Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice最新文献

{"title":"Health technology assessment in Jordan: current landscape, challenges, and future roadmap.","authors":"Khawla Abu Hammour, Faris El-Dahiyat, Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar, Fahmi Y Al-Ashwal, Rana K Abu-Farha","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2633823","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2633823","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is increasingly recognised as an essential tool for directing decisions on health policy, particularly those concerning coverage, reimbursement, price and value, especially in nations aiming for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Jordan is a middle-income country with limited resources for the health sector and rising needs; thus, despite its significant progress toward institutionalising HTA, there are still many gaps.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess the present situation of HTA in Jordan, pinpoint the main facilitators and obstacles, and suggest a plan for enhancing HTA at Jordan University Hospital so that it can more methodically influence Jordanian health policy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Stakeholder studies, policy documents and published literature on HTA were reviewed, along with lessons learned from similar contexts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Jordan's progress in HTA has been noteworthy. The Jordan Food and Drug Administration has specific requirements for pharmacoeconomic data in pricing and reimbursement, for instance, and university programs are providing capacity building. Other pioneers include the Ministry of Health, Royal Medical Services and the King Hussein Cancer Center's Centre for Drug Policy and Technology Assessment (KHCC CDPTA). However, funding for HTA is unstable, transparency and stakeholder engagement are uneven, institutional roles are fragmented, there is no national HTA methodological guideline or comprehensive, mandated legal framework, and data infrastructure (especially local cost, outcomes and real-world evidence) is limited.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A strategic plan is required for all institutions to achieve the potential benefits of HTA in Jordan, including more equitable access, better prioritisation, more efficient spending and contributions to UHC. Formalising legal requirements, creating national methodological guidelines, enhancing institutional and human capacity, enhancing data systems, obtaining long-term funding, establishing precise decision criteria and thresholds and boosting transparency and stakeholder participation are important stages.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2633823"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12943819/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147326468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protected learning time in community pharmacy and possibilities for upscaling: an exploratory study in Wales, UK.","authors":"Sophie Bartlett, Alison Bullock","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2629063","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2629063","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The remit of pharmacists' vital role in the healthcare system is expanding, and continuous professional development (CPD) of pharmacists is critical. While CPD is mandatory in the UK, a lack of protected learning time (PLT) hinders engagement, particularly in community pharmacies. In Wales, UK, a national PLT programme was piloted to address this, involving funding for 12-15 days of PLT for community pharmacists. This study investigated whether PLT provision can benefit both community pharmacists and their pharmacy, and explored opportunities for upscaling PLT provision.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A realist qualitative approach was adopted across four phases. Community pharmacists participating in the PLT programme submitted monthly diary entries and engaged in one-off group and individual interviews. Employer perspectives were collected via an online survey. Education and Training Leads reflected on preliminary findings and their comments were captured via group interview. Data were coded and analysed thematically through a constant comparative approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty participants contributed data, including 96 diary entries from 20 pharmacists, interviews with 15 pharmacists, survey responses from 12 employers, and input from 3 education leads. The PLT promoted both individual professional development and organisational capacity, and also enhanced pharmacists' personal wellbeing. Nonetheless, challenges for employers were prevalent, including rising costs of locum cover and service disruptions. Participants proposed two scalable PLT models: pre-scheduled PLT slots and non-patient-facing hours.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PLT improves pharmacist professional development and personal wellbeing and enables broader service provision in their pharmacy. However, upscaling of PLT requires addressing financial and logistical barriers. Structured and equitable PLT models, such as routine closures or non-patient-facing hours, warrant further research and piloting to assess feasibility, acceptability and impact both for pharmacists and patient care.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2629063"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12927405/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147284178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic evaluation of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors in advanced hormonal receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative breast cancer: a nationwide budget impact analysis.","authors":"Shereen Elazzazy, Nour Hisham Al-Ziftawi, Laila Shafei, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Salha Bojassoum, Anas Hamad","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2626640","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2626640","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Several trials demonstrated improvements in clinical outcomes associated with cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors in breast cancer patients. The challenge remains regarding their high costs. Ribociclib and Abemaciclib are cost-effective in Qatar. Yet, their affordability was not studied. This budget impact analysis (BIA) is to assess the affordability of adopting CDK4/6 inhibitors in Qatar over five years duration (2024-2028).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We ran a BIA to evaluate two scenarios: (1) Increasing abemaciclib's market share from 20% to 60%, replacing both palbociclib and ribociclib. (2) Assuming equal market share for both ribociclib and abemaciclib up to 80%, reducing palbociclib's share. The analysis considered treatment costs, patient population, and disease prevalence. All data were retrieved from the National Center for Cancer Care and Research, and costs were presented in Qatari Riyals (QAR). Sensitivity analyses were run to ensure the robustness of the conclusion. All results were compared to Qatar's budget threshold, which is QAR 453,822.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on a total of 173 patients using CDK4/6 inhibitors, increasing abemaciclib's market share to 60% yielded cumulative savings of QAR 14 million over five years, which is around QAR 14,613 per patient per year. However, equally increasing ribociclib's and abemaciclib's market share to 80% resulted in a modest budget increase, remaining within acceptable thresholds. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, showing that cost reductions and higher uptake rates further enhanced savings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Abemaciclib is a budget-saving option for HR+/HER2- breast cancer in Qatar, should it replace the market share by up to 60% over five years. In addition, ribociclib and abemaciclib are affordable treatment options if they equally contributes to up to 80% of the market share for the eligible advanced breast cancer patients. The results supported the concept of allocating CDK4/6 inhibitors as they were found to be affordable to the Qatari healthcare system.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2626640"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12922424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147271071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Classification status of drugs generally used for self-medication in children: a targeted review of regulatory documents.","authors":"Rizqi Dinni Fauzia, Hardika Aditama, Su Myat Thin, Noppadon Adjimatera, Puree Ananthachoti","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2619303","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2619303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Self-medication given by parents or caregivers is a common practice among children. Several frequently used drugs are often administered without professional supervision. This study compares regulatory classifications of common paediatric self-medication drugs across ten countries, aiming to uncover trends based on product type and national policies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were primarily collected from official drug regulatory agency websites and supplemented from other relevant sources. Twelve widely used drugs were reviewed, by focusing on classification status, approved indications, and paediatric age restrictions. Content and comparative analyses were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings revealed that drugs indicated for fever, pain, mucolytic effects, and non-sedating antihistamines were mostly classified as non-prescription. For drugs with the same active ingredient, but different strengths or dosage forms, compared within the same country, the classification status generally remained unchanged, even across different paediatric age groups. Drugs for asthma and topical corticosteroids were likely to be classified as prescription drugs. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore, the same drug preparation had different classification statuses which were based on factors such as approved indication and pack size. Additionally, Singapore and Indonesia implement prescription-exemption systems. These allow supply of certain prescription drugs without a prescription under specific conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Commonly used drugs for paediatric self-medication are classified as both non-prescription and prescription. This reflects diverse regulatory approaches across countries. Regulators play a key role in ensuring safe use of self-medication in children. Lack of harmonisation address a critical need for globally consistent paediatric drug classification scheme. They empower consumers through mechanisms such as clear, accessible patient information leaflets and other educational tools.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2619303"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12865838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing academic capacity and quality assurance in pharmacy education: a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean region.","authors":"Zeinab Abedini, Ahmed Awaisu, Ian Bates, Banan Mukhalalati","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2025.2608552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20523211.2025.2608552","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pharmacy workforce intelligence (PWI) involves the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective strategies and tools to ensure the availability and quality of pharmacy workforce (PW). Academic capacity (AC) is essential in producing graduates for PW, while quality assurance (QA) in education is crucial in developing competent PW. There is a lack of information about PWI in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Based on the available data, there is a notable imbalance in PW distribution in EMR. This study aimed to evaluate the status of AC and QA of pharmacy education in the EMR using the International-Pharmaceutical-Federation (FIP)'s Development-Goals and their associated mechanisms as a framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was used. The quantitative phase involved distributing a validated questionnaire among pharmacy leaders of all accessible pharmacy schools in the EMR. The qualitative phase involved the conduct of semi-structured interviews with pharmacy leaders, and the data were thematically analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 112 identified pharmacy leaders, 61 participated in the survey (response rate, 55%) and 14 participated in the interviews. Most data were consistent among the quantitative and qualitative results. In both phases, most participants reported implementing a student - teacher ratio (70%), periodic accreditation (82%), adoption of global QA standards (67%), and involving key stakeholders in programme development. Enrolment planning based on workforce needs (51%) and capacity-building for teacher-practitioners (47%) were less common and less emphasised in interviews.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although some AC and QA mechanisms are achieved, many require further improvement. Policymakers could establish a national body representing PW, improve workforce data systems for evidence-based enrolment planning, invest in faculty development, and standardised QA frameworks. Standardising stakeholder engagement and enhancing graduate tracking would further ensure that programmes remain aligned with workforce and health system needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2608552"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12836404/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146093311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Saudi FDA drug evaluation timeline in comparison with international counterparts: a retrospective observational study.","authors":"Aljoharah M Algabbani, Radwan Hafiz, Bassam AlWon","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2025.2605398","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2025.2605398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Regulatory agencies ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceuticals, influencing patient access to novel therapies. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) oversees drug evaluation in Saudi Arabia. This study evaluates SFDA's drug review times compared to other international agencies and assesses characteristics and approval timelines of novel drugs approved by the SFDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective observational study analyzed drug evaluation times from the SFDA and six international agencies: FDA, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Health Canada, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), and Swissmedic. The primary outcome was drug approval timeline, defined as days from submission to registration. Data on 48 novel drugs approved by the FDA in 2019 were collected and tracked for SFDA approval status through 2024. Descriptive statistics compared drug characteristics and evaluation times. A regulatory comparison used publicly available documents and reported timelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SFDA and EMA showed shorter median approval times (∼6.5 months), while Swissmedic (14.5 months) and PMDA (10.6 months) had longer timelines. Among 48 FDA-approved novel drugs in 2019, 21 (43.75%) were approved by the SFDA by mid-2024; 23 (47.92%) were not submitted for SFDA review, impacting coverage. Small molecules dominated approvals for both FDA (58.33%) and SFDA (64%). Advanced therapies such as gene therapies and synthetic peptide analogs were absent from SFDA approvals, mainly due to non-submission. Median approval times were comparable (SFDA: 248 days; FDA: 243 days), with greater variability observed in SFDA timelines.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>SFDA's review timelines align with major regulatory agencies, supporting timely drug access. Further investigation into submission patterns and regulatory challenges may improve approval rates, especially for advanced therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2605398"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12829408/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146046002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Competency-based curricula in the Eastern Mediterranean Region schools of pharmacy: a framework-informed mixed method study.","authors":"Muna Al-Ismail, Reem El-Hage, Ahmed Awaisu, Somaya Mahmoud, Mariam Mustafa, Mohammed Al-Hamdani, Banan Mukhalalati","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2612865","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2612865","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Competency-based education (CBE) has been implemented across healthcare disciplines, including pharmacy, to address the limitations of the traditional teaching system. While CBE implementation in pharmacy education has been studied globally, research examining its adoption across pharmacy schools in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) remains limited.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>Explore the nature and extent of CBE incorporation within pharmacy schools' curricula across the EMR and identify barriers and facilitators influencing CBE implementation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach was used, combining an online survey followed by semi-structured online interviews. The study was guided by the International Pharmaceutical Federation Global Competency Framework (FIP GbCF).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of the 116 schools that received the survey link, 55 responses were received from pharmacy schools in the EMR (any-response rate 47.4%), of which 38 were complete and included in the final analysis (complete-response rate 32.8%). Furthermore, 18 participants participated in the online interview. The majority of the pharmacy schools were accredited (81.6%), and (63.2%) of these implement/incorporate CBE in their curricula. The analysis of the FIP GbCF competencies incorporation revealed that various competencies were prevalent, including communication skills and professional and ethical practice (95.8%), and dispensing and inter-professional collaboration (91.7%). The least incorporated competencies included emergency response (58.3%), followed by workplace management (25%). Inductive thematic analysis identified key challenges for the implementation of CBE in some pharmacy schools, including internal resistance, resource limitations and workload challenges. On the other hand, schools highlighted important facilitators such as leadership support, communication and engagement.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Most accredited pharmacy schools in the EMR adopted CBE, yet considerable gaps remain in implementing many of the FIP GbCF competencies. The study reveals that pharmacy schools face significant challenges in CBE implementation, regardless of their current adoption status, suggesting opportunities for the enhancement of pharmacy education across the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2612865"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12825577/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146052677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic implications of the different statin prescribing patterns in Central Portugal: a longitudinal analysis.","authors":"Catarina Abrantes, Luciana G Negrão, Catarina Coelho, M Margarida Castel-Branco, Isabel V Figueiredo, Fernando Fernandez-Llimos","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2614465","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2026.2614465","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Statins are one of the most widely used therapeutic classes and have significantly contributed to health care expenditures with reported variability between countries and regions. We aim to identify the economic implications of different statin prescription patterns in the central region of Portugal.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective longitudinal study of statin consumption between 2010 and 2022 in the central region, with data obtained from the national administrative claim database. Prescription and expenditure (retail price) were analysed at the municipality level. A score was created for the quartile position (1 = first to 4 = fourth) of each municipality in the distributions of consumption and expenditure for each year. An overall score was created for the study period by aggregating yearly scores. A four-quadrant analysis with the overall scores of cost/DDD and DDD/1000inhabitants/day (DID) was conducted. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Statin consumption increased from 64 DDD/1000inhabitants/day (DID) to 149 DID, while cost/DDD and cost/inhabitant decreased from 0.77 € to 0.26 € and from 17.84 € to 13.99 €, respectively. Prescription pattern of high-intensity statins increased from 26% to 74% of the DDD consumed. A four-quadrant plot revealed discrepancies between the municipalities. These discrepancies were associated with the percentage of pitavastatin in DDD (F = 4.604; <i>p</i> = 0.005), and the percentage of statins monotherapy in DDD (F = 5.201; <i>p</i> = 0.003). Generalising the characteristics of high-level consumption and expenditure municipalities to the entire region would result in a 39.7% increase in expenditure but a 20.8% increase in patients. Prescription of statins per municipality correlated with the prescription of antidepressants (R = 0.643; <i>p</i> < 0.001) in the bivariate analysis, and in the multivariate analysis (<i>p</i> < 0.001; B = 0.580; 95%CI = 0.416:0.744).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Differences in prescribing patterns resulted in very different proportions of patients treated and expenses associated with the consumption of these lipid-lowering agents. Further analysis should be carried out to understand the financial implications of prescribing new (patent-protected) medicines in Portugal.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2614465"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821345/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146030146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global patterns and determinants of household medicine storage and disposal: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Guu Nandar Chit, Su Myat Thin, Anuchai Theeraroungchaisri, Suntaree Watcharadamrongkun, Tanattha Kittisopee","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2025.2601936","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2025.2601936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Improper storage and disposal of unused and expired medicines at home have become a global challenge, creating significant hazards to public health and the environment. This systematic review aimed to explore the prevalence of proper storage and disposal of medicines and to examine factors influencing these proper behaviours.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We searched PubMed, Scopus, Springer Link, Science Direct, and EBSCO for articles published between 1 January 1990, and 31 May 2023. Inclusion criteria included studies conducted about medicines in a household setting, articles written in the English language, and full text that could be retrieved. Exclusion criteria included pilot studies, editorials, or opinions. The QualSyst assessment tool was applied to evaluate the quality of the included studies. This systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The prevalence of proper storage and disposal, determinants of proper and improper storage, and proper disposal of medicines were elaborated using both quantitative and qualitative methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The search found 822 articles and included 61 eligible studies from 27 countries. The overall prevalence of proper medicine storage was only 45%. The proper disposal rates were only 13% for unused medicines and 8% for expired medicines. Proper storage was positively associated with knowledge, education, storage counselling, presence of chronic illness, household size, and the number of children in the household; and negatively associated with age and male gender. Proper disposal was positively associated with awareness, peer influence, knowledge, education, and having family members who are incapable of independently managing their medicine.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Proper storage guidance should be included on a medicine label for every medicine dispensed by pharmacists. The take-back programmes campaign and public education related to proper disposal of medicine were recommended to save the environment and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2601936"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821371/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146030103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of person-centred versus usual care in elderly patients: findings from a multicentre randomised controlled trial.","authors":"C Rovira, M Casanovas, E Vizcaino, M Massanés, Q Miró, L Solà, J Gallego, J Armengol, C Ayala, J Pascual, E L Mariño, J Vidal-Alaball, P Modamio","doi":"10.1080/20523211.2025.2609020","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20523211.2025.2609020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The person-centred care model involves a multidisciplinary team providing individualised health and social care aligned with patient preferences and health goals. Although some evidence supports its use in primary care, it remains under-evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Collaborative Medication Management (CMM) approach in optimising pharmacotherapy plans versus usual care among polymedicated older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomised, open-label, multicentre, parallel clinical trial was conducted across 11 Primary Care Teams in Spain (Sept 2020-Jan 2024), including patients aged ≥75 years taking ≥8 chronic medications with complex or advanced conditions. The intervention group (IG, <i>n</i> = 102) received CMM delivered by a multidisciplinary team, including structured medication review, development of a patient-centred care plan, and follow-up at 6 and 12 months. The control group (CG, <i>n</i> = 106) received usual care. Primary outcomes were number of medications, drug-related prescriptions (DRP), changes to pharmacotherapy plans, and hospital admissions. Secondary outcomes included persistence of changes at 12 months and medication-related safety incidents.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 208 subjects were included (65.4% women; mean age 83.6 ± 6.3 years). IG showed a mean reduction of 1.8 ± 2.1 medications/patient vs. an increase of 0.3 ± 1.4 in CG (<i>p</i> = 0.004); a mean reduction of 2.9 ± 2.5 DRP/patient in IG vs. An increase of 0.2 ± 1.2 in CG (<i>p</i> = 0.004); a mean of 4.3 ± 2.9 changes to pharmacotherapy plans in IG vs. 2.6 ± 3.3 in CG (<i>p</i> = 0.004); a mean of 0.3 ± 0.7 hospital admissions in IG vs. 0.3 ± 0.8 in CG (<i>p</i> = 1.000). Persistence of changes at 12 months was 3.8 ± 2.7 in IG vs. 2.2 ± 2.9 in CG (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In addition, a mean of 0.5 ± 0.7 safety incidents was reported in IG vs. 0.5 ± 1.0 in CG (<i>p</i> = 0.676).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The person-centred care model proved effect in optimising medication use in polymedicated older adults.<b>Trial registration:</b> ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04188470.</p>","PeriodicalId":16740,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice","volume":"19 1","pages":"2609020"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12818293/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146018808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}