Relationship between medication safety-related processes and medication use in residential aged care facilities.

Objective: To explore the association between the implementation of medication safety-related processes measured with the Medication Safety Self-Assessment for Long-Term Care (MSSA-LTC) tool and medication use in residential aged care facilities (RACFs).

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Australian RACFs. Data on facility characteristics, aggregated medication use at the facility level for selected medications commonly associated with a high risk of harm and the MSSA-LTC were completed by clinical pharmacists providing clinical pharmacy services.

Osteoporosis management in Australian aged care facilities: a mixed method study.

Unlabelled: Osteoporosis is a common but sub-optimally managed disease amongst aged care residents. Pharmacists undertaking comprehensive medication reviews is one strategy to improve osteoporosis management. Analysis of pharmacist medication review recommendations has identified common clinical practice issues that can be addressed to optimise osteoporosis management for aged care residents.

Revolutionizing lung health: Exploring the latest breakthroughs and future prospects of synbiotic nanostructures in lung diseases.

The escalating prevalence of lung diseases underscores the need for innovative therapies. Dysbiosis in human body microbiome has emerged as a significant factor in these diseases, indicating a potential role for synbiotics in restoring microbial equilibrium. However, effective delivery of synbiotics to the target site remains challenging.

Zerumbone liquid crystalline nanoparticles protect against oxidative stress, inflammation and senescence induced by cigarette smoke extract in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of zerumbone-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (ZER-LCNs) in the protection of broncho-epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages against oxidative stress, inflammation and senescence induced by cigarette smoke extract in vitro. The effect of the treatment of ZER-LCNs on in vitro cell models of cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated mouse RAW264.7 and human BCi-NS1.

In vitro anti-cancer activity of a polyherbal preparation, VEDICINALS®9, against A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Purpose: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of several treatment options, the five-year survival rate of NSCLC is extremely low (<20%). This underlines the necessity of more effective therapeutic alternatives.

Perceptions and practices of aged care pharmacists regarding osteoporosis management: a qualitative study.

Background: Osteoporosis is a common but sub-optimally managed disease among aged care residents. Although pharmacists are one of the key healthcare providers responsible for osteoporosis medication management there is limited research on their involvement.

Aim: This study explored the perceptions and practices of Australian pharmacists regarding osteoporosis management for aged care residents.

Biosimilars in Oncology: Latest Trends and Regulatory Status.

Biologic-based medicines are used to treat a variety of diseases and account for around one-quarter of the worldwide pharmaceutical market. The use of biologic medications among cancer patients has resulted in substantial advancements in cancer treatment and supportive care. Biosimilar medications (or biosimilars) are very similar to the reference biologic drugs, although they are not identical.

Pharmacist interventions in osteoporosis management: a systematic review.

Unlabelled: Internationally, there is an osteoporosis treatment gap, which pharmacists may assist in closing. This review identifies pharmacist interventions for improving osteoporosis management and evaluates their effectiveness. Pharmacist interventions are shown to improve osteoporosis management in terms of increasing investigation and treatment commencement and osteoporosis therapy adherence.

Co-design and feasibility of a pharmacist-led minor ailment service.

Background: Community pharmacies provide an appropriate setting to deliver minor ailment services (MASs). Many community pharmacy services have been developed previously without stakeholder involvement. As a result, implementation of services may fail to produce the expected impact.

Letter to the Editor: Integrating the Roles of Pharmacy Practice and Drug Delivery in Mitigating COVID-19.

No Abstract Available.

Potential for Detection of Safety Signals for Over-the-Counter Medicines Using National ADR Spontaneous Reporting Data: The Example of OTC NSAID-Associated Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

One post-marketing surveillance challenge for many regulatory authorities is access to information regarding the safety of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. National spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) report data represent a rich potential data source for the detection of safety signals associated with OTC medicines, yet little is known regarding the possibility of detecting safety signals for OTC medicines within these datasets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for detecting safety signals for OTC medicines in National ADR spontaneous reporting data, using OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and gastrointestinal bleeding as an example.

Cost utility of a pharmacist-led minor ailment service compared with usual pharmacist care.

Background: A cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) performed from July 2018 to March 2019 demonstrated the clinical impact of a community pharmacist delivered minor ailment service (MAS) compared with usual pharmacist care (UC). MAS consisted of a technology-based face-to-face consultation delivered by trained community pharmacists. The consultation was guided by clinical pathways for assessment and management, and communication systems, collaboratively agreed with general practitioners.

Chronic Constipation in the Community: A National Survey of Australian Adults.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic constipation and identify factors associated with chronic constipation in community-dwelling adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: The target population was community-dwelling Australian adults; 1978 participants completed an online questionnaire exploring symptoms, management, and factors potentially associated with constipation.

Use of over-the-counter laxatives by community-dwelling adults to treat and prevent constipation: a national cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Constipation is commonly self-managed with over-the-counter laxatives. The study aim was to explore laxative choice, healthcare professional recommendations in laxative selection, and laxative effectiveness when laxatives are used for treatment and for prevention of constipation by community-dwelling adults.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults in Australia was surveyed.

Cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the clinical and humanistic impact of a pharmacist-led minor ailment service.

Background: Community pharmacists are well positioned to support patients' minor ailments. The objective was to evaluate the clinical and humanistic impact of a minor ailment service (MAS) in community pharmacy compared with usual pharmacist care (UC).

Methods: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted.

Establishing consensus for general practice pharmacist education: A Delphi study.

Introduction: An evolving area of pharmacist professional practice is performing as team members in general practice teams. To date, there is a paucity of literature to guide schools and colleges of pharmacy regarding the educational needs of pharmacists training for this area of practice.

Methods: This study employed a three-round e-Delphi method with the aim of establishing a consensus position on educational needs of pharmacists intending to work in the general practice setting.

Factors affecting community pharmacist work: A scoping review and thematic synthesis using role theory.

Unlabelled: Many community pharmacists ideologically support recent changes to their roles in primary healthcare. However, their antithetical resistance towards practice change could have systemic causes (i.e.

Defining constipation to estimate its prevalence in the community: results from a national survey.

Background: Different definitions of constipation have been used to estimate its prevalence in the community but this creates difficulties when comparing results from various studies. This study explores the impact of different definitions on prevalence estimates in the same population and compares the performance of simple definitions with the Rome III criteria.

Methods: The prevalence of constipation in a large nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults was estimated using five simple definitions of constipation and compared with definitions based on the Rome III criteria.

The development of a role description and competency map for pharmacists in an interprofessional care setting.

Background Pharmacists are increasingly being included as members of general practice primary care teams. To date, there have been few published studies describing the competencies of general practice (GP) pharmacists and establishing their subsequent educational needs. Aim of the review The aim of this literature review is to establish the activities of pharmacists in general practice to inform the development of a comprehensive role description and competency map.

Pharmacists in general practice: recommendations resulting from team-based collaborative care.

The Western Sydney Primary Health Network (PHN), WentWest, has been working to improve patient and health system outcomes by commissioning projects that enhance patient-focussed, team-based care. One such project is the WentWest General Practice Pharmacist Project, involving the integration of pharmacists within general practice sites. The aim of this study is to describe, classify and analyse recommendations made by pharmacists to GPs, resulting from patient consultations between pharmacists and patients in a general practice setting.

Piloting the Integration of Non-Dispensing Pharmacists in the Australian General Practice Setting: A Process Evaluation.

Introduction: This process evaluation examined the circumstances affecting implementation, intervention design and situational context of the twelve week pilot phase of a project integrating five pharmacists into twelve general practice sites in Western Sydney.

Description Of Care Practice: This study used a mixed method study design using qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews and quantitative data collected by project pharmacists to analyse the process of the integrating pharmacists is general practice. Framework analysis of the interview transcripts was used to align the results with the key process evaluation themes of implementation, mechanism of impact and context.

A qualitative study of stakeholder views and experiences of minor ailment services in the United Kingdom.

Background: An international strategy designed to promote access to primary care is the utilisation of community pharmacy to deliver structured minor ailment services (MASs). An understanding of key implementation features of MASs will support effective service delivery and implementation, promote MAS viability, sustainability and overall improvement.

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the views and experiences of a range of stakeholders concerning the implementation of MASs in the United Kingdom.

Laxative Use and Self-Reported Constipation in a Community-Dwelling Elderly Population: A Community-Based Survey From Australia.

The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the prevalence of laxative use and self-reported constipation and (2) identify risk factors associated with constipation in a community-dwelling elderly population. A retrospective cross-sectional survey using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing was used to explore laxative use and constipation in a cohort of community-dwelling older persons. The prevalence of laxative use was 15% and the prevalence of self-reported constipation was 21%.