Metabolic Monitoring for Adults Living with a Serious Mental Illness on a Second-Generation Antipsychotic Agent: A Scoping Review.

Premature mortality in people living with a severe mental illness (SMI) is often attributed to multiple factors including the use of medicines such as antipsychotics. Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are known to cause metabolic syndrome which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Practice guidelines have recommended regular physical health monitoring, particularly of metabolic parameters, however, metabolic monitoring for people living with SMI using antipsychotics remains suboptimal.

Peer support as a potential tool to promote pharmacists' wellbeing.

Discussion regarding burnout in health professionals, including community pharmacists, has grown substantially since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid legislative and societal behavioural changes led to significant global disruption of physical and emotional wellbeing during the pandemic as pharmacists continued to provide care while under unprecedented levels of stress. Community pharmacists have had an essential role in maintaining face-to-face care as the number of COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths rose.

Consumer knowledge of mental health conditions, awareness of mental health support services, and perception of community pharmacists' role in mental health promotion.

Objective: To explore community pharmacy consumers' knowledge and attitudes of mental illness, support services, and community pharmacists' role in supporting people living with mental illness (PLMI).

Methods: This survey was conducted in 15 community pharmacies between June and September 2019. Participants were aged 18 years or older without prior or ongoing history of mental illness and/or with close family members with mental illness.

Guidelines and treatment for illicit drug related presentations in emergency departments: A scoping review.

Objective: This review aimed to identify current pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment employed in emergency departments (EDs) for the management of patients presenting with illicit drug-related presentations (IDP) and compare current treatments with recommendations provided in guidelines.

Method: The review consists of English peer-reviewed journal articles and grey literature published in electronic databases: Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase Classic+Embase, Ovid Emcare and APA PsycInfo between 2015 and 2022.

Results: Twelve studies were identified from the search, with agitation and aggression being the most common presentations, and cannabis being the most prevalent illicit drug.

Exploring mental health clients' current medication knowledge, beliefs and experience with healthcare providers in the community in South Australia.

In Australia, mental illness has been recognised as a National Health Priority area, with the coronavirus pandemic adding a layer of urgency to the need to address the multiple health problems faced by clients with mental illnesses. Whilst much has been done in efforts to support these clients, little is known about their medication knowledge and experience with health professionals. The aim of the study was to explore the knowledge and beliefs of clients on the use of psychotropic medications and study their experiences with healthcare providers.

Feasibility of a pharmacist-led physical health monitoring for patients on antipsychotic medications: protocol for a longitudinal study.

Introduction: Physical health conditions are the leading causes of death in people living with severe mental illness. In particular, the risk of metabolic syndrome; the constellation of abnormalities in weight, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid levels, is high in this cohort. It has been recognised that commonly prescribed pharmacological agents for mental illness can further amplify the risk of developing metabolic syndrome; therefore, monitoring guidelines are in place for consumers prescribed antipsychotics.

Acceptability and feasibility of the NPS MedicineWise mobile phone application in supporting medication adherence in patients with chronic heart failure: Protocol for a pilot study.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is an increasing global concern. Despite evidence-based pharmacotherapy, morbidity and mortality remain high in HF. Medication non-adherence is a crucial factor in optimising clinical outcomes.

Bushfires, COVID-19 and Australian community pharmacists: ongoing impact on mental health and wellbeing.

Objectives: The nation was recovering from the aftermath of the catastrophic 2019-2020 bushfires when the first cases of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Australia. During the peak of the pandemic, Australia closed both its state and international borders to all travelers and interstate travel was very tightly regulated. Community pharmacists and pharmacy staff were one of the very few primary healthcare workers still serving their communities during these periods of strict lockdown.

Patient, parent/carer, and health care professional experience of medication adherence in children and adolescents with asthma: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

Objective: This systematic review aims to identify and synthesize available qualitative evidence related to patient, parent/carer, and health care professional experiences of medication adherence in children and adolescents with asthma.

Introduction: Poor medication adherence is a common cause of treatment failure in children with asthma. Research into promoting treatment adherence has found that the most effective interventions are complex.

Differences in the prescribing of potentially inappropriate medicines in older Australians: comparison of community dwelling and residential aged care residents.

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) can contribute to morbidity through exacerbations or progression of existing conditions among older people. In order to characterize the prevalence of PIMs according to the Beers Criteria in older Australians, three hundred and eleven participants were recruited from three residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and two hundred and twenty participants from three community pharmacies in South Australia for a retrospective audit of medication administration charts and community pharmacy dispensing histories. Although a similar number of participants were prescribed at least one PIM (P = 0.

Community pharmacists and their role in pharmacogenomics testing: an Australian perspective drawing on international evidence.

Patients obtaining a prescription from a pharmacy expect that the drug will be effective and have minimal side-effects. Unfortunately, drugs exhibit the desired effect in ~25-60% of people prescribed any medication. Adverse effects occur at a rate of 10% in patients taking a medication, and this rate increases during and after hospitalisation, with the transition of care back to the ambulatory setting posing a particular risk.

Improving a pivotal hospital documentation tool utilised by clinical pharmacists.

Objective: To improve an adherence documentation tool utilised by Australian Clinical Pharmacists in hospitals.

Method: Surveys and a focus group session were methods employed to study the perceptions of clinical pharmacists and medical officers on the 'Medication Management Plan (MedMAP)' as an adherence documentation tool and the perceived limitations, if any, of the form.

Key Findings: The MedMAP had limitations which could potentially affect patient care in hospitals.

Assessment of patient understanding of their medicines: interviews with community dwelling older Australians.

Objective: To identify patterns of medication load, client's care team, coordination of healthcare and clients' understanding of their medications.

Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with community-dwelling older Australians between June and August 2017 in three community pharmacies in Adelaide, South Australia.

Key Findings: Forty interviews were conducted.

Upper limb function in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Upper limb function was investigated in children with ADHD using objective methods. We hypothesised that children with ADHD exhibit abnormal dexterity, force application during manipulation of a novel object, and movement rhythmicity. Two groups of age- and gender-matched children were investigated: 35 typically developing children (controls, 10.

Counting the cost of over-the-counter codeine containing analgesic misuse: A retrospective review of hospital admissions over a 5 year period.

Introduction And Aims: Combination analgesics containing codeine (CACC) are currently available over-the-counter (OTC) in many countries following a pharmacist's advice. Published case reports detail life-threatening morbidities associated with OTC-CACC misuse, although the cost of treating such patients has not been quantified. This study aims to: (i) identify and detail patients admitted to an Australian tertiary teaching hospital over a 5 year period with sequelae of OTC-CACC misuse; and (ii) estimate the costs of identified hospital admissions.

Pharmacogenomics and Patient Treatment Parameters to Opioid Treatment in Chronic Pain: A Focus on Morphine, Oxycodone, Tramadol, and Fentanyl.

Objective: Opioids are one of the most commonly prescribed medicines for chronic pain. However, their use for chronic pain has been controversial. The objective of this literature review was to identify the role of genetic polymorphisms on patient treatment parameters (opioid dose requirements, response, and adverse effects) for opioids used in malignant and nonmalignant chronic pain.

Pregnancy and lactation advice: How does Australian Product Information compare with established information resources?

Background: Product information is a popular medicines information resource; however, there is some evidence that its pregnancy and lactation information is overconservative, which can lead to inadequate treatment of pregnant and lactating women.

Methods: A thorough analysis of pregnancy and lactation information within Australian Product Information and Consumer Medicines Information was performed. The statements within these resources were compared with established clinical resources: Australian Medicines Handbook, Therapeutic Guidelines, South Australian Perinatal Practice Guidelines, Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, LactMed, Motherisk and the Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Medicines Guide published by the Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne.

Analysis of qualitative data from the investigation study in pregnancy of the ASSIST Version 3.0 (the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test).

Objective: to utilise qualitative data from investigation of the screening tool ASSIST Version 3.0 with pregnant women to help determine its appropriateness for this cohort, thus informing potential innovations to enhance the questionnaire׳s utility.

Design: pregnant women were co-administered the ASSIST Version 3.

Drugs in breastfeeding.

Most commonly used drugs are relatively safe for breastfed babies. The dose received via milk is generally small and much less than the known safe doses of the same drug given directly to neonates and infants. Drugs contraindicated during breastfeeding include anticancer drugs, lithium, oral retinoids, iodine, amiodarone and gold salts.