Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice最新文献

{"title":"The Effect of Supplementation with <i>Saccharomyces boulardii</i> in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Fariba Pourkarim, Elnaz Khani, Kobra Hamdi, Nazila Soroush-Oskoui, Parvin Sarbakhsh, Hamed Mastaneh, Elnaz Shaseb","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_90_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_90_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder that affects women during their reproductive age, which may cause infertility. Probiotics may be effective in PCOS by affecting the gut microbiota. We aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation on metabolic parameters and androgen levels in women with PCOS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed on 84 patients aged 18-45 years with PCOS. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups and received probiotics (<i>Saccharomyces boulardii</i>) or a matched placebo for 3 months. Anthropometric parameters, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and abdominal circumference, were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks for all patients. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after the intervention to assess fasting blood sugar (FBS), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and testosterone levels.</p><p><strong>Finding: </strong>Probiotic supplementation significantly decreased testosterone hormone level (<i>P</i> = 0.0029) and DHEA-S level (<i>P</i> = 0.0031) compared to the placebo group. The reduction in the BMI and FBS parameters in the intervention group was significant within the group, but the between-groups difference was not significant. Also, intragroup analysis in the placebo group revealed no significant differences in BMI, FBS, testosterone, or DHEA-S levels before and after the intervention.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, probiotic supplementation of <i>S. boulardii</i> in PCOS women did not affect weight, BMI, or FBS but reduced testosterone and DHEA-S levels. Therefore, <i>S. boulardii</i> probiotics might be beneficial in the management of PCOS patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13570702/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956042","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":"Relationship between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Achievement Motivation, and Clinical Performance of Pharmacy Students in Iran: A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Sara Salarian, Saeed Mohammad Soleymani, Zahra Khoramdel, Hadi Esmaily","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_118_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_118_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The link between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), achievement motivation, and clinical performance in Iran's pharmacy education, using Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), is understudied. This study examines associations between MBTI, achievement motivation, and OSCE performance in Iranian pharmacy students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study, conducted from February 2020 to June 2021 at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The MBTI and Hermans achievement motivation questionnaire were provided to the participants. The OSCE was used to assess the students' clinical performance. All scores were calculated, and data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>From a total of 253 students, 196 of them agreed to participate in the study, and 180 students completed the survey (response rate 91.8%). 117 participants were female, and 63 participants were male. The mean age of the students was 24 ± 2.06 years. There were significant correlations between achievement motivation and the percentage of extraversion, thinking, and judging. Analysis of the relationship between students' personality type and scores in different aspects of clinical performance showed that there is a significant and positive correlation between the percentage of extraversion and communication skills, and also a significant and positive correlation between the percentage of judgment and discipline.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study shows that the evaluation of different personality types of pharmacy students can help to improve pharmacist education systems, guide them more effectively in choosing their career in the pharmacy system, and this self-awareness and self-improvement can increase the probability of their future career success.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13570690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956005","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":"Magnesium Sulfate as an Analgesic and Sedative-sparing Agent in Patients under Mechanical Ventilation: A Randomized, Double Blind Clinical Trial.","authors":"Amir-Mohammad Yaryari, Hossein Khalili, Massoud Ramezani, Samrand Fattah Ghazi, Mostafa Mohammadi","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_45_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_45_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate in reducing sedative and analgesic requirements was examined in patients under mechanical ventilation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this randomized clinical trial, patients requiring mechanical ventilation received either magnesium sulfate (serum magnesium target level: near 3 mg/dL) or placebo concurrently with the hospital analgosedation protocol. The calculated dose of magnesium in the intervention group was infused over 24 h. The primary outcome of the study was the cumulative opioid requirement at 24 and 48 h after intubation.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>A total of 110 patients were randomly assigned to either the placebo (<i>n</i> = 54) or the magnesium sulfate (<i>n</i> = 56) group. The results showed that the cumulative opioid consumption in the magnesium group was significantly less than in the control group at 24 h postintervention (120 mg vs. 214 mg, <i>P</i> < 0.001). This difference remained significant at 48 h postintervention (240 mg vs. 433 mg, <i>P</i> < 0.001). In addition, in the adjusted analysis using analysis of covariance, after adjustment for the model for acetaminophen dose and additive sedatives as confounders, this still remained statistically significant (<i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Administration of magnesium sulfate targeting a serum magnesium level near 3 mg/dL in patients under mechanical ventilation reduced opioid requirements and may be considered as an analgesic and sedative-sparing agent.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13570697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956090","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":"Clinical and Demographic Characteristics in Schizophrenia Patients with and without a History of Taking Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Seyyed Javad Boskabadi, Mehran Zarghami, Arghavan Fariborzifar, Mahmood Moosazadeh, Narjes Hendouei","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_6_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_6_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Poor adherence to oral antipsychotics is an important challenge in schizophrenia, highlighting long-acting injectables (LAIs) as an alternative. This study aimed to compare the clinical and demographic profiles of patients with schizophrenia with prior LAI exposure versus those maintained exclusively on oral antipsychotics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional, observational study enrolled eligible schizophrenia inpatients aged 18-65 diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th Edition criteria from June 2022 to October 2023. Participants were divided into two groups: those with prior LAI exposure and those who had maintained only oral antipsychotics. Demographic data, clinical history, and baseline laboratory parameters were collected. The primary outcome was the severity of psychotic symptoms, assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S) Scale upon admission.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>A total of 70 patients were included in the final analysis, with 36 patients having a history of LAI and 34 on only oral treatment. Demographically, both groups were comparable across most characteristics. Baseline PANSS score and its subscales, CGI-S scores, and laboratory markers showed no statistical difference. However, the LAI group showed a significantly longer duration of illness (<i>P</i> = 0.017), more hospitalizations (<i>P</i> < 0.001), and greater prior exposure to first-generation antipsychotics (<i>P</i> < 0.001) with higher chlorpromazine equivalent doses (<i>P</i> < 0.001) compared to the oral-only group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights treatment patterns among Iranian schizophrenia patients, showing that patients on LAIs generally have a history of longer illness durations, more hospitalizations, and more expose to first generation antipsychotics. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the efficacy of early versus delayed initiation of LAI and their long-term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673726","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":"Flare Reaction Following Intra-articular Steroid Injection in Frozen Shoulder. A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Ankur Khandelwal, Sanghamitra Sarma, Anirban Bhattacharjee, Bhupen Barman, Kashif Akhtar Ahmed, Rashmi Agarwalla","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_15_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_15_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence, severity, temporal profile, and management outcomes of flare reactions following ultrasound (US)-guided intra-articular steroid injection (IASI) for frozen shoulder.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included adult patients undergoing US-guided glenohumeral joint IASI for frozen shoulder over 1 year. Flare reactions were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale at 1-, 4-, and 24-h postinjection. Analgesic strategies were evaluated based on pain severity.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Among 84 patients, flare reaction occurred in 19 (22.6%). Most reactions were mild (63.2%) and self-limiting. Moderate-to-severe reactions (36.8%) required pharmacological treatment. Early-onset severe pain responded rapidly to low-dose sublingual buprenorphine, with complete relief in most patients within 4 h, while late-onset moderate pain was effectively managed with oral diclofenac. No adverse effects were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Flare reaction after IASI for frozen shoulder is not uncommon and, in most cases, can be effectively managed with appropriate analgesic strategies. Sublingual buprenorphine for moderate-severe early-onset pain ensures effective symptom control without major side effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673693","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 a Structured Pharmacist-led Intervention in Improving Pediatric Outpatient Prescribing Quality in a Resource-limited Setting: A Pre-post Study.","authors":"Thang Nguyen, Lam Tran Hong Huynh, Anh Ngoc Phuong Nguyen, Phuong Minh Nguyen, Duy Khanh Dang","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_4_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_4_26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective is to determine the prevalence and types of drug-related problems (DRPs), identify associated factors, and evaluate the impact of a structured pharmacist-led intervention on prescribing quality in pediatric outpatient care in a resource-limited health system with limited advanced prescribing decision-support.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A pre-post intervention study was conducted from July 2023 to June 2024 at a secondary-level hospital in a lower-middle-income country setting (Vietnam). Two independent cross-sectional prescription samples were obtained using systematic random sampling (323 prescriptions preintervention and 323 postintervention). DRPs were identified using national prescribing frameworks and mapped to the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe DRP Classification (v9.1). The intervention comprised pharmacist-led educational sessions and the dissemination of drug information bulletins, with ongoing reminders, targeting the most frequent baseline DRPs. Factors associated with DRP occurrence (≥1 DRP per prescription) were examined using logistic regression; pre-post comparisons used Chi-square tests.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>At baseline, 57.9% of prescriptions contained at least one DRP, predominantly dosage regimen-related problems, with incorrect timing of administration being the most frequent (32.20%). In multivariable analysis, prescriptions issued by male prescribers had higher odds of DRPs (odds ratio 2.51, 95% confidence interval 1.51-4.18), whereas prescriptions for children aged 2-6 years and 6-12 years had lower odds than those for children aged ≤2 years. Following the intervention, DRP prevalence decreased significantly to 40.2% (<i>P</i> < 0.001), with marked reductions in timing- and dosing-related DRPs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A structured, low-cost pharmacist-led intervention integrated into routine outpatient practice was associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in DRPs. Strengthening clinical pharmacy services is a feasible and scalable strategy to improve pediatric prescribing safety in resource-limited settings where systematic medication review and electronic decision support are constrained.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13261568/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148251828","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":"Assessment of Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Medication Literacy Measure.","authors":"Mona Kargar, Soha Namazi, Ava Mansouri, Mohadeseh Balvardi, Kheirollah Gholami","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_112_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_112_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Given the association between medication literacy (ML) and its correct use, assessing the status of ML is essential in the community. This study aimed to validate a Persian-language ML assessment instrument, addressing the lack of a previously validated Persian tool.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Tehran. A database search was conducted to identify current tools. The selected instrument was translated and then back-translated into English. Questions regarding medication information-seeking behaviors and attitudes toward pharmacist guidance were added. The instrument was presented to the Academy of Medical Sciences, and their feedback was incorporated. The content validity index (CVI), content validity ratio (CVR), and comprehensiveness were assessed based on the experts. Reliability was evaluated through test-retest (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]) and internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson [KR] coefficient).</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Two systematic reviews that evaluated 52 ML tools were assessed. ML measure (MLM-17) was selected. Four questions on attitudes and behaviors were added. Following feedback from the academy, the number of these questions increased to 7, while one ML question was replaced. Following the experts' comments, a CVI of 0.77 was calculated, and questions with a CVR <0.99 were revised or removed. Accordingly, two questions were removed from the attitude and behavior sections, and one question was added to the ML section. The assessment of reliability showed ICC = 0.67 and KR = 0.71.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The psychometric evaluation confirmed the tool's validity and reliability. Therefore, it is a suitable instrument for assessing ML in Persian-speaking populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13261570/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148251923","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":"Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Efficacy in Immunocompetent Patients with Confirmed Omicron Variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.","authors":"Elnaz Khani, Hoda Afsharirad, Ali Taghizadeh Yadegari, Meysam Zarezadeh, Hila Asham, Hossein Bannazadeh-Baghi, Taher Entezari-Maleki","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_80_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_80_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The high mutations of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 raised concerns regarding the efficacy of antivirals. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the impact of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir on the outcomes of immunocompetent patients with confirmed Omicron variant. Three reviewers systemically searched PubMed (Medline), Cochrane Library, and Embase databases up to June 9, 2025. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies with a control group were screened for eligibility to extract data. Studies that included only patients with immunosuppression, malignancy, or renal failure, severe disease, or assessed nirmatrelvir/ritonavir efficacy on variants other than Omicron were excluded. Forty-six observational studies, including 6,099,805 participants, were involved in the meta-analysis. Our findings revealed that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir significantly decreases death (risk ratio [RR] =0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.40), disease progression (RR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.42-0.71), hospitalization (RR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.35-0.56), composite outcome of hospitalization and death (RR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.71), ventilation (RR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.19-0.72), and intensive care unit admission (RR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38-0.73) compared to the control group. However, no significant difference was shown across the two groups regarding hospitalization duration (mean difference = -2.34; 95% CI: -5.60-0.93). The current updated meta-analysis supported the efficacy of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir on the Omicron variant. However, further RCTs are recommended for accurate results.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13261571/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148252032","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":"Medication Adherence and Clinical Outcomes among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A 6-month Prospective Evaluation using Individual Adherence Assessment.","authors":"Seow Yee Ng, Farida Islahudin, Adyani Md Redzuan, Francis R Capule","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_96_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_96_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medication adherence is a critical issue in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients for slowing CKD progression.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between individual medication adherence and secondary clinical outcomes (pill burden, medication knowledge, and CKD stages) over a 6-month period. This prospective observational study with repeated measures was performed among patients with CKD in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective observational study was conducted among CKD patients, with assessments at baseline, month 3, and month 6. Individual adherence, pill burden, medication knowledge, and CKD stages were assessed at each visit. Groups were compared using Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test, Chi-squared, <i>T</i>-test, McNemar test, or ANOVA as necessary.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>A total of 200 patients were included, with 140 completing the 6-month follow-up. Medication adherence remained stable over time, with 58.0% (<i>n</i> = 116/200) adherent at baseline, 59.7% (<i>n</i> = 86/144) at month 3, and 59.3% (<i>n</i> = 83/140) at month 6 (all <i>P</i> > 0.05). For the secondary outcomes, adherent patients had a significantly lower pill burden at baseline (mean 9.9 vs. 11.5 pills; <i>P</i> = 0.033), although this was not observed at month 3 or month 6. Medication knowledge scores were consistently higher among adherent patients at baseline (<i>P</i> < 0.001), month 3 (<i>P</i> = 0.002), and month 6 (<i>P</i> < 0.001). CKD stages differed significantly between adherent and nonadherent patients at all time points (baseline, <i>P</i> = 0.005; month 3, <i>P</i> = 0.006; month 6, <i>P</i> = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the clinical value of pharmacist-led, medication-level adherence assessment, enabling targeted interventions to optimize therapy, reduce complications, and improve patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108824/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147774780","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":"Variability in Drug-Drug Interaction Identification Across Commonly Used Drug Information Resources: An Analysis of Real world Tertiary Care Prescriptions (Retrospective Cross sectional Study).","authors":"Swastik Verma, Shubham Atal, Bhavya Bhavya, Balakrishnan Sadasivam","doi":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_119_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_119_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate and compare three popular drug interaction checkers - Lexidrug, Medscape, and Drugs.com - in detecting major drug-drug interactions (DDIs) from real-world prescriptions in a tertiary care hospital.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 500 randomly selected prescriptions from a hospital database, identifying 1133 unique drug pairs. Each pair was checked for potential interactions using all three platforms. We compared how often DDIs were detected, their severity ratings, and agreement between tools using Cohen's kappa for concordance.</p><p><strong>Finding: </strong>Polypharmacy, defined as five or more drugs, was present in 23.8% of prescriptions, with an average of 6.3 drugs per patient. Polypharmacy was strongly linked to severe DDIs, showing nearly a threefold increased risk. Drugs.com identified the highest number of DDIs (21%), followed by Lexidrug (19.6%) and Medscape (16.2%). Severity ratings varied, and agreement between the tools was moderate (κ = 0.47-0.50).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is notable variation in detecting and classifying major DDIs among these common tools. Standardizing databases and interaction definitions is important. Meanwhile, clinicians should use multiple checkers alongside their clinical judgment to ensure safer prescribing when managing patients on many drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":17158,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice","volume":"15 1","pages":"19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108825/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147774808","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}