Synthesizing and Appraising the Quality of the Evidence on Factors Associated with Medication Adherence in Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews.

Background: Nonadherence to medications is a common phenomenon in patients with diabetes. Several studies and systematic reviews have investigated the barriers to medication adherence in diabetes. However, no study has evaluated the quality of the existing literature and synthesized the plethora of evidence with a goal to design holistic conceptual frameworks and interventions.

Systematic review of factors affecting pharmaceutical expenditures.

Objective: To systematically identify the main factors contributing to the increase in pharmaceutical expenditures.

Methods: A systematic search of published studies was conducted utilising major widely used electronic databases using the search terms 'factors,' 'financing,' 'pharmaceutical,' and 'expenditures.' To be included, the studies needed to: (1) measure at least one of the following outcomes: total growth in pharmaceutical expenditures, price growth or quantity growth; (2) mention a clear method for analysing the impact of factors affecting the increases in drug expenditures; (3) be written in English.

Assessment of disease management of insomnia at community pharmacies through simulated visits in Pakistan.

Objective: The study aimed to document the state of insomnia management at community pharmacies in Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at randomly selected 371 pharmacies in three cities of Pakistan. Simulated patient visits were performed to collect information on case management of insomnia in terms of history taking and patient counseling at community pharmacies.

Impact of educational intervention on knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies in Pakistan.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of training of dispensers on knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies in context to storage temperature, prescription terminologies and status of medicines in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Methods: A randomized, controlled, blinded intervention study was designed and implemented. Before the implementation of intervention, a baseline study was performed to assess the knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies.

Validation of the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Revision 4 among Chronic Schizophrenia Patients in Malaysia.

Objectives: To explore the validity and reliability of a disease-specific health-related quality-of-life questionnaire-the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Revision 4 (SQLS-R4)-in patients with schizophrenia in Malaysia.

Methods: A total of 222 outpatients with schizophrenia receiving treatment at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre completed the SQLS-R4 in either the Malay or the English language. A generic self-report health-related quality-of-life measure-the EuroQoL group EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire-and a measure of symptom severity-the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale-were also administered to assess validity.

Assessing quality of a worksite health promotion programme from participants' views: findings from a qualitative study in Malaysia.

Background: An assessment of the process and outcomes of a health promotion programme is necessary for the continuous improvement of a programme.

Objective: To explore the participants' perceptions of the quality and effectiveness of the 'Love Your Heart Programme'.

Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of participants of the 'Love Your Heart' programme.

Social pharmacy as a field of study: the needs and challenges in global pharmacy education.

The practice of pharmacy and, consequently, pharmacy curricula have undergone significant changes over the past years in response to a rapidly changing economic, political, and social environment. Within this context, the pharmacist's role had expanded to include more direct interaction with the public in terms of the provision of health information and advice on the safe and rational use of medications. To carry out these roles effectively, pharmacists need to be well prepared on how to deal with patients' behavior and psychology.