Applications of artificial intelligence in current pharmacy practice: A scoping review.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science, has been of growing research interest since its introduction to healthcare disciplines in the 1970s. Research has demonstrated that the application of such technologies has allowed for greater task accuracy and efficiency in medical disciplines such as diagnostics, treatment protocols and clinical decision-making. Application in pharmacy practice is reportedly narrower in scope; with greater emphasis placed on stock management and day-to-day function optimisation than enhancing patient outcomes.

Impact of Interventions on Medication Adherence in Patients With Coexisting Diabetes and Hypertension.

Background: The coexistence of diabetes and hypertension is prevalent due to shared risk factors. Pharmacological treatment has been reported to be effective in managing both conditions. However, treatment effectiveness depends on the extent to which a patient adheres to their treatment.

Conscientious objection - a cross-sectional, vignette-based, mixed methods exploration of Australian pharmacists' perspectives.

Conscientious objection (CO) in healthcare is a controversial topic. Some perceive CO as freedom of conscience, others believe their professional duty-of-care overrides personal-perspectives. There is a paucity of literature pertaining to pharmacists' perspectives on CO.

Professional stigma towards clients with methamphetamine use disorder - a qualitative study.

Background: Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with poor health outcomes. Pharmacists play a role in delivery of substance use treatment, with several studies having examined their attitudes to people with opioid use disorder, but little is known about their attitude towards people with MUD. This study aimed to explore pharmacists' perspectives on the provision of services to clients with MUD.

Examining pharmacists' anti-doping knowledge and skills in assisting athletes to avoid unintentional use of prohibited substances.

Objectives: To explore the knowledge and skills of pharmacists practicing in Sydney, Australia, in preventing the use of prohibited medications by athletes.

Methods: Using a simulated-patient study design, the researcher (an athlete and pharmacy student herself) contacted 100 Sydney pharmacies by telephone requesting advice about taking a salbutamol inhaler (a WADA-prohibited substance with conditional requirements), for exercise-induced asthma, following a set interview protocol. Data were assessed for both clinical and anti-doping advice appropriateness.

Comparing comprehensibility of standard and enhanced prescription medicine labels: a randomized simulation.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to develop and user-test the comparative effectiveness of two enhanced label designs to improve comprehension of patients with low English proficiency versus a standard label representative of the pharmacist-affixed medicine labels currently used in practice.

Methods: Using a randomized two-group study design, 66 participants from Sydney, Australia were allocated to view a set of standard labels followed by a set of enhanced labels named 'linguistically enhanced labels' or 'linguistically and graphically enhanced labels'. Each set of labels depicted medicine directions of three levels of complexity, which participants viewed consecutively.

Pharmacists supporting athletes: a scoping review exploring the knowledge, role and responsibilities of pharmacists in preventing the unintentional use of prohibited substances by athletes.

Background: Following the establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency in 1999, the International Pharmacy Federation (FIP) published guidelines - The Role of the Pharmacist in the Fight against Doping in Sport (2014) - intended for implementation into national standards of practice, to clarify pharmacists' roles in supporting athletes. Despite 7 years since the publication of these guidelines, the extent of practice and knowledge regarding sport pharmacy remains unclear.

Objectives: To explore the literature to ascertain knowledge held by pharmacists and pharmacy students regarding anti-doping and to determine current/potential roles and responsibilities for pharmacists in the dissemination of information about, and the reduction in unintentional use of, prohibited substances by athletes.

Implementing and evaluating a course in professional ethics for an undergraduate pharmacy curriculum: A feasibility study.

Background: Pharmacy practice today mandates "patient-centered care", thereby assigning higher levels of professional responsibility for pharmacists leading to ethical challenges. These challenges often involve ethical principles, institutional, personal, or other constraints that can pull practitioners in incompatible opposite directions, creating "ethical dilemmas" in many circumstances. Pharmacists are expected to handle challenges competently and in the best interest of patients.

Pharmacists' experiences serving culturally and linguistically diverse patients in the Australian community pharmacy setting.

Background There has been no in depth published study to date reporting on community pharmacists' current experiences and their future practice needs relating to providing culturally competent pharmaceutical care to Australian culturally and linguistically diverse patients with low English proficiency. Objective To explore community pharmacists' experiences serving culturally and linguistically diverse patients who have low English proficiency. Setting Community pharmacists in Australia.

Stakeholders' Perceptions of Factors Influencing the Use of Take-Home-Naloxone.

Background And Aims: Opioid associated death and overdose is a growing burden in societies all over the world. In recent years, legislative changes have increased access to naloxone in the take-home setting for use by patients with a substance use disorder and bystanders, to prevent opioid overdose deaths. However, few studies have explored the factors influencing the uptake by its multiple stakeholders.

Exploring Ethical Pharmacy Practice in Jordan.

Patient-centered pharmacy practice involves increased pharmacist engagement in patient care. This increased involvement can sometimes require diverse decision-making when handling various situations, ranging from simple matters to major ethical dilemmas. There is literature about pharmacy ethics in developed Western countries.

A mixed-method simulated patient approach to explore implicit bias in health care: A feasibility study in community pharmacy.

Background: Implicit bias is prejudice shown towards an individual or group without consciously meaning to do so. This bias may occur due to age, race, and gender among other factors. Implicit bias has been examined and identified in a variety of health care professionals, primarily using Implicit Association Tests.

Exploring pharmacy ethics in developing countries: a scoping review.

Background Healthcare ethics have been profoundly influenced by principles of bioethics that emerged post-World War II in the Declaration of Geneva 1948. 'Beneficence' (to do good), 'Non-Maleficence' (to do no harm), 'Justice' (fairness and justice in access) and 'Respect for Autonomy' (respect for patient individuality, including decision making, privacy, and right to refuse), have become foundational principles of contemporary medical codes of ethics. These principles are well reflected in most professional pharmacy code of ethics globally.

Pharmacokinetic changes post-bariatric surgery: A scoping review.

Bariatric surgeries induce structural changes that can alter the absorption of drugs in patients already at risk of polypharmacy. This scoping review aimed to explore pharmacokinetic changes of orally administered drugs in patients post-bariatric surgery, and assess the quality and level of bias. Electronic databases were searched for articles relating to bariatric surgery and pharmacokinetics published between 1998 and 2019.

Challenges faced with opioid prescriptions in the community setting - Australian pharmacists' perspectives.

Background: Prescription opioids (POs) are well recognised for their role in pain management. However over recent years, use of POs has become an increasingly complex public health issue, with the emergence of increasing quantities of POs being misused and abused. Pharmacists represent the 'gatekeepers' of medicines, which can be a challenging role, relating in particular to POs.

The future of weight management in pharmacy education - Perspectives of new generation pharmacists.

Introduction: Over recent years, the profession of pharmacy has transitioned towards providing more individualised patient care services. In this context, community pharmacy has proven to be an excellent facilitator for weight management programs. However, education on weight management in pharmacy undergraduate curricula is often lacking.

General Practitioners' experiences of asthma management in culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore General Practitioners' experiences and perspectives about asthma management of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people with asthma, particularly with reference to Arabic-speaking patients with low English proficiency (LEP).

Methods: Semi-structured interviews guided by an interview protocol were conducted with general practitioners who deal with CALD patients with asthma. Participants were recruited from medical practices in Melbourne, Australia.

Medicine shortages in Fiji: A qualitative exploration of stakeholders' views.

Objectives: Medicine access is a human right; yet, concerningly, there are international instances of shortages. Quantitative data has allowed WHO to propose global solutions; however, individualised understanding of specific regions is still required to work towards national solutions. Fiji has an established issue with medication supply and the aim of this study was to use qualitative methods to gain a fuller understanding of this context.

Professional Use of Social Media by Pharmacists: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Social media is frequently used by consumers and health care professionals; however, our knowledge about its use in a professional capacity by pharmacists is limited.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the professional use of social media by pharmacists.

Methods: In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with practicing pharmacists (N=31) from nine countries.

Medicine shortages in Australia: causes, impact and management strategies in the community setting.

Background Medicine shortages are an ongoing global problem. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) dedicated a website for monitoring of medicine shortages in Australia in May 2014, as part of the Medicine Shortage Information Initiative. This study aimed to explore the views of pharmacists regarding medicine shortages in the community setting and the impact of the TGA website in Australia.

Incorporating a Weight Management Skills Workshop in Pharmacy Curricula in Australia.

Objective. To develop, implement, and evaluate a competency-based weight management skills workshop for undergraduate pharmacy students in an Australian university. Design.

The Role of Medicinal Cannabis in Clinical Therapy: Pharmacists' Perspectives.

Background: Medicinal cannabis has recently attracted much media attention in Australia and across the world. With the exception of a few countries, cannabinoids remain illegal-known for their adverse effects rather than their medicinal application and therapeutic benefit. However, there is mounting evidence demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in alleviating neuropathic pain, improving multiple sclerosis spasticity, reducing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, and many other chronic conditions.