https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41874 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:58:28 GMT 2026-04-09T04:58:28Z 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. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41619 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z 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. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41618 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z 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. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41616 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z 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. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41615 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z