International journal of clinical pharmacy
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Review Meta Analysis
Evaluation of pharmacist care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the value of pharmacist care is not clear. Aim of the review A systematic review was conducted to clarify the impact of pharmacist care for outpatients with COPD. ⋯ Pharmacist care resulted in improvements in the medication compliance as well as reductions in hospital admissions and health-related costs. It is therefore a potent strategy for management of outpatients with COPD.
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Review Comparative Study
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta versus darbepoetin alfa for anemia in non-dialysis-dependent CKD: a systematic review.
Anemia management in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is associated with cardiovascular and cost benefits, slows decline in renal function, and prevents mortality. Different reviews have focused on evaluating the safety and efficacy of methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (MPG-EPO), a continuous erythropoietin receptor activator, in CKD patients regardless of dialysis dependency and others have studied this novel agent exclusively in CKD patients receiving dialysis. ⋯ There are currently only few well-designed head-to-head RCTs investigating the efficacy and safety of MPG-EPO compared with other ESAs in non-dialysis-dependent patients. MPG-EPO therapy compared with darbepoetin alfa has demonstrated favorable effects of increasing and maintaining hemoglobin concentrations to recommended target levels. This mini-review is not conclusive due to limited number of studies. Therefore, the beneficial effects and tolerability of MPG-EPO among non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients should be further investigated, given the economic and clinical benefits of managing anemia in this population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Community pharmacists' knowledge of diabetes management during Ramadan in Egypt.
Although Muslim diabetic patients may be aware of their religious exemption from fasting, many still fast and adjust their medication regimens accordingly. Pharmacists have a significant potential to identify and prevent harm from medication misuse in Ramadan. ⋯ This study identifies variability among community pharmacists' knowledge of diabetes management during Ramadan. It also shows willingness among the majority of pharmacists to learn more about the topic.
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Home Medicines Reviews could improve the quality use of medicines and medicines adherence among Aboriginal people. Despite high level of chronic disease very few Home Medicines Review are currently being conducted for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ⋯ Changes to the medication review processes and rules are needed to improve the accessibility of the Home Medicine Review program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Improved relationships between pharmacists and Aboriginal health service staff, would increase the likelihood of more Home Medicines Reviews being conducted with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
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Western societies' need for knowledge about how to meet the challenges in health care following increased immigration has emerged as studies have showed that non-Western immigrants tend to experience more obstacles to drug use and poorer communication with health professionals. ⋯ This focus group study shows that language and other cultural barriers, including differences in body language, non-Western gender roles, and all-covering garments, are of great concern for ethnic Norwegian community pharmacists in the encounter with non-Western immigrant patients. Although the pharmacists recognise their role as drug information providers for immigrant patients, large disparities were detected with respect to kind of and amount of information provided to these patients.