Changes in Risk Tolerance for Ovarian Cancer Prevention Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background: Prior to COVID-19, little was known about how risks associated with such a pandemic would compete with and influence patient decision making regarding cancer risk reducing medical decision making. We investigated how the pandemic affected preferences for medical risk-reducing strategies among women at elevated risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

Methods: We conducted a discrete choice experiment.

Exploring factors that impact pass rates in a UK pharmacist registration exam, 2011-2024.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of UK MPharm graduates on the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC) registration assessment, between the years 2011-2024, to explore the factors that impact student performance in this examination.

Methods: Student performance in the GPhC registration assessment was contextualized with factors like alma mater, Foundation Training placement, NSS, and HESA data. Relationships between these factors and the weighted average passing rates and raw scores were analysed using a range of statistical methods including correlation analysis, ANOM, Tukey-Kramer, and t-tests.

Mapping the landscape of mental health and long COVID: a protocol for scoping review.

Introduction: Mental health concerns are prevalent among adult patients with long COVID (LC), but the current state of knowledge regarding mental health in the context of LC is not fully understood. The objective of this scoping review is to map and summarise the existing research on mental health conditions among LC patients and highlight the knowledge gaps. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of research in the area.

"Starting to think that way from the start": approaching deprescribing decision-making for people accessing palliative care - a qualitative exploration of healthcare professionals views.

Background: Deprescribing has been defined as the planned process of reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be beneficial or are causing harm, with the goal of reducing medication burden while improving patient quality of life. At present, little is known about the specific challenges of decision-making to support deprescribing for patients who are accessing palliative care. By exploring the perspectives of healthcare professionals, this qualitative study aimed to address this gap, and explore the challenges of, and potential solutions to, making decisions about deprescribing in a palliative care context.

Deprescribing interventions in older adults: An overview of systematic reviews.

Objective: The growing deprescribing field is challenged by a lack of consensus around evidence and knowledge gaps. The objective of this overview of systematic reviews was to summarize the review evidence for deprescribing interventions in older adults.

Methods: 11 databases were searched from 1st January 2005 to 16th March 2023 to identify systematic reviews.

Prescribing pre- and post-operative physical activity interventions for people undergoing breast cancer surgery: A qualitative systematic review.

Introduction: Undertaking physical activity, pre- and post-operatively, can benefit recovery time and improve post-surgical outcomes. One cohort of patients that have reported these benefits are those undergoing surgery for breast cancer. Yet, what remains unclear is the level to which physical activity interventions are implemented into standard surgical care for patients with breast cancer.

What are the consequences of over and undertreatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a frail population? A systematic review.

Aims: This review aims to identify the evidence base for the consequences of over and undertreatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a frail population.

Method: In this systematic review, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library for studies from January 2001 to 15th August 2022. We included a variety of study types that assessed and reported frailty including patients ≥18 years old.

Influence of ethnicity on adherence to nonsurgical interventions for COPD: a scoping review.

Objective: Poor therapeutic adherence and the contributing factors have been extensively researched in several chronic diseases, including COPD. However, the influence of ethnicity on adherence to nonsurgical treatment interventions for COPD ( smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation) is not well understood. This scoping review was performed to better understand variations in adherence among people from minority ethnic communities diagnosed with COPD.

Understanding the influence of ethnicity on adherence to antidiabetic medication: Meta-ethnography and systematic review.

Introduction: A high prevalence of diabetes and diabetes-related complications in people from minority ethnic communities in high income countries is of significant concern. Several studies have indicated low adherence rates to antidiabetic medication in ethnic minority groups. Poor adherence to antidiabetic medication leads to a higher risk of complications and potential mortality.

Community-led, peer-facilitated Advance Care Planning workshops prompt increased Advance Care Planning behaviors among public attendees.

Objective: Despite recognized benefits, engagement in Advance Care Planning (ACP) remains low. Research into peer-facilitated, group ACP interventions is limited. This study investigated the acceptability of community-led peer-facilitated ACP workshops for the public and whether these workshops are associated with increased knowledge, motivation and engagement in ACP behaviors.

"Now I get what's important" - Shifting philosophies of hospice society staff and trained volunteers involved in peer-facilitated Advance Care Planning workshops for the public.

Objective: Community-led approaches can increase public engagement in Advance Care Planning (ACP). Better understanding of the experiences and perspectives of community staff and volunteers who host and facilitate community-led, peer-facilitated ACP workshops is valuable when considering the spread of these approaches.

Methods: Content analysis of qualitative data from community-based hospice societies delivering ACP workshops to the public in British Columbia: one-on-one interviews with 5 organizational representatives and focus groups with 13 peer facilitators.

'Creating a culturally competent pharmacy profession': A qualitative exploration of pharmacy staff perspectives of cultural competence and its training in community pharmacy settings.

Introduction: Cultural competence is an important attribute underpinning interactions between healthcare professionals, such as pharmacists, and patients from ethnic minority communities. Health- and medicines-related inequalities affecting people from underrepresented ethnic groups, such as poorer access to healthcare services and poorer overall treatment outcomes in comparison to their White counterparts, have been widely discussed in the literature. Community pharmacies are the first port of call for healthcare services accessed by diverse patient populations; yet, limited research exists which explores the perceptions of culturally competent care within the profession, or the delivery of cultural competence training to community pharmacy staff.

Patient attitudes to nebulised antibiotics in the treatment of bronchiectasis: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Regular daily nebulised antibiotics are widely used in managing bronchiectasis. This patient population typically has severe bronchiectasis requiring multiple other medications. Given that little is known about patients' views and preferences for such therapies, this was the focus of our study.

Phase II Trial of Nelipepimut-S Peptide Vaccine in Women with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

Unlabelled: NeuVax is a vaccine comprised of the HER2-derived MHC class I peptide E75 (nelipepimut-S, NPS) combined with GM-CSF. We completed a randomized trial of preoperative vaccination with NeuVax versus GM-CSF alone in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The primary objective was to evaluate for NPS-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses.

Ethnic disparities in medication adherence? A systematic review examining the association between ethnicity and antidiabetic medication adherence.

Objectives: Adherence to prescribed medication is an essential component of diabetes management to obtain optimal outcomes. Understanding the relationship between medication adherence and ethnicity is key to optimising treatment for all people with different chronic illnesses, including those with diabetes. The aim of this review is to examine whether the adherence to antidiabetic medications differed by ethnicity among people with diabetes.

Recommendations for community pharmacy to improve access to medication advice for people from ethnic minority communities: A qualitative person-centred codesign study.

Introduction: Medicines-centred consultations are vital to support medicine effectiveness and optimize health outcomes for patients. However, inequalities negatively impact ethnic minority populations when accessing medicines advice. It is important to identify opportunities to improve access for these communities however, knowledge of how best to achieve this is lacking; this study will generate recommendations to improve access to medicines advice from community pharmacies for people from ethnic minority communities.

A Retrospective Review of Serious Surgical Incidents in 5 Large UK Teaching Hospitals: A System-Based Approach.

Objectives: Surgical incidents are the most common serious patient safety incidents worldwide. We conducted a review of serious surgical incidents recorded in 5 large teaching hospitals located in one London NHS trust to identify possible contributing factors and propose recommendations for safer healthcare systems.

Methods: We searched the Datix system for all serious surgical incidents that occurred in any operating room, excluding critical care departments, and were recorded between October 2014 and December 2016.

Designing Digital Health Technology to Support Patients Before and After Bariatric Surgery: Qualitative Study Exploring Patient Desires, Suggestions, and Reflections to Support Lifestyle Behavior Change.

Background: A patient's capability, motivation, and opportunity to change their lifestyle are determinants of successful outcomes following bariatric surgery. Lifestyle changes before and after surgery, including improved dietary intake and physical activity levels, have been associated with greater postsurgical weight loss and improved long-term health. Integrating patient-centered digital technologies within the bariatric surgical pathway could form part of an innovative strategy to promote and sustain healthier behaviors, and provide holistic patient support, to improve surgical success.

Demographic and psychological predictors of community pharmacists' cancer-related conversations with patients: a cross-sectional analysis and survey study.

Background: There is increasing interest in the role of community pharmacy in the early diagnosis and prevention of cancer. This study set out to examine how often community pharmacists (CPs) encourage patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer, and how often they help people to make an informed decision about taking part in bowel cancer screening.

Methods: Data from 400 UK CPs, who completed the 2018 Cancer Research UK Healthcare Professional Tracker survey, were analysed.

An e-Delphi study to obtain expert consensus on the level of risk associated with preventable e-prescribing events.

Aims: We aim to seek expert opinion and gain consensus on the risks associated with a range of prescribing scenarios, preventable using e-prescribing systems, to inform the development of a simulation tool to evaluate the risk and safety of e-prescribing systems (ePRaSE).

Methods: We conducted a two-round e-Delphi survey where expert participants were asked to score pre-designed prescribing scenarios using a five-point Likert scale to ascertain the likelihood of occurrence of the prescribing event, likelihood of occurrence of harm and the severity of the harm.

Results: Twenty-four experts consented to participate with 15 pand 13 participants completing rounds 1 and 2, respectively.

A qualitative exploration of the barriers and facilitators affecting ethnic minority patient groups when accessing medicine review services: Perspectives of healthcare professionals.

Introduction: Healthcare inequalities and ethnicity are closely related. Evidence has demonstrated that patients from ethnic minority groups are more likely to report a long-term illness than their white counterparts; yet, in some cases, minority groups have reported poorer adherence to prescribed medicines and may be less likely to access medicine services. Knowledge of the barriers and facilitators that impact ethnic minority access to medicine services is required to ensure that services are fit for purpose to meet and support the needs of all.