Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of insulin pen injection practices and the effectiveness of pharmacist interventions in improving injection technique among patients with diabetes mellitus","authors":"Bidur Sharma ,&nbsp;Devindra Kumar Neupane ,&nbsp;Rahi Bikram Thapa ,&nbsp;Rajani Shakya ,&nbsp;Rojeena Koju Shrestha ,&nbsp;Pooja Rimal","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Insulin therapy is crucial for Type 1 and advanced Type 2 diabetes management. Despite the convenience of insulin pens, improper use persists due to limited patient education. Pharmacists' expertise in counseling and medication safety uniquely positions them to address these gaps through individualized guidance on use, adherence, and monitoring.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led interventions on improving insulin injection practices among diabetes patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A pre–post interventional study was conducted at Dhulikhel Hospital (April–September 2018) among 81 consecutively enrolled insulin pen users (≥12 years; on pens ≥2 weeks) from inpatient and outpatient wards. Patients underwent baseline assessment of 16 injection technique elements, received one-to-one pharmacist-led training with demonstration, and were reassessed immediately and after 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the total technique score (0–16), analyzed using Friedman's test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Cold chain maintenance was suboptimal, with 51.9 % of patients transporting insulin cartridges without an icepack. Unsafe needle disposal was common, with 40.7 % discarding needles in municipal vehicles, 13.6 % in bushes, and 4.9 % in rivers. Pharmacist-led interventions significantly improved all practices (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Proper cartridge storage increased from 77.8 % pre-intervention to 91.4 % post-intervention and 88.6 % at two weeks. Correct room temperature pen storage rose from 49.4 % to 95.1 % post-intervention, declining slightly to 70.8 % at two weeks. Correct insulin mixing surged from 7.8 % to 100 % post-intervention, remaining at 81.1 % at two weeks. Injection technique scores significantly improved (median pre = 10, post = 15) and were largely sustained (median two-weeks = 14).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Pharmacist-led education significantly improved insulin injection techniques. Integrating pharmacists into routine diabetes care and reinforcing education is essential to sustain these improvements. These findings underscore that clinical pharmacy interventions make a tangible difference in improving healthcare outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100671"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145319930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of patient information on prescribing errors: Insights from pharmaceutical interventions","authors":"Daisuke Koike ,&nbsp;Masahiro Ito ,&nbsp;Keiko Tomomatsu ,&nbsp;Ryuta Shindo ,&nbsp;Terumi Miyashita ,&nbsp;Junichi Yamakami ,&nbsp;Akihiko Horiguchi ,&nbsp;Shigeki Yamada","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Medication errors are more likely to occur in patients with complex conditions, where appropriate prescribing requires accurate and comprehensive patient information. Inadequate use of such information, such as overlooking laboratory results or patient weight, can lead to dosing errors or contraindicated prescriptions, even with electronic checking systems. This study aimed to analyze prescribing errors detected through pharmaceutical interventions, focusing on the patient information in the hospital information system.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective analysis was conducted on 9774 pharmaceutical interventions performed between April 2019 and March 2020. Of these, 3372 interventions related to patient information stored in hospital information system were included. Prescribing errors were categorized into five patient-specific information categories: allergy information, laboratory data, concomitant drugs, patient weight, and patient status and history. Demographic and prescription data were analyzed, and a heatmap was developed to visualize high-risk areas.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the included interventions, 1352 (40.1 %) prescriptions involved corrections of prescribing errors, with laboratory data being the most frequently utilized patient information source (<em>n</em> = 2526). Error rates were higher in weekend settings compared to weekday settings (56.2 % vs. 38.3 %, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001, Cramér's V = 0.111), and prescriptions for patients younger than 20 years exhibited the highest error rates among age groups (66.9 %; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Error rates were significantly varied by drug type (P &lt; 0.001, Cramér's V = 0.395). Among these, digestive drugs showed the highest error rates (69.1 %), particularly those requiring renal dosing adjustments. Conversely, anti-tumor agents demonstrated a lower error rate (15.9 %) due to stringent monitoring processes. The high-risk heatmap highlighted specific risks, such as weight data for younger patients and patient status for anti-inflammatory drugs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Laboratory data were the most frequently used information source, to prevent prescribing errors. The risk heatmap demonstrated weekends, pediatric patients, and renal dosing as high-risk areas. These findings suggest that future information systems should enhance the utility of laboratory data and incorporate tailored alerting strategies focused on high-risk patient conditions and clinical settings, such as real-time lab data alerts or weight-based dosing calculators, and potentially explore the use of AI for proactive error prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100665"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A qualitative exploration of pharmacists' roles in centralised vaccination centres during the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"Jessica Bennett ,&nbsp;Aoife Clabby ,&nbsp;James W. Barlow ,&nbsp;Theo Ryan ,&nbsp;Muriel Pate ,&nbsp;Joan Peppard ,&nbsp;Damon Gaffney ,&nbsp;Niamh Dillon ,&nbsp;Frank Moriarty ,&nbsp;Michelle Flood","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid implementation of public health interventions aimed at protecting population health. In Ireland, mass vaccination was integral to the national response. Pharmacists played key roles in the safe delivery of vaccines within centralised vaccination centres (CVCs), particularly medicines management and vaccine stewardship. This study aimed to explore pharmacists' motivations for taking on these roles, explore their experiences and identify how their learning may inform the future development of pharmacy practice and education in Ireland, with a view to strengthening preparedness for future public health emergencies.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative case study methodology design was employed, using semi-structured interviews for data collection. Fourteen pharmacists were recruited, with eleven included in the final analysis. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.</div><div>Findings.</div><div>Three primary themes were developed from the data: (1) A Sense of Duty and Opportunity, (2) Navigating the Frontline: Challenges and Adaptation, and (3) Professional Growth and Future Directions. Pharmacists reported some challenges working in high-pressure, fast-changing, multidisciplinary environments. Their experiences highlighted the evolving scope of pharmacy practice and the unique contribution pharmacists can make within multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in national-level public health responses.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Pharmacists' involvement in CVCs provided opportunities to develop and showcase their professional competencies in MDTs, notwithstanding challenges associated with the role. The findings also emphasise the importance of effective multidisciplinary teamwork and mutual respect among healthcare professionals. A continued focus on interprofessional learning and practice, alongside expansion and recognition of the pharmacists' roles, may enhance preparedness for future public health emergencies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100668"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community pharmacy resiliency during Covid-19 pandemic in Iran: A qualitative study","authors":"Zhivan Zomorodi ,&nbsp;Faezeh Valaei Sharif ,&nbsp;Najmeh Moradi ,&nbsp;Zahra Sharif","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global healthcare systems. This qualitative study explores how community pharmacists in Iran demonstrated resilience during this disaster. Despite challenges like medication shortages, Personal Protective Equipment deficiencies, and staffing issues, pharmacists implemented innovative measures such as social distancing protocols, remote consultations, and home delivery services. Insights from this study inform strategies to enhance healthcare system preparedness for future public health preparedness.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study qualitatively explores experiences of Iranian pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on resilience, emergency management strategies, challenges faced and future emergency preparedness.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 pharmacists (14 men, 11 women; mean practice experience: 10–14 years) in Tehran and Alborz provinces. Data were analyzed thematically using MAXQDA and following Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework<em>.</em></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Analysis of 1260 codes and 11 categories revealed that pharmacists faced operational challenges, including increased work load, psychological strain, financial constraints, and supply shortages. In response, they adapted creatively, employing strategies such as teleconsultations, public health education, inventory sharing, and strict safety protocols. However, participants consistently highlighted policy and systemic gaps, including insufficient governmental support and the limited integration of pharmacists into crisis management frameworks.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Community pharmacies played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting rapidly and expanding public health services. Strengthening telepharmacy infrastructure, supply chain policies, and integrating pharmacists into national preparedness frameworks is essential to improve healthcare system resilience in future healthcare emergencies<em>.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100670"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145319929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Appropriateness of empiric antibiotic therapy for community-acquired pneumonia: A multicenter cross-sectional study","authors":"Deema Rahme ,&nbsp;Hania Nakkash Chmaisse ,&nbsp;Pascale Salameh","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a major public health concern, with appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy critical to improving patient outcomes and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite the availability of national guidelines, adherence among physicians in Lebanon was previously unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the appropriateness of empiric antibiotic prescribing for hospitalized CAP patients in Lebanon and identify factors associated with non-compliance with national guidelines.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted in five Lebanese hospitals across various regions. Medical records of 380 adult CAP patients were reviewed. Empiric antibiotic regimens were evaluated for compliance with national CAP guidelines based on drug selection, dosage, route, and duration. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of inappropriate prescribing.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Only 38.9 % of patients received fully guideline-concordant empiric therapy. Inappropriate prescribing was significantly associated with physician rank (residents: aOR = 29.13, <em>p</em> = 0.001), geographic region (South Lebanon: aOR = 7.78, <em>p</em> = 0.028), and antibiotic class (β-lactam plus respiratory fluoroquinolones: aOR = 19.18, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Clinical factors such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome and elevated serum creatinine were also linked to inappropriate use.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Non-compliance with national CAP treatment guidelines is widespread in Lebanese hospitals and driven by physician experience, geographic disparities, and misalignment in antibiotic selection. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship programs, regional training, and clinical decision support is essential to improve adherence and reduce AMR risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100669"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of electronic prescribing on medication changes in users of multidose drug dispensing","authors":"Anette Vik Josendal ,&nbsp;Trine Strand Bergmo","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To investigate the number and type of prescription modifications after introducing e-prescribing for multidose drug dispensing (MDD) users.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A longitudinal study using dispensing records from the main MDD supplier in Norway from June 2012 to August 2023. The study included 1522 MDD users with complete data from 24 weeks before and 24 weeks after the implementation. The main outcome measures were the number and type of prescription modifications.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In total, there was a 175 % increase in the frequency of prescription modifications, with 15.9 % of patients experiencing prescription alterations every two weeks, compared to 5.7 % before the intervention. Modifications were categorized into administrative and treatment changes. Administrative changes increased by 300 %, while treatment changes (including newly prescribed medications, discontinued medications, and dose adjustments) increased by 60 %. The proportion of patients with no prescription modifications throughout the 24 weeks decreased from 58.1 % to 26.2 % following the implementation of e-prescribing.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Transitioning to an e-prescribing system is associated with more frequent modifications to patients' prescriptions. More frequent treatment changes can potentially improve medication safety and accuracy of the medication lists, but the major increase in administrative changes can also increase the workload of involved health care personnel.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100667"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing a medication safety self-assessment tool for high-alert medications in community pharmacies","authors":"Rositsa Koleva ,&nbsp;Anita Währn ,&nbsp;Ercan Celikkayalar ,&nbsp;Sonja Kallio ,&nbsp;Raisa Laaksonen","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>High-alert medications are recognised as those carrying heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used erroneously.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To develop a high-alert medications self-assessment tool for Finnish community pharmacies.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The tool was developed using a three-phase Delphi method and is based on the Institute for Safe Medication Practices´ Medication Safety Self Assessment® for High-Alert Medications, which comprises 380 items. A pre-Delphi round was first conducted to assess tool's applicability for Finnish pharmacies, followed by two Delphi rounds with a multidisciplinary expert panel evaluating the applicability and desirability of each item. A consensus rate of 70 % was defined. Following the Delphi rounds, the tool was finalized through refinement, removal of duplicates, and reorganization.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Consensus was reached on 114 items, resulting in a finalized self-assessment tool organized into eight sections covering medicine groups such as insulin and oral diabetes medicines, anticoagulants, opioids, immunosuppressants, methotrexate, and over-the-counter high-alert medications. After the first Delphi round, 33 items were accepted without changes and 97 were revised. After the second Delphi round, 77 items were transferred to the final tool as such, 35 were modified and 21 were removed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The developed high-alert self-assessment tool offers a structured method for evaluating existing practices and implementing targeted safety measures, addressing a specific need in community pharmacies, where such resources are limited. While further validation and implementation research are needed, the tool represents a practical step toward enhancing medication safety and promoting continuous improvement in pharmacy practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100664"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk perception, attitudes, and quality of life in a multicomponent benzodiazepine deprescription strategy","authors":"Ingrid Ferrer López ,&nbsp;Antonio Olry de Labry-Lima ,&nbsp;Alicia Gutiérrez-Valencia ,&nbsp;Encarnación García Bermúdez ,&nbsp;Francisco Atienza Martín ,&nbsp;Amalia García-Delgado Morente ,&nbsp;María Dolores Murillo Fernández ,&nbsp;Yolanda Sánchez Cañete ,&nbsp;Clara Bermúdez-Tamayo","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Multicomponent strategies can reduce benzodiazepine (BZD) use. BenzoStopJuntos (Spanish for “Stop Benzos Together”), a multidisciplinary deprescribing programme of the Andalusian Health Service, supports patients to taper/stop BZD through education, behavioral support, and non-pharmacological alternatives. We evaluated whether early changes (6 months) in risk perception and attitudes—and secondarily, quality of life—were associated with long-term discontinuation of BZD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In a quasi-experimental pre–post study in two primary care centres (Seville, Spain; <em>n</em> = 243), the intervention included patient education, tapering support, and alternatives for anxiety/insomnia delivered by a multidisciplinary team. Primary outcomes were (a) short-term (6-month) changes in risk perception and attitudes and (b) long-term BZD discontinuation over 5.5 years; the secondary outcome was quality of life (WONCA/COOP), monitored to detect potential harms. Multivariable logistic regression examined whether 6-month changes in beliefs/attitudes predicted subsequent discontinuation, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>BZD discontinuation increased from 31.3 % at 6 months to 40.7 % at 5.5 years. Participants who considered BZD safe long-term were more likely to continue use (OR = 2.0; 95 % CI: 1.6–2.6). Fears of worsened anxiety/sleep strongly predicted persistence (OR = 4.7; 95 % CI: 3.6–6.1). Prior intermittent vs continuous use favored discontinuation (OR = 4.9; 95 % CI: 3.7–6.5). Quality of life improved in emotional, social, and physical domains, with no deterioration observed during follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Tailored education and behavioral strategies changed risk perceptions and attitudes, which in turn facilitated sustained BZD discontinuation without adverse effects on quality of life. Addressing patient beliefs and encouraging intermittent use patterns may enhance deprescribing success.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div><span><span>ClinicalTrials.gov</span><svg><path></path></svg></span> <span><span>NCT06209827</span><svg><path></path></svg></span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100666"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and impact of non-prescription medication misuse in the geriatric population","authors":"Moaddey Alfarhan ,&nbsp;Jala Ashqar ,&nbsp;Jawaher Ajeebi ,&nbsp;Munira Ghazwani ,&nbsp;Nouf Alnahdi ,&nbsp;Yunus Yatimi ,&nbsp;Talal AlMohammed ,&nbsp;Khalid Khubrani ,&nbsp;Dania Saleh ,&nbsp;Haya Alsharif ,&nbsp;Saeed A. Alqahtani","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Geriatric patients constitute the largest consumers of non-prescription medications. Understanding their patterns and consequences is essential.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study investigated OTC medication misuse among adults aged 65 and older in Saudi Arabia. It aimed to determine the extent of misuse, identify common medication classes, and analyze associated health risks.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study used a cross-sectional approach with 386 participants from various cities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire delivered via two modes: an online survey and in-person interviews addressing demographics, medication use, drug interaction awareness, and educational needs. The sample ensured statistical accuracy, with a 5 % margin of error and a 95 % confidence level.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The majority of participants (80.7 %) used over-the-counter medications, primarily painkillers (66.4 %). Notably, 28.5 % use five or more regular medications. Some exhibited misuse behaviors, including overdosing (14.2 %) and using OTC medications for non-recommended purposes. Additionally, 24.9 % reported drug-drug interactions. Awareness gaps were significant: 39.4 % were unaware of the dangers of misuse, 38.3 % did not know potential side effects, 43.5 % were unaware of interactions with prescribed medications, and 56.2 % did not know about contraindications. Correlation analysis revealed that participants aware of potential side effects (80.1 %) were less likely to misuse OTC drugs than those unaware (89.2 %) (<em>p</em> = 0.046), and those who understood contraindications (75.5 %) showed lower misuse rates than the unaware (86.6 %) (<em>p</em> = 0.049).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study showed that most participants frequently used OTC medications, primarily analgesics, yet lacked knowledge about these drugs. It underscores the urgent need for interventions to prevent OTC misuse among the aging population, focusing on enhancing health literacy and safe drug practices. Recommended strategies include media campaigns and clinical programs to raise awareness about OTC misuse risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100663"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community pharmacy services and patient quality of life in Lebanon's socioeconomic crisis: Findings from the IMPHACT-LB study","authors":"Aline Hajj ,&nbsp;Marwan Akel ,&nbsp;Rony M. Zeenny ,&nbsp;Hala Sacre ,&nbsp;Chadia Haddad ,&nbsp;Jihan Safwan ,&nbsp;Fouad Sakr ,&nbsp;Pascale Salameh","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In crisis-affected settings like Lebanon, community pharmacists face mounting challenges in securing quality medications and supporting patient care. This study aims to explore the association between pharmacy services, pharmacist-patient relationships, and patient quality of life during Lebanon's ongoing socioeconomic collapse.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2023, using an online convenience sampling. Validated tools, including the 5-Level EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) and EQ visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), were used to assess quality of life among a sample of 865 Lebanese adults recruited via social media platforms. Due to the absence of a national census, random sampling was not feasible, limiting generalizability.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Higher EQ-VAS scores were significantly associated with better financial well-being (Beta = 0.18, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), high monthly income (Beta = 7.04, p &lt; 0.001), regular pharmacy visits (Beta = 3.06, <em>p</em> = 0.035), and perceiving pharmacists as medication counselors (Beta = 5.43; <em>p</em> = 0.003). Lower scores were associated with a higher number of chronic diseases (Beta = −2.66; p &lt; 0.001), obtaining chronic medications from the pharmacy (Beta = −6.20), frequent pharmacy visits for medical care or counseling (Beta = −7.00; p = 0.003), spending more than 10 min with the pharmacist for counseling about a medication and/or medical condition (Beta = −6.31).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study uniquely quantifies the association between pharmacist-patient interactions and quality of life in a context of systemic disruption. While previous literature has acknowledged pharmacists' roles, our findings demonstrate that their perceived counseling function and continuity of care are independently associated with improved well-being, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and health-related factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 100659"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145218976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}