The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges.

Colchicine is an alkaloid traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions such as gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Currently, there are proposals for the use of this drug in several other situations, such as cardiovascular and liver diseases and diabetes. In this study, the current literature on the potential of colchicine in the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) was evaluated.

A scoping review of the clinical utility of adverse drug reaction causality analysis tools for use in the hospital setting.

Introduction: Identification and monitoring of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and interventions to reduce ADRs are essential for patient safety in hospitals. Causality analysis (CA) is an approach that helps to determine a causal link between medication and patient harm (i.e.

Evaluation of an interactive education workshop on hospital pharmacists' ethical reasoning: an observational study.

Background: Pharmacists are often faced with scenarios in practice that require application of ethical reasoning and decision-making skills. There is limited research on the ethical decision-making processes of hospital pharmacists. Pharmacists who are compassionate and put the interests of their patients first are thought to positively impact on patient care, but there are often complex health-care system pressures in the hospital setting that cause pharmacists to behave in ways that may conflict with professional values and behaviours.

Intensive versus less intensive blood pressure targets after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Hemodynamic management, specifically blood pressure, is essential to reduce mortality and preserve functional capacity. However, the literature is uncertain about the best blood pressure target to be adopted after performing mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Randomized clinical trials that compared blood pressure goals after mechanical thrombectomy were searched in the following databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Biomedcentral, and Cochrane Library.

Evidence-based Medication knowledge Brokers in Residential Aged CarE (EMBRACE): protocol for a helix-counterbalanced randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines recommend against the routine use of psychotropic medications in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Knowledge brokers are individuals or groups who facilitate the transfer of knowledge into practice. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using knowledge brokers to translate Australia's new Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Medications in People Living with Dementia and in Residential Aged Care.

A scoping review of health system guidelines for pharmacist responsibilities when dispensing opioids.

Introduction: Prescription opioid use and evidence of the harm caused by these medicines has increased over the past 20-30 years. Despite a number of system level interventions, the opioid crisis has not yet resolved in Australia or globally. Pharmacists are increasingly required to take a proactive, clinical role to fulfil their responsibility for patient outcomes relating to both medication efficacy and safety.

Embedded on-site aged care pharmacists in Australia: Insights from early adopters of a new workforce model.

Objective: To explore the roles of early adopters of Australia's embedded on-site pharmacist model in supporting quality use of medications in residential aged care facilities (RACFs).

Methods: Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 pharmacists working as embedded on-site pharmacists, or beyond the scope of traditional consultant pharmacist roles in Australian RACFs. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed independently by two investigators using an inductive approach.

Health literacy in Pakistani migrants in Australia-An emerging and neglected culturally and linguistically diverse community.

Issue Addressed: Pakistani migrants are one of the fastest-growing culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Australia, but there is currently a lack of information regarding their health literacy. This study aimed to investigate the health literacy of Pakistani migrants residing in Australia.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, health literacy was measured using the Urdu version of Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ).

Prevalence and risk factors for long COVID after mild disease: A cohort study with a symptomatic control group.

Background: There is limited data on the prevalence and risk factors for long COVID and few prospective studies with appropriate control groups and adequate sample sizes. We performed a prospective study to determine the prevalence and risk factors for long COVID.

Methods: We recruited individuals aged ≥15 years who were clinically suspected of having an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection from September 2020 to April 2021.

Roles and effectiveness of knowledge brokers for translating clinical practice guidelines in health-related settings: a systematic review.

Background: Poor translation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) into clinical practice is a barrier to the provision of consistent and high-quality evidence-based care. The objective was to systematically review the roles and effectiveness of knowledge brokers (KBs) for translating CPGs in health-related settings.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL Plus were searched from 2014 to June 2022.

Mapping Australian pharmacy school curricula for content related to pharmacogenomics.

Background: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is a rapidly growing field which promises to deliver personalized, more effective medications tailored to genetic information. Although the pharmacy profession is expected to lead the translation of pharmacogenomics into widespread clinical implementation, there is a reported lack of preparedness among its members. Assessing pharmacogenomic-related training in Australian pharmacy program curricula may highlight educational gaps and provide guidance for curricula revision.

Investigating the impact of patient-centred labels on comprehension of medication dosing: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: This study aims to implement a version of patient-centred labels (PCL) consistent with current labelling practice in Australia; assess the effectiveness of PCL in relation to the proportion of participants that correctly comprehend dosing instructions, and explore the proportion of correct comprehension of PCL in participants with both low and high health literacy.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: A large tertiary care hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

New Insights on Tramadol and Immunomodulation.

Purpose Of Review: Opioids are administered to cancer patients although concerns have been raised that they may promote tumour growth or metastasis owing to their ability to suppress anti-cancer immunity. Tramadol has been reported to preserve or promote the immune response and may therefore be preferred to other opioids in cancer patients. We reviewed the literature documenting the immunomodulatory effects of tramadol.

Improving pharmacy practice in relation to complementary medicines: a qualitative study evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of a new ethical framework in Australia.

Background: There is a need for clearer guidance for pharmacists regarding their responsibilities when selling complementary medicines. A recently published ethical framework provides guidance regarding the specific responsibilities that pharmacists need to meet in order to fulfil their professional obligations and make a positive contribution to health outcomes when selling complementary medicines.

Objective: Evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a new ethical framework for the sale of complementary medicines in community pharmacy.

Translating and validating the Health Literacy Questionnaire into Urdu: a robust nine-dimension confirmatory factor model.

Pakistani migrants are one of the fastest-growing communities in Australia, and the majority speak Urdu at home. There is a lack of information regarding the health literacy of this population. This study aimed to translate the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) into Urdu and to explore its psychometric properties.

How Oncologists Perceive the Availability and Quality of Information Generated From Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs).

Background: Despite increased incorporation of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures into clinical trials, information generated from PROs remains largely absent from drug labeling and electronic health records, giving rise to concerns that such information is not adequately informing clinical practice.

Objective: To evaluate oncologists' perceptions concerning the availability and quality of information generated from PRO measures. Additionally, to identify whether an association exists between perceptions of availability and attitudes concerning quality.

An ethical framework for the responsibilities of pharmacists when selling complementary medicines.

Background: Whether pharmacists should sell complementary medicines that lack evidence of effectiveness is an important ethical question which is not explicitly addressed in the existing literature or professional guidelines. The question arises because many complementary medicines lack rigorous evidence that they are effective. There is a need for specific practical guidance for pharmacists regarding their responsibilities when selling complementary medicines.

We are all patient-centred now, aren't we? Lessons from new pharmacy graduates.

Introduction: Patient-centredness is considered integral to the delivery of modern healthcare. This qualitative, longitudinal study explored the meaning and development of the practice of pharmacy graduates, leading to a focus on patient-centredness. The approach adopted in this study aligned with the principles of hermeneutic phenomenology.

A clinical audit of oral anticoagulant therapy in aged care residents with atrial fibrillation.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for stroke in older people. Oral anticoagulants can reduce stroke risk but they are commonly under prescribed in the elderly, often due to concerns regarding the risk of bleeding. Prescribing in aged care residents may also be further complicated by associated geriatric conditions such as dementia and risk of falls.

Hospital pharmacists' ethical exposure and decision-making.

Background: Studies have explored community pharmacy ethical dilemmas; however, limited research exists on hospital pharmacy ethical issues and pharmacists' ethical decision-making processes. Research exploring this is timely, considering developments in hospital pharmacy practices, new hospital pharmacist roles, and evolving responsibilities.

Aim/objectives: To explore hospital pharmacists' ethical decision-making and processes for managing ethical challenges in the context of evolving Australian hospital pharmacy practices.

Pharmacists' perceived responsibility for patient care when there is a risk of misadventure: a qualitative study.

Objective: To investigate how community pharmacists view their responsibility for patient care in a scenario involving opioid use with significant risk of toxicity or misadventure.

Methods: A case scenario was developed based on an Australian coronial inquiry involving a patient suffering fatal toxicity following misuse of opioids. Community pharmacists working in Brisbane, Queensland, were invited to take part in face-to-face semi-structured interviews at their place of work.

Perception of the Quality of Life of Tobacco Growers Exposed to Pesticides: Emphasis on Health, Hearing, and Working Conditions.

 Tobacco farming exposes workers to various health risks due to the high application of pesticides needed to control pests, weeds and fungal diseases that prevent the tobacco plant growth.  To analyze the perception of the quality of life of tobacco growers exposed to pesticides, with emphasis on general health, hearing, and working conditions.  This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach with farmers from southern Brazil.

Better understanding the influence and complexity of beliefs on medication adherence in asthma.

Objective: The aim was to better understand how beliefs influence medication adherence in asthma.

Methods: All participants were prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid for a diagnosis of asthma. Each participant completed a survey consisting of: Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), Brief-Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) and Multi-dimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLCS).