https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/88011 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:15:46 GMT 2026-07-22T20:15:46Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/106331 Title: Characterisation of patient advice in community pharmacy Abstract: Community pharmacists are in an ideal position to provide advice to patients due to easy accessibility within the community. The advice community pharmacists provide aims to enhance the rational use of medicines, thereby promoting safety, efficacy and optimising health outcomes. The aim of this study was to describe the type and frequency of patient advice requests provided in community pharmacy practice. In this observational prospective study 1000 patient encounters with the community pharmacist for advice/counselling over a twelve-week period were observed and recorded in a data collection form developed for the purpose of the study. The data collection form characterises patient advice as follows: responding to symptoms, lifestyle advice, medicine information medical devices, product recommendation, self-medication advice, waste disposal, signposting and medical referral. The time taken to address each encounter was recorded. Descriptive statistics are carried out to assess the type and frequency of patient advice encounters. The four most prominent pharmacist-patient advice were: Medicine information (n=903), responding to symptoms (n=595), lifestyle advice (n=585), and product recommendation (n=532). Other types of pharmacist patient advice were advice on medical devices (n=201), on waste disposal (n=47) and advice relating to signposting and medical referral (n= 86). The time taken to address patient’s advice needs during the pharmacist patients’ contacts of the most prominent advice groups had medicine information with 300 encounters between 3 and 7 minutes consisting of 50 encounters at 3minutes, 150 at 4minutes, 70 at 6minutes and 30 at 7minutes. Responding to symptoms had 212 encounters between 3 and 7 minutes with 20 encounters at 3 minutes, 132 at 4 minutes, 30 at 5 minutes and 30 at 7 minutes. Lifestyle advice had 162 encounters between 2 and 7 minutes with 30 encounters at 2 minutes, 70 at 3 minutes, 40 at 5 minutes and 22 at 7 minutes. Product recommendation which was least of the four had 170 encounters between 3 and 4 minutes with 50 encounters at 3 minutes and 120 encounters at 4 minutes. Characterisation of the provided advice to patients in this research study contributes to highlight the value of community pharmacist interventions in patient care in contributing to enhanced medication effectiveness, adherence and patient safety. Description: M.Pharm.(Melit.) Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/106331 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/106330 Title: Patient knowledge and medication compliance in osteoporosis Abstract: Knowledge relating to osteoporosis and compliance to medication is important at preventing osteoporotic fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients’ knowledge regarding risk factors leading to osteoporosis, such as smoking, alcohol abuse and calcium supplementation. Medication compliance in osteoporotic women and reasons for non-compliance were evaluated. This was achieved through the use of two questionnaires. Questionnaire on Knowledge of Osteoporosis was distributed to all patients prior to undergoing a Bone Mineral Density Test at the Gynaecology Outpatient Department at Mater Dei Hospital. Questionnaire on Compliance with Medication was distributed only to those patients diagnosed with osteoporosis and taking osteoporotic medication. Data collected was analysed using Microsoft Excel® and IBM SPSS® Version 27. Out of 215 participants, 94% (n=203) were female and 6% (n=12) were male. One hundred and twenty-one patients (56%) were 66 years or over. One hundred and forty-eight patients (69%) do not drink alcohol, 73% (n=158) were non-smokers and 62% (n=133) practice a sport. The majority of the patients (n=154) take calcium as part of their diet and as supplements. Fifty-seven out of 215 (27%) participants suffer from osteoporosis. Thirty-three out of 57 (58%) participants that suffer from osteoporosis are not compliant to treatment. The main reason for non-compliance was the unavailability of osteoporotic medication from the Government Formulary (24%). Other reasons include side-effects and/or the patient is forgetful or unbothered. In this study, it was shown that Maltese patients are knowledgeable regarding the risk factors that can lead to osteoporosis. Participants are aware regarding the importance of exercise, calcium intake and regular Bone Density screening. An association was found between family history of osteoporosis, chronic back pain and calcium intake with the incidence of osteoporosis respectively. Introducing osteoporotic medication in the National Formulary may help improve compliance and reduce the incidence of osteoporotic fractures. Description: M.Pharm.(Melit.) Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/106330 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/95176 Title: The effect of Brexit on accessibility to medicine Abstract: According to article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Health is a basic human right and access to medicine is a fundamental means to ensure health. It recognizes the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Nearly 2 billion people have no access to basic medicines. This research aimed to develop a rational and prompt medicines accessibility issues. The objectives were to critically analyze the demand and supply of medicines in Malta by addressing the sourcing of medicines in Malta in relation to Brexit effect; to explore alternative solutions to accessing medicines and to review the current NHS formulary in relation to rational prescribing. The research methodology involved analysing data collected from Central Procurement Supplies Unit and the Malta Medicines Authority. A focus group discussion and interviews were set up to identify challenges with accessing medicines and to generate ideas for the purpose of formulating recommendations to enhance access to medicine. The data collected was analysed in terms of therapeutic area and different alternatives for sourcing. The focus group reviewed the Government Formulary List (GFL) and private list of medicines and identified challenges with accessing medicines as Brexit; the UK ban on export of medicines; Lack of cooperation in the regulation of medicines between the EU and the UK post Brexit; Licensing and registration of medicines; Shortages; serialisation-FMD; Problems with drugs in GFL; Patients’ perspective. The focus group gave examples from patients within their practices and the implication of access, and the risk posed to the patients. The focus group recommended that a list of best options for medicines were duly compiled, and the following are examples: a. GFL: Atenolol tablets 50mg x 2 was suggested instead of atenolol 100mg tablet. b. Private market list: Atorvastatin tablets 100mg – Different brand of generic in other country not the UK was suggested. An innovative way to detect, address and mitigate challenges to access medicines was developed to proactively enhance accessibility to medicines. The lack of cooperation in the regulation of medicines between the EU and the UK post Brexit has proven to be more difficult to address because it requires co-operation between other countries. Partnership, consultation, collaboration between the health system and pharmaceutical industry is important to avoid and control medicines accessibility challenges. Description: Pharm.D.(Melit.) Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/95176 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/92480 Title: Pharmacy Of Your Choice Scheme : pharmaceutical service review Abstract: In Malta, patients suffering from chronic diseases are entitled to receive free medicines through the government scheme, Pharmacy Of Your Choice (POYC). This scheme is an opportunity for community pharmacists to become coordinators in chronic disease management. This research study aimed to review the implementation and service provision of POYC by determining the infrastructural and workload changes of POYC in community pharmacies, to assess the quality standard of services provided through the POYC scheme, to identify the effects of facilitating and impeding factors related to POYC implementation and to identify the types of interventions pharmacists make when providing POYC services. A mixed-method approach was adopted. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data from 107 community pharmacists and 153 POYC-registered patients recruited via convenience sampling, accessing medicines from four community pharmacies. The questionnaire consisted of five-point Likert scale questions where differences in responses were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with POYC stakeholders and data collected was subjected to content analysis. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) was conducted with patients’ failure to receive the medication as the top-level fault. Pharmacists agreed that POYC is an opportunity for an extended role in primary health care (n=98; 92%). This finding was supported by the high expression of interest by pharmacists and patients for possible POYC clinical services including new medicines review (pharmacists: n=103; 96%; patients: n=151; 99%) and health screening management on chronic diseases (pharmacists: n=103, 96%; patients: n=142; 93%). Pharmacists recognized their role in public health during crisis situation by serving as direct point of information on infection prevention and control measures (n= 107; 100%). The key driver identified by pharmacists to POYC activities during the pandemic was their open and good communication with POYC Unit (n=83; 78%) whereas the barrier included the inadequate supply of medicines they have received from POYC (n=86; 80%). This identified barrier of lack of medicine supply from POYC was addressed and mitigated by the pharmacists through their close monitoring and allocation of stock. This pharmacists’ intervention translated to patients’ favorable experience during the pandemic, expressing they have received adequate supply of their entitled medicines (n=147; 96%). Data collected from the interview with POYC stakeholders identified issues in medicine management such as in procurement, distribution and utilization monitoring. The FTA revealed 25 events that may lead to patient’s failure to receive medication. The study highlighted the unique pharmacists’ interventions within POYC scheme ensuring that patients have consistent access and supply of free medicines especially in crisis situations such as the pandemic whilst providing medicines management services. Description: Pharm.D.(Melit.) Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/92480 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z