion in their daily practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the main barriers and facilitators of physical activity promotion (PAP) in Portuguese community pharmacies and explore possible pathways for future implementation of physical activity promotion. METHODS: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively enrolled community pharmacists. Participant recruitment was aligned with data saturation. Data analysis comprised a mixed model of a deductive theme mapping strategy using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) for the behaviour of promoting physical activity and an inductive approach for any other relevant themes and which might influence PA promotion. RESULTS: Data saturation was reached at eleven interviews. Barriers and facilitators for the behaviour of promoting PA were identified from 11 out of the 14 TDF domains. Following an inductive approach, other emerging codes were clustered in additional seven major themes. Highlighted barriers focused on domains #1 - Knowledge, #10 - Memory, Attention and Decision Processes and #13 - Environmental Context and Resources. Community mapping, establishment of remuneration models and the use of digital technologies were suggested as additional potential contributors to scale up PAP. CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists are well placed inside their communities to serve as a focal point for signposting, engagement with other healthcare professionals and community resources and activities organized by the pharmacy itself. Pharmacists should be supported in being knowledgeable, aware, and available when promoting PA in their daily counseling.
Subject(s)
Community Pharmacy Services , Pharmacies , Pharmacy , Humans , Health Promotion , Pharmacists/psychology , Exercise , Professional Role , Attitude of Health PersonnelABSTRACT
In Denmark, self-care has been a part of the health care professional and health political discourse since the middle of the 1970s particularly in relation to prevention. However, the concept has become more visible in connection with the Danish government's public health programme "Healthy throughout life" from 2002 to 2010, where patients' self-care was highlighted as an important element in preventing disease progression and complications. Self-care in Denmark is seen as a partnership between the patient and the health care professional. Some self-care activities in Danish community pharmacies are mentioned in national and municipal guidelines for better prevention and self-care regarding obesity, sexual health, smoking cessation, teaching patients/relatives and vaccination. This paper describes self-care activities and services delivered by Danish community pharmacies gathered from survey results at 33 community pharmacies, oral communication with the Association of Danish Pharmacies and published papers on Danish community pharmacy services. Self-care activities in Danish community pharmacies include counselling (about health, self-care, prescription medication, and OTC medication), health campaigns, collaborations with other health care professionals and patient associations and community pharmacy services, all with the purpose to support correct medication use, medication safety and to contribute to health promotion and prevention. These cover activities on prevention, detection, minor ailments, and chronic disease. Six of ten future community pharmacy contributions to medication safety and prevention in future health care, described by the Association of Danish Pharmacies, are related to community pharmacies' support of patients towards better self-care. In the future, Danish community pharmacies should consider offering self-care activities by expanding existing counselling, community pharmacy services and collaborations. Remuneration also needs to be aligned for the activities to succeed and become an integrated part of prevention packages and national initiatives that support patient self-care.
ABSTRACT
La farmacia y las ciencias farmacéuticas abarcan una serie de disciplinas diferentes. La Farmacia Asistencial se ha definido como la disciplina científica que estudia los diferentes aspectos de la práctica de la farmacia y su impacto en los sistemas de atención de la salud, el uso de medicamentos y la atención al paciente. Por lo tanto, los estudios de Farmacia Asistencial abarcan tantos elementos de farmacia clínica como de farmacia social. Como cualquier otra disciplina científica, la práctica de la farmacia clínica y social difunde los resultados de la investigación utilizando revistas científicas. Los editores de revistas de farmacia clínica y farmacia social tienen un papel en la promoción de la disciplina al mejorar la calidad de los artículos publicados. Como ha ocurrido en otras áreas del cuidado de la salud (es decir, medicina y enfermería), un grupo de editores de revistas de práctica farmacéutica clínica y social se reunió en Granada, España, para discutir cómo las revistas pueden contribuir a fortalecer la práctica farmacéutica como disciplina. El resultado de esa reunión se compiló en estas Declaraciones de Granada, que comprenden 18 recomendaciones reunidas en seis temas: el uso apropiado de la terminología, los resúmenes con impacto, la necesidad de la revisión por pares, la dispersión de revistas, el uso más eficaz y más inteligente de los indicadores bibliométricos y la selección por parte de los autores de la revista de práctica farmacéutica más adecuada para presentar su trabajo. (AU)
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been de-fined as the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care. Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical phar-macy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice dis-seminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scatter-ing, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Publications , Pharmacies , Spain , Impact FactorABSTRACT
La farmacia y las ciencias farmacéuticas abarcan una serie de disciplinas diferentes. La farmacia práctica se ha definido como «la disciplina científica que estudia los diferentes aspectos de la práctica de la farmacia y su impacto en los sistemas sanitarios, el uso de los medicamentos y la atención al paciente». Así pues, los estudios sobre la farmacia práctica abarcan tanto elementos de farmacia clínica como de farmacia social. Como cualquier otra disciplina científica, la farmacia práctica clínica y social difunde los resultados de la investigación mediante revistas científicas. Los editores de revistas de farmacia clínica y farmacia social tienen un papel en la promoción de la disciplina mediante la mejora de la calidad de los artículos publicados. Al igual que ha ocurrido en otras áreas sanitarias (medicina y enfermería), un grupo de editores de revistas de farmacia práctica clínica y social se reunió en Granada, España, para debatir cómo las revistas podrían contribuir a fortalecer la farmacia práctica como disciplina. El resultado de esa reunión se recogió en esta Declaración de Granada, que comprende 18 recomendaciones agrupadas en 6 temas: el uso adecuado de la terminología, los resúmenes con impacto, las revisiones por pares requeridas, la dispersión de revistas, un uso más eficaz y prudente de los indicadores bibliométricos de revistas y artículos y la selección por parte de los autores de la revista de farmacia práctica más adecuada para presentar sus trabajos. © 2023 Los Autores. Publicado por Elsevier Inc, Springer Nature, Brazilian Society of Hospital Pharmacy and Health Services, Elsevier Inc, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Biomedcentral, Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria (S.E.F.H), Pharmaceutical Care España Foundation, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, Faculty of Pharmacy. (AU)
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care. Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work. © 2023 The Author(s) Published by Elsevier Inc, Springer Nature, Brazilian Society of Hospital Pharmacy and Health Services, Elsevier Inc, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Biomedcentral, Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria (S.E.F.H), Pharmaceutical Care España Foundation, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, Faculty of Pharmacy. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Biopharmaceutics , Pharmaceutical Research , Terminology as Topic , Periodicals as TopicABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as "the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care". Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work. © 2023 The Author(s) Published by Elsevier Inc, Springer Nature, Brazilian Society of Hospital Pharmacy and Health Services, Elsevier Inc, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Biomedcentral, Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria (S.E.F.H), Pharmaceutical Care España Foundation, European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, Faculty of Pharmacy.
Subject(s)
Pharmacies , Pharmacy Service, Hospital , Pharmacy , Humans , Spain , PharmacistsABSTRACT
La farmacia y las ciencias farmacéuticas abarcan una serie de disciplinas diferentes. La farmacia práctica se ha definido como "la disciplina científica que estudia los diferentes aspectos de la práctica de la farmacia y su impacto en los sistemas sanitarios, el uso de los medicamentos y la atención al paciente". Así pues, los estudios sobre la farmacia práctica abarcan tanto elementos de farmacia clínica como de farmacia social. Como cualquier otra disciplina científica, la farmacia práctica clínica y social difunde los resultados de la investigación mediante revistas científicas. Los editores de revistas de farmacia clínica y farmacia social tienen un papel en la promoción de la disciplina mediante la mejora de la calidad de los artículos publicados. Al igual que ha ocurrido en otras áreas sanitarias (medicina y enfermería), un grupo de editores de revistas de farmacia práctica clínica y social se reunió en Granada, España, para debatir cómo las revistas podrían contribuir a fortalecer la farmacia práctica como disciplina. El resultado de esa reunión se recogió en esta Declaración de Granada, que comprende 18 recomendaciones agrupadas en seis temas: el uso adecuado de la terminología, los resúmenes con impacto, las revisiones por pares requeridas, la dispersión de revistas, un uso más eficaz y prudente de los indicadores bibliométricos de revistas y artículos, y la selección por parte de los autores de la revista de farmacia práctica más adecuada para presentar sus trabajos. (AU)
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care. Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social phar-macy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Pharmaceutical Services/trends , Periodicals as Topic/trends , Scientific and Technical Publications , Spain , Pharmacy ResearchABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as "the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care". Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work.
ABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as 'the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on healthcare systems, medicine use, and patient care'. Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other healthcare areas (ie, medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work.
ABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as "the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care". Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work.
ABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as "the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care". Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work.
Subject(s)
Pharmacies , Pharmacy Service, Hospital , Pharmacy , Humans , SpainABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as "the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care". Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work.
Subject(s)
Pharmacies , Pharmacy Research , Pharmacy Service, Hospital , Pharmacy , Humans , SpainABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as 'the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care'. Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other healthcare areas (i.e. medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into 6 topics, namely the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work.
Subject(s)
Pharmaceutical Services , Pharmacies , Pharmacy Research , Pharmacy , Humans , SpainABSTRACT
Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences embrace a series of different disciplines. Pharmacy practice has been defined as "the scientific discipline that studies the different aspects of the practice of pharmacy and its impact on health care systems, medicine use, and patient care". Thus, pharmacy practice studies embrace both clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy elements. Like any other scientific discipline, clinical and social pharmacy practice disseminates research findings using scientific journals. Clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy journal editors have a role in promoting the discipline by enhancing the quality of the articles published. As has occurred in other health care areas (i.e., medicine and nursing), a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors gathered in Granada, Spain to discuss how journals could contribute to strengthening pharmacy practice as a discipline. The result of that meeting was compiled in these Granada Statements, which comprise 18 recommendations gathered into six topics: the appropriate use of terminology, impactful abstracts, the required peer reviews, journal scattering, more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics, and authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work.
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Medicine , Pharmacies , Pharmacy Research , Pharmacy Service, Hospital , Pharmacy , HumansABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine Danish community pharmacy staff's knowledge, educational needs, and barriers when communicating with cancer patients/survivors. Furthermore, the study investigated whether pharmacy staff was interested in participating in education about cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among community pharmacy staff (pharmacists and pharmaconomists) in Denmark. Descriptive and bivariate (t-test and chi-square) statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: In total, 134 staff members responded to the questionnaire. Their self-reported knowledge of cancer-related topics was between 'very little knowledge' and 'some knowledge'. The most well-known topics concerned risk factors for cancer and side effects from cancer treatments. The importance of learning more about the same topics was rated between 'important' and 'very important'. The largest barriers identified in counseling cancer patients/survivors were a lack of knowledge about cancer, a focus on healthcare problems other than cancer, and a traditional view of community pharmacies as a place to pick up medication. Pharmacy staff expressed interest in participating in educational programs about cancer treatment (91.0%), communication with cancer patients (88.1%), and late effects of cancer (93.3%). CONCLUSION: Community pharmacy staff show interest in participating in education regarding cancer, but need more knowledge to properly counsel cancer patients and survivors at the community pharmacies. This important barrier should be addressed in future educational programs for community pharmacy staff.
Subject(s)
Cancer Survivors , Community Pharmacy Services , Neoplasms , Pharmacies , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Counseling , Pharmacists/psychology , Denmark , Professional Role , Neoplasms/therapyABSTRACT
Background: Patients who transfer from the hospital back to the community are at risk of experiencing problems related to their medications. Hospital pharmacists (HPs) and community pharmacists (CPs) may play an important role and provide transitional pharmaceutical care in transition of care interventions. Objective: To describe how a pharmacist-led intervention to provide transitional pharmaceutical care for hospital discharged patients was developed, utilizing already existing pharmacist interventions in the hospital and community pharmacy. Methods: A mixed-method approach to intervention development was applied. Existing evidence was identified through a literature review of effective transitional care interventions and existing services in the hospital and community pharmacy. Focus group interviews and a workshop were carried out with HPs and CPs to identify their perceived facilitators and uncertainties in relation to intervention development. The final intervention and the expected outcomes were developed in an expert group workshop. Finally, the hospital part of the intervention was tested in a small-scale feasibility study to assess what type of information the HP would transfer to the CP for follow up. Results: Five components were identified through the 209 systematic reviews: pharmacist-led medication reconciliation, pharmacist-led medication review, collaboration with general practitioners (GPs), post discharge pharmacist follow up and patient counseling or education. HPs and CPs identified uncertainties related to the relevance of the information sent from the HP to the CP, identification of patients at the community pharmacy and communication. The expected outcomes for the patients receiving the intervention were an experience of increased safety and satisfaction and less use of healthcare resources. The feasibility study led to optimization of language and structure of the pharmacist referrals that were used to transfer information from the HP to the CP. Conclusion: A patient centered intervention to provide transitional pharmaceutical care for hospital discharged patients was developed using existing evidence in transition of care, HPs and CPs, an expert group, and a small-scale feasibility study. A full-scale feasibility test of the intervention should be carried out for it to be further refined.
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Background: Prescription drug use and the consumption of substances to enhance college students' cognitive performance, described as pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE), is a known phenomenon potentially impacting individuals' health. University and college students are two specific subpopulations noted to use PCE (up to 17%, on average). To our knowledge, no data have been published on the use of PCE drugs among university students at a national level in Portugal and the factors that might be associated with this usage. Objective: The main objective was to estimate the prevalence of PCE use by Portuguese university students and to identify the PCE substances commonly used by university students, i.e., those classified as prescription drugs and other legal and nonprescribed substances, including food supplements. Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional exploratory, descriptive design and pursued a convenience sample of students from Portuguese public and private universities (22 higher education institutions). Results: From a sample of 745 university students, 32% indicated the use of prescribed and nonprescribed substances. The most consumed substances were food supplements with CNS stimulants being the most frequent prescription-only drugs but not necessarily accessed through a medical prescription. A significant statistical association was found between substance consumption and the field of study. Health science students reported more food supplements and drug intake, allegedly under prescribed regimens, compared to humanities and exact sciences students. The study discusses the need to better understand the competitive societies that produce and support young students' outputs and the perceived 'need' for performance-enhancing substances. Conclusions: One-third of the university students aimed to improve their performance by pharmacological cognitive enhancement, with a preference for food supplements dispensed in pharmacies. PCE substance consumption in higher education is thus non-negligible. The study suggests the need to improve regulations on potential inequalities in academic rankings and success and an observant attitude concerning implications that negatively affect health in the long run.
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BACKGROUND: Despite an increasing focus on drug shortages, no standardized global definition of a drug shortage seems to exist. This raises the question of whether healthcare actors are discussing the same phenomenon, which may influence their actions when managing, solving and preventing drug shortages. Further, the literature reports a lack of national contingency plans for managing drug shortages in hospitals. OBJECTIVE: To explore national-level communication, decision-making and collaboration on drug shortage management carried out in Denmark by secondary healthcare actors. METHODS: Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with actor representatives from Amgros, the procurement department of the hospital pharmacy in the Capital Region of Denmark, two medicine suppliers, two pharmaceutical wholesalers and distributors, and the Danish Medicines Agency. Data was analyzed using a social constructivist approach. RESULTS: No common definition of a drug shortage exists among the actors, but referential definitions related to "contract" and delivered "as expected" were identified. Additionally, actors initiate drug shortage procedures differently, and, as efforts are minimally coordinated, the work procedures are often needlessly duplicated. Further, discrepancies in available drug shortage information arise, as information is distributed through different electronic systems, unavailable to all actors. Besides, Amgros (a national organization responsible for tendering and procuring medicines in hospitals) and the procurement department of the hospital pharmacy in the Capital Region of Denmark make joint decisions regarding the choice of alternative drugs. However, the study found that actors had diverse collaborative relationships, especially those with the Danish Medicines Agency, and that these were limited to contact regarding medicine regulations and unlicensed medicine. CONCLUSION: The study provided insight into national-level communication, decision-making and collaboration on drug shortage management by different actors in hospitals. This knowledge is useful in the development of a national contingency plan for drug shortage management.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Hospitals , Communication , HumansABSTRACT
The community pharmacy has a number of attributes that makes it an excellent setting for research and development projects, as it is a highly accessible part of the healthcare system and is staffed by highly trained health care professionals. The big turnover in patients in the community pharmacy makes it possible to reach a great number of patients and collect a lot of data in a relatively short time. However, conducting nation-wide research and development projects can be a rather time-consuming process for the individual community pharmacy, and can thus require collaboration with other community pharmacies and researchers. This will help ensure strong results and better implementation. Thus, the Danish Network for Community Pharmacy Practice for Research and Development (NUAP) was established in Denmark by a number of highly committed community pharmacies and researchers. NUAP consists of 102 member pharmacy owners in addition to a number of researchers. The aim of the network is to strengthen pharmacy practice and pharmacy practice research in Denmark by providing a forum where community pharmacy practitioners and researchers meet and work together. The network is led by a steering committee elected by the members in the network.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Medicines used at Danish public hospitals are purchased through tendering. Together with drug shortage, tendering result in drug changes, known to compromise patient safety, increase medicine errors and to be resource demanding for healthcare personnel. Details on actual resources required in the clinic setting to manage drug changes are unknown. The aim of the study is to explore time spend by hospital personnel in a drug change situation when dispensing medicine to in- and outpatients in a hospital setting in the Capital Region of Denmark. METHOD: A time and motion study, using direct observation combined with time-registration tools, such as eye-tracking, video recording and manual time tracking. Data were obtained from observing nurses and social and health care assistants with dispensing authority while dispensing or extraditing medicine before and after the implementation of drug changes in two clinical setting; a cardiology ward and a rheumatology outpatient clinic. RESULTS: Hospital personnel at the cardiology inpatient ward spent 20.5 seconds on dispensing a drug, which was increased up to 28.4 seconds by drug changes. At the rheumatology outpatient clinic, time to extradite medicine increased from 8 minutes and 6 seconds to 15 minutes and 36 seconds by drug changes due to tender. Similarly, drug changes due to drug shortage prolonged the extradition time to 16 minutes and 54 seconds. Statistical analysis reveal that drug changes impose a significant increase in time to dispense a drug for both in- and outpatients. CONCLUSION: Clinical hospital personnel spent significantly longer time on drug change situations in the dispensing of medicine to in- and outpatients in a hospitals. This study emphasizes that implementing drug changes do require extra time, thus, the hospital management should encounter this and ensure that additional time is available for the hospital personnel to ensure a safe drug dispensing process.
Subject(s)
Drug Substitution , Hospitals , Personnel, Hospital , Pharmacy Service, Hospital , Time and Motion Studies , Attitude of Health Personnel , Denmark , Drug Prescriptions , Humans , Medication Errors , Pharmaceutical PreparationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unregulated use of pharmaceuticals for cognitive enhancement has become a topic of growing concern, as recent studies indicate a growing prevalence in several countries. Prescription stimulants, also termed Study drugs (SDs) are typically accessed through peers but new studies show that social media platforms may play an important role in the diffusion of these pharmaceuticals. While there is scholarly focus on supply and purchasing practices, other aspects of drugs on social media have received less attention. The aim of this article is to show how SDs are portrayed on Instagram and to discuss some of the implications. METHODS: To find and collect Instagram posts related to SDs we conducted hashtag searches with a number of relevant terms; #studydrugs, #nootropics, #cognitiveenhancers, #smartdrugs, and #modafinil. A total of 563 posts including a selection of post comments, were included in the study and analyzed using the Content Analysis method. RESULTS: SD-related posts can be categorized into four main types; sales advertisement, personal experience, public information, and motivational quotes. Regardless of its kind, the majority of posts mainly express a positive sentiment towards SDs and SD use. Comments below posts show that people are influenced by SD-related posts and use Instagram for a variety of reasons in relation to their own SD praxis CONCLUSION: This study reveals that Instagram is used to facilitate not only access to SDs, but also a great deal of communication that generally seeks to motivate, promote or encourage the use of pharmaceuticals for enhancement. The positive sentiment towards SDs may play an important role as it provides a false sense of security to current and potential users by posting content that portrays this kind of drug use as the easy and safe solution to social and personal pressures of becoming a successful individual.
