Competence, competition and collaboration: Perceived challenges among Swedish community pharmacists engaging in pharmaceutical services provision and research.

Background: Creating evidence of effectiveness is an important part of service development. In an ongoing research project Swedish community pharmacists participate in services research by recruiting patients initiated on statins to an adherence-promoting cognitive pharmaceutical service, jointly run by nurses and pharmacists.

Aims: To explore the pharmacists' experiences of providing part of the service and their views regarding future participation in practice research aiming at developing cognitive pharmaceutical services.

Introduction and Utilization of High Priced HCV Medicines across Europe; Implications for the Future.

Background: Infection with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a widespread transmittable disease with a diagnosed prevalence of 2.0%. Fortunately, it is now curable in most patients.

Utilisation of prescription and over-the-counter triptans: a cross-sectional study in Stockholm, Sweden.

Purpose: Triptans are widely used in acute migraine, and in some countries, they are also available over-the-counter (OTC). In Sweden, sales have increased for both prescription and OTC triptans. This study aimed to describe current prescribing and utilisation patterns of prescription and OTC triptans in Stockholm, Sweden.

Exploring community pharmacists' experiences of surveying patients for drug utilization research purposes.

Background: Patient self-reported data are important in drug utilization research, but often logistically difficult to collect. During 2006-2012, 72 Swedish community pharmacies regularly collected such data through structured survey interviews at the pharmacy counter, performed by the dispensing pharmacists. This study is part of a validation of that data acquisition method.

Utilisation of angiotensin receptor blockers in Sweden: combining survey and register data to study adherence to prescribing guidelines.

Purpose: Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) offer a new treatment alternative for patients with hypertension and heart failure. Due to comparatively high prices, most guidelines suggest ARBs be restricted to patients intolerant to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). We analysed the prescribing patterns of ARBs in Sweden by combining prescription register data with patient self-reported data.