Comparing self-report medication data from a longitudinal study on intellectual disability and national dispensing records.

Background: Medication data are a valuable resource in epidemiological studies. As the most common data collection method of medication data is self-report, it is important to understand the accuracy of this in comparison with other methods such as dispensing records. The aim of this study was to compare the agreement between two different sources of medication data of older adults with intellectual disability (ID).

OPTIMA-ID: development and validation of a medicine optimization tool for older adults with intellectual disability.

Background: Older people (i.e. ≥40 years) with intellectual disability have unique medication needs and may experience high levels of potentially inappropriate prescribing.

Immediate and long-term effects of COVID-19 on antibiotic dispensing: increasing use of Watch antibiotics.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected antibiotic usage worldwide. However, there is limited data from Serbia. Dispensing of oral antibiotics in Serbian pharmacies was analyzed to calculate monthly and yearly changes between 2018-2021, and to explore immediate and long-term effects of COVID-19 on antibiotic dispensing during this period.

Writing a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal: Guidance from the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy.

Publishing in reputable peer-reviewed journals is an integral step of the clinical pharmacy research process, allowing for knowledge transfer and advancement in clinical pharmacy practice. Writing a manuscript for publication in a journal requires several careful considerations to ensure that research findings are communicated to the satisfaction of editors and reviewers, and effectively to the readers. This commentary provides a summary of the main points to consider, outlining how to: (1) select a suitable journal, (2) tailor the manuscript for the journal readership, (3) organise the content of the manuscript in line with the journal's guidelines, and (4) manage feedback from the peer review process.

Psychotropic medicines' prevalence, patterns and effects on cognitive and physical function in older adults with intellectual disability in Ireland: longitudinal cohort study, 2009-2020.

Background: The frequent prescribing of psychotropics and high prevalence of polypharmacy among older adults with intellectual disabilities require close monitoring.

Aims: To describe change in prevalence, predictors and health outcomes of psychotropic use during the four waves (2009/2010, 2013/2014, 2016/2017, 2019/2020) of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA).

Method: Eligible participants were adults (≥40 years) with intellectual disabilities who participated in all four waves of IDS-TILDA and who reported medication use for the entire period.

Council of Europe Resolution on the Implementation of Pharmaceutical Care-A Step Forward in Enhancing the Appropriate Use of Medicines and Patient-Centred Care.

Pharmaceutical care was proposed to address morbidity and mortality associated with medicine-related problems. It utilises the pharmacist's expertise in medicines, their relationship with the patient and cooperation with other healthcare professionals to optimise the use of medicines. The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), part of the Council of Europe, found significant variation in the acceptance of pharmaceutical care and in the implementation of pharmaceutical care in Europe.

Scope, content and quality of clinical pharmacy practice guidelines: a systematic review.

Background: Guidelines for pharmacy practitioners regarding various clinical pharmacy activities have been published in a number of countries. There is a need to review the guidelines and identify the scope of activities covered as a prelude to developing internationally acceptable common guidelines.

Aim: To review the scope of clinical pharmacy guidelines and assess the extent to which these guidelines conform to quality standards as per the AGREE II instrument.

The adverse effects of long-term exposure to anticholinergics among people with intellectual disabilities: a scoping review.

Older adults with intellectual disability are exposed to a higher anticholinergic burden compared to general older adults. This is due to a higher rate of both mental and neurological disorders among people with intellectual disability. The use of medications with a high anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse effects including daytime dozing, constipation and higher dependence level in the Barthel index for measuring activities of daily living.

Antimicrobial utilization and resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa using segmented regression analysis: a comparative study between Serbia and eight European Countries.

Background: In Europe, Serbia occupies a high position in antibiotic utilization and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Aim: The aim was to analyse utilization trends of meropenem, ceftazidime, aminoglycosides, piperacillin/tazobactam and fluoroquinolones (2006-2020), and the reported AMR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2013-2020) in Serbia and to compare with data from eight European countries (2015-2020).

Method: Joinpoint regression was used to analyse antibiotic utilization data (2006-2020) and the reported AMR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2013-2020).

How to write a successful grant application: guidance provided by the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy.

Considering a rejection rate of 80-90%, the preparation of a research grant is often considered a daunting task since it is resource intensive and there is no guarantee of success, even for seasoned researchers. This commentary provides a summary of the key points a researcher needs to consider when writing a research grant proposal, outlining: (1) how to conceptualise the research idea; (2) how to find the right funding call; (3) the importance of planning; (4) how to write; (5) what to write, and (6) key questions for reflection during preparation. It attempts to explain the difficulties associated with finding calls in clinical pharmacy and advanced pharmacy practice, and how to overcome them.

Online and Blended Learning Courses for Healthcare Professionals and Policymakers on Patients' Perspectives on Medicine: A Project Report.

In order for healthcare professionals to better engage with patients, they need to understand and integrate the perspectives of patients into their daily work. In this project, we developed two courses for healthcare professionals on patients' perspectives on medicine. One course was an online course that introduced the patients' perspectives on medicine and explained its importance for healthcare and health policy.

The relationship between antiepileptic drug load and challenging behaviors in older adults with intellectual disability and epilepsy.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may affect mood and behavior in people with epilepsy and intellectual disability. A high AED load, derived from AED polytherapy and/or high doses of AEDs, has been suggested to be a risk factor for behavioral side effects. Data were drawn from Wave 3 of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA).

Pharmacists' involvement in COVID-19 vaccination across Europe: a situational analysis of current practice and policy.

One year since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid response measures have been implemented internationally to mitigate the spread of the virus. Following rapid and successful pre-clinical and human trials, several vaccines have been authorised for use across Europe through the European Medicines Agency and national regulatory authorities. Clinical trials have shown promising results including important reductions in disease severity, hospitalisation and mortality.

Antiepileptic drugs, occurrence of seizures and effect of co-administration of potential seizure threshold-lowering psychotropic drugs in adults with intellectual disability who have epilepsy.

Background: This study explored antiepileptic drug use, frequency of seizures, and the effect of psychotropic drugs with the potential to lower the seizure threshold in persons diagnosed with epilepsy and intellectual disability.

Methods: Data for this study were drawn from Wave 3 of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA). Psychotropic drugs were categorised for potential seizure threshold-lowering risk (low, moderate, high).

Experiences of the Medication Use Process by People with Intellectual Disabilities. What a Pharmacist Should Know!

There is a scarcity of information about the experience of people with intellectual disabilities in the medication use process. Six people with intellectual disabilities consented to be interviewed by a pharmacist to determine their knowledge and views of medication use. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using a grounded theory approach.

Primary Health Care and Community Pharmacy in Ireland: a lot of visions but little progress.

Ireland is small country with a population of 4.8M which spent 6.9% of its gross domestic product on healthcare in 2018.

Provision of clinical pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of pharmacists from 16 European countries.

Background: The pharmacy profession has an important role in the frontline healthcare response to COVID-19 across all settings.

Objective: This study sought to explore the views and experiences of clinical pharmacists in relation to the provision of clinical pharmacy services during COVID-19.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with pharmacists working in clinical roles in healthcare settings across Europe.

Pharmacy Education; Competency and Beyond.

Competency-based curricula are the dominant approach in the education of healthcare professionals around the world today [...

A survey of the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy members' research involvement, and associated enablers and barriers.

Background Building research capacity of European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) members aligns to the organisation's aim of advancing research. Objective To determine members' aspirations and needs in research training and practice, and to explore ways in which ESCP could provide support. Setting ESCP's international membership.

Measuring drug burden in older adults with intellectual disabilities: Critical issues for consideration in finding the optimal measure to improve safety of medicines use.

Older adults with Intellectual Disability have been described as among the most medicated groups in society, with rates of polypharmacy significantly exceeding that of the general population. They are at heightened risk of medication-related harm and have high exposure to high-risk medications, for example, anticholinergic ad sedative medicines. There has been significant controversy internationally relating to the inappropriate use of antipsychotics for challenging behavior, often in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis.

Medication burden and frailty in older adults with intellectual disability: An observational cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Recently, efforts have been made to quantify frailty among older adults with intellectual disability (ID). Medication exposure is associated with frailty among older adults without ID. However, there is little research on this association among older adults with ID.

Laxative use among older adults with intellectual disability: a cross-sectional observational study.

Background: Chronic constipation is a prevalent issue in older people with intellectual disabilities and may have a significant negative impact on quality of life. The use of laxatives have not been adequately studied in this population.

Objective: To examine laxatives in relation to prevalence, pattern, dosage, reported indication and correlates.

Design and Implementation of an Integrated Competency-Focused Pharmacy Programme: A Case Report.

This paper describes the design and implementation of elements of an integrated competency-focused pharmacy programme in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SoPPS), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland. Following a national review of pharmacy education and training in Ireland in 2010, and subsequent publication of legislation in 2014, the School has implemented a five-year integrated programme of pharmacy education and training, leading to the award of a Master's degree in Pharmacy (M. Pharm.