PharmacyPub Date : 2025-01-04DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy13010003
João Rafael Gonçalves, Neuza Magalhães, Sara Machado, Isabel Ramalhinho, Afonso Miguel Cavaco
{"title":"Pharmacist-Mediated Deprescribing in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Systematic Review.","authors":"João Rafael Gonçalves, Neuza Magalhães, Sara Machado, Isabel Ramalhinho, Afonso Miguel Cavaco","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy13010003","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy13010003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are prevalent among Long-Term Care (LTC) users. Older people, who most use LTC services, are more prone to drug-related problems, which polypharmacy aggravates. Deprescribing is a key intervention to address polypharmacy and inappropriate medication. Evidence shows that pharmacists' expertise in medicines and their growing involvement in clinical-oriented activities have proven to play an essential role across many healthcare settings, including LTC. Thus, this study aimed to identify and assess LTC pharmacist-mediated deprescribing. A systematic review was undertaken following the PRISMA checklist, using three literature databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge). A set of 18 keywords, divided into three domains (professional, type of care, and type of setting), were combined into search equations. The studies selected were assessed through the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria out of 288 initial hits. Pharmacist-mediated deprescribing was divided into specific (targeted to a medicine group) and non-specific. Half of the studies were graded as low quality (53%). In total, the studies enrolled 6928 patients and 45 pharmacists. The ATC groups A, C, M, and N, as well as medicines with anticholinergic properties, were the most addressed medicines groups. Acceptance rates of pharmacists' recommendations ranged between 30% and 100%. Generically, the number of medicines was reduced after the intervention. Mixed results were found for falls and quality of life outcomes. Cost savings associated with the interventions ranged from neutral to as high as 3800 €/patient/year. Barriers to deprescribing were mainly linked to patients' or family members' refusal to change. In conclusion, pharmacist-mediated deprescribing seems feasible in LTC. The studies' methodological heterogeneity hampers robust comparisons and conclusions. The medicine groups targeted by deprescribing can help tailor interventions to optimize the use of medicines in LTC. A detailed understanding of barriers and enablers to deprescribing would support developing and implementing these interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755577/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143024869","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-31DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy13010002
Josipa Bukic, Doris Rusic, Toni Durdov, Kristian Tarabaric, Darko Modun, Dario Leskur, Ana Seselja Perisin, Martin Kondza, Josko Bozic
{"title":"Pharmacy Customers' Attitudes Towards Expanded Pharmacy Services in Croatia.","authors":"Josipa Bukic, Doris Rusic, Toni Durdov, Kristian Tarabaric, Darko Modun, Dario Leskur, Ana Seselja Perisin, Martin Kondza, Josko Bozic","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy13010002","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy13010002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pharmacists have been recognized as the most accessible healthcare professionals, and research has been carried out on expanded pharmacy services they could provide. Additional pharmacy services are a cost-effective way to prevent medication errors, reduce the number of drug-related problems, and prevent chronic disease progression. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate pharmacy service users' views of expanded pharmacy services in Croatia. This study included 745 participants. Patients who have a healthcare professional in their family more frequently knew of the existence of e-health records and the option to share it with their pharmacists (134, 56.3% vs. 229, 45.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.005), while persons that have chronic illness more frequently visit the same pharmacy (176, 77.9% vs. 178, 34.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Participants are confident that pharmacists can provide screening services and education on inhaler usage; however, only around 60% agreed that pharmacists can independently lead therapy adjustment, medication substitution, or monitor therapy based on test results. Our findings should be supported with projects evaluating the cost-effectiveness of such services as they would be accepted by a greater number of pharmacy service users if covered by the national health insurer.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755540/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143024863","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-29DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy13010001
Josipa Bukić, Dario Leskur, Toni Durdov, Joško Božić, Darko Modun, Ana Šešelja Perišin, Daniela Ančić, Martina Šepetavc, Ante Mihanović, Doris Rušić
{"title":"Empowering Patient Safety: Assessment of Adverse Drug Reaction Knowledge and Practice Among Pharmacy Professionals.","authors":"Josipa Bukić, Dario Leskur, Toni Durdov, Joško Božić, Darko Modun, Ana Šešelja Perišin, Daniela Ančić, Martina Šepetavc, Ante Mihanović, Doris Rušić","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy13010001","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy13010001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite technological advancements, healthcare professionals must actively prioritize patient safety. Reporting adverse drug reactions is a critical aspect of this responsibility, and the most accessible healthcare providers, community pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians play a key role. Therefore, this study assessed their knowledge and practices regarding adverse drug reaction reporting in Croatia. A total of 180 participants were included. Pharmacists demonstrated significantly better knowledge than technicians (94.78 vs. 73.97, <i>p</i> = 0.024). Chronic medication users also showed greater understanding compared to non-users (104.96 vs. 85.39, <i>p</i> = 0.021). Knowledge improved with the number of adverse drug reactions reported, and most participants (72.78%) had reported adverse drug reactions. Pharmacists were 83.60% more likely to report adverse drug reactions than technicians (<i>p</i> < 0.001). These findings reveal a gap in pharmacy technicians' integration into pharmacovigilance, underscoring a need to strengthen their role in adverse drug reaction reporting and patient safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755484/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143024861","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-23DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060188
Kimberly C McKeirnan, Megan E Giruzzi, Damianne C Brand, Nick R Giruzzi, Kavya Vaitla, Juliet Dang
{"title":"Education for Healthcare Providers: Impact of Academic Detailing on Reducing Misinformation and Strengthening Influenza Vaccine Recommendations.","authors":"Kimberly C McKeirnan, Megan E Giruzzi, Damianne C Brand, Nick R Giruzzi, Kavya Vaitla, Juliet Dang","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy12060188","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy12060188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recommendations from a trusted healthcare provider have been shown to be the most effective intervention for encouraging patients to be vaccinated. However, providers have reported feeling less prepared to address vaccination questions and having less time to discuss vaccines with patients than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers may benefit from a brief update about the available influenza vaccines and vaccination guidelines. Academic detailing is an evidence-based approach for preparing healthcare providers to discuss getting vaccinated with patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An academic detailing presentation was developed using influenza statistics, vaccination recommendations, and recent local and national immunization rate data. Academic detailing was conducted with physicians and community pharmacy personnel in Yakima County, Washington, between November 2023 and January 2024. Yakima County is designated as a medically underserved area due to a lack of providers. A pre-detailing survey was conducted to evaluate participant knowledge of current ACIP recommendations and gather opinions about local resident vaccination barriers. A post-detailing survey was conducted to gather participants' opinions about the value of detailing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Prior to the training, 73% of providers believed it was important to discuss influenza vaccination with patients, but only 52% felt confident in combating misinformation. Healthcare providers believed misinformation and vaccine hesitancy are the most common barriers for Yakima County patients, but recent survey results showed that online scheduling systems, long wait times, and limited appointment hours were the predominant issues reported locally. Two out of 12 community pharmacy personnel and zero resident physicians correctly named all three preferentially recommended influenza vaccines for patients 65 years and older. Overall, 96% of detailing participants reported that the session was valuable, 87% believed it would help them combat vaccine misinformation, and 65% reported planning to have more conversations with patients about influenza vaccination after participating.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Physicians and community pharmacy immunizers found the influenza vaccines academic detailing to be valuable. Staying up to date on vaccination guidelines can prepare providers to be confident in having informed conversations with patients about getting vaccinated.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"12 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11678551/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898813","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-15DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060187
Raffaele La Regina, Pasquale Innelli, Fulvio Glisenti, Gianbattista Bollani, Eugenio Leopardi, Gian Franco Gensini, Savina Nodari, Giuseppe La Regina, Micaela La Regina, Francesco Gabbrielli
{"title":"AIHEMAF-P: An Innovative Healthcare Model for Atrial Fibrillation Patients.","authors":"Raffaele La Regina, Pasquale Innelli, Fulvio Glisenti, Gianbattista Bollani, Eugenio Leopardi, Gian Franco Gensini, Savina Nodari, Giuseppe La Regina, Micaela La Regina, Francesco Gabbrielli","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy12060187","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy12060187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias of clinical relevance and a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Following a diagnosis of AF, patients are directed towards therapy with anticoagulant drugs to reduce the thromboembolic risk and antiarrhythmics to control their cardiac rhythm, with periodic follow-up checks. Despite the great ease of handling these drugs, we soon realized the need for follow-up models that would allow the appropriateness and safety of these pharmacological treatments to be monitored over time. This pilot study was conducted at a rural pharmacy. The study comprised 47 patients (average age 71.22 years) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (68% being paroxysmal) on NOACs. Twenty percent of the enrolled subjects lived alone and fifty-four percent of the participants stated that they were not independent in managing their treatment. The primary aim was to describe the implementation and the outcomes of an innovative smart clinic model in which a local trained pharmacist is a case manager, and the patient carries out the required checks via telemedicine and point-of-care testing systems (POCT) under the service pharmacy regime; the results of the checks could be shared in real time with the attending general practitioner and the relevant specialist. The secondary aims of this study were to evaluate adherence to the planned controls, the prescriptive appropriateness of the dosages and drugs and adherence to the prescribed therapy, the occurrence of pharmacological problems linked to drug type interactions, the occurrence of hemorrhagic and/or thromboembolic complications, the acceptance by the general practitioners and/or the specialists of the reports made by the pharmacist on the subsequent actions undertaken, the economic and social impact of this model on the National Health Service and on the patient, and the impact on the quality perceived by the patients involved in this innovative monitoring process. Compliance with the planned checks was 93%. The dosage of the anticoagulant drug during enrollment was found to be inappropriate, without apparent clinical reasons, in 11% of the sample. Adherence to the anticoagulant therapy was found to be 98%. In total, 214 drug-drug interactions of varying clinical relevance were detected. No embolic events were detected; however, 13% of the sample reported a major hemorrhagic event, which came to light thanks to the close monitoring of hemoglobinemia. A total of 109 reports were made to the patients' referring doctors in relation to the summarized anomalies, and 84% were accepted by the referring clinicians. Therefore, community pharmacists and pharmacy services represent ideal actors and contexts that, when integrated into the care network, can really favor individual care plan adherence and achieve daily morbidity reductions and cost savings through proper disease control and the early diagnosis of complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"12 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11678834/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898752","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-10DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060186
Ciarra A Boyne, Tammie M Johnson, Lindsay P Toth, Michael R Richardson, James R Churilla
{"title":"Objectively-Measured Sedentary Time and Self-Reported Prescription Medication Use Among Adults: A Pilot Study.","authors":"Ciarra A Boyne, Tammie M Johnson, Lindsay P Toth, Michael R Richardson, James R Churilla","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy12060186","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy12060186","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While previous research has linked physical activity (PA) with lower prescription medication consumption, limited evidence has investigated sedentary time (ST) as a major contributor to medication use, despite ST's known association with chronic disease and mortality risk, even when PA volume is considered. This study aimed to examine the independent associations between objectively measured ST, patterns of sedentary bouts, and self-reported prescription medication use among adults ≥25 years of age. Thirty-two participants reported the number and type of medications they were currently prescribed and wore an accelerometer continuously on their hip for seven days to detect their ST. Poisson regression analysis was used to assess how average daily ST, sedentary bout frequency, and sedentary bout duration influenced medication use. The results revealed a significant association between greater ST and higher medication consumption. Specifically, each additional hour of ST per day, each sedentary bout, and each one-minute increase in bout duration were linked to a 66% (PR 1.66; 95% CI 1.25-2.19; <i>p</i> < 0.001), 36% (PR 1.36; 95% CI 1.12-1.64; <i>p</i> < 0.01), and 9% (PR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.16; <i>p</i> < 0.01) higher prevalence of prescription medications, respectively. These findings suggest that higher ST is associated with a greater prevalence of using prescription medications in adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"12 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11677380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898225","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-05DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060185
Abbie L Blunier, R Jake Crocker, Rachel Foster, Stephanie S May, Caroline E Powers, P Brandon Bookstaver
{"title":"Rationale and Logistics of Continuous Infusion Cephalosporin Antibiotics.","authors":"Abbie L Blunier, R Jake Crocker, Rachel Foster, Stephanie S May, Caroline E Powers, P Brandon Bookstaver","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy12060185","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy12060185","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cephalosporins have traditionally been administered as an intermittent infusion. With the knowledge that cephalosporins demonstrate a time-dependent pharmacodynamic profile, administration via continuous infusion may provide more effective antibiotic exposure for successful therapy. Proposed benefits of administration via continuous infusion include less IV manipulation, decreased potential for antibiotic resistance, and potential cost savings. The objective of this review was to provide a detailed assessment of available evidence for the use of continuous infusion cephalosporins and practical dosing and administration recommendations. Studies were gathered and assessed for inclusion via a literature search of PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE using mesh terms [\"continuous infusion\" and \"cephalosporin\"], \"intermittent infusion\", [\"intermittent versus continuous\" and \"cephalosporin\"], \"continuous infusion cephalosporin\", as well as specific drug names. References from included studies were also evaluated for inclusion. Data which compared the two administration methods (continuous infusion vs. intermittent infusion) were evaluated. Thirty-five studies were analyzed among several cephalosporins with variable delivery. Dosing regimens utilized in the selected studies were assessed with known compatibility and stability data and further summarized.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"12 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11678214/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898193","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-05DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060184
Rie Sato, Syuichi Aoshima, Tommy Eriksson
{"title":"Clinical Pharmacist-Led Collaboration of Multiple Clinical Professions Model Focusing on Continuity of Pharmacotherapy: Japanese Version of the Lund Integrated Medicines Management (LIMM) Model.","authors":"Rie Sato, Syuichi Aoshima, Tommy Eriksson","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy12060184","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy12060184","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: In general, it is known that continuity of care can contribute to an increase in patient satisfaction, reduce health care costs, and improve patient outcomes. A guarantee of continuity in pharmacotherapy is a big challenge facing Japanese health care as a system that encourages cooperation/collaboration for pharmacists with other health care professions is currently lacking. (2) Method: This is a narrative review. (3) Results: The Lund Integrated Medicine Management (LIMM) model describes a systematic approach to individuals and was developed in Sweden to optimize pharmacotherapy among elderly inpatients. The aim of the LIMM model is to provide patients with continuous pharmacotherapy at different levels of care. The LIMM model, in which a clinical pharmacist is the catalyst and leads other health care professions in completing the process, has the potential to reduce potentially inappropriate prescriptions, reduce rehospitalization risk, unscheduled hospital revisits due to problems related to medications, reduce total medical expenditure, and provide a comprehensive understanding of patients' conditions of taking medicine. (4) Conclusions: Introducing a framework such as Sweden's LIMM model, anchored by clinical pharmacists, could provide a good opportunity to promote collaborations among different health care professionals and improve continuity in pharmacotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"12 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11679876/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898763","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-04DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060182
Milana Špoģe, Mirdza Kursīte, Elita Poplavska
{"title":"Latvian Healthcare Professionals' Self-Reported Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Related to Pregnancy Prevention Program Materials for Valproate-Containing Medicines.","authors":"Milana Špoģe, Mirdza Kursīte, Elita Poplavska","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy12060182","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy12060182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Valproates are recognized for their significant teratogenic risks, which can lead to physical defects and developmental disorders when used during pregnancy. To mitigate these risks, the Pregnancy Prevention Program (PPP) was developed by European regulators for patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Despite the crucial nature of this program, the implementation of the PPP does not appear to be fully effective. This situation highlights the need for a deeper understanding of HCPs' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding the PPP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study using anonymous electronic questionnaires was conducted. The questionnaires were developed by a board of experts from eight different EU countries and were distributed among prescribers (general practitioners (GPs), neurologists, and psychiatrists) and pharmacists. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the obtained data on participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding the prescribing and dispensing of valproate-containing medicines to women of reproductive age, as well as the impact of PPP materials on their work.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study results indicate that while HCPs in Latvia are generally aware of valproate teratogenic risks, significant gaps remain in the implementation of the PPP. A considerable number of both prescribers and pharmacists expressed the belief that they are not responsible for educating patients about the PPP, attributing this responsibility to other specialists. Furthermore, barriers such as a lack of time and accessible materials were identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The roles and responsibilities of HCPs should be clearly defined to improve adherence to the PPP. Further research is needed to assess prescription and dispensing strategies, as well as HCPs' attitudes toward the PPP. Additionally, re-evaluating and enhancing the accessibility of PPP materials is essential in effective risk management and better patient care.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"12 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11679773/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142897817","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}
PharmacyPub Date : 2024-12-04DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12060183
Samantha S Bastow, Eric P Borrelli, Julia D Lucaci, Heather Nelkin, April Graves, Amanda Hays
{"title":"Insights from a National Survey on Controlled Substance Diversion Practices in U.S. Hospital Pharmacies: Opportunities for Enhanced Surveillance and Compliance.","authors":"Samantha S Bastow, Eric P Borrelli, Julia D Lucaci, Heather Nelkin, April Graves, Amanda Hays","doi":"10.3390/pharmacy12060183","DOIUrl":"10.3390/pharmacy12060183","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explored controlled substance (CS) diversion surveillance practices within hospital pharmacies across the United States. A survey with questions based on published CS diversion risk points was conducted in May 2024. A total of 66 participants from 31 states responded, with 54.5% from single facilities and the remaining from health systems. Most respondents were pharmacy directors, managers, or those in dedicated drug diversion roles. Over 70% have dedicated surveillance teams and use drug diversion software. Results highlight variation in practices, with larger institutions generally showing better compliance. Compliance in procurement and receiving was high for access measures; however, auditing of processes was lower. The lowest procurement compliance was in monitoring periodic automatic replacement (PAR) levels and validating orders with wholesalers. Storage practices showed high compliance in deploying cameras, but low compliance in monitoring them. Dispensing practices had high compliance for restricting CS in automated dispensing cabinets, but low incidence of witness verification during stocking. Waste and disposal practices were well-followed, but training on detecting potential signs of medication tampering was less common. The survey highlights that while strategies to prevent CS diversion exist, their implementation varies. Enhancing monitoring, auditing, and training is essential to strengthen diversion prevention efforts in hospital pharmacies.</p>","PeriodicalId":30544,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacy","volume":"12 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11676067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898804","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}