Publications by authors named "Ravina Barrett"
Objective: This systematic meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of triptorelin therapy in reducing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with prostate cancer (PCa).
Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE databases were searched for studies conducted between 2013 and 2023.
Aim: The main objective of this study was to explore community pharmacists' knowledge of substandard and falsified medicines (SFs).
Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with community pharmacists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using a pre-validated electronic survey.
Key Findings: Ninety-two community pharmacists participated in this study.
Objective: To investigate monthly prescription refills for common immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory therapy (sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, methotrexate, leflunomide) prescriptions in England during the complete first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary analysis examined unit cost analysis and regional use.
Design And Setting: A national cohort of community-based, primary care patients who anonymously contribute data to the English Prescribing Dataset, dispensed in the community in England, were included.
Background: Management of high blood pressure (BP) typically requires adherence to medication regimes. However, it is known that the COVID-19 pandemic both interrupted access to some routine prescriptions and changed some patient health behaviours.
Aim: This study, therefore, retrospectively investigated prescription reimbursement of cardiovascular (CVD) medicines as a proxy measure for patient adherence and access to medicines during the pandemic.
Background: Failure of the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) in the UK could mean that substandard and falsified medicines (SFs) enter the supply chain. Does this risk patients' health? Readiness to implement FMD, and prevalence of SFs vs. regulator detection were assessed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) were developed as an alternative to warfarin to treat and prevent thromboembolism, including stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients. The COVID-19 pandemic could increase the risk of stroke and/or the risk of bleeding in patients due to nonadherence or sub/supra-optimal dosing.
Objective: To investigate DOAC prescription trends in England's community settings during the complete first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate and azathioprine, are commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Blood-test safety monitoring is mainly undertaken in primary care. Normal blood results are common.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on calcineurin inhibitors and related prescriptions for community patients in England.
Methods: Data from all primary-care patients who had calcineurin inhibitors prescriptions, dispensed in the community in England were included. Descriptive statistics and interrupted time series analysis over 27 months (15 months before and 12 months after 1 lockdown) was evaluated.
Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed for pain and inflammation. NSAID complications include acute kidney injury (AKI), causing burden to patients and health services through increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital admissions.
Aim: To measure the extent of NSAID prescribing in an adult population, the degree to which patients with potential higher risk of AKI were exposed to NSAIDs, and to quantify their risk of AKI.
Background: During the pandemic, there have been disruptions to how patients seek care.
Research Design And Methods: To investigate monthly prescription claims for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) medicines during the first UK wave, interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was used. A national cohort of community patients' data were examined.
Objective: To examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on gonadorelin analogue prescription for community patients in England.
Materials And Methods: We included data from all primary-care patients who had relevant prescriptions dispensed in the community in England. Descriptive statistics and interrupted time series analysis over 22 months (15 months before and 7 months after lockdown) was evaluated.
Introduction: Pharmacy staff are a trusted source of advice on the safe and appropriate use of medicines and devices. Retail pharmacies deliver smoking cessation services and sell e-cigarettes in the UK. This review asks 'what knowledge, experience and ability do staff have to support e-cigarette users to quit smoking'.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Approximately 14% of UK hospital in-patients receive supplemental oxygen therapy, only 57% have valid prescriptions. Oxygen must be optimally prescribed to ensure maximal therapeutic response whilst minimizing adverse outcomes (including fatality). This study investigates prescription compliance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To evaluate the readiness to implement the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) by community pharmacies in England. Eight secondary objectives were assessed.
Setting: Community/retail pharmacies.
Objectives: The primary objective was to assess the accuracy (calibration and validation status) of digital blood pressure (BP) monitors used within community pharmacy in England and the secondary objectives were to assess the overall quality of the BP service by assessing service prevalence, service utilisation and other in-service considerations.
Design: A cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Primary-care retail-pharmacies.