Background: With appropriate training, community pharmacists can support people living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) by identifying and managing medication-related issues and physical health concerns. The Bridging the Gap between Physical and Mental Illness in Community Pharmacy (PharMIbridge) randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested the impact of an individualized, pharmacist-led support service for people living with SPMI.
Objective(s): To evaluate the impact of the PharMIbridge training program on pharmacy participants' knowledge and confidence, as well as stigma and attitudes, in relation to supporting, and providing services to, people living with SPMI; compared to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training alone.
Methods: Pharmacy staff (n = 140) from 55 community pharmacies across 4 RCT regions attended face-to-face training. Both intervention group (IG) and comparator group (CG) participants received MHFA training while IG participants received additional PharMIbridge training, involving role-plays and mental health consumer educators (MHCEs). A questionnaire including validated instruments was administered at baseline, after training and after 12 months. Comparative analyses included paired t tests and mixed between/within analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: Pre and post-training surveys were completed by 136 participants, most of which were pharmacists. Both IG and CG participants had significant reductions in stigma (P < 0.001) post-training. IG participants' confidence and knowledge regarding metabolic monitoring significantly improved compared to CG (P < 0.001). IG participants were significantly more confident and comfortable in providing medication counseling, compared to CG participants (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: MHFA training reduced participants' stigma toward mental health. However, the purpose-designed PharMIbridge training program provided pharmacists with additional knowledge and skills to confidently support the physical health care needs of people living with SPMI. The inclusion of role-plays and MHCEs allowed pharmacists to self-reflect and practice skills in safe, supportive environments. Future studies should continue to involve MHCEs in pharmacy training and explore whether these improvements are sustainable.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2023.01.007 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Form Res
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Background: Opioid medications are important for pain management, but many patients progress to unsafe medication use. With few personalized and accessible behavioral treatment options to reduce potential opioid-related harm, new and innovative patient-centered approaches are urgently needed to fill this gap.
Objective: This study involved the first phase of co-designing a digital brief intervention to reduce the risk of opioid-related harm by investigating the lived experience of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) in treatment-seeking patients, with a particular focus on opioid therapy experiences.
JMIR Aging
January 2025
Department of Geriatrics, Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China, 0898-66571684.
Background: The utility of aging metrics that incorporate cognitive and physical function is not fully understood.
Objective: We aim to compare the predictive capacities of 3 distinct aging metrics-motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), physio-cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS), and cognitive frailty (CF)-for incident dementia and all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods: We used longitudinal data from waves 10-15 of the Health and Retirement Study.
Neurology
February 2025
From the Temple University College of Public Health (I.L.H.); Thomas Jefferson University (G.G.); and Department of Neurology (T.D.H.-P.), Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
Background And Objectives: Clinical care for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PLWALS) is directed at slowing disease progression and symptom management. The American Academy of Neurology recommends a multidisciplinary approach to providing ALS health care because observational studies show that multidisciplinary clinics (MDCs) extend survival and improve quality of life. However, providing multidisciplinary care is a challenging financial proposition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Public Health
January 2025
Teeraboon Lertwanichwattana and Ram Rangsin are with Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand. Supattra Srivanichakorn, Sairat Noknoy, and Sirinapa Siriporn Na Ratchaseema are with the Royal College of Family Physicians of Thailand, Bangkok. Nittaya Phanuphak is with the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, Bangkok. Kitti Wongthavarawat is with the National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok. Arunotai Siriussawakul, Varalak Srinonprasert, and Pattara Leelahavarong are with the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. Parawee Chevaisrakul and Putthapoom Lumjiaktase are with the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. Aree Kumpitak is with the Thai Network of People Living With HIV, Bangkok. Nopphan Phromsri is with the Human Settlement Foundation, Bangkok. Yupadee Sirisinsuk is with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. Pongtorn Kietdumrongwong is with the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Bangkok. Apinun Aramrattana is with the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
To determine the overall mortality and risk factors of COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the Home Isolation (HI) program in Bangkok, Thailand, during the epidemic crisis in 2021. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the data from a government telehealth application from July to December 2021. The vital status was verified from the government database on September 20, 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJCO Glob Oncol
January 2025
Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Purpose: Asparaginase (ASN) is a critical component of pediatric ALL protocols. Until recently, ASN was available in three formulations: native Escherichia coli, PEGylated E. coli (PEG), and Erwinase, with native E.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!