Pharmacist interventions in optimising opioid medication therapy in pain management for palliative care patients: A systematic review.

BackgroundOpioid therapy is a critical component in managing pain in palliative care, where pharmacists' specialised expertise is crucial in ensuring quality care for patients. This systematic review aims to document available evidence on pharmacist interventions and their impact on optimising opioid therapy for pain management in palliative care patients.MethodsWe searched Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), APA PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for relevant articles published from the beginning to 31 December, 2022.

Opioid Accessibility for Palliative Care in Nepal: A Review of Achievement and Remaining Challenges.

This study aimed to explore current opioid availability and accessibility for palliative care (PC) practice in Nepal. A narrative review was conducted by performing literature searches in electronic databases, grey literature, policy documents, and pharmaceutical websites. This was supplemented by utilising the authors' expertise and experience in this field.

Awareness of Financial Conflicts of Interest in Selecting Clinical Practice Guidelines Among Nepalese Oncologists: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs) between pharmaceutical companies and clinical practice guideline (CPG) authors can influence guideline recommendations, posing challenges to patient care. Despite global concerns, limited research exists on FCOI awareness among healthcare professionals in lower-middle-income countries like Nepal.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between June 2020 and January 2021, aimed to assess FCOI awareness among Nepalese oncologists and identify associated factors.

Advancing opioid stewardship in low-middle-income countries: challenges and opportunities.

The increased utilization of opioids in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) presents a growing threat of opioid-related abuse, misuse and diversion. Pharmacists, as integral members of healthcare teams, are responsible for dispensing and monitoring opioid use and hold a pivotal role in opioid stewardship within LMICs. This commentary describes the potential and multifaceted roles of pharmacists in opioid stewardship in resource-constrained settings and highlights appropriate strategies for promoting responsible opioid utilization.

Availability and Affordability of Essential Palliative Care Medicines in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Context: The government of Nepal adopted the 2017 Nepalese National Strategy for Palliative Care (NSPC), which proposed that Essential Palliative Care Medicines (EPCMs) listed by the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) should be available at each healthcare institution. In 2017 after the issuing of NSPC, the Lancet Commission developed an EPCM list.

Objectives: To evaluate the inclusion of EPCMs recommended by both IAHPC and Lancet in national medicinal programmes, their availability, and affordability in Nepal.