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Flow diagram describes the procedures involved in the search and selection process for Randomized and Non-Randomized controlled studies
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Introduction
Pharmaceutical care services (PCs) have evolved significantly over the last few decades, with a greater focus on patient’s safety and proven effectiveness in a wide range of contexts. Many of the evidence supporting this technique comes from the United States, the evaluation and adoption of (PCs) which differ greatly across the globe....
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Citations
... Pharmacists are well-positioned to correct prescribing errors and reduce the number of drug-related problems such as drug interactions, contraindications, dosing errors, etc. [4]. Multiple studies have confirmed pharmacists' capability to reduce drug-related problems and improve patients' medication adherence, while proper pharmaceutical care could significantly improve patients' knowledge about chronic diseases [6,7]. Pharmacies are well-equipped with tools necessary for measuring weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and sometimes even a larger number of diagnostic parameters; therefore, they could play a significant part in identifying risk factors of multiple conditions and recognizing early signs of it [8]. ...
... Additional pharmacy services are a cost-effective way to prevent medication errors, reduce the number of drug-related problems, and prevent chronic disease progression [6]. Recent studies state that patients who received additional pharmacy services related to chronic disease management had improved intermediate clinical outcomes and numbers of adverse drug reactions while also gaining important knowledge and practices regarding their condition, e.g., improving inhaler technique in asthma patients [10][11][12]. ...
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%, p = 0.005), while persons that have chronic illness more frequently visit the same pharmacy (176, 77.9% vs. 178, 34.3%, p < 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.
... Pharmaceutical care is defined as a "patient-centred pharmacist activity to improve medicines management by patients and encompasses a variety of specific services" [45]. Structured interventions (e.g., oral interventions) are known for producing positive patient health outcomes, such as resolving drug-related problems or improving medicine adherence [46]. The oral pharmaceutical interventions of the selected trials adopted very heterogeneous methodologies, as follows: motivational interviews to address negative health behaviors, such as adherence [18]; reinforced education about the correct use of antibiotics [22,25,28,29]; counseling about antibiotics, followed by a phone call [27]; the evaluation of the intention to take a certain antibiotic (e.g., theory of planned behavior) [30]; and the use of a model/tool to support a pharmacist intervention, followed by a follow-up phone call [31]. ...
Background: Patient adherence to antibiotics is vital to ensure treatment efficiency. Objective: To evaluate the impact of pharmacist communication-based interventions on patients’ adherence to antibiotics. Methods: A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for systematic review (PRISMA) checklist and flow diagram. Controlled trials were included. Databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and Google Scholar. Quality, risk of bias, and confidence in cumulative evidence were evaluated. Results: Twenty-one trials were selected, with better patient adherence for the intervention than the control group. However, statistically significant differences were only found in two-thirds of these trials. The use of educational leaflets, personalized delivery of antibiotics, follow-up measures, and structured counseling were among the most impactful and significant interventions. The fact that community and/or hospital pharmacists were required to intervene in both groups (e.g., intervention vs. control/usual care) may explain that statistically significant differences were not achieved in all trials. Moderate quality issues and/or risk of bias were detected in some of the evaluated trials. The cumulative evidence was classified as high to moderate, which was considered acceptable. Conclusion: It seems that more intense and structured pharmacist interventions can improve patient adherence to antibiotics.
... It is well known that pharmacists in many states in the USA and provinces in Canada are allowed to refill, modify, and even prescribe medications under a protocol or collaborative agreements, which may facilitate a more direct patient care role for pharmacists when monitoring patients on depression treatment [69]. Limited public awareness about the community pharmacists' role beyond those related to dispensing medications may also contribute to this paucity in the provision of more advanced or clinically focused community-based services observed in most Middle Eastern countries [70,71]. There is also a wide gap in pharmacy practice across the different healthcare settings. ...
Background
Worldwide, depression is known to contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. Considering pharmacists are among the most approachable healthcare providers, they are well-placed to assist people with depression achieve positive treatment outcomes.
Aim
The primary aim was to examine the evidence regarding pharmacists’ roles in interventions, outcomes, and barriers to implementation within depression care globally, with the secondary aim focusing on the Arab region.
Method
A scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR extension guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute framework, using Scopus, Cochrane, ProQuest, and Medline databases for studies worldwide and within the Arab region (22 Arab-league countries). Article selection, along with data extraction, analysis, and narrative synthesis were performed independently by two reviewers. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus.
Results
Forty studies reporting various roles and services provided by pharmacists in depression management were included. Most articles (24) described studies on pharmacist-led specific/single interventions/management strategies, and 16 described studies in which pharmacists provided comprehensive or team-based services. The majority of studies reported positive impact on patient outcomes. In accordance with the secondary aim, only three studies assessed various pharmacists’ services for people with depression in the Arab region. Barriers to effective depression-related care included time constraints and training needs.
Conclusion
This scoping review supports the expanding role of pharmacists in depression management. The interventions, impact, challenges, and research gaps identified serve as preliminary evidence for advocating for an expanded pharmacists’ scope of practice in mental health, both globally and in the Arab region.
... Despite these advances in regulatory collaboration, it is notable that currently no specific regulations have been detected for online purchases from online pharmacies in the Middle East, highlighting a significant area for potential regulatory development. Furthermore, a notable transition is observed in pharmacy education across several Middle Eastern nations, with an inclination towards introducing Pharm.D degrees to replace traditional pharmacy degrees, reflective of evolving educational standards in the pharmaceutical field [128]. This shift in education parallels the need for updated regulatory frameworks, especially in the context of the burgeoning online pharmacy sector. ...
In the face of rapid technological advancement, the pharmacy sector is undergoing a significant digital transformation. This review explores the transformative impact of digitalization in the global pharmacy sector. We illustrated how advancements in technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and online platforms are reshaping pharmacy services and education. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the growth of online pharmacy platforms and the pivotal role of telepharmacy and telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it discusses the burgeoning cosmeceutical market within online pharmacies, the regulatory challenges faced globally, and the private sector’s influence on healthcare technology. Conclusively, the paper highlights future trends and technological innovations, underscoring the dynamic evolution of the pharmacy landscape in response to digital transformation.
... Considerably, the prevailing evidence predominantly originated from the developed Western world, primarily mirrors the healthcare systems of the studies encompassed and may not directly translate to other regions or transitional care (TOC) programmes. The MENA region is diverse in its healthcare systems' structures, financing, and challenges , as well as in the education, training, privileges, and practicesof pharmacists (Sallom et al., 2023). Despite advancements in clinical pharmacy education, practice, and research in the MENA region (Badreldin et al., 2020;Boura et al., 2022;Hammad et al., 2017;Obaid et al., 2022), there is a clear gap in understanding how pharmacists can optimise transitional care process. ...
Background
Transition of care (TOC) is associated with an increased risk of medication-related problems. Despite recent advancements in pharmacy practice and research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the characteristics and impact of regional pharmacy-supported TOC interventions remain unclear.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to describe pharmacist-supported TOC interventions in the MENA region and evaluate their effectiveness.
Methods
PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, World Health Organization’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) were searched from their inception to March 9, 2023, for experimental studies published in English, comparing pharmacist-supported TOC interventions with usual care for adults (age ≥18 years) discharged from the hospital. The risk of bias was evaluated using Cochrane’s risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials (ROB2) and the risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for randomised and non-randomised studies respectively. Narrative syntheses and meta-analysis methods were employed depending on the outcomes evaluated.
Results
Twelve studies (n = 2377 subjects), 10 randomised controlled trials and 2 quasi-experimental studies, were included. Most studies had high or serious risk of bias. The included studies were quite heterogeneous in terms of nature and the delivery of intervention, and assessment of outcome measures. Compared to the usual care group, pharmacist-led TOC interventions contributed to a significant reduction in preventable drug-related (N = 2) and cardiac-related healthcare utilisation (N = 1), a significant reduction in preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) (Odds ratio (OR) 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13-0.94) and an improvement in medication adherence. However, all-cause hospitalisation and medication discrepancies were not significantly reduced.
Conclusion
Pharmacy-supported TOC interventions may improve patient outcomes in the MENA region. However, considering the limited quality of evidence and the variability in intervention delivery, future well-designed clinical trials are needed.
... The healthcare systems in developing countries are less developed and more prone to resource limitations. In Jordan, the healthcare system is regarded as among the most prominent in the Middle East due to the quality of healthcare services provided [8,9]. Despite the limited use of electronic prescriptions and patient records in Jordanian hospitals, health informatics has grown, notably with the introduction of the Hakeem Program in October 2009. ...
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly impacting patients' quality of life (QoL) due to the heightened risk of infection and amputation. Pharmacists play a crucial role in managing diabetes and its complications, and assessing QoL can be a valuable tool for monitoring treatment success and medication effectiveness. This review explores instruments used to measure QoL in patients with DFUs, encompassing both general and disease-specific tools. We examine the impact of DFUs on QoL and discuss various theoretical frameworks used to understand this complex relationship.
Pharmaceutical services in hospitals are an inseparable part of the hospital's health service system that is oriented towards patient service, the provision of quality and affordable pharmaceutical preparations, medical devices, and consumables for all levels of society including clinical pharmacy services. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the implementation of pharmaceutical services based on WHO indicators. The articles used were selected from the Google Scholar journal database published from January 2013 to December 2023. Keywords for the study included "service" or "pharmaceutical" or "pharmacy" or "indicator" or "hospital" or "WHO". A total of 476 articles were generated from the initial search, the author identified 8 articles on pharmaceutical services based on WHO indicators. Based on a systematic review, most hospitals have implemented pharmaceutical services based on WHO indicators. Based on a systematic review, the implementation of pharmaceutical services in accordance with WHO standards is the selection stage: conformity with the hospital formulary; procurement: frequency of procurement of each drug item annually and on an EOQ basis; distribution: the degree of availability of the drug; Usage: percentage of generic prescriptions, percentage of drugs delivered, percentage of drugs labeled complete and average time spent serving prescriptions.
The evolution of pharmaceutical care services has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from a product-focused approach to a patient-centered model. This article explores the historical development, patient-centered approach, Medication Therapy Management (MTM) programs, collaborative care, technological integration, challenges, and future directions in pharmaceutical care services. Pharmacists now play a pivotal role in optimizing medication therapy, conducting comprehensive assessments, and working collaboratively with healthcare providers. Advancements in technology, such as electronic health records and automated systems, have further enhanced the quality of care provided. Despite challenges related to reimbursement and scope of practice, the trajectory of pharmaceutical care services is moving toward greater recognition and integration within healthcare systems.
