bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services in a Nigerian teaching hospital
Authors: Oparah Azuka C , Enato Ehijie F O , Akoria Obehi A 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo assess patients' satisfaction with pharmaceutical services using an“ideal referent” model, and to further explore the validity of an existing patient satisfaction instrument.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 500 outpatients recruited consecutively at the University of Benin teaching hospital, Nigeria. A self-completion questionnaire that employed a Likert-type scale was used. Data were used to calculate scores on a scale that ranged from 20 to 100, with an assumed midpoint of 60. Descriptive statistics on the sample characteristics and questionnaire items were computed including means, standard deviations and frequency distributions. Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalisation was employed in principal factor analysis. Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA were used for inferential statistics.Key findingsThe instrument reliability was determined to be 0.9641 and was comparable to the reference study. Nearly half of the patients (46%) rated the amount of time the pharmacist offered to spend with them as poor. About one-third rated promptness of prescription service as poor. Only 49% felt satisfied with the pharmaceutical services. Overall, pharmacy services received a satisfaction rating of 56.04±24.49, below the midpoint. Perceived satisfaction was significantly higher in “friendly explanation” than in “managing therapy” (t=3.916; P&lt;0.0001).ConclusionThe study provides evidence that patients experience low satisfaction with current pharmaceutical services at the study hospital. The sociodemographic characteristics of patients were not associated with their level of satisfaction. We further confirm the validity of the patient satisfaction questionnaire in a Nigerian practice setting.
An evaluation of the contribution of the medical admissions pharmacist at a London teaching hospital
Authors: Brady Deirdre , Franklin Bryony Dean 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the contribution of the medical admissions pharmacist (MAP) at a London teaching hospital.

Method
A descriptive study using quantitative methods to compare the activities of former non-designated pharmacists with that of the currently employed MAP in relation to interventions made regarding the drug therapy of patients in one medical admissions ward in a London hospital. The outcome measures were numbers of pharmacist interventions made and their clinical significance. A multi-disciplinary panel assessed clinical significance using an adapted form of a previously validated method.

Key findings
Overall, significantly more interventions were made per day after appointment of the MAP (P= 0.003). In particular, interventions relating to drug administration/route, choice, dose, medication history and need for drug therapy significantly increased. Interventions made by the MAP were found to be of greater clinical significance when compared with those made by the non-designated pharmacists (P= 0.005). In a separate assessment of medication history accuracy, 12% of the patients' regular medicines were unintentionally omitted and 6% of prescriptions unintentionally changed. All unintentional omissions and discrepancies identified resulted in an intervention by the MAP. The majority of these interventions were found to be of moderate clinical significance.

Conclusions
The MAP made more interventions than the previous non-designated ward pharmacists and, overall, the interventions were of greater clinical significance. The research demonstrates the potential contribution of an MAP on post-admission ward rounds to ensure the safe and appropriate prescribing of medicines on the medical admissions ward. Confirming medication histories was shown to be important in ensuring appropriate prescribing of patients' regular medicines on admission to hospital.
Cross-sectional survey of medication used for headache in a general population
Authors: Boardman Helen F , Thomas Elaine , Millson David S , Croft Peter R 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective
To determine the level and types of medication used to treat headache in the general population and to compare this with current recommendations.

Methods
Cross-sectional survey to an adult general population sample. A questionnaire gathered information on occurrence, characteristics of, and medication use for headaches in the previous three months.

Setting
Patients aged 18 years and over registered with five general practices in North Staffordshire, England.

Key findings
The response rate was 56%. Eighty-five per cent of headache sufferers (60% of all questionnaire respondents) reported using medication for their headaches in the three months prior to the survey. Medication use was more likely to be reported by women, respondents aged 36 to 50 years, those reporting more painful and more disabling headaches, those experiencing at least five associated symptoms, and those whose untreated headaches lasted 4 to 24 hours. Paracetamol was by far the most widely used medication, with 74% of medication users taking it in the three-month period. Fifty-eight per cent of acute medication users took only one single therapy for their headaches. Only a small number of medication users (3%) took their headache medication before the pain began, with most (63%) taking it when the pain started and the remainder waiting until the pain was unbearable. Half of medication users (47%) reported that the medication completely relieved their headache, 51% obtained partial relief and 2% did not obtain relief.

Conclusion
Medication use for headache appears to be appropriate for most patients. Although only a minority used combination therapy, the high prevalence of headache means that this translates to substantial numbers in the population as a whole. Some headache sufferers might benefit from advice to make better use of the treatments available.
Alternative delivery methods for pharmacy services
Authors: Phul Sharon , Bessell Tracey , Cantrill Judith A 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
In many developed countries, the provision of pharmacy services is no longer restricted to the traditional “walk-in” or face-to-face approach. This paper examines whether alternative delivery methods provide patients with pharmacy services that meet their medication and related information needs, and discusses professional issues and the implications for practice. Although not appropriate for everyone, studies show that many patients do accept the alternative means of service delivery examined here. For some patients, such as those with mobility problems or who live in remote areas, technology-driven alternatives may be preferred. Health care professionals must take steps to address legitimate concerns about the protection of patient safety and confidentiality. To increase patient choice, the pharmacy profession needs to look closely at the positive aspects of these alternatives, as they can be incorporated in “traditional” pharmacy practice.
Are customers requesting medicines by name less likely to be advised or referred? Provision of over-the-counter H2-receptor antagonists and alginate products from pharmacies
Authors: John David Neale , Krska Janet , Hansford Denise 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objectives
To identify selected factors which may influence the provision of over-the-counter alginate and H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) products, advice and referral from community pharmacies, and to establish if referrals of customers with dyspepsia made by pharmacy staff were in line with published referral guidelines.

Setting
Customers supplied with over-the-counter alginates or H2RAs by 39 community pharmacies in Scotland and Wales in a six-month period.

Method
A structured questionnaire was issued to customers provided with an alginate or H2RA from community pharmacies, with one reminder sent to non-responders.

Key findings
A total of 608 completed questionnaires were returned (79 per cent response): 523 customers (86 per cent) stated they requested the product they were supplied with by name, with previous use being the most frequently cited reason. Customers who requested a product by name were less likely to receive advice about the supplied medicine, less likely to be referred to a medical practitioner (GP) and also less likely to receive lifestyle advice than customers who did not request a named product. Overall, only 30 per cent of patients who met criteria for referral to a GP were referred.

Conclusion
The findings of this study suggest that more emphasis should be placed on referrals by pharmacy staff and on the provision of lifestyle and product-specific advice, particularly when products are requested by name. The acceptability of these actions to pharmacy customers is not known.
The influence of education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms for communicating medicine instructions
Authors: Dowse Ros , Ehlers Martina Sabrina 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the influence of formal education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms.MethodA total of 46 pictograms were used: 23 were extracted directly from the USP-DI, and 23 with corresponding meanings were designed in accordance with the local culture (local pictograms). One hundred and thirty Xhosa respondents, who ranged from having no formal education to tertiary level education, were interviewed with the aid of an interpreter. Demographic data were collected, a literacy test was conducted and respondents were tested for their interpretation of all 46 pictograms. Preference for either the USP-DI or the local pictogram was determined.SettingRespondents were interviewed in primary health care clinics, a variety of work settings or in their homes in Grahamstown, South Africa.Key findingsStandard of education had a significant influence on the interpretation of 24 of the 46 pictograms. Generally, significant differences in interpretation were apparent between those with only primary school education and those who had completed at least some senior school education (P &lt; 0.05). The group with tertiary education was significantly better than the other groups (P &lt; 0.05). Only 15 of the 46 pictograms met the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 85% correct criterion.ConclusionInterpretation was dependent on education and the development of visual literacy skills, but potential for misinterpretation in all educational groups was noted. These results suggest that pictograms should only be used as a communication aid in combination with text or verbal information from the health care provider.
Prescribing errors on medical wards and the impact of clinical pharmacists
Authors: Dale Ms Alison , Copeland Richard , Barton Roger 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objectives
To assess the incidence of prescribing errors, predict patient outcome from clinical pharmacists' recommendations made in response to identified prescribing errors, and evaluate the influence of clinical pharmacists on recommendation implementation.

Method
Clinical pharmacy activities were conducted on two wards, one of which had an existing clinical pharmacy service (intervention ward) while the other did not (control ward). For the control ward, prescribing errors were documented but not followed up unless a potentially life-threatening problem was identified. Prescribing errors were identified and recommendations made by pharmacists. A consultant physician and pharmacist conducted an independent, blinded assessment of these recommendations to predict the impact on patient outcome if implemented. Recommendations were communicated to medical staff or implemented by the pharmacist on the intervention ward only. The proportion of recommendations implemented for intervention and control group patients were recorded.

Setting
Two medical wards in a UK district general hospital. The study was carried out over 12 weeks.

Key findings
There were 740 errors recorded for 235 patients. Fourteen recommendations could not be assessed. For all recommendations, the consultant and pharmacist predicted patient outcomes with life-saving (one consultant vs three pharmacist), major (186 vs 318), minor (328 vs 324), neutral (211 vs 85) or harmful (five vs five) impact respectively. For the intervention group, 79% of recommendations were implemented, including 81 of 92 (88%) predicted by the consultant to have major impact on patient outcomes. In the control group, only 18% of recommendations were spontaneously implemented, including only 10 of 94 (11%) recommendations predicted by the consultant to have major impact.

Conclusion
Ward-based clinical pharmacists identified large numbers of prescribing errors and made clinically significant recommendations. Implementation of recommendations was predicted to improve the outcome of patient care. Further research, specifically assessing the outcome of pharmacists' recommendations on patient care, is warranted.
Novel provision of pharmacy services to a deprived area: a pharmaceutical needs assessment
Authors: Porteous Terry , Bond Christine 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective
To conduct a pharmaceutical services needs assessment in a deprived area of Aberdeen and to inform the development of an innovative provision of these services, addressing local needs, to be delivered within an agreed budget.

Method
A systematic consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. Preliminary content setting interviews informed the development of questionnaires which were mailed to residents (n = 300) randomly selected from the electoral roll, and professionals (n = 117). A nominal group of stakeholders (17 invitees) was used to prioritise the services identified from the questionnaire and identify barriers to their implementation.

Setting
The setting was a deprived community in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Key findings
Questionnaire response rates were 53% and 74% for residents and professionals respectively. The majority of residents reported receiving a prescription from their GP at least annually (81%) and purchased over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (78%). The top five services required by residents were advice on minor illnesses and the use of OTC medicines, sales of first aid products and OTC medicines, and collection of prescribed medicines. The professionals additionally favoured advice on prescribed medicines and sales of baby products instead of collection of medicines and sales of first aid products. The nominal group was attended by nine people. Benefits of a pharmacy service in the area were identified as convenience and access to advice. There was concern about duplication of services with the established nurse practitioner. Concerns were also raised about security, particularly if drug misuse services were provided.

Conclusion
The feasibility of using a systematic approach to identify services to address local need was demonstrated.
Adverse drug reaction reporting in Australian hospitals
Authors: Nita Yunita , Plumridge Richard J , Batty Kevin T 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective
To determine the status of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting in Australian hospitals. Method Postal questionnaire to all 299 directors of pharmacy in Australian hospitals.

Key findings
The response rate was 49.5%. Hospitals of different size were well represented: &lt;100 beds (23%), 100–199 beds (35%) and 200–499 beds (30%). ADR policies were reported by 67% of pharmacy departments. In most hospitals, doctors or pharmacists were responsible for ADR submissions to the Australian ADR Advisory Committee (ADRAC). Follow-up action included reports to Drug and Therapeutics Committees (57%) and drug bulletins (37%). Advice on ADRs was forwarded to the patient, the general practitioner (GP) and the community pharmacist by 96%, 89% and 11% of hospitals. Methods of informing patients were verbal (91%), card (17%) or letter (13%). Methods used to notify GPs included discharge summary (70%), letter (26%) or via the patient (15%). Data from ADRAC indicated a median 2.5 (range 0–362) reports from participating hospitals in 2000. The median ADR reporting rate was 0.02% (range 0–1.09) of patient admissions. There was no association between ADR reporting rates and the existence of an ADR policy or a centralised ADR reporting system. There was an association between hospital ADR reporting rates and provision of feedback or a reward for ADR reporting (P&lt;0.001).

Conclusions
Procedures or policies for ADR reporting are available in most Australian hospitals but this has no direct effect on ADR reporting rates. These findings suggest a gap between policy and implementation of ADR reporting. Strategies to improve ADR reporting could include improved feedback and electronic submissions to ADRAC from a centralised service.
Managing independent prescribing: the influence of primary care trusts on community nurse prescribing
Authors: Hall Jason , Cantrill Judith , Noyce Peter 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Background
Community nurses have been prescribing in the United Kingdom from the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary (NPF) since 1994. Most prescribing for the items included in the NPF is still carried out by general practitioners, although the proportion attributed to nurses is increasing.

Objective
To describe the methods that primary care trusts (PCTs) have used to influence the prescribing practices of community nurses and to explore the views of nurse prescribers regarding these methods.

Method
Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 22 community nurse prescribers and five PCT prescribing leads. The transcripts were analysed using the framework method.

Key findings
PCTs used formularies and guidelines, education and training, individual prescriber feedback and directives to varying degrees to influence nurse prescribing. Some nurse prescribers considered formularies and guidelines to be restrictive. There were few instances of feedback or training being given to prescribers following their initial training as a prescriber, despite a majority wishing to receive both of these. Directives were used to restrict prescribing in a limited number of specific areas.

Conclusion
Influencing nurse prescribing did not appear to be a priority for PCTs despite this being part of the National Health Service's clinical governance agenda. PCTs will need to engage with nurse prescribers to determine ways to influence prescribing that are in the best interests of patients, nurses, doctors and the Trust.
Needle exchange services: a profile of service users in community pharmacies and other settings
Authors: Cameron Jacqui , Gilchrist Gail , Roberts Kay 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective
To compare client profiles and activity data from the pharmacy needle exchanges (PNEXs) with other needle exchanges (NEXs) in a UK city.

Method
Routinely collected data from four types of needle exchange services were used to analyse levels of activity and user profiles. Simple descriptive statistics with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

Setting
In Glasgow, Scotland, at the time of the study NEX was provided at four key facilities: (1) PNEXs; (2) drug treatment service sites (Glasgow Drug Problem Service, GDPS); (3) a drop-in service for female prostitutes (Base 75); and (4) a service based in a 24-hour crisis assessment and treatment centre (Glasgow Drug Crisis Centre, GDCC).

Key findings
A total of 1074 455 needles/syringes were issued during the study period. Over half of all needles and syringes were issued from PNEXs (52%; 558 176) compared with 15% (162431) from GDPS, 5% (59 348) from the Base 75 exchange and 27% (294 500) from the GDCC. The return rate at PNEXs was 86% (95% confidence interval (CI) 85.90–86.10%) and was significantly higher than both GDCC (70%, 95% CI 69.80–70.19%) and Base 75 (25%, 95% CI 24.31–25.69%). A significantly greater proportion of needles and syringes were returned to the GDPS (94%, 95% CI 93.88–94.12%) than to PNEXs (86%). A significantly greater proportion of female clients attended GDCC (30%, 95% CI 27.41–32.59%) than the PNEXs (25%, 95% CI 23.80–26.20%).

Conclusion
PNEXs attract large numbers of injectors to use the service and have a high return rate of needles and syringes issued. A diverse population uses PNEXs. In order to meet the needs of different groups of injecting drug users, a variety of NEX facilities is needed, including out of hours services and exchanges for women, especially those in crisis or involved in prostitution.
Can in-depth research interviews have a ‘therapeutic’ effect for participants?
Authors: Morecroft Charles , Cantrill Judy , Tully Mary P 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective
The study's objective was to explore whether there was any discernible ‘therapeutic’ effect upon participants after an in-depth research interview, which focused upon their experiences of hypertension and its management.

Method
A questionnaire comprising 13 questions (open and closed) was posted to patients with hypertension (n = 30), three to eight months after participating in face-to-face in-depth interviews, which explored their experiences of chronic illness and its management.

Key findings
The data from 25 respondents (83%) suggested that in-depth research interviews could have a therapeutic benefit for some participants. This benefit was described by some as encouraging them to take more control over their lifestyle; specifically, consideration of their diet and/or increasing the time involved in regular exercise or relaxation. For others, it was the recognition of the need for both additional information on hypertension and the available treatment options, and for healthcare professionals to talk with them and to discuss their condition and its management.

Conclusions
Participating in an in-depth interview can have a therapeutic effect. This effect may encompass not only changes in the interviewee's perceptions and behaviour, but also the possible development of a more meaningful appreciation and understanding of their condition.
A pharmacist-led information and advice service based within a voluntary sector drugs service
Authors: Scott Jennifer , Bond Christine M , Winfield Arthur J , Kennedy Emily J 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objectives
To explore the role of an information pharmacist within a voluntary sector drugs service, to establish a pharmacist-led information and advice service within the drugs service and to describe the nature of the use of the pharmacist's service.

Method
An intervention study.

Setting
A voluntary sector drug dependency agency in Aberdeen, UK.

Key findings
The pharmacist service was utilised by staff and service users, making 77 contacts and processing 87 enquiries in 26 weeks. Forty-five of the contacts were with agency staff and 32 were with agency service users. The nature of the 87 enquiries was analysed and defined by 11 distinct categories. These are described in the paper.

Conclusions
Pharmacists are increasingly specialising in drug misuse as members of addictions teams, but no study of information provision in this capacity could be found. The success of this service highlights the important role pharmacists can play in providing information and advice to professionals and drug misusers. It also supports the expansion of the pharmacist's role as part of the multidisciplinary team within the voluntary sector.