Impact of medicine shortages on hospital practice: role of a multidisciplinary medicine shortages team.

Medicine shortages are an increasing issue, with broad public health implications for patients, health professionals and institutions. Despite national notification mechanisms involving sponsors and national regulators (e.g.

Systemic Occupational Health Needs of Gender-Based Violence Advocates: Findings From the Early Months of the Pandemic.

Objective: This study explores occupational health burdens faced by domestic and sexual violence advocates, many of which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies key stressors and offers advocate-driven recommendations to improve their wellbeing, addressing the lack of system-level interventions in the occupational health literature.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 advocacy professionals.

Assessment of inter-rater reliability of screening tools to identify patients at risk of medication-related problems across the emergency department continuum of care.

Background: Following a national multicentre study, two emergency department (ED) screening tools were developed to determine risk of medication-related problems; one for use at ED presentation and another at ED discharge to the community. This study aimed to determine the inter-rater reliability amongst ED health professionals when applying these screening tools to a series of case scenarios.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was undertaken in the ED of a major metropolitan hospital.

Accuracy of medication labels on community pharmacy-prepared dose administration aids: An observational study.

Background: Hospital prescribers often use the labels on multicompartment compliance aids or monitored dosage systems, known in Australia as dose administration aids (DAAs), as a trusted source of information about patients' medication regimens taken in the community.

Aim: The primary aim was to explore the prevalence and nature of labelling incidents on community pharmacy-prepared DAAs.

Methods: A convenience sample of 100 adult patients admitted to a metropolitan teaching hospital who used a community pharmacy-prepared DAA at home was recruited.

Implementation of a pragmatic emergency department patients' own medications (POM) procedure to improve medication safety: An interrupted time series.

Background: Patients' Own Medications (POMs) are useful to inform clinical decision-making, best possible medication history documentation, and ensure timely medication administration. A procedure was developed for managing POMs specifically in the emergency department (ED) and short stay unit. This study evaluated the impact of this procedure on process and patient safety outcomes.

Implications of differences between point-of-care blood gas analyser and laboratory analyser potassium results on hyperkalaemia diagnosis & treatment.

Background: Hyperkalaemia is managed in the emergency department (ED) following measurement of potassium results by blood gas analysers (BGA) or laboratory analysers (LAB).

Aims: To determine the prevalence of clinically significant differences between BGA and LAB potassium results and the impact on ED hyperkalaemia management.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of time-matched ED BGA and LAB potassium samples from 2019 to 2020 (taken within 15 min, one or both results ≥6.

Development of Screening Tools to Predict Medication-Related Problems Across the Continuum of Emergency Department Care: A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Medication-related problems (MRPs) occur across the continuum of emergency department (ED) care: they may contribute to ED presentation, occur in the ED/short-stay unit (SSU), at hospital admission, or shortly after discharge to the community. This project aimed to determine predictors for MRPs across the continuum of ED care and incorporate these into screening tools (one for use at ED presentation and one at ED/SSU discharge), to identify patients at greatest risk, who could be targeted by ED pharmacists. A prospective, observational, multicenter study was undertaken in nine EDs, between July 2016 and August 2017.

Evaluation of a post-discharge pharmacist opioid review following total knee arthroplasty: a pre- and post-intervention cohort study.

Background: More than 70% of patients continue to use opioid medications 3-weeks following total knee arthroplasty. Post-discharge pharmacist reviews improve medication management, however it's effect on opioid usage is not known.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of post-discharge pharmacist review on opioid use following a total knee arthroplasty.

Accuracy of medication histories derived from an Australian cloud-based repository of prescribed and dispensed medication records.

Background: Obtaining accurate medication histories at transitions of care is challenging, but important for patient safety. Prescription exchange services (PES) securely transfer electronic prescription and dispensing records between prescribers and pharmacies, which is potentially useful data for determining medication histories.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of PES-derived medication histories.

Qualitative exploration of Australian Muslim patients’ perceptions and experiences surrounding medication management during Ramadan.

Objective To explore Australian Muslim patients' perceptions and experiences surrounding medication management practices during Ramadan. Methods This was a qualitative exploration of the views and experiences of Muslim patients who were hospitalised during or shortly prior to Ramadan 2021. Data comprised comments obtained from a cross-sectional telephone or face-to-face questionnaire about medications and Ramadan fasting at a tertiary-referral hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Hyperkalaemia in the emergency department: Epidemiology, management and monitoring of treatment outcomes.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology, treatment and monitoring of treatment outcomes of patients presenting to the ED with hyperkalaemia.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective observational study in a mixed adult/paediatric ED over five 3-month periods. Consecutive patients were included if they had an initial serum or blood gas potassium ≥6.

Regular medication use by active scuba divers with a declared comorbid medical condition and victims of scuba and snorkelling-related fatalities.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe the nature of regular medications taken by active comorbid scuba divers (having a declared medical comorbidity) and scuba divers and snorkellers who died following a diving incident.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective, observational study from July to October, 2020. Data on 268 active comorbid divers were obtained through a 2013 survey of Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific members.

Wastage of medications supplied by hospitals to facilitate continuity of care when patients are discharged to residential care facilities in Victoria, Australia: An observational study.

Objectives: To explore wastage of hospital-supplied medications for patients discharged to residential care facilities (RCFs).

Methods: Telephone interviews with staff at 52 RCFs and nine community pharmacies after patients were discharged from three hospitals in metropolitan Victoria, Australia, with medication supplied in original packs.

Results: Hospital-supplied medication was used by most RCFs, for a median of 48 hours, while waiting for community pharmacies to deliver medications packed in the RCFs' preferred dose administration aid system (unit-dose or multi-dose blister packs or sachets).

Prescription medication use by emergency department doctors to improve work and academic performance, and to manage stress and anxiety.

Objective: To determine medications used by ED doctors to improve work and academic performance, and to manage stress and anxiety.

Methods: We undertook an online, voluntary, anonymous survey of ACEM fellows and trainees.

Results: One hundred and thirty-nine (46.

Ketamine: Is the current 200 mg product fit for purpose in the emergency department?

Objective: To describe the magnitude of ketamine doses administered in the ED, to identify an appropriate product to minimise risk of administration errors and diversion.

Methods: Retrospective audit of patients prescribed ketamine in two mixed adult/paediatric EDs over 12 months.

Results: Ketamine was administered to 386 patients (722 doses).

Thunderstorm asthma medication management during an external emergency (Code Brown): An observational study of the impact of electronic prescribing and clinical documentation.

Background: On 21 November 2016, during a thunderstorm asthma event, an external disaster was called in our Emergency Department (ED), the first since comprehensive implementation of electronic clinical documentation. This study compared medication ordering and administration documentation during surge (thunderstorm asthma) and non-surge (control) conditions.

Methods: Retrospective audit of ED patients presenting with asthma between 21 and 23 November 2016 (72-h thunderstorm asthma period) and equivalent 72-h periods of the preceding three weeks (control period).

Evaluation of communication to general practitioners when opioid-naïve post-surgical patients are discharged from hospital on opioids.

Background: To address the opioid crisis, much work has focused on minimizing opioid supply to surgical patients upon hospital discharge. Research is limited regarding handover to primary care providers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the communication of post-operative opioid prescribing information provided by hospitals to general practitioners (GPs).

Opioid Use and Appropriateness of Supply After Total Knee or Hip Arthroplasty: An Australian Perspective.

Introduction: Effective pain management after joint arthroplasty is essential for optimal participation in rehabilitation. However, this needs to be balanced with potential risks associated with opioid use and community exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate opioid use and appropriateness of supply on discharge after total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty at a major Australian health service.

Comprehensive identification of medication-related problems occurring prior to, during and after emergency department presentation: An Australian multicentre, prospective, observational study.

Objective: Patients present to EDs with various medication-related problems (MRPs). MRPs are also associated with ED care, occurring during ED presentation or shortly afterwards. The aim of the present study is to describe the prevalence and nature of MRPs that occur prior to, during or shortly after leaving ED.

Pharmacist-assisted electronic prescribing at the time of admission to an inpatient orthopaedic unit and its impact on medication errors: a pre- and postintervention study.

Background: Prescribing and administration errors related to pre-admission medications are common amongst orthopaedic inpatients. Postprescribing medication reconciliation by clinical pharmacists after hospital admission prevents some but not all errors from reaching the patient. Involving pharmacists at the prescribing stage may more effectively prevent errors.

Risk Factors for Sedation-related Events During Acute Agitation Management in the Emergency Department.

Objective: The objective was to describe the incidence, nature, and risk factors for adverse events (AEs) among patients who received parenteral sedation for acute agitation in an emergency department (ED) setting.

Methods: We undertook a prospective observational study and a clinical trial of parenteral sedation for the management of acute agitation. We included agitated adult patients who required parenteral sedation from 2014 to 2017 in 12 Australian EDs, excluding those with incomplete information or aged under 18 years.

Prevalence and recognition of highly significant medication-smoking cessation interactions in a smoke-free hospital.

Background: Some medications are more rapidly metabolized by smokers; upon smoking cessation, medication metabolism may be significantly reduced, resulting in medication-related adverse events. Clozapine, olanzapine and theophylline have been deemed to have potentially highly significant interactions with smoking cessation, which could lead to seizures, extrapyramidal effects and tachycardia, respectively. This study examined the period prevalence and characteristics of patients at risk of highly significant medication-smoking cessation interactions when admitted to a smoke-free hospital.

A data citation roadmap for scientific publishers.

This article presents a practical roadmap for scholarly publishers to implement data citation in accordance with the Joint Declaration of Data Citation Principles (JDDCP), a synopsis and harmonization of the recommendations of major science policy bodies. It was developed by the Publishers Early Adopters Expert Group as part of the Data Citation Implementation Pilot (DCIP) project, an initiative of FORCE11.org and the NIH BioCADDIE program.