Patterns of outpatient proton‒pump inhibitors use among older adults in a duplicative health system: comparing public and private prescribing.

Background: Proton-pump-inhibitors (PPIs) are overprescribed, posing challenges to patients and healthcare systems. In Portugal, the public National Health Service (NHS) provides universal coverage and reimburses medication regardless of prescription origin, i.e.

COVID-19 pandemic and the consumption of self-care products for pediculosis capitis in Portugal: an interrupted time-series analysis.

This study aims to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of self-care products for pediculosis capitis management, in Portugal. A segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series (March 2020) was performed from January 2017 to August 2023 to analyze the short- and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of pediculicides and related products. Monthly rates of absolute consumption were estimated by community pharmacies' dispensing records.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a collaborative deprescribing intervention of proton-pump-inhibitors on community-dwelling older adults: Protocol for the C-SENIoR, a pragmatic non-randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Worldwide, demographic ageing is a major social, economic and health challenge. Despite the increase in life expectancy, elderly often live with multiple chronic conditions, exposing them to multiple medications. Concerns have been raised about the growing issue of inappropriate long-term usage of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI), which have been associated with adverse outcomes and increased healthcare costs.

Estimating Type 2 Diabetes Prevalence: A Model of Drug Consumption Data.

Observational, cross-sectional prevalence studies are costly and time-consuming. The development of indirect methods estimating prevalence used to obtain faster, less-expensive, and more robust results would be an advantage for several healthcare applications. This study aimed to use the drug dispensing data from community pharmacies to estimate the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Portuguese population.

Measuring the value of solidarity: The financial assistance program for out-of-pocket payments on pharmacy medicines in Portugal.

Objective: Out-of-pocket payments for prescribed medicines are still comparatively high in Portugal. The program was launched in Portugal in May 2016 to aid vulnerable groups by completely covering out-of-pocket costs of prescribed medicines in community pharmacies. This study assesses the impact of the program on poverty and catastrophic health expenditures.

Real-World Effectiveness in Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia Collaborative Management between Pharmacies and Primary Care in Portugal: A Multicenter Pragmatic Controlled Trial (USFarmácia).

There is evidence of the efficacy of collaborative health interventions with pharmacies and primary care providers but little of its real-world effectiveness. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and discuss the design and challenges of hypertension and hyperlipidemia management between pharmacies and primary care providers using real-world data exchange between providers and experimental bundled payment. This was a pragmatic, quasi-experimental controlled trial.

COVID-19 pandemic and the quality of antibiotic use in primary care: an interrupted time-series study.

The coronavirus disease-19 pandemic and the related public health mitigation measures have impacted the transmission of infectious diseases; however, their impact on the use of antibacterials has not yet been extensively evaluated. This study evaluated the impact of the pandemic on the consumption patterns of antibacterials for systemic use in primary care in Portugal. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed using the autoregressive integrated moving average model of the antibacterials dispensed in the community pharmacies in Portugal from 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2022.

Effectiveness of a collaborative diabetes screening campaign between community pharmacies and general practitioners.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of a collaborative screening campaign on the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes among the screened population.

Methods: A Longitudinal, multicentre study was developed. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) was applied to the eligible population in the participating community pharmacies.

Characteristics of Oral Corticosteroid Users Among Persons with Asthma on GINA Step 3 Therapy and Above: A Cross-Sectional Study in Portuguese Community Pharmacies.

Purpose: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are frequently used in asthma management but have an important risk-profile. The aim of the study is to characterize and compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, treatment regimen and asthma control between OCS users and non-users among the population of asthma patients (≥18 years) at GINA step 3 and above treated with a fixed combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist (ICS/LABA).

Methods: Cross-sectional study in Portuguese community pharmacies.

A cross-country utilization patterns comparison of high expenditure therapeutic groups between Portugal and six European countries: the two sides of the Portuguese coin.

Background: Understanding variability in prescribing patterns through comparative drug utilization studies can contribute to improve an efficient, effective and safe use of medicines.

Objectives: To perform a cross-country comparison of consumption patterns of ambulatory high expenditure therapeutic groups between Portugal and six European countries and simulate potential cost-saving scenarios through the adoption of the different prescribing patterns of studied countries.

Methods: Cross-country comparison of 2019 drug consumption patterns between Portugal, Denmark, England, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.

Point-of-care HIV and hepatitis screening in community pharmacies: a quantitative and qualitative study.

Background: Point-of-care tests can contribute to earlier diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, thereby affording the opportunity to prevent chronic stages and the spread to others. As part of the Fast-Track Cities initiative, a pilot study was initiated in community pharmacies in Portugal.

Aim: To characterize the individuals choosing to have point-of-care testing or screening for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B virus infections in community pharmacies, their risk behaviours and motivations to perform the tests, as well as to understand the facilitators and barriers from the perspective of pharmacists.

Real-World Impact of Transferring the Dispensing of Hospital-Only Medicines to Community Pharmacies During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives: In Portugal, the dispensing of most outpatient specialty medicines is performed exclusively through hospital pharmacies and totally financed by the National Health Service. During the COVID-19 first wave, the government allowed the transfer of the dispensing of hospital-only medicines (HOMs) to community pharmacies (CPs). This study aimed to measure the value generated by the intervention of CP in the dispensing of HOM.

Pharmacy interventions on COVID-19 in Europe: Mapping current practices and a scoping review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has put community pharmacists at the frontline of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. Pharmacies had to reorganize and implement several different interventions and measures within a very short time frame.

Objectives: 1) To map the current reported practice and trends and to review the literature on pharmacy-based interventions on COVID-19 provided in Europe; 2) To identify knowledge gaps and future avenues for pharmacy research, policy, and practice in response to public health emergencies.

Overtreatment and undertreatment in a sample of elderly people with diabetes.

Aims: In older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), overtreatment remains prevalent and undertreatment ignored. The main objective is to estimate the prevalence and examine factors associated with potential overtreatment and undertreatment.

Method: Observational study conducted within an administrative database of older adults with T2D who registered in 2018 at the Portuguese Diabetes Association.

Characteristics of Reliever Inhaler Users and Asthma Control: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in Portuguese Community Pharmacies.

Purpose: SABA overuse might indicate poorly managed or uncontrolled asthma and be responsible for poor health outcomes. The aim of this study integrated in new fourth multi-design SABINA+ pillar was to characterize the population using short-acting β-agonists for asthma and examine the patterns of its use among community pharmacy customers in Portugal, as well as identify characteristics associated with disease control and explore potential differences between GINA treatment steps.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in Portuguese community pharmacies between 29 May 2018 and 15 August 2018.

Effectiveness of a pharmacist-led intervention on inhalation technique for asthma and COPD patients: The INSPIRA pilot cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Asthma and COPD are leading causes of disability-adjusted life-years worldwide representing a huge burden on the health system and among patients. One of the reasons for the lack of disease control is poor inhalation technique, with impact on quality of life and symptom control.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a community pharmacist-led educational intervention on asthma and COPD patients' inhalation technique.

Comparing Hospital and Primary Care Physicians' Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding Antibiotic Prescribing: A Survey within the Centre Region of Portugal.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health problem, leading to longer hospital stays, raising medical costs and mortality levels. As physicians' attitudes are key factors to antibiotic prescribing, this study sought to explore their differences between primary care and hospital settings.

Methods: A survey was conducted between September 2011 and February 2012 in the center region of Portugal in the form of a questionnaire to compare hospital ( = 154) and primary care ( = 421) physicians' attitudes and knowledge regarding antibiotic prescribing.

Drug-drug interactions and inappropriate medicines impact on glycemic control and kidney function in older adults with diabetes-attending specialty care institution.

Purpose: To describe and assess the impact of polypharmacy, and its potential adverse reactions; serious clinically relevant drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and inappropriate medicines (PIMs) on glycemic target, and kidney function in a sample of older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: Cross-sectional study was performed in a real-world database including 444 elderly people with T2D from the Portuguese Diabetes Association, aged ≥ 65 years, and registered in 2018. DDIs were analyzed using Micromedex drug-interaction platform and PIMs identified using STOPP criteria version-2.

Polypharmacy, potentially serious clinically relevant drug-drug interactions, and inappropriate medicines in elderly people with type 2 diabetes and their impact on quality of life.

The aim of the study is to investigate the patterns of polypharmacy, clinical-relevant drug-drug interactions (DDIs), and potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs), and whether polypharmacy, potential serious clinically-relevant DDIs, or PIMs can be associated with low quality of life (QoL) index scores of older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A cross-sectional study was conducted using data of 670 elderly T2D sub-cohort from a nationwide pharmacy-based intensive monitoring study of inception cohort of T2D in Portugal. 72.

Time-trend analysis of medicine sales and shortages during COVID-19 outbreak: Data from community pharmacies.

Background: COVID-19 is a worldwide public health concern. Disruptions in the drug market are expected and shortages might worsen. Community pharmacies can contribute to early identification and report of medicines' supply and demand issues.

Effectiveness of an intervention to improve antibiotic-prescribing behaviour in primary care: a controlled, interrupted time-series study.

Background: High rates of antibiotic misprescribing in primary care, with alarming clinical and economic consequences, highlight the urgent need for interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing in this setting.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness on antibiotic prescribing quality indicators of a multifaceted intervention targeting health professionals' and patients' behaviour regarding antibiotic use.

Methods: We conducted a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial in the catchment area covered by Portugal's Central Regional Health Administration.

Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems and Antibiotic Prescribing: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies performed in primary care centers and hospital facilities that evaluated the effectiveness of computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) in decision making on the prescription of any given antibiotic.

Methods: We conducted a search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. A meta-analysis was then conducted of all variables with results reported in >2 studies.

Medicinal Product Regulation: Portugal׳s Framework.

Purpose: The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most tightly regulated sectors, and it is essential to know each country׳s legal framework to understand the regulation, approval, and marketing of medicinal products for human use. This article describes the main statutes and procedures governing medicinal products for human use in Portugal and the role of the country׳s National Medicines and Health Products Authority (Autoridade Nacional do Medicamento e Produtos de Saúde, I.P.

Decreasing antibiotic use through a joint intervention targeting physicians and pharmacists.

Aim: To decrease population antibiotic use through an educational intervention targeting primary care physicians' and community pharmacists' attitudes and knowledge.

Methods: We designed a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial covering all National Health System primary care physicians and all community pharmacists' in a region in the north of Portugal. The study protocol was registered on ClinicalTrials.