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Prevalence and usage of printed and electronic drug references and patient medication records in community pharmacies in Malaysia

Usir E, Lua PL, Majeed AB

J Pharm Pract, 2012 Jun;25(3):374-80.
PMID: 22551563 DOI: 10.1177/0897190012442218

This study aimed to determine the availability and usage of printed and electronic references and Patient Medication Record in community pharmacy. It was conducted for over 3 months from 15 January to 30 April 2007. Ninety-three pharmacies participated. Structured questionnaires were mailed to community pharmacies. Six weeks later a reminder was sent to all non responders, who were given another six weeks to return the completed questionnaire. Outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test of independence. Almost all the pharmacies (96.8%) have at least Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) while 78.5% have at least MIMS ANNUAL in their stores. Only about a third (31.2%) of the pharmacies were equipped with online facilities of which the majority referred to medical websites (88.9%) with only a minority (11.1%) referring to electronic journals. More than half (59.1%) of the pharmacists kept Patient Medication Record profiles with 49.1% storing it in paper, 41.8% electronically and 9.1% in both printed and electronic versions. In general, prevalence and usage of electronic references in community pharmacies were rather low. Efforts should be increased to encourage wider usage of electronic references and Patient Medication Records in community pharmacies to facilitate pharmaceutical care.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends
Implementation of clinical pharmacist recommendations and services at a University Hospital in Yemen

Kubas MA, Halboup AM

Int J Clin Pharm, 2020 Feb;42(1):51-56.
PMID: 31713107 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-019-00936-x

Background Studies have revealed that the inclusion of a clinical pharmacist as a member in multidisciplinary medical team has been associated with improved medication use, reduced adverse drug reaction, reduced cost of treatment, and improved health outcomes. Objective The objectives of this study were to evaluate the implementation of clinical pharmacy recommendations and services, the acceptance rate by the physicians, and the anticipated outcomes of the recommendations at a hospital in Yemen. Methods Different units of the University of Science and Technology Hospital, Sana'a were included in this study. All the recommendations and services provided by the clinical pharmacist during daily activities were documented between June 2013 and November 2015. The provided recommendations were classified based on the type, acceptance rate, and the anticipated outcomes. Main outcome measure Type and quality of clinical pharmacists' recommendations, anticipated impact of the recommendations on health outcomes, and their acceptance rate. Results Throughout the study period, a total of 957 patients in different hospital units were visited and provided with a total of 3307 interventions and services. The most frequent types of clinical pharmacist's interventions were drug discontinuation (23.6%, n = 782), inappropriate dose interval or time (n = 735, 22.2%), and add medication (18.9%, n = 626). Overall, 61.8% (n = 2044) of the provided recommendations were accepted by the physicians. The most anticipated outcomes were improved the effectiveness of therapy (45.1%, n = 1909), avoid adverse drug reactions (29%, n = 1228), and decrease the cost of medications (18.8%, n = 797). Conclusion Clinical pharmacist's recommendations resulted in improving drug therapy and decreasing adverse effects for inpatients at the University of Science and Technology Hospital. This suggests that the implementation of clinical pharmacy services is essential and has a positive outcome on patient care.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends*
The satisfaction and perception of Provisionally Registered Pharmacists (PRP) towards their internship training in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia facilities: A national survey

Syed M Haq AH, Md Yusof FA, Chan PL, Chok MCF, Phua GSY, Teoh CJ, et al.

Curr Pharm Teach Learn, 2018 07;10(7):854-874.
PMID: 30236423 DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2018.04.005

BACKGROUND: The pharmacy internship program is designed to provide comprehensive training for interns to perform various roles in pharmacy practice. In Malaysia, the current internship program has been in place since 2004 in public health facilities, but has never been extensively evaluated.
AIM: To assess the level of job satisfaction and perception of Provisionally Registered Pharmacists (PRP) towards the internship training provided.
METHODS: A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted amongst all PRPs undergoing training between December 2015 and February 2016 to assess their level of job satisfaction and perception towards the training requirements stipulated by the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia.
RESULTS: A total of 733 PRPs participated in the survey and the response rate was 95.8%. On the basis of the response received, 92.5% (n = 678) felt that the one year training period was 'just nice', 30.5% (n = 223) felt that the logbooks were 'too complicated', and 33.2% (n = 241) said the targets set by the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia were 'too high'. On a scale of 1 to 5, respondents rated 3.32 (SD 0.54) for mean score of job satisfaction. Significant factors influencing mean score of job satisfaction were: perceived fairness at the work place; perceived self-competence after one year of training; preceptors' competence; and pharmacy as a chosen career pathway.
CONCLUSION: Intern pharmacists were fairly satisfied with the internship training in government facilities in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. A review of the internship logbooks and the practicality of targets set by the Pharmacy Board warrant further improvement.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends
A training workshop for community pharmacist workforce: Caring for older adults

Saw PS, Lee SWH

Curr Pharm Teach Learn, 2020 01;12(1):95-102.
PMID: 31843172 DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2019.10.018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The increasing number of older adults worldwide challenges healthcare providers and policy makers to provide high quality care. To our knowledge, there has been little research on educational programs for community pharmacists on the provision of pharmaceutical care-based educational programs for elderly people, especially in Asian regions. The purpose of this study was to develop and describe the implementation of a structured educational program on geriatric care for community pharmacists.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Community pharmacists attended a one-day workshop, supplemented with comprehensive training materials which enabled participants to conduct similar sessions with their peers at their own time. The workshop, consisting of case study discussion and role plays, was designed to be an engaging and interactive program that combined traditional didactic sessions and experiential, discussion-based learning. A pre- and post-workshop questionnaire were administered immediately before and after the event to all attending participants.
FINDINGS: Core concepts covered in the workshop included: (1) overview of an ageing population, (2) issues with ageing population, (3) medication review, and (4) dietary requirements and dosage forms in older adults. Participants' (n = 39) noted significant improvements in knowledge (mean score change 0.7, p 

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends*
Fulltext Challenges and future directions for public health pharmacy education in developing countries

Hassali MA

Am J Pharm Educ, 2011 Dec 15;75(10):195.
PMID: 22345714 DOI: 10.5688/ajpe7510195
Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends*
Social pharmacy as a field of study: the needs and challenges in global pharmacy education

Hassali MA, Shafie AA, Al-Haddad MS, Abduelkarem AR, Ibrahim MI, Palaian S, et al.

Res Social Adm Pharm, 2011 Dec;7(4):415-20.
PMID: 21272536 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2010.10.003

The practice of pharmacy and, consequently, pharmacy curricula have undergone significant changes over the past years in response to a rapidly changing economic, political, and social environment. Within this context, the pharmacist's role had expanded to include more direct interaction with the public in terms of the provision of health information and advice on the safe and rational use of medications. To carry out these roles effectively, pharmacists need to be well prepared on how to deal with patients' behavior and psychology. The understanding of patient sociobehavioral aspects in the medication use process is paramount to achieving optimal clinical and humanistic outcomes from therapy. The concept of behavioral sciences and health psychology are embedded as the fundamental concepts in the field of social pharmacy, and thus it is imperative that this should be taught and nurtured to future pharmacy practitioners. Based on the growing needs for future pharmacists to be exposed to issues in social pharmacy, many pharmacy schools around the world have adopted this subject to be part of their standard curriculum. In this commentary, a discussion of the needs of social pharmacy courses in pharmacy curriculum will be addressed in the context of both developed and developing countries.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends
Community pharmacists' perceptions, attitudes and barriers towards pharmacist-led minor ailment services in Malaysia

Selvaraj A, Redzuan AM, Hatah E

Int J Clin Pharm, 2020 Apr;42(2):777-785.
PMID: 32006142 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-00973-x

Background Community pharmacists are increasingly recognized to have an important role in providing a convenient and accessible alternative support for patients with minor ailments. In view of the abilities of community pharmacists in managing minor ailments, some countries have started the pharmacy-based minor ailment schemes that offers public access to treatment and advice of minor ailments from their local pharmacist. Nevertheless, there is limited study in Malaysia that explore the current practice of community pharmacists in managing minor ailment. Objective This study aims to evaluate community pharmacists' perceptions, attitudes and barriers of pharmacist-led minor ailment services. Setting Community pharmacists in Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional survey among community pharmacists practicing in Malaysia was conducted between December 2017 until March 2018. The self-administered survey was distributed online via email, Facebook and WhatsApp's group. Main outcome measure Community pharmacists' perceptions, attitude and barriers towards minor-ailment service in community pharmacy settings. Results A total of 305 community pharmacists had completed the survey. The majority of community pharmacists in Malaysia had positive perceptions and attitudes towards pharmacist-led minor ailment services. The most common perceived barriers were lack of patient's medical information, absence of dispensing separation and lack of support from other healthcare professionals. Ethnicity, position and years of working experience were found to have significant associations with community pharmacists' score of attitudes and barriers related to minor ailment treatment in community pharmacy settings. Conclusion Community pharmacists in Malaysia have positive perceptions and attitudes over benefits of minor ailment services to public, however the barriers towards the service must be overcome to ensure service is sustainable for public's benefits.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends*
Exploring the current and future role of the pharmacists in osteoporosis screening and management in Malaysia

Toh LS, Lai PSM, Othman S, Shah A, Dang CPL, Low BY, et al.

Int J Clin Pharm, 2018 Apr;40(2):450-457.
PMID: 29380234 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-018-0597-9

Background: Several studies have found that pharmacists can assist in screening and prevention of osteoporosis by referring patients for bone mineral density scans and counselling on lifestyle changes. In Malaysia, screening osteoporosis in all elderly women is not mandatory due to its cost. One approach to address this gap is to develop a pharmacist-led osteoporosis screening and prevention program. However, there is a paucity of data on the perspectives of Malaysian pharmacists in this area.
Objective: To explore the perspective of stakeholders (policy makers, doctors, pharmacists, nurses and patients) towards the role of pharmacists in osteoporosis screening and management.
Setting: A primary care clinic located within a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Method: Patients (n = 20), nurses (n = 10), pharmacists (n = 11), doctors (n = 10) and policy makers (n = 5) were individually interviewed using a semi-structured topic guide. Purposive sampling was used. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Main outcome measure Perspective of stakeholders on the current and future role of pharmacists.
Results: All participants perceived pharmacists to be suppliers of medication, although there was some recognition of roles in providing medication advice. Nonetheless, these stakeholders were eager for pharmacists to expand their non-dispensing roles towards counselling, creating awareness and screening of osteoporosis. Interviewed pharmacists referred to their current role as 'robotic dispensers' and unanimously agreed to spread out to osteoporosis management role.
Conclusion: Under stakeholders there is a willingness to expand the role of pharmacists in Malaysia to non-dispensing roles, particularly in osteoporosis screening and management.
Study site: Primary care clinic, teaching hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmacists/trends*