Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP
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Social media is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. It has significant potential as a health communication and educational tool, and may provide a medium for the delivery of health-related services. ⋯ Research investigating the use of SM in the practice of pharmacy is growing; however, it is predominantly descriptive in nature with no controlled studies identified. Although some studies have used SM to deliver and enhance pharmaceutical education, none have focused on the delivery of pharmacy services through SM.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jan 2015
Predicting pharmacists' adjustment of medication regimens in Ramadan using the Theory of Planned Behavior.
During Ramadan, many Muslim patients may choose to abstain from food, drink and oral medications from dawn to sunset. ⋯ The TPB appears to have utility in predicting pharmacists' MRA behavior. Pharmacists may be open to a larger MRA role than they are currently performing. There is a need to prepare pharmacists who are frequently requested to adjust patients' medication regimens to make sure they provide a safe transition for fasting patients into and out of Ramadan.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jan 2015
Perceptions of pharmacists' integration into patient-centered medical home teams.
Patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) are a newer paradigm of health care service delivery. Team-based care that includes pharmacists has been implemented in several countries. Subsequently studies have successfully identified challenges and barriers with team-based care. Research on pharmacists' integration into PCMH is warranted to help bridge knowledge from earlier studies exploring team-based care. In 2010, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) began a national PCMH implementation, operationalized as "Patient-Aligned Care Teams" (PACTs). The VA's national PACT implementation presents an opportunity to describe other persistent barriers to effective coordination between primary care and pharmacy providers. ⋯ Non-pharmacist members of PACT teams reported some reluctance in pharmacists' integration. They attributed this reluctance to knowledge deficits, limited participation in PACT training by pharmacists, an imbalance in effort expended for pharmacists' integration, and coordination or communication challenges. While there may be unique opportunities for pharmacists to improve patient care through participation in PCMHs, work remains to improve other health professionals' knowledge of and attitudes toward pharmacists' roles on health care teams.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jan 2015
Exploring pharmacists' opinions regarding PHARMAC's interventions in promoting brand changes.
In New Zealand, the use of generic medicines is advocated by the Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand (PHARMAC). Among other interventions, PHARMAC uses educational awareness campaigns to educate pharmacists to promote the uptake of generic medicines. However, the opinion of pharmacists regarding these interventions has not yet been evaluated. ⋯ Over one-third of respondents were satisfied with brand change information provided by PHARMAC. Cilazapril was the least difficult medicine to substitute, while omeprazole and salbutamol changes were the most difficult. Claims about effectiveness, quality and side effects were the main factors identified as barriers to generic substitution.