Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in infant food: Occurrence and exposure assessment.

The objective of this study was to analyze the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in infant food (infant formulas and human milk) collected in Serbia and to assess their exposure and associated health risks. A total of 101 PCB congeners and 26 PBDE congeners were analyzed. In infant formulas (IF), the total PCB levels averaged 63.

Addressing the second victim phenomenon among community pharmacists and its impact on clinical pharmacy practice: a consensus study.

Background: The second victim phenomenon, denoting the harmful effects of patient safety incidents on healthcare practitioners, remains insufficiently examined within the pharmacy workforce.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the second victim phenomenon in community pharmacies, focusing on its triggers, impacts on pharmacists' well-being, and effects on pharmaceutical care and safety.

Method: This consensus study with the Nominal Group Technique involved 27 community pharmacists in three equal groups.

Perceived importance of emotional intelligence for clinical pharmacy practice and suggested improvements: a focus group study of postgraduate pharmacists.

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical set of skills that impacts clinical pharmacists' well-being and positively influences high-level patient-centred care. Describing pharmacists' perceptions may support the integration of EI development approaches into their professional development continuum.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse pharmacists' perceptions of the characteristics of emotionally intelligent clinical pharmacists, the importance of EI in clinical practice, and educational models and approaches to enhancing EI.

Human Milk-The Biofluid That Nourishes Infants from the First Day of Life.

Human milk is a biofluid with a unique composition among mammalian milks. Besides this milk's major components, its bioactive compounds, like hormones, immune factors, and oligosaccharides, are unique and important for infant growth and development. The best form of nutrition for term and preterm infants is the mother's own milk.

Factors associated with hematological adverse reactions of drugs authorized via the centralized procedure.

Serious hematological adverse drug reactions (HADRs) may lead to or prolong hospitalization and even cause death. The aim of this study was to determine the regulatory factors associated with HADRs caused by drugs that were authorized up to July 2023 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and to evaluate the frequency of HADRs. Using a cross-sectional approach, the type and frequency of HADRs were collected from the Summaries of Product Characteristics of Drugs Authorized by the EMA and analyzed within proprietary, nonproprietary, and biosimilar/biological frameworks.

Prospective systematic risk analysis of the digital technology use within pharmaceutical care.

Background: Digital technologies are present in every phase of a drug lifecycle, from drug design and development to its dispensing and use. However, given the rapid development and implementation of digital solutions, their monitoring, evaluation, and risk assessment are limited and lacking.

Objective: This research is aiming to identify potential errors, quantify and prioritize associated risks in the context of certain technologies used in pharmaceutical care, as well as define corrective measures to improve patient safety and the quality of pharmaceutical care.

Exploring experiences of pharmacists and pharmacy students using mHealth apps: A qualitative study of user experience.

Purpose: Pharmacists can enhance mHealth delivery by promoting the awareness and use of health apps, while pharmacy students and early career pharmacists allow broader perspective for further development. This study aimed to explore the experiences and attitudes of pharmacy students and pharmacists, on the use, advantages and possible improvement of available mHealth platforms in Serbia.

Methods: One-on-one interviews were conducted online in two phases, during March and April 2020 ( = 40) and during March 2021 ( = 20), using a published, validated interview guide which was adapted for this study.

SMART Pharmacists Serving the New Needs of the Post-COVID Patients, Leaving No-One Behind.

This study aims to demonstrate the improvements in clinical symptoms in patients with post-COVID syndrome after a community pharmacy-based intervention in Serbia. The Pharmaceutical Chamber of Serbia ("Chamber") invited pharmacists to deliver post-COVID patient care counselling, supported by the SMART Pharmacist Program, offering education and guidance. Present symptoms, duration and patient self-reported severity of symptoms on a scale of 1-5 on the first visit were recorded.

A cross-sectional study comparing emotional intelligence and perceived stress amongst community pharmacists delivering and not delivering a new service.

Background: Community pharmacists contribute substantially to public health and person-centred care. Emotional intelligence (EI) may help health professionals better engage with patients, handle stress in challenging situations and, presumably, better introduce and implement new services.

Aim: The study's aims were to compare the EI and perceived stress (PS) levels of community pharmacists who provided a new service to patients with diabetes with their controls who provided standard pharmaceutical services and to test the correlations between the two constructs.

Emotional intelligence and pharmaceutical care: A systematic review.

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) can help perceive, understand, and manage emotions and positively impact performance in any profession, including pharmacists, and consequently may have positive influence on patient-related outcomes. Although there is strong body of evidence suggesting that developing EI in health professionals (HPs) can increase their capacity to successfully communicate and build relationships with patients, thus increasing patient satisfaction, little is known about it in pharmaceutical care (PhC).

Objectives: This review aimed to synthesize available data on the probable impact of EI on PhC.

Pharmacists' clinical knowledge and practice in the safe use of contraceptives: real knowledge vs. self-perception and the implications.

Background: Pharmacists are often the first healthcare professionals that patients contact with their illnesses and requests for medical information, which is enhanced following the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Community pharmacists are expected and required to possess a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills. Self-assessment of these competencies is needed for their self-improvement.

Predictors and Motivation of Preceptors' Interest in Precepting of Pharmacy Interns-Do We Have a Useful Questionnaire?

Purpose: To determine the potential value of an adapted questionnaire to discover the predictors of preceptors' higher interest in precepting pharmacy interns and to evaluate preceptors' motivational factors and incentives for teaching as well as their professional satisfaction.

Method: A link to the survey study of adapted questionnaire (JSAMPPP) was e-mailed to all pharmacists registered with the Pharmaceutical Chamber of the Republic of Srpska. Pharmacists' demographic and work experience characteristics, their attitudes related to motivation for precepting, value of incentives for precepting, job satisfaction, and influence of interns on pharmacists' professional practice were obtained.

Supporting Innovative Person-Centred Care in Financially Constrained Environments: The WE CARE Exploratory Health Laboratory Evaluation Strategy.

The COST CARES project aims to support healthcare cost containment and improve healthcare quality across Europe by developing the research and development necessary for person-centred care (PCC) and health promotion. This paper presents an overview evaluation strategy for testing 'Exploratory Health Laboratories' to deliver these aims. Our strategy is theory driven and evidence based, and developed through a multi-disciplinary and European-wide team.

Applicability of EU(7)-PIM criteria in cross-national studies in European countries.

Background: The European Union (EU)(7)-PIM (potentially inappropriate medication) list presents the most comprehensive and up-to-date tool for evaluation of PIM prescribing in Europe; however, several country-specific studies have documented lower specificity of this list on pharmaceutical markets of some countries. The aim of our study was to describe approval rates and marketing of PIMs stated by EU(7)-PIM criteria in six EU countries [in comparison with the American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers 2015 criteria].

Methods: Research teams of six EU countries (Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Hungary and Turkey) participated in this study conducted by WG1b EU COST Action IS1402 group in the period October 2015-November 2018.

Occurrence, seasonal variety of organochlorine compounds in street dust of Novi Sad, Serbia, and its implication for risk assessment.

The paper presents a study of organochlorine compounds in street dust, an often forgotten aspect of urban environmental pollution. Six different polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and eighteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were monitored in terms of levels, distribution, seasonal variation and health risks. Street dust samples were collected from fifteen urban locations in Novi Sad including schools, recreational areas, residential and industrial zones.

Medication use in older patients and age-blind approach: narrative literature review (insufficient evidence on the efficacy and safety of drugs in older age, frequent use of PIMs and polypharmacy, and underuse of highly beneficial nonpharmacological strategies).

Introduction: The importance of rational drug therapy is increasing with the aging of the population. Since one of the main reasons for inappropriate drug prescribing is also the "age-blind" approach, which results in ageist practices, this narrative literature review focuses on the description of the main barriers related to insufficient individualization of drug regimens associated with such age-blind approaches.

Methodology: A narrative literature review using the PubMed, WoS, Embase, and Scopus databases was conducted by the EU COST Action IS1402.

Undiagnosed Hyperglycaemia and Hypertension as Indicators of the Various Risk Factors of Future Cardiovascular Disease Among Population of Serbian Students.

Background: A number of risk behaviours, such as smoking, overweight, excessive alcohol intake, insufficient physical activity, excessive and frequent intake of salt, reduced fruit and vegetable intake, increased fat intake, which constitute living habits of an individual can influence the occurrence of hypertension and hyperglycaemia. The changing of these lifestyles can reduce the risk of developing prehypertension and prediabetes.

Methods: The survey was conducted at student's campuses.

The association of clopidogrel and 2-oxo-clopidogrel plasma levels and the 40 months clinical outcome after primary PCI.

Background A significant number of ischemic events occur even when adhering to dual antiplatelet therapy including aspirin and clopidogrel. Objectives The aim of our study was to determine predictors of long-term patient clinical outcome, among variables such as prodrug clopidogrel and intermediary metabolite 2-oxoclopidogrel concentrations, as well as patients' clinical characteristics. Setting Department for the Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome in tertiary teaching hospital, Serbia.

Prospective systemic risk analysis of the dispensing process in German community pharmacies.

Background: Medicine dispensing represents an error-prone activity, carrying a considerable risk for patients.

Objective: To prospectively identify and prioritize potential failure modes in the medicine dispensing process as well as to develop corrective actions for patient safety improvement in German community pharmacies.

Method: Failure mode and effects analysis was performed in 2 community pharmacies in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in October 2016.

Electrochemical monitoring of the breast milk quality.

The electrochemical techniques were used to determine the total antioxidant capacity of breast milks and the results were compared with a commonly used spectrophotometric (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) method. Breast milk from mothers of preterm infants was monitored in three lactation phases and after storage of expressed milk by monitoring changes in the total antioxidant capacity over a two year period. Statistical analysis showed there was no significant difference between the ability of the three methods to detect changes in breast milk after storage.

Redox properties of transitional milk from mothers of preterm infants.

Aim: There is a discrepancy between the amount of transitional milk produced by mothers of preterm infants and the low capacity of premature infants to consume it. This milk can be used in milk banks, but previous studies found that there are large variations in the level of host-defence proteins in individual samples of milk from mothers of premature infants, which implies that large individual variations in antioxidative defence composition are also possible.

Methods: Milk samples were collected from 20 healthy mothers of preterm infants.

Using Prospective Risk Analysis Tools to Improve Safety in Pharmacy Settings: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal.

Objectives: This study aimed to review and critically appraise the published literature on 2 selected prospective risk analysis tools, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis and Socio-Technical Probabilistic Risk Assessment, as applied to the dispensing of medicines in both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy settings.

Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) was conducted (January 1990-March 2016), supplemented by hand search of reference lists. Eligible articles were assessed for data sources used for the risk analysis, uniformity of the risk quantification framework, and whether the analysis teams assembled were multidisciplinary.

Seasonal variation and health risk assessment of organochlorine compounds in urban soils of Novi Sad, Serbia.

The aim of this paper was to determine spatial and seasonal variation of 6 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 18 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in urban soils of Novi Sad, Serbia. Sixty surface soil samples were collected during both winter and summer season, from different types of locations: schools, recreational areas, residential and industrial zones. Samples were treated using the method of accelerated solvent extraction, which allows simultaneous extraction and clean up of PCBs and OCPs.