Publications by authors named "Adam J Mackridge"
Objectives: Since 2013 community pharmacies in Wales have been commissioned to provide a common ailments service (CAS), providing pharmacy medicine without charge to patients. In the first review of national pharmacy data, this study aimed to describe the relationship between provision of CAS and deprivation.
Methods: A retrospective observational study, using CAS claims data from April 2022 to March 2023 collected as part of routine service delivery.
Background: Most patients experience changes to prescribed medicines during a hospital stay. Ensuring they understand such changes is important for preventing adverse events post-discharge and optimising patient understanding. However, little work has explored the information that patients receive about medicines or their perceived needs for information and support after discharge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aims to provide a national picture of the extent and nature of public health services commissioned by local authorities (LAs) from community pharmacies across England in financial year 2014/15.
Design: Cross-sectional survey of public health services commissioned in community pharmacies by LAs, gathered via freedom of information requests and documentary analysis.
Setting And Participants: All 152 LAs in England.
Objective: The individualised patient prescription chart, either paper or electronic, is an integral part of communication between healthcare professionals. The aim of this study is to ascertain the extent to which different prescribing systems are used for inpatient care in acute hospitals in England and explore chief pharmacists' opinions and experiences with respect to electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA) systems.
Method: Audio-recorded, semistructured telephone interviews with chief pharmacists or their nominated representatives of general acute hospital trusts across England.
Addiction to medicines available over the counter or via prescription is of growing international concern. The authors of the current article ran an online survey of health professionals in general medical practice and community pharmacy settings in Northwest England to explore the frequency of suspecting and responding to addiction to medicines. Health professionals reported frequently identifying addiction to medicines among patients including those with long-term pain, mental health problems, sleep disorders, and other substance use disorders, but that these addictions often go unchallenged.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There are few studies of community pharmacy footfall and activity in the existing literature, especially by direct observation.
Objective: To describe the characteristics of counter interactions between pharmacy staff and customers.
Method: Structured observation of all interactions between pharmacy staff and customers across the weekly opening hours of five pharmacies diverse in location and ownership.
Objectives: It is recommended that patients are seen within 4 h of arrival in Acute Medical Units in English hospitals. This study explored the frequency and nature of interruptions and delays potentially affecting the duration of the Acute Medical Unit admission process and the quality of care provided.
Design: The admission process was directly observed for patients admitted to the Acute Medical Unit over four one-week periods, November 2009 to April 2011.
Objective: To evaluate and inform emergency supply of prescription-only medicines by community pharmacists (CPs), including how the service could form an integral component of established healthcare provision to maximise adherence.
Design: Mixed methods. 4 phases: prospective audit of emergency supply requests for prescribed medicines (October-November 2012 and April 2013); interviews with CPs (February-April 2013); follow-up interviews with patients (April-May 2013); interactive feedback sessions with general practice teams (October-November 2013).
Background: Translation of interest in research into active engagement of community pharmacists as research partners/co-researchers remains a challenge. Involving pharmacists in specific research techniques such as peer interviewing, however, may enhance validity of the results.
Objective: To enhance community pharmacists' involvement in pharmacy practice research through peer interview training.
Background: Medication errors are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and adversely affect clinical outcomes. Prescribing errors constitute one type of medication error and occur particularly on admission to hospital; little is known about how they arise.
Aim: This study investigated how doctors obtain the information necessary to prescribe on admission to hospital, and the number and potential impact of any errors.
Background: Implementing venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment guidance on admission to hospital has proved difficult worldwide. In 2010, VTE risk assessment in English hospitals was linked to financial sanctions. This study investigated possible barriers and facilitators for VTE risk assessment in medical patients and evaluated the impact of local and national initiatives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Re-use of unused medicines returned from patients is currently considered unethical in the UK and these are usually destroyed by incineration. Previous studies suggest that many of these medicines may be in a condition suitable for re-use.
Methods: All medicines returned over two months to participating community pharmacies and GP surgeries in Eastern Birmingham PCT were assessed for type, quantity and value.