Development of a Frailty Screening Tool Using Electronic Community Pharmacy Records.

Background: Frailty is associated with increased susceptibility to medication-related harm, highlighting the importance of medication review for frail older adults. Community pharmacists are increasingly involved in the initiation of medication reviews. Yet, current frailty measurement methods are impractical in this setting.

Quantification of ADHD medication in biological fluids of pregnant and breastfeeding women with liquid chromatography: a comprehensive review.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has long been considered a concern only in the pediatric population. However, symptoms often sustain into adulthood and may require medication. For women with ADHD, this also means dealing with the disorder during the reproductive period.

The viscosity-enhancing effect of carob bean gum and sodium carboxymethylcellulose when added to infant formula.

Despite limited supporting evidence, the practice of thickening breast milk or infant formula with commercially available thickening agents is prevalent. This study explored the viscosity-enhancing impact of carob bean gum (CBG) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) when added to infant formula at various concentrations and for different thickening durations. The findings indicate that thickening leads to an exponential increase in milk viscosity, from 25% of the recommended dosage onward.

Black carbon particles in human breast milk: assessing infant's exposure.

Background/aim: Human breast milk is the recommended source of nutrition for infants due to its complex composition and numerous benefits, including a decline in infection rates in childhood and a lower risk of obesity. Hence, it is crucial that environmental pollutants in human breast milk are minimized. Exposure to black carbon (BC) particles has adverse effects on health; therefore, this pilot study investigates the presence of these particles in human breast milk.

Health Care Providers' Perspective and Knowledge about Peri-Surgical Medication and Practices in Breastfeeding Women.

Many guidelines offer recommendations to support the continuation of breastfeeding and the choice of medication when a mother undergoes a surgical procedure. The aim of this study is to investigate health care providers' (HCPs) current practices and knowledge about peri-surgical medication and practices in breastfeeding women. We performed a cross-sectional study in Flanders (Belgium) assessing demographics, beliefs about breastfeeding and its health benefits, current practices concerning breastfeeding women undergoing (surgical) procedures and specific knowledge about the use of medication during breastfeeding.

The Effects of COVID-19 Vaccination on Lactating Women: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Objectives: The availability of new vaccines against COVID-19 urges for guidance about vaccination during lactation. We aimed to review the literature to get an insight into the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on lactating women.

Design: Systematic review.

Global Perspectives on Immunization Against SARS-CoV-2 During Pregnancy and Priorities for Future Research: An International Consensus Paper From the World Association of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pregnancy is associated with a higher risk for severe morbidity and mortality when compared with infection in non-pregnant women of childbearing age. An increasing number of countries recommend immunization against SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant women. Recent studies provide preliminary and supportive evidence on safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in pregnant women; however, important knowledge gaps remain which warrant further studies.

Prevalence of alcohol-drug interactions in community-dwelling older patients with polypharmacy.

Objectives: Alcohol and medication use are increasingly prevalent in the older population. Concurrent use of alcohol and alcohol-interactive (AI) medication can lead to significant adverse consequences.

Methods: Three reference works were used to create an explicit list of drug substances for which information about the interaction with alcohol was available in at least one of them.

The International Pharmacy Game: A Comparison of Implementation in Seven Universities World-Wide.

The utilization of serious games and simulations in health professional education has increased. The Pharmacy Game is one such concept that intersects gamification and simulation, in which pharmacy student teams competitively manage simulated pharmacies; a concept included in the pharmacy curricula of seven international universities. This study aimed to compare the implementation and conduct of the Pharmacy Game of participant universities and their students' performance in the same educational task.

Prevalence of alcohol-drug interactions in community-dwelling older patients with polypharmacy.

Objectives: Alcohol and medication use are increasingly prevalent in the older population. Concurrent use of alcohol and alcohol-interactive (AI) medication can lead to significant adverse consequences.

Methods: Three reference works were used to create an explicit list of drug substances for which information about the interaction with alcohol was available in at least one of them.

Revisiting the Food- and Nutrition-Related Curriculum in Healthcare Education: An Example for Pharmacy Education.

: This study aimed to obtain an objective overview of nutritional topics discussed in community pharmacies to adapt the nutrition-related course content in pharmacy education. : We performed an observational study between July 2014 and April 2015 in 136 community pharmacies in Belgium. During four months, each pharmacy intern recorded the first two food- and nutrition-related cases with which they were confronted.

International Validation of the Turkish Inappropriate Medication Use in the Elderly (TIME) Criteria Set: A Delphi Panel Study.

Objective: Explicit screening tools and implicit evaluation methods have been developed to assist healthcare professionals in the management of pharmacotherapy in older adults. As prescribing habits and locally available medications vary considerably between countries, guides tailored to the needs of specific regions may be required. We aimed to report the results of the international Delphi validation study for the Turkish Inappropriate Medication use in the Elderly (TIME) criteria set, which aims to detect inappropriate prescribing in older adults in Eastern Europe.

Perspectives of Parents and Health Care Providers about (Non)Medical Treatment in Infants with Reflux.

Background: Reflux occurs in 50% of healthy infants at some point. This is most often a physiological condition and does not require drug treatment. Various studies have shown that the use of drugs affecting gastric acidity (DAGAs) in infants is increasing.

The perspectives of parents, general practitioners, and community pharmacists about treating an ill child in primary care: a comparative study.

As children are unable to make health-related decisions themselves, parents play a central role in consultations with healthcare providers. Parents' perspectives are therefore the focus of this study. Our first aim was to determine parents' expectations of a healthcare visit with a general practitioner and a community pharmacist.

Development and Application of the GheOPS-Tool Addendum on Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing (PIP) of Renally Excreted Active Drugs (READs) in Older Adults with Polypharmacy.

Background: Renal function progressively worsens with age. Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) of renally excreted active drugs (READs) is common in older adults, leading to an increased rate of iatrogenic illness. The Ghent Older People's Prescription community Pharmacy Screening (GheOPS-) tool is an effective, explicit instrument that was developed for community pharmacists (CPs) to detect PIP.

The Introduction of a Full Medication Review Process in a Local Hospital: Successes and Barriers of a Pilot Project in the Geriatric Ward.

For the majority of Belgian hospitals, a pharmacist-led full medication review process is not standard care and, therefore, challenging to introduce. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the successes and barriers of the implementation of a pharmacist-led full medication review process in the geriatric ward at a local Belgian hospital. To this end, we carried out an interventional study, performing a full medication review on older patients (≥70 years) with polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) who had an unplanned admission to the geriatric ward.

Community pharmacists' evaluation of potentially inappropriate prescribing in older community-dwelling patients with polypharmacy: observational research based on the GheOP³S tool.

Background: In this study, we aimed to (i) determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in community-dwelling older polypharmacy patients using the Ghent Older People's Prescriptions community-Pharmacy Screening (GheOP³S) tool, (ii) identify the items that account for the highest proportion of PIP and (iii) identify the patient variables that may influence the occurrence of PIP. Additionally, pharmacist-physician contacts emerging from PIP screening with the GheOP³S tool and feasibility of the GheOP³S tool in daily practice were evaluated.

Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out between December 2013 and July 2014 in 204 community pharmacies in Belgium.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in nursing home residents detected with the community pharmacist specific GheOP(3)S-tool.

Background The Ghent Older People's Prescriptions community Pharmacy Screening (GheOP³S-)tool was recently developed to screen for potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP). Objective We aimed (1) to determine PIP prevalence in older nursing home (NH) residents with polypharmacy using the GheOP³S-tool and (2) to identify those PIPs that are most frequently detected. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out between February and June 2014 in 10 NHs in Belgium, supplied by a community pharmacy chain.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in community-dwelling older people across Europe: a systematic literature review.

Background: Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is one of the main risk factors for adverse drug events (ADEs) in older people.

Purpose: This systematic literature review aims to determine prevalence and type of PIP in community-dwelling older people across Europe, as well as identifying risk factors for PIP.

Methods: The PubMed and Web of Science database were searched systematically for relevant manuscripts (January 1, 2000-December 31, 2014).

Older patients' prescriptions screening in the community pharmacy: development of the Ghent Older People's Prescriptions community Pharmacy Screening (GheOP³S) tool.

Background: Ageing of the population often leads to polypharmacy. Consequently, potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) becomes more frequent. Systematic screening for PIP in older patients in primary care could yield a large improvement in health outcomes, possibly an important task for community pharmacists.

Improving inhaler adherence in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: The PHARMACOP-intervention significantly improved medication adherence and inhalation technique for patients with COPD compared with usual care. This study aimed to evaluate its cost-effectiveness.

Methods: An economic analysis was performed from the Belgian healthcare payer's perspective.

Pharmaceutical care for patients with COPD in Belgium and views on protocol implementation.

Background: A protocol-based pharmaceutical care program (the PHARMACOP-protocol) focusing on patient counselling during prescription filling has shown to be effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, implementation of this protocol in daily practice has not yet been studied.

Objective: To describe current implementation level of the items included in the PHARMACOP-protocol in Belgian community pharmacies and to evaluate pharmacists' perspectives on the implementation of this protocol in daily practice.