Exploring factors that impact pass rates in a UK pharmacist registration exam, 2011-2024.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of UK MPharm graduates on the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC) registration assessment, between the years 2011-2024, to explore the factors that impact student performance in this examination.

Methods: Student performance in the GPhC registration assessment was contextualized with factors like alma mater, Foundation Training placement, NSS, and HESA data. Relationships between these factors and the weighted average passing rates and raw scores were analysed using a range of statistical methods including correlation analysis, ANOM, Tukey-Kramer, and t-tests.

Deprescribing interventions in older adults: An overview of systematic reviews.

Objective: The growing deprescribing field is challenged by a lack of consensus around evidence and knowledge gaps. The objective of this overview of systematic reviews was to summarize the review evidence for deprescribing interventions in older adults.

Methods: 11 databases were searched from 1st January 2005 to 16th March 2023 to identify systematic reviews.

What are the consequences of over and undertreatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a frail population? A systematic review.

Aims: This review aims to identify the evidence base for the consequences of over and undertreatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a frail population.

Method: In this systematic review, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library for studies from January 2001 to 15th August 2022. We included a variety of study types that assessed and reported frailty including patients ≥18 years old.

Designing Digital Health Technology to Support Patients Before and After Bariatric Surgery: Qualitative Study Exploring Patient Desires, Suggestions, and Reflections to Support Lifestyle Behavior Change.

Background: A patient's capability, motivation, and opportunity to change their lifestyle are determinants of successful outcomes following bariatric surgery. Lifestyle changes before and after surgery, including improved dietary intake and physical activity levels, have been associated with greater postsurgical weight loss and improved long-term health. Integrating patient-centered digital technologies within the bariatric surgical pathway could form part of an innovative strategy to promote and sustain healthier behaviors, and provide holistic patient support, to improve surgical success.

Demographic and psychological predictors of community pharmacists' cancer-related conversations with patients: a cross-sectional analysis and survey study.

Background: There is increasing interest in the role of community pharmacy in the early diagnosis and prevention of cancer. This study set out to examine how often community pharmacists (CPs) encourage patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer, and how often they help people to make an informed decision about taking part in bowel cancer screening.

Methods: Data from 400 UK CPs, who completed the 2018 Cancer Research UK Healthcare Professional Tracker survey, were analysed.

Young@Heart clinic: a feasibility study of an undergraduate pharmacy student-led blood pressure and healthy lifestyle clinic.

Objectives: Student-led clinics offer a work-based learning (WBL) opportunity for undergraduate healthcare students to engage with professional activities in a real-life setting. Participation is posited to provide experiential learning and prepare students for clinical practice. This study aims to assess the feasibility of establishing and engaging undergraduate students in one such initiative through the collaboration between one School of Pharmacy and local authority.

The development of undergraduate pharmacy students as reflective thinkers for the evolving field of pharmacy.

Objectives: Iterative reflective practice is recognised to support learners' formation of humanism and resilience, facilitating the healthy development of professional identity. In one undergraduate pharmacy programme, students experience a series of seminars to develop their understanding and skills in the practice of reflection and its articulation. In Stage (year) 4, students engage in a reflection conference where they present a reflective account of a 'Significant Learning Event' or their journey 'From Student to Professional'.

Designing the Optimal Digital Health Intervention for Patients' Use Before and After Elective Orthopedic Surgery: Qualitative Study.

Background: Health behavior changes made by patients during the perioperative period can impact the outcomes and success of elective surgeries. However, there remains a limited understanding of how best to support patients during this time, particularly through the use of digital health interventions. Recognizing and understanding the potential unmet needs of elective orthopedic surgery patients is central to motivating healthier behavior change, improving recovery, and optimizing overall surgical success in the short and long term.

Digital Support for Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: Narrative Review of the Roles and Challenges of Online Forums.

Background: The internet has become an important medium within health care, giving patients the opportunity to search for information, guidance, and support to manage their health and well-being needs. Online forums and internet-based platforms appear to have changed the way many patients undergoing bariatric surgery view and engage with their health, before and after weight loss surgery. Given that significant health improvements result from sustained weight loss, ensuring patient adherence to recommended preoperative and postoperative guidance is critical for bariatric surgery success.

Digital and Mobile Technologies to Promote Physical Health Behavior Change and Provide Psychological Support for Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: Meta-Ethnography and Systematic Review.

Background: Digital technology has influenced many aspects of modern living, including health care. In the context of elective surgeries, there is a strong association between preoperative physical and psychological preparedness, and improved postoperative outcomes. Health behavior changes made in the pre- and postoperative periods can be fundamental in determining the outcomes and success of elective surgeries.

The value of teachable moments in surgical patient care and the supportive role of digital technologies.

Evidence strongly supports improved outcomes following surgery when patients are more physically active, have better dietary intake, or are generally fitter prior to surgery. Having an operation is a major life event for patients, and many are not educated around what they can do as individuals to aid a speedier and more successful recovery following their operation. What if there was a time point before surgery where clinicians could inspire patients to adjust their lifestyles for the better, in order to see fewer complications after surgery? This is where the concept of teachable moments comes into play.

Exploring Undergraduate Pharmacy Student Experiences of Learning Human Anatomy Using Cadaveric Specimens.

To gain insights into pharmacy students' experiences in learning human anatomy using qualitative interviews and thematic analysis. Participants included Master of Pharmacy students at the end of their first year or the beginning of their second year. The study used a transcendental phenomenological design.

Training Student Pharmacists in Medication Dispensing and Checking Within a High-Fidelity Clinical Environment.

To describe the implementation of and student pharmacist experience with high-fidelity training in medication dispensing and clinical checking processes and procedures. An actual dispensary in a large teaching hospital was used as the setting in which to provide undergraduate student pharmacists the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge regarding the process and procedures of medication dispensing and clinical checking. The sessions were facilitated by a member of the hospital pharmacy team and overseen by a faculty member.

Improving medication-related clinical decision support.

Purpose: Current uses of medication-related clinical decision support (CDS) and recommendations for improving these systems are reviewed.

Summary: Using a systematic approach, articles published from 2007 through 2014 were identified in MEDLINE and EMBASE using MeSH terms and keywords relating to the 5 basic medication-related CDS functionalities. A total of 156 full-text articles and 28 conference abstracts were reviewed across each of the 5 areas: drug-drug interaction (DDI) checks ( = 78), drug allergy checks ( = 20), drug dose support ( = 55), drug duplication checks ( = 11), and drug formulary support ( = 20).

Factors contributing to medication errors made when using computerized order entry in pediatrics: a systematic review.

Objective: To identify and understand the factors that contribute to medication errors associated with the use of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) in pediatrics and provide recommendations on how CPOE systems could be improved.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review across 3 large databases: the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and Medline. Three independent reviewers screened the titles, and 2 authors then independently reviewed all abstracts and full texts, with 1 author acting as a constant across all publications.

A Consensus Approach to Investigate Undergraduate Pharmacy Students' Experience of Interprofessional Education.

To assess the development of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors for collaborative practice among first-year pharmacy students following completion of interprofessional education. A mixed-methods strategy was employed to detect student self-reported change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Validated survey tools were used to assess student perception and attitudes.

Safety profile of lamotrigine in overdose.

Background: Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant as well as a mood stabilizer. Apart from its established use in the treatment of epilepsy, there has been an expansion of its use in the treatment of mental disorders. Patients with epilepsy as well as those with mental disorders are at increased risk of deliberate drug overdoses.

A systematic review of the types and causes of prescribing errors generated from using computerized provider order entry systems in primary and secondary care.

Objective: To understand the different types and causes of prescribing errors associated with computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems, and recommend improvements in these systems.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature published between January 2004 and June 2015 using three large databases: the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and Medline. Studies that reported qualitative data about the types and causes of these errors were included.

A literature review of the training offered to qualified prescribers to use electronic prescribing systems: why is it so important?

Objectives: A key element of the implementation and ongoing use of an electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) system is ensuring that users are, and remain, sufficiently trained to use the system. Studies have suggested that insufficient training is associated with suboptimal use. However, it is not clear from these studies how clinicians are trained to use ePrescribing systems or the effectiveness of different approaches.

Community pharmacy-delivered interventions for public health priorities: a systematic review of interventions for alcohol reduction, smoking cessation and weight management, including meta-analysis for smoking cessation.

Objectives: To systematically review the effectiveness of community pharmacy-delivered interventions for alcohol reduction, smoking cessation and weight management.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analyses. 10 electronic databases were searched from inception to May 2014.