Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jul 2015
Observational StudyTaking stock of medication wastage: Unused medications in US households.
Despite the potential deleterious impact on patient safety, environmental safety and health care expenditures, the extent of unused prescription medications in US households and reasons for nonuse remain unknown. ⋯ Two out of three dispensed medications were unused, with national projected costs ranging from $2.4B to $5.4B. This wastage raises concerns about adherence, cost and safety; additionally, it points to the need for public awareness and policy to reduce wastage. Pharmacists can play an important role by educating patients both on appropriate medication use and disposal.
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Oral contraceptives (OCs) are the most widely used contraceptive method among women of reproductive age in the United States (US). Routine download and use of health-related smartphone applications (apps) continues to increase. ⋯ Certain app features overcome common causes of missing an alarm, and hypothetically, may minimize likelihood of an OC user missing a daily pill. Health care providers should inform users of potential pitfalls and advise them that an OC reminder app should be not be used as a sole reminder method.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jul 2015
Barriers and facilitators of medication reconciliation processes for recently discharged patients from community pharmacists' perspectives.
Community pharmacists play a vital part in reconciling medications for patients transitioning from hospital to community care, yet their roles have not been fully examined in the extant literature. ⋯ The TPB was useful for identifying barriers and facilitators of medication reconciliation for recently discharged patients from community pharmacists' perspectives. The elucidation of these specific facilitators and barriers suggest promising avenues for future research interventions to improve exchange of medication information between the community pharmacy, hospitals, and patients.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jul 2015
Observational StudyDevelopment and validation of PSPSQ 2.0 measuring patient satisfaction with pharmacist services.
The extant literature reveals a lack of psychometrically validated tools measuring patient satisfaction with pharmacist clinical services. The Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacist Services Questionnaire (PSPSQ 2.0) was developed to address this need using a mixed methods approach. ⋯ The results suggest that the PSPSQ 2.0 can serve as a reliable and valid tool for measuring patient satisfaction with pharmacists providing clinical services in VA- and non-VA settings upon further validation.