OAR@UM Collection:
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41408
2024-03-29T02:18:45ZPharmacist intervention in patient monitoring in a psychiatric setting
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41619
Title: Pharmacist intervention in patient monitoring in a psychiatric setting
Authors: Mamo, Maria; Azzopardi, Lilian M.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To develop a ‘Patient Monitoring
Tool’ (PMT) to evaluate the quality of pharmaceutical
care provided to patients in a psychiatric setting and to
determine benefits of ward-based pharmacist services in
this setting.
METHOD: A PMT consisting of ‘Patient Monitoring
Guidelines’ (PMG) and a ‘Pharmaceutical Care Issues
Documentation Sheet’ (PCIDS) was developed. The tool
was tested for validity, applicability, practicality and
reliability and used to monitor 30 patients in an acute
psychiatric ward. The PMT was implemented and evaluation
was carried out after 4 weeks using a self-administered
evaluation questionnaire.
KEY FINDINGS: The developed PMT was found
to be valid, applicable, practical and reliable for use in
the psychiatric setting. A total of 75 pharmaceutical care
issues (PCIs) were identified; 55 involved psychotropic
medications. A positive evaluation of the tool was obtained.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the
proposed tool can be implemented in an acute psychiatric
setting and patient monitoring may lead to optimisation
of patient care. Pharmacist incorporation into the multidisciplinary
healthcare team and direct patient involvement
may further enhance the value of such services.2016-01-01T00:00:00ZJoining the professional doctorate in pharmacy
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41618
Title: Joining the professional doctorate in pharmacy
Authors: Azzopardi, Lilian M.
Abstract: The Pharm D programme is a new post-graduate course
being offered by the Department of Pharmacy of the
University of Malta in collaboration with the College
of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago in
Chicago, USA. This course was developed to provide for the
rapidly growing niche in pharmacy related to a professional
doctorate. It is a means to develop professionals with a
research-oriented approach and with skills in advanced
clinical pharmacy practice with a focus on patient safety.
Pharmacists who would like to take up the area of Clinical
Pharmacy as their specialisation will be able to develop
the skills and attributes of undertaking research in the field
while reading for a level 8 Doctorate level degree.2016-01-01T00:00:00ZAvailability of medicinal products on the Maltese market as affected by regulation
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41616
Title: Availability of medicinal products on the Maltese market as affected by regulation
Authors: Cassar, Anna Maria; Serracino-Inglott, Anthony
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate availability issues of
medicinal products in Malta and to identify therapeutic
groups for which no products are authorised or available.
METHOD: An extensive review of the Malta Medicines
List (March 2015) was carried out and key factors affecting
availability were identified.
KEY FINDINGS: An estimated average of 62% of
authorised medicinal products are actually placed on the
Maltese market and the lowest availability rates recorded
were for authorisations made via Article 126(a) of Directive
2001/83/EC.
CONCLUSION: Smaller European member states
such as Malta share availability issues as regards medicinal
products and initiatives should be implemented to prevent
such situations from impacting public health.2016-01-01T00:00:00ZUse of internet pharmacies by the public
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41615
Title: Use of internet pharmacies by the public
Authors: Gatt Baldacchino, Elaine; Zarb Adami, Maurice
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to
observe the number of Maltese patients who purchase
medicines over the internet, to evaluate how well-informed
the public, doctors and pharmacists are when selecting a
legal internet pharmacy and to appraise the awareness of
doctors and pharmacists on the possibility of their patients
using the internet to purchase medicines that may cause
adverse effects or drug interactions with the medications
they themselves may dispense or prescribe.
METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was
devised following an adaptation of another questionnaire
entitled ‘The Use of Online Pharmacies by British Colombia
Residents’ carried out by the British Columbia Centre
for Social Responsibility in 2009.1 This questionnaire
was distributed to members of the general public. Two
other questionnaires were designed and distributed
to pharmacists working in community pharmacies and
physicians. Data obtained from these studies was analysed
using SPSS® version 22.
KEY FINDINGS: Nine hundred and seventeen
participants took part in this study. Ninety seven per cent
(n=888) revealed that they purchased products over the
internet and 5.1% (n=47) purchased medicines online. From
the 915 participants who answered a question regarding
the safety of internet pharmacies, 79.9% (n=731) felt that
internet pharmacies were not as safe as local community
pharmacies. Nineteen of the 47 participants who ordered
medicines online were willing to self-diagnose their
medical condition and 3 of the 43 participants mentioned
that they had suffered from side-effects following the use
of medicines purchased over the internet. Fifty-three per
cent of both pharmacists and doctors agreed that patients
should be given the opportunity to purchase medicines
over the internet if the source was reliable.
CONCLUSION: Maltese patients need to be educated
on how to choose a legal internet pharmacy. Purchasing from
sites that promote self-diagnosis or provide prescriptiononly
medicines (POMs) without a prescription should be
discouraged. The importance of educational campaigns to
increase awareness among healthcare professionals was also
identified.2016-01-01T00:00:00Z