Eleven-Year Trends in Lipid-Modifying Medicines Utilisation and Expenditure in a Low-Income Country: A Study from the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background: In last two decades, there have been substantial changes in the pattern of lipid-modifying medicines utilisation following the new treatment guidelines based on clinical trials. The main purpose of this study was to analyse the overall utilisation and expenditure of lipid-modifying medicines in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina during an 11-year follow-up period and to express its share in relation to the total cardiovascular medicines (C group) utilisation.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, medicines utilisation data were analysed between 2010 and 2020 period using the ATC/DDD methodology and expressed as the number of DDD/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/TID).

Antibiotic Utilization during COVID-19: Are We Over-Prescribing?

The aims of this study were to analyze the utilization of antibiotics before (2018, 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) and the practice of prescribing antibiotics in outpatient settings for COVID-19 patients during the 2020-2022 period. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification/Defined Daily Dose methodology was used for the analysis of outpatient antibiotic utilization in the Republic of Srpska. The data was expressed in DDD/1000 inhabitants/day.

Characteristics and Patterns of Proton Pump Inhibitors Prescribing at the Primary Health Care.

Background and objectives: the aim of this study was to analyse the utilisation of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) during a 12-year period and to show the characteristics and patterns of their prescribing. Materials and methods: firstly, in the pharmacoepidemiological analyses the ATC/DDD methodology was used to assess the utilisation of PPIs in the Republic of Srpska. The annual PPI utilisation was expressed as a number of DDD/1000 inhabitants/year.

The Characteristics of Benzodiazepine Prescribing in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are among the most prescribed psychotropic drugs and significant number of patients use these drugs for longer periods than recommended. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with prescribing of BZDs at the primary healthcare level. : A retrospective analysis of family physicians' prescriptions from the databases of family medicine teams of the Republic of Srpska was performed.

Trends in Antihypertensive Medicine Utilization in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina: An Eleven-Year Follow-Up.

In last 2 decades, there have been substantial changes in the utilization patterns of antihypertensive medicines following new clinical trials and the introduction of new treatment guidelines. The aim of this study was to analyze utilization and prescribing patterns regarding antihypertensive medicines in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina during an 11-years follow-up according to national and European treatment guidelines. In this retrospective, observational study, medicine utilization data were analyzed between 2009-2019 period using the ATC/DDD methodology and expressed as the number of DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day (DID/TID).

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Influence of Associated Factors among Students of the University of Banja Luka: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: Cigarette smoking among the youth population has increased significantly in developing countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, no extant literature assesses the prevalence of tobacco use, nor identifies factors associated with smoking. This study determined the prevalence of cigarette smoking among a specific cohort of students and assessed factors related to tobacco use in this population.

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.

Prevalence of five pharmacologically most important and allelic variants in the population from the Republic of Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The enzymes of the cytochrome P450 superfamily play a critical role in phase I drug metabolism. Among them, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 are clinically important, as they can mediate severe toxicity, therapy failure, and increased susceptibility to cancer and other diseases caused by chemicals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pharmacologically most important allelic variants of the and genes in the general population of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and to compare them with other populations.

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.

Outpatient utilization of drugs acting on nervous system: a study from the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the utilization patterns of drugs acting on the nervous system in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina between 2002 and 2008.

Methods: This was a retrospective study aimed at analysing outpatient utilization of drugs reimbursed by the Health Insurance Fund, with a focus on the utilization of drugs acting on the nervous system. Anatomical therapeutic chemical/defined daily dose methodology was used to monitor drug utilization, and the drug utilization 90% (DU90%) method was used to assess drug prescribing.

Simvastatin and indomethacin have similar anti-inflammatory activity in a rat model of acute local inflammation.

Statins, such as simvastatin, lower circulating cholesterol levels and are widely prescribed for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. Several studies have shown unexpected effects of statins on inflammation. We studied the anti-inflammatory effect of simvastatin using a standard model of an acute local inflammation, the carrageenan-induced footpad oedema.

Utilisation of cardiovascular medicines in Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 years study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyse cardiovascular medicines utilisation patterns in Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) over the 2002-2006 period.

Methods: A retrospective study was taken to analyse utilisation medicines reimbursed by the Health Insurance Fund (HIF), with a focus on cardiovascular medicines utilisation. ATC/DDD methodology was used to monitor utilisation of medicines.

[Prescription-only drugs in Banja Luka region: utilization analysis].

Introduction: Using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) methodology, we analyzed utilization of prescription-only drugs in Banja Luka region in 2000-2001.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study on drug utilization, according to ATC classification, was conducted on the basis of data received from Central City Pharmacy Banja Luka, and results were presented in terms of DDD/1000 inhabitants/day.

Results: Pharmaco-epidemiological analysis showed that the list of 20 most frequently prescribed drugs in 2000 included 8 cardiovascular drugs and 6 anti-infective drugs.