Publications by authors named "Joseph Fonseca"

Objectives: To explore community pharmacies' experience with two models of distribution for publicly-funded influenza vaccines in Ontario, Canada-one being publicly-managed (2015-2016 influenza season) and one involving private pharmaceutical distributors (2016-2017 season).

Methods: Online surveys were distributed to community pharmacies across Ontario during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 influenza seasons with sampling proportional to Ontario Public Health Unit catchment populations. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially and qualitative data were summarized for additional context.

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The increasing prevalence of strains exhibiting decreased susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) presents a challenge for the successful treatment of gonorrhea infections. To address this challenge, we evaluated a panel of 23 cephalosporins against penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) from the ESC-resistant (ESC) strain H041 to determine which molecular features are important for antimicrobial activity. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) developed from acylation rate constants against PBP2 and antimicrobial susceptibilities against the H041 strain of , and interpreted against docking models, reveal that cephalosporins possessing large, lipophilic R side chains and electronegative R side chains with planar groups are associated with higher acylation rates against PBP2, but also that these same amphipathic features can lower antimicrobial activity.

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Introduction: Community pharmacists' optimal scope of practice extends far beyond traditional dispensing or compounding, and health promotion or chronic disease management services based in the pharmacy can generate significant social and economic value. But, with many competing demands and performance expectations from patients, payers, and policymakers, many pharmacies face challenges when introducing, maintaining, optimizing, or integrating their service offerings. Quality Improvement (QI) science may provide a practical change management framework for pharmacy professionals to lead their teams in embracing optimal scope and in making pharmacy-based services more feasible and attractive for all parties.

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Purpose: Misuse of opioids has become a public health concern across North America. Rural patients have limited access to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), an opioid addiction-treatment service that could be offered by community pharmacists. The aim of this study was to identify rural community pharmacists' perceived barriers, motivations, and solutions to offering MMT to their patients.

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