Mapping the concept of health care integration: A lexicographic analysis of scientific literature.

BACKGROUND: Systems fragmentation is a major challenge for an efficient organization, integration being a potential solution also proposed in health care field, including pharmacy as a player. However, the use of different terms and definitions in the literature hinders the comparison of different integration initiatives. OBJECTIVE: To identify and map the terms used in scientific literature regarding integration in health care and to characterize each emerging topic. METHODS: A lexicographic analysis of the integration of healthcare systems literature indexed in PubMed was conducted. Ten different systematic searches, four using only Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and six using text words, were conducted in March 2023. Journal scattering was analyzed following Bradford's distribution using the Leimkuhler model. An overall text corpus was created with titles and abstracts of all the records retrieved. The corpus was lemmatized, and the most used bigrams were tokenized as single strings. To perform a topic modeling, the lemmatized corpus text was analyzed using IRaMuTeQ, producing descending hierarchic classification and a correspondence analysis. The 50 words with higher chi-square statistics in each class were considered as representative of the class. RESULTS: A total of 42,479 articles published from 1943 to 2023 in 4469 different journals were retrieved. The MeSH "Delivery of Health Care, Integrated", created in the 1996 MeSH update, was the most productive retrieving 33.7 % of the total articles but also retrieving 22.6 % of articles not retrieved in any other search. The text word "Integration" appeared in 15,357 (36.2 %) records. The lexicographic analysis resulted in 7 classes, named as: Evidence and implementation, Quantitative research, Professional education, Qualitative research, Governance and leadership, Clinical research, and Financial resources. Association between the classes and the searches or the text-words used ranged from moderate to weak demonstrating the lack of a standard pattern of use of terms in literature regarding healthcare integration. CONCLUSIONS: The term "integration" and the MeSH "Delivery of Health Care, Integrated" are the most used to represent the concept of integration in healthcare and should be the preferred terms in the literature.

Development of self-care in Spanish community pharmacies.

Spain is a European country with over 47.5 million inhabitants and a public National Health System model (i.e., SNS or "Sistema Nacional de Salud") that provides universal coverage to residents and non-residents. The system is funded primarily by general taxes, and it is managed by the 17 regions that have responsibility for the provision and management of healthcare services in their respective territories. The health system recognizes self-care as an important element where individuals have an important role to play in maintaining their own health and preventing illness. In addition, there are non-governmental organizations that promote self-care and provide resources and support to individuals and health professionals. Over 55 thousand pharmacists work in 22,198 community pharmacies distributed throughout the Spanish territory. Pharmacies are the only setting that provide non-prescription medications, which is one of the most used tools for self-care. In addition, they provide a range of Primary Care services to improve patient outcomes and the efficiency of the SNS. This paper includes a description and a classification of the community pharmacy services following the seven pillars of self-care established by the International Self-Care Foundation:-Related to pillars 1 to 4 and 6, Spanish community pharmacists provide health promotion, health education, health information and nutritional assessment.-In relation to pillar 5, the services offered are HIV and syphilis screening, colorectal and cervix cancer screening, SARS-CoV-2 screening test and communication, diabetes, high blood pressure and hypercholesterolemia screening. Regarding the programs for avoiding/stopping drug use: methadone supply, syringe exchange and smoking cessation. Another important service is immunization. Spanish community pharmacists are not legally allowed to vaccinate; however, they contribute through education, or vaccines supply, among others.-For the pillar 7, community pharmacists provide services such as a minor ailment service, an adherence service or a network to actively monitor medication safety (sentinel pharmacies).-Many of the pharmacy services related to self-care have been defined and classified at a national level; however, not all community pharmacies provide them while only some services are funded by the regional health systems.

Identification of high-risk patients for referral through machine learning assisting the decision making to manage minor ailments in community pharmacies.

Background: Data analysis techniques such as machine learning have been used for assisting in triage and the diagnosis of health problems. Nevertheless, it has not been used yet to assist community pharmacists with services such as the Minor Ailment Services These services have been implemented to reduce the burden of primary care consultations in general medical practitioners (GPs) and to allow a better utilization of community pharmacists' skills. However, there is a need to refer high-risk patients to GPs. Aim: To develop a predictive model for high-risk patients that need referral assisting community pharmacists' triage through a minor ailment service. Method: An ongoing pragmatic type 3 effectiveness-implementation hybrid study was undertaken at a national level in Spanish community pharmacies since October 2020. Pharmacists recruited patients presenting with minor ailments and followed them 10 days after the consultation. The main outcome measured was appropriate medical referral (in accordance with previously co-designed protocols). Nine machine learning models were tested (three statistical, three black box and three tree models) to assist pharmacists in the detection of high-risk individuals in need of referral. Results: Over 14'000 patients were included in the study. Most patients were female (68.1%). With no previous treatment for the specific minor ailment (68.0%) presented. A percentage of patients had referral criteria (13.8%) however, not all of these patients were referred by the pharmacist to the GP (8.5%). The pharmacists were using their clinical expertise not to refer these patients. The primary prediction model was the radial support vector machine (RSVM) with an accuracy of 0.934 (CI95 = [0.926,0.942]), Cohen's kappa of 0.630, recall equal to 0.975 and an area under the curve of 0.897. Twenty variables (out of 61 evaluated) were included in the model. radial support vector machine could predict 95.2% of the true negatives and 74.8% of the true positives. When evaluating the performance for the 25 patient's profiles most frequent in the study, the model was considered appropriate for 56% of them. Conclusion: A RSVM model was obtained to assist in the differentiation of patients that can be managed in community pharmacy from those who are at risk and should be evaluated by GPs. This tool potentially increases patients' safety by increasing pharmacists' ability to differentiate minor ailments from other medical conditions.

Community pharmacy and primary health care - Types of integration and their applicability: A narrative review.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for health care systems to be more efficient and efficacious. An approach to integrate public and private provider organizations such as community pharmacies and public primary health care (PHC) merits consideration. The objective of this review was to identify the types of integration in health care settings and discuss their applicability to the potential integration of community pharmacy and PHC. METHODS: A narrative review using Medline, Scopus and SciELO databases was performed in which terms related to health were combined with terms related to integration. Levels and Types of integration: 14 types of integration were identified (two in breadth, seven as enablers and five in system levels). A model was created which classifies and assigns the types of integration to the different levels of the health system and to the breadth, intensity, and enablers of the integration process. Due to the nature of community pharmacy and PHC system, a horizontal integration at the micro level, supported by meso and macro levels policy, is suggested. The different elements of intensity and enablers can significantly influence the process. CONCLUSION: The application of principles, concepts and types of integration suggest that it might be feasible and practical to integrate community pharmacies and PHC. However, the conflictive historical context would need to be overcome with appropriate policy and incentives.

Programa de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico integral a pacientes crónicos y polimedicados. Programa Piloto en pacientes con Diabetes tipo 2. Resultados / Integral medication review with follow up program to chronic and poymedicated patients. Pilot Program in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introducción: La Farmacia comunitaria vasca tiene una larga tradición de colaboración con la Dirección de Farmacia del Departamento de Salud del Gobier-no Vasco. En mayo de 2017 se firmó un Convenio de colaboración entre el Departamento de Salud y los tres colegios de farmacéuticos vascos “para la puesta en marcha de un Programa piloto de Segui-miento Farmacoterapéutico Integral a pacientes crónicos polimedicados” en el que el farmacéutico comunitario realizaría seguimiento farmacotera-péutico a pacientes con Diabetes tipo2. Método: Se realizó el servicio de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico en farmacias de tres organi-zaciones sanitarias integradas de Alava, Bizkaia y Gipuzkoa. Participaron 18 farmacias con 7 pacien-tes cada una. Criterios de inclusión: paciente con diabetes tipo2 que tomaban 8 o más principios activos de forma continuada. Durante los 12 meses de estudio se analizaron tres puntos: inicio (V1), 6 meses (V2) y al finalizar el estudio (V3).Resultados: De los 127 pacientes inicialmente previstos finalizaron el estudio 87. No se obtuvie-ron diferencias significativas en el valor de HbA1c entre inicio y final. Por el contrario, el número de problemas de salud no controlados disminuyó en un 47% (p=0,001) sin que se modificase el número de medicamentos. Los PRM más frecuentes en V3 fueron el conocimiento insuficiente del medicamen-to (34%) y la falta de adherencia (19%). Mejoraron tanto el conocimiento y la adherencia (p<0,001) como la calidad de vida (p<0,05). Conclusiones: Aunque el programa no ha tenido impacto en el valor de la HbA1c, sí ha contribuido a controlar otros problemas de salud, así como la adherencia, el conocimiento sobre los medicamen-tos y la calidad de vida de los pacientes. (AU)

Introduction: Basque community pharmacy has a long tradition of collaborating with Basque health authorities. In May 2017, a collaboration agreement was signed between the Department of Health and the three Basque Pharmaceutical Associations "for the implementation of a Pilot Program for Medi-cation review with follow up service for chronic polymedicated patients". Method: The medication review with follow up service was carried out in pharmacies of three integrated health organizations in Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. 18 pharmacies participated with 7 patients each. Inclusion criteria: patients with type 2 diabetes who were taking 8 or more medicines. During the 12 months of the study, three points were analyzed: baseline (V1), 6 months (V2) and at the end of the study (V3).Results: Of the 127 initially planned patients, 87 completed the study. No significant differences were obtained in the HbA1c value between baseline and the end. In contrast, the number of uncontro-lled health problems decreased by 47% (p=0.001) without changing the number of medications. The most frequent DRPs in V3 were insufficient knowle-dge of the medication (34%) and lack of adherence (19%). Both, knowledge and adherence (p<0.001) and quality of life (p<0.05) improved.Conclusions: Although the program has not had an impact on the value of HbA1c, it has contributed to controlling other health problems, as well as adher-ence, knowledge about medications and the quality of life of patients. (AU)

Strengthening patients' triage in community pharmacies: A cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical impact of a minor ailment service.

BACKGROUND: Self-perceived minor ailments might conceal other health conditions if patients are not appropriately assisted by health care professionals. The aim of the study was to evaluate the patient-related outcomes of a community pharmacy Minor Ailment Service (MAS) compared to usual pharmacist care (UC). METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted over six months in community pharmacy in the province of Valencia (Spain). Patients seeking care or requesting a product for a minor ailments considered in the study (dermatological problems, gastrointestinal disturbance, pain and upper respiratory tract related symptoms) were included. The intervention consisted of a standardised pharmacist-patient consultation guided by a web-based program using co-developed management protocols and patients' educational material. Patients were followed up by phone ten days later. Primary clinical outcomes were appropriate medical referral and modification of direct product request. Secondary outcomes were symptom resolution and reconsultation rates. RESULTS: A total of 808 patients (323 MAS and 485 UC) were recruited in 27 pharmacies of 21 municipalities. Patients visiting MAS pharmacies had higher odds for being referred to a physician (OR = 2.343, CI95% = [1.146-4.792]) and higher reconsultation rates (OR = 1.833, CI95% = [1.151-2.919]) compared to UC. No significant differences between groups were observed for modification of direct product request and symptom resolution. CONCLUSIONS: The use of management protocols through the MAS strengthened the identification of referral criteria such as red flags in patients suffering minor ailments. These patients with symptoms of minor ailments possibly due to more severe illness were to be referred and evaluated by physicians. Results reinforce that MAS increases safety for those patients consulting in community pharmacy for minor ailments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: ISRCTN17235323. Retrospectively registered 07/05/2021, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17235323.

Development and validation of a tool to measure collaborative practice between community pharmacists and physicians from the perspective of community pharmacists: the professional collaborative practice tool.

BACKGROUND: Collaborative practice between community pharmacists and physicians is becoming increasingly common. Although tools and models to explore collaborative practice between both health care professionals have been developed, very few have been validated for their use in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a tool for measuring collaborative practice between community pharmacists and physicians from the perspective of community pharmacists. METHODS: The DeVellis method was used to develop and validate the Professional Collaborative Practice Tool. A pool of 40 items with Likert frequency scales was generated based on previous literature and expert opinion. This study was undertaken in Spain. A sample of community pharmacists providing medication reviews with follow-up and a random sample of pharmacists providing usual care were invited to participate. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the tool's reliability and content validity. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-six pharmacists were invited with an overall response rate of 84.8%. The initial 40 items selected were reduced to 14 items. Exploratory Factor Analysis provided a 3-factor solution explaining 62% of the variance. Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the three factors "Activation for collaborative professional practice," the "Integration in collaborative professional practice," and the "Professional acceptance in collaborative professional practice." The tool demonstrated an adequate fit (X2/df = 1.657, GFI = 0.889 and RMSEA = 0.069) and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.924). CONCLUSIONS: The Professional Collaborative Practice Tool has shown good internal reliability and criterion validity. The tool could be used to measure the perceived level of collaborative practice between community pharmacists and physicians and monitor changes over time. Its applicability and transferability to other settings should be evaluated.

Evaluación de la carga anticolinérgica en pacientes mayores polimedicados en una residencia de mayores / Assessment of anticholinergic burden in polymedicated elderly patients in a nursing home

A medida que la población envejece aumentan la pluripatología, la polimedicación, y las situaciones de dependencia y fragilidad. Por ello, cobra más importancia la vigilancia de la seguridad de los medicamentos. En pacientes mayores, los efectos anticolinérgicos de varios fármacos pueden afectar de manera importante a la calidad de vida. Objetivos: evaluar la carga anticolinérgica (CA) en una muestra de pacientes polimedicados en una residencia de mayores, además de: (a) estudiar los fármacos que aportan CA, (b) categorizar los niveles de polimedicación en los usuarios del centro, y (c) identificar los medicamentos más frecuentemente implicados en la CA. Resultados: se analizó la CA de los 144 pacientes ingresados en una residencia de mayores el día 31 de marzo de 2020. Los pacientes (edad media: 86,86±8,35 años; hombres 35,4 %, mujeres 64,6 %) utilizaban una media de 10,64±4,46 medicamentos de los que el 60 % eran genéricos. La CA va aumentando a medida que aumenta el número de medicamentos (M) utilizados, de manera que en la categoría de 1-5 M era 1,11; en la de 6-10 M era 2,13; en la de 11-15 era 2,79 y en los pacientes con más de 15 M alcanzaba el 3,08. Tan sólo 27 pacientes no tenían CA (18,8 %), de los cuales 8 eran hombres (6,3 %) y 18 mujeres (12,5 %). Conclusiones: el análisis de la CA es una buena estrategia para que el farmacéutico comunitario contribuya a la optimización de la farmacoterapia y a la consiguiente mejora de la calidad de vida de los mayores polimedicados, mediante la revisión de la medicación y la deprescripción de este tipo de medicamentos. Es necesario ampliar los estudios en este campo. (AU)

A communication procedure between community pharmacists and primary care professionals resolves medication errors and other administrative issues.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to implement a communication procedure, with agreed-upon protocols, to resolve daily medication errors and other administrative issues that require communication between community pharmacists (CPs) and primary healthcare professionals (PHCPs). METHODS: A 6-month pilot study followed by a year-length principal study was carried out in the Donostialdea Integrated Healthcare Organisation (IHO). Afterwards, the project was extended to other IHOs. The CPs identified medication errors or other administrative issues that required communication with PHCPs, contacting the customer service staff by telephone for urgent problems and by email for non-urgent problems. KEY FINDINGS: In total, 49 community pharmacies participated in the study. A total of 1179 medication errors and other administrative issues were detected, and over 90% of problems were solved in less than 24 h (n = 1079, 91.5%). Email was the more frequently used communication method (n = 874, 74.1%), and the most prevalent problems were due to absent (n = 766, 65.0%) and expired (n = 226, 19.2%) electronic prescriptions. Most of the participants were satisfied with the programme. CONCLUSION: The present communication procedure between CPs and PHCPs is an efficient tool to resolve a variety of challenges that occur in community pharmacies.

Integration of community pharmacy in primary health care: The challenge.

Community pharmacies and pharmacists predominantly operate in a retail environment independently of other health care providers, and they are not often viewed as an integral member of the healthcare team. Thus, they remain overlooked or excluded during integration processes of health care systems. At the same time, there are calls by the profession at national and international levels for community pharmacy to be integrated within primary care systems. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have further stimulated this desire. When pressing for integration, various terms, such as integration, integrated care, or interprofessional collaboration, are used in an interchangeable manner leading to lack of clarity, ambiguity and confusion for health care policy makers, planners, and other healthcare professionals. The literature was reviewed to identify critical components for community pharmacy to consider for integration. From the five selected articles describing integration of community pharmacies, four different constructs were identified: consensus, connectivity, communication and trust. The integration of community pharmacy into the health system may translate into better access for patients to primary care services, contribute to cost effectiveness, and promulgate the sustainability of the system. However significant political, economic, social, and practice change would be required by all stakeholders. Further research is needed to underpin a consensus for a definition, the type of integration, and the model optimally suited to integrate community pharmacy into primary care. These models, specific and adaptable to each national health care system and political environment, would need to be consensus-based by principal stakeholders to overcome a variety of barriers, including government resistance. Mere calls or demands by the pharmaceutical profession, although laudable, will not be sufficient to overcome the historical, cultural, and economic challenges.

Using network analysis to explore factors moderating the implementation of a medication review service in community pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Implementation factors are hypothesised to moderate the implementation of innovations. Although individual barriers and facilitators have been identified for the implementation of different evidence-based services in pharmacy, relationships between implementation factors are usually not considered. OBJECTIVES: To examine how a network of implementation factors and the position of each factor within this network structure influences the implementation of a medication review service in community pharmacy. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was used. Medication review with follow-up service was the innovation to be implemented over 12 months in community pharmacies. A network analysis to model relationships between implementation factors was undertaken. Two networks were created. RESULTS: Implementation factors hindering the service implementation with the highest centrality measures were time, motivation, recruitment, individual identification with the organization and personal characteristics of the pharmacists. Three hundred and sixty-nine different interrelationships between implementation factors were identified. Important causal relationships between implementation factors included: workflow-time; characteristics of the pharmacy-time; personal characteristics of the pharmacists-motivation. Implementation factors facilitating the implementation of the service with highest centrality scores were motivation, individual identification with the organization, beliefs, adaptability, recruitment, external support and leadership. Four hundred and fifty-six different interrelationships were identified. The important causal relationships included: motivation-external support; structure-characteristics of the pharmacy; demographics-location of the pharmacy. CONCLUSION: Network analysis has proven to be a useful technique to explore networks of factors moderating the implementation of a pharmacy service. Relationships were complex with most implementation factors being interrelated. Motivation and individual identification with the organisation seemed critical factors in both hindering and facilitating the service implementation. The results can inform the design of implementation programs and tailored strategies to promote faster implementation of innovations in pharmacy.

Effectiveness of a medication adherence management intervention in a community pharmacy setting: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Non-adherence to medications continues to be a burden worldwide, with significant negative consequences. Community pharmacist interventions seem to be effective at improving medication adherence. However, more evidence is needed regarding their impact on disease-specific outcomes. The aim was to evaluate the impact of a community pharmacist-led adherence management intervention on adherence and clinical outcomes in patients with hypertension, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A 6-month cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in Spanish community pharmacies. Patients suffering from hypertension, asthma and COPD were recruited. Patients in the intervention group received a medication adherence management intervention and the control group received usual care. The intervention was based on theoretical frameworks for changing patient behaviour. Medication adherence, disease-specific outcomes (Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) scores, Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) scores and blood pressure levels) and disease control were evaluated. A multilevel regression model was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Ninety-eight pharmacies and 1186 patients were recruited, with 1038 patients completing the study. Patients receiving the intervention had an OR of 5.12 (95% CI 3.20 to 8.20, p<0.05) of being adherent after the 6 months. At the end of the study, patients in the intervention group had lower diastolic blood pressure levels (mean difference (MD) -2.88, 95% CI -5.33 to -0.43, p=0.02), lower CCQ scores (MD -0.50, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.18, p<0.05) and lower ACQ scores (MD -0.28, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.00, p<0.05) when compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A community pharmacist-led medication adherence intervention was effective at improving medication adherence and clinical outcomes in patients suffering from hypertension, asthma and COPD. Future research should explore the implementation of these interventions in routine practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12618000410257.

Exploración de las opiniones de agentes implicados sobre la integración entre la farmacia comunitaria y los equipos de atención primaria / Stakeholder views of the integration of community pharmacy and primary health care teams

Introducción: Dado el aislamiento existente entre los farmacéuticos comunitarios y los miembros de los equipos de atención primaria en nuestro país, se diseñó este estudio para explorar las opiniones de profesionales de la salud de Osakidetza y de farmacia comunitaria, sobre la posibilidad de inte-gración de ambos colectivos. Método: Se diseñó un estudio cualitativo utilizan-do el Grupo Focal como método de obtención de información con análisis temático del contenido. La reunión tuvo lugar en el Centro de Salud de Gros (OSI Donostialdea). Participaron diferentes profesionales tanto de Osakidetza (n=6) como de la farmacia comunitaria (n=2). Todo el proceso de la reunión grupal y su informe, se realizó siguiendo los Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). Resultados: La Farmacia tiene como elementos fuertes su frecuentación, cercanía y facilidad de ac-ceso viéndose como un recurso no suficientemente aprovechado. A pesar de la dificultad conceptual de integrar un colectivo privado con otro público, se entendía la necesidad de acercamiento inter-profesional a través de una integración funcional, proceso que por su complejidad será lento y largo. Se debe comenzar con los programas locales ya existentes, proyectos pequeños, con objetivos concretos e indicadores medibles y mejorando la comunicación interprofesional y el conocimiento mutuo. Se analizaron las barreras a superar y los agentes implicados que deberían participar en cualquier proyecto futuro de integración siguiendo un modelo de diseño compartido.Conclusiones: Parece importante integrar funcio-nalmente la Farmacia comunitaria en Osakidetza – SVS.(AU)

Introduction: Due to the lack of integration of com-munity pharmacy and primary health care teams a study was designed to explore the views of stake-holders in the Basque health care system (Osakide-tza) on the integration of community pharmacy and primary healthcare teams.Method: A qualitative study, using focus group technique was used. The group met in the Gros health care center (IHO Donostialdea). There were 6 participants from the Basque primary health care system and 2 from community pharmacy. The whole focus group process followed the “Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR”) and data generated was thematic content analysis.Results: The group identified the inherent strengths of community pharmacy as accessibility, geograph-ical distribution and frequency of visits by patients. Pharmacy was seen as a resource that was not optimally used. Despite the philosophical dilemma posed by the integration of a private (community pharmacy) and public (salaried health care profes-sionals) sector, there was seen a need for interpro-fessional collaboration, via functional integration due to the complexities and length of time required. The starting point was identified as existing rela-tively small local programs with specific objectives and measurable outcomes that increase commu-nication and build mutual confidence. The content analysis indicated a number of barriers and iden-tified potential stakeholders that should codesign any future potential integration program.Conclusions: There was general support for the integration of community pharmacy in the primary care system however this was tempered with sig-nificant barriers which would suggest a lengthy and complex process.(AU)

Cost-Utility Analysis of a Medication Adherence Management Service Alongside a Cluster Randomized Control Trial in Community Pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to determine the cost utility of adherence interventions in chronic diseases due to humanistic and economic burden of non-adherence. PURPOSE: To evaluate, alongside a cluster-randomized controlled trial, the cost-utility of a pharmacist-led medication adherence management service (MAMS) compared with usual care in community pharmacies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The trial was conducted over six months. Patients with treatments for hypertension, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were included. Patients in the intervention group (IG) received a MAMS based on a brief complex intervention, whilst patients in the control group (CG) received usual care. The cost-utility analysis adopted a health system perspective. Costs related to medications, healthcare resources and adherence intervention were included. The effectiveness was estimated as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), using a multiple imputation missing data model. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) was calculated on the total sample of patients. RESULTS: A total of 1186 patients were enrolled (IG: 633; CG: 553). The total intervention cost was estimated to be €27.33 ± 0.43 per patient for six months. There was no statistically significant difference in total cost of medications and healthcare resources per patient between IG and CG. The values of EQ-5D-5L at 6 months were significantly higher in the IG [IG: 0.881 ± 0.005 vs CG: 0.833 ± 0.006; p = 0.000]. In the base case, the service was more expensive and more effective than usual care, resulting in an ICUR of €1,494.82/QALY. In the complete case, the service resulted in an ICUR of €2,086.30/QALY, positioned between the north-east and south-east quadrants of the cost-utility plane. Using a threshold value of €20,000/QALY gained, there is a 99% probability that the intervention is cost-effective. CONCLUSION: The medication adherence management service resulted in an improvement in the quality of life of the population with chronic disease, with similar costs compared to usual care. The service is cost-effective.

A cost utility analysis alongside a cluster-randomised trial evaluating a minor ailment service compared to usual care in community pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Minor ailments are "self-limiting conditions which may be diagnosed and managed without a medical intervention". A cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) was designed to evaluate the clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes of a Minor Ailment Service (MAS) in community pharmacy (CP) compared with usual care (UC). METHODS: The cRCT was conducted for 6 months from December 2017. The pharmacist-patient intervention consisted of a standardised face-to-face consultation on a web-based program using co-developed protocols, pharmacists' training, practice change facilitators and patients' educational material. Patients requesting a non-prescription medication (direct product request) or presenting minor ailments received MAS or UC and were followed-up by telephone 10-days after the consultation. The primary economic outcomes were incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of the service and health related quality of life (HRQoL). Total costs included health system, CPs and patient direct costs: health professionals' consultation time, medication costs, pharmacists' training costs, investment of the pharmacy and consultation costs within the 10 days following the initial consultation. The HRQoL was obtained using the EuroQoL 5D-5L at the time of the consultation and at 10-days follow up. A sensitivity analysis was carried out using bootstrapping. There were two sub-group analyses undertaken, for symptom presentation and direct product requests, to evaluate possible differences. RESULTS: A total of 808 patients (323 MAS and 485 UC) were recruited in 27 CPs with 42 pharmacists (20 MAS and 22 UC). 64.7% (n = 523) of patients responded to follow-up after their consultation in CP. MAS patients gained an additional 0.0003 QALYs (p = 0.053). When considering only MAS patients presenting with symptoms, the ICUR was 24,733€/QALY with a 47.4% probability of cost-effectiveness (willingness to pay of 25,000€/QALY). Although when considering patients presenting for a direct product request, MAS was the dominant strategy with a 93.69% probability of cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Expanding community pharmacists' scope through MAS may benefit health systems. To be fully cost effective, MAS should not only include consultations arising from symptom presentation but also include an oversight of self-selected products by patients. MAS increase patient safety through the appropriate use of non-prescription medication and through the direct referral of patients to GP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN17235323 . Registered 07/05/2021 - Retrospectively registered.

Servicio de identificación de discrepancias en el uso de los medicamentos en el entorno comunitario / Medication discrepancy identification service in community setting

Introducción: Los errores de medicación constituyen la causa evitable más común de los efectos adversos relacionados con la medicación y suponen una carga importante para la salud pública. El servicio de identificación de discrepancias en el entorno comunitario puede ser una estrategia útil para detectar estos errores en el ámbito comunitario. Hasta el momento, pocos estudios han analizado el papel del farmacéutico comunitario en la detección de discrepancias en el uso de los medicamentos. Objetivo: Desarrollar y estandarizar un procedimiento normalizado de trabajo para la detección de discrepancias en el uso de los medicamentos en el entorno comunitario. Métodos: El diseño del procedimiento se ha basado en estudios previamente publicados sobre el tema y teniendo en cuenta las Buenas Prácticas en Farmacia Comunitaria en España publicadas por el Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Farmacéuticos. Resultados: Se presenta un procedimiento del servicio de detección de discrepancias en el uso de medicamentos en el entorno comunitario y un diagrama de flujo que recoge los aspectos más importantes del procedimiento de forma visual. Conclusión: El documento recoge un procedimiento estandarizado para que el farmacéutico comunitario pueda detectar las discrepancias que existen en los medicamentos del paciente en su práctica diaria.(AU)

Introduction: Medication errors are the most common preventable causes of medication-related adverse effects and a major public health burden. The medication discrepancy identification service could be a useful strategy to detect those errors at the community level in the patient's day-to-day life, without requiring a transition of care. Up to now, few studies have studied the role of the community pharmacist in detecting medication discrepancies. Objective: To develop a standarized working procedure for the detection of medication discrepancies in the community setting. Methods: The design of the procedure has been carried out based on studies previously published and taking into account the Good Practices in Community Pharmacy in Spain published by the General Council of Official Pharmacists Association. Results: A procedure of the service for detecting medication discrepancies in the community setting is presented, summarized ina flow diagram that collects visually the most important aspects of the procedure. Conclusion: The document includes a standardized procedure for the community pharmacist to detect the discrepancies that exist in the medications of patient's day-to-day life.(AU)

El papel del farmacéutico comunitario en la detección y disminución de los errores de medicación: revisión sistemática exploratoria / The Role of the Community Pharmacist in Detecting and Decreasing Medication Errors: A Scoping Review

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los errores de medicación se encuentran entre las 10 principales causas de muerte en el mundo y en su mayoría son prevenibles. Los servicios profesionales farmacéuticos asistenciales (SPFA) tratan de garantizar un uso más seguro, efectivo y eficiente de los medicamentos, y por ello los farmacéuticos comunitarios pueden contribuir a reducir errores de la medicación a nivel de atención primaria. Este trabajo pretender ofrecer un marco de evidencia sobre las iniciativas llevadas a cabo por farmacéuticos comunitarios, a nivel estatal, para identificar, reducir o eliminar los errores de medicación en los diferentes puntos de la cadena terapéutica y plantear una revisión, de los puntos críticos de la cadena terapéutica y clasificar los SPFA. MÉTODO: Revisión sistemática exploratoria de bases de datos internacionales y estatales para obtener estudios publicados sobre la intervención del farmacéutico en la detección, reducción o eliminación de los errores de medicación. RESULTADOS: Se han recopilado 39 iniciativas que se han clasificado en 7 puntos críticos de la cadena terapéutica: (I) 7 en dispensación, (II) 4 en validación o revisión del tratamiento, (III) 3 en transición asistencial, (IV) 18 en monitorización del tratamiento, (V) 4 en educación a pacientes y (VI) 3 en indicación. CONCLUSIONES: Los SPFA llevados a cabo a nivel estatal demuestran que sirven para identificar y resolver los errores de medicación y se plantea una nueva clasificación de los 7 puntos de la cadena terapéutica que se identifican como críticos para la farmacia comunitaria y los relaciona con los SPFA que intervienen en cada uno de los puntos

INTRODUCTION: Medication errors, mostly preventable, are among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Commu¬nity pharmacists provide professional pharmacy services (PPS) to ensure safer, more effective and efficient use of medications, being professionals who should be included in strategies to reduce medication errors at the primary care level. This work aims to offer an evidence framework on the initiatives carried out by community pharmacists, in Spain, to identify, reduce or eliminate medication errors at different points in the therapeutic chain and propose a classification of the critical points of the therapeutic chain to classify PPS. METHOD: Scoping review of international and national databases to obtain published studies where the community pharmacists provide an intervention to detect, reduce or eliminate of medication errors. RESULTS: 39 records have been compiled and have been classified in 7 critical points of the therapeutic chain: (I) 7 in dispensation, (II) 4 in validation/review of the treatment, (III) 3 in healthcare transition, (IV) 18 in treatment monitor¬ing, (V) 4 in education to patients and (VI) 3 in minor ailments service. CONCLUSIONS: The PPS carried out at the state level demonstrate that they serve to identify and resolve medication errors and a new classification of the critical points of the therapeutic chain that exist in the community pharmacy is proposed, and it relates to the PPS that are involved in each point