Experiences of community pharmacists in the United Kingdom on the provision of travel health services and associated educational requirements.

Background: Travel health services play a critical role in public health. Previously, travel services were provided solely through GPs or private specialist clinics. In recent years, they have been available from community pharmacists in the UK.

Characterisation of actions of p-menthane-3,8-diol repellent formulations against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Background: Characterisation of mosquito repellents using arm-in-cage tests are performed by assessing the 95% effective dose (ED95), half-life and complete protection time (CPT). This study fully characterizes these properties for p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which has not been widely studied, and a long-acting formulation containing a PMD-vanillin composite.

Methods: A series of arm-in-cage tests against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes were devised using 6 volunteers to estimate CPT or 10 to estimate the ED95 and half-lives for three repellents: 20% N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), 30% PMD and a novel 30% PMD-vanillin formulation.

Personalised Warfarin Dosing in Children Post-cardiac Surgery.

Warfarin dosing is challenging due to a multitude of factors affecting its pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). A novel personalised dosing algorithm predicated on a warfarin PK/PD model and incorporating CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype information has been developed for children. The present prospective, observational study aimed to compare the model with conventional weight-based dosing.

Pharmacy Travel Health Services in Canada: Experience of Early Adopters.

Since 2007, community pharmacists in Canada have become increasingly involved in delivering Travel Health services, including the recommendation and administration of vaccines. This qualitative scoping survey examines some of the activities and opinions of those early pharmacist adopters delivering these services. A Survey Monkey free text questionnaire was emailed to pharmacists who were involved in delivering travel medicine services.

Pharmacy and Travel Medicine: A Global Movement.

This is the first special edition of a journal that has focused specifically on Pharmacy Practice and travel medicine [...

Mosquito repellents for the traveller: does picaridin provide longer protection than DEET?

Background: This review examines the published laboratory and field tests where the repellents DEET and picaridin have been compared for their efficacy as repellents against mosquitoes. The review is limited to an assessment of whether the duration of protection afforded by picaridin is similar to or better than DEET.

Method: Identification and analysis of laboratory and field-based trials published in peer-reviewed journals that compared DEET to picaridin efficacy.

The Provision of Prescription-Only Medicines for Use on UK-based Overseas Expeditions.

Expedition teams without accompanying medical professionals traveling overseas from the UK frequently carry medical kits containing prescription-only medicines (POMs). Access to safe, basic POMs whilst on expedition is important, as the quality and availability of medicines in-country may not be acceptable, and delay in treatment may be hazardous. At present, there is no published guidance relating to drug acquisition and administration in these situations.

Mosquito bite-avoidance attitudes and behaviors in travelers at risk of malaria.

Introduction: Mosquito bite prevention is an important strategy to reduce the risk of contracting malaria and advice on the methods available should be offered in pre-travel consultations. This study examines the attitudes of a cohort of UK travelers to the various bite-avoidance strategies and the extent to which they are practiced when visiting malaria-endemic areas.

Method: This was a retrospective cohort study of UK travelers above 18 years of age returning from malaria-endemic areas.

Choice of and adherence to prophylactic antimalarials.

Background: There were 1,370 cases of imported malaria and six fatalities in the UK in 2008, the majority of which were due to chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Poor adherence to prescribed regimens is known to be an important factor in these cases.

Method: An observational study utilizing questionnaires both pre- and post-travel was conducted to assess the adherence behavior of UK travelers undertaking trips of less than 28 days duration, who were prescribed one of three antimalarials recommended to prevent P falciparum malaria (atovaquone plus proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine) in travel clinics in England and Scotland.

Pharmacist supplementary prescribing: a step toward more independence?

Background: Supplementary prescribing (SP) is a drug therapy management model implemented in the United Kingdom since 2003. It is a voluntary partnership between an independent prescriber; a supplementary prescriber, for example, nurse or pharmacist; and the patient, to implement an agreed patient-specific clinical management plan (CMP).

Objective: To investigate pharmacist prescribers' views and experiences of the early stages of SP implementation.

Does pharmacist-led medication review help to reduce hospital admissions and deaths in older people? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We set out to determine the effects of pharmacist-led medication review in older people by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis covering 11 electronic databases. Randomized controlled trials in any setting, concerning older people (mean age > 60 years), were considered, aimed at optimizing drug regimens and improving patient outcomes. Our primary outcome was emergency hospital admission (all cause).

Application of insect repellents by travelers to malaria endemic areas.

The use of insect repellents applied to the skin is always encouraged in those visiting malaria endemic areas. There are a number of factors contributing to the efficacy of insect repellents in the field and an important factor contributing to their longevity relates to the applied dose. This study investigated the dose of insect repellent that travelers might normally apply to the skin.

Inhaler technique in Turkish people with poor English: a case of information discrimination?

Objectives: (a) To compare metered dose inhaler (MDI) technique in users with poor English and fluent English, (b) to evaluate two interventions: a translated patient information leaflet (PIL) plus support from an translator (PIL + verbal) and a multimedia touch screen system (MTS) using video clips and own-language instruction.

Methods: (a) Inhaler technique was videotaped and key steps rated blind for 105 fluent English-speakers (FE) and 69 Turkish-speakers with poor English (EP). (b) The EP group was randomised to receive information by MTS (n = 34) or PIL + verbal (n = 35).

Medical supplies for travelers to developing countries.

Background: There has been little research to date on the use of medicines and first aid supplies by travelers. In some developing countries such products may be difficult to obtain, and there is the danger that substandard medicines may be purchased. As space for medical supplies in the luggage of many individuals, particularly backpackers, may be restricted, it is important to identify correctly those items most likely to be needed.

Providing information on metered dose inhaler technique: is multimedia as effective as print?

Background: Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are not easy to use well. Every MDI user receives a manufacturer's patient information leaflet (PIL). However, not everyone is able or willing to read written information.