International journal of clinical pharmacy
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Drug-related problems (DRPs) cause significant morbidity and mortality in healthcare. Clinical pharmacists have shown to reduce DRPs in the inpatient setting. In mental health the effects of clinical pharmacists on DRPs is relatively unknown. ⋯ Pharmacists play an important role in ensuring the quality use of medicines in inpatient mental health. However, significant factors need to be addressed to further expand clinical pharmacy services in inpatient mental healthcare in Australia.
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Review
Design and comprehensibility of over-the-counter product labels and leaflets: a narrative review.
Over-the-counter medicines must be supplied with appropriate, user-friendly medicine information to satisfactorily support consumer self-management and safe use. Product labels and written medicine information leaflets are highly accessible over-the-counter medicine information sources for consumers. Factors such as comprehensibility and design underpin the usefulness of over-the-counter labels and leaflets and should be further examined to better inform future optimisation strategies. Aim of the review To undertake an in-depth exploration of studies that have evaluated design and/or comprehensibility of over-the-counter labels and written medicine information leaflets Methods Database searches were performed using Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and PubMed. Studies exploring over-the-counter medicine label and/or leaflet comprehensibility and/or design were identified. Additional author and reference list searches were performed to identify studies which met the inclusion criteria and key terms. ⋯ A wide spectrum of consumer understanding of over-the-counter medicine labels is evident in the literature, with limited studies examining over-the-counter written medicine information leaflet comprehensibility with consumers. The application of good information design principles in over-the-counter labels and leaflets contribute to improved performance. Well-designed consumer studies are needed to ascertain and optimise over-the-counter label and leaflet performance.
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The use of error-prone abbreviations has led to medication errors. Many safety organisations have introduced 'Do Not Use' lists (lists of error-prone abbreviations that should be avoided by prescribers), but the effectiveness of these lists have not been studied. ⋯ A 'Do Not Use' list is effective in reducing error-prone abbreviations. Reinforcements of the 'Do Not Use' list further improves prescriber adherence. However, many other unapproved abbreviations (not included in current 'Do Not Use' lists) are used when prescribing. Periodic reminders on error-prone abbreviations and education of prescribers on associated risks may help to reduce the use of error-prone abbreviations in hospitals.
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Clinician involvement in clinical trials research represents a significant contribution to addressing important research questions in primary care. ⋯ This study has identified time pressure as the major barrier to recruitment of participants to the LBP clinical trial. Education of pharmacists on the appropriate non-pharmacological management of people with LBP and screening for possible red flag conditions is required.
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Transfer of discharge medication related information to community pharmacies could improve continuity of care. This requires for community pharmacies to accurately update their patient records when new information is transferred. An instruction manual that specifies how to document information regarding medication changes and clinical information (i.e. allergies/contraindications) could support community pharmacies. ⋯ The intervention is insufficient to increase the completeness of documentation by community pharmacies as marginal improvements were achieved. Future studies should evaluate whether electronic infrastructures may help in achieving updated medication records to improve continuity of pharmaceutical care.