Empowering future pharmacists - Embedding prescribing in the United Kingdom pharmacy undergraduate degree.

Introduction: Pharmacy education within the United Kingdom (UK) is on the cusp of a major change with the integration of pharmacist independent prescribing into the undergraduate Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree and foundation year. This presents an opportunity for schools of pharmacy to completely review and redesign the MPharm degree in order to embed prescribing. This commentary details what needs to change within the MPharm degree and how these changes can be enacted.

Development of a core set of clinical skills for pharmacist prescribers working in general practice: A Delphi study.

Background: With increasing numbers of pharmacists working in general practices and undertaking patient-facing roles, it has been recognised that they must have the necessary clinical skills. However, previous studies have highlighted that practice-based pharmacists (PBPs) do not feel confident regarding their clinical skills, and it is unclear what skills are needed.

Objective: To develop a core set of clinical skills (CSs) required for pharmacists who intend to practise as independent prescribers working in general practice/family medicine.

The cardiology training needs of general practice-based pharmacists.

Objectives: As the role of the general practice clinical pharmacist (GPCP) evolves, there has been a shift towards patient-facing roles across multiple conditions. This study aimed to measure the self-reported cardiology training needs of GPCPs.

Methods: An online survey was developed.

An evaluation of virtual ethics discussion groups as a method of learning on a pharmacist Independent Prescribing (IP) programme.

Background And Purpose: A postgraduate body within Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has offered a pharmacist Independent Prescribing (IP) programme to pharmacists living locally in Northern Ireland (NI) since 2006. In 2016, this course was modified and delivered by the School of Pharmacy within QUB for a non-local population of pharmacists from Great Britain (GB). In order to substitute face-to-face, live training in NI, distance learning methods were employed for one of the modules that involved studying ethical dilemmas.

Comparison of the effects of a 7-day period of non-compliance on blood pressure control using three different antihypertensive agents.

Objectives: To compare blood pressure control during 7 days of drug omission in patients taking bendroflumethiazide 2.5 mg, nifedipine LA 30 mg or enalapril 20 mg once daily and, secondarily, to measure patient compliance.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with hypertension were assigned, in a random crossover fashion, to a sequence of bendroflumethiazide, nifedipine LA and enalapril, each for 4 weeks, followed by a 1-week period of dose omission.

Uptake of COX-2 selective inhibitors and influence on NSAID prescribing in Northern Ireland.

Purpose: Rofecoxib and celecoxib have been recently introduced and promoted as 'safer' non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regarding gastric toxicity. The primary aim was to measure their uptake and any impact on conventional NSAID prescribing. A secondary aim was to assess any change in proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing.