International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Observational StudyIncreasing Access to Erectile Dysfunction Treatment via Pharmacies to Improve Healthcare Provider Visits and Quality of Life: Results from a Prospective Real-World Observational Study in the United Kingdom.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom (UK) formally reclassified sildenafil citrate 50 mg tablets as a pharmacy medicine (sildenafil-P) in 2017 for adult men with erectile dysfunction (ED). A 1-year prospective real-world observational study was conducted to track men's health behaviour, particularly their healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and quality of life (QoL) before and after the availability of sildenafil-P. ⋯ Following the reclassification to a pharmacy medicine in the UK, sildenafil-P was associated with a higher number of physician/nurse practitioner and pharmacist visits for any reason. Sildenafil-P use was also associated with better QoL, although group differences were small in magnitude.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Public Perceptions about Pharmacists' Role in Prescribing, Providing Education and Delivering Medications during COVID-19 Pandemic Era.
COVID-19 is a pandemic disease with a significant threat to public health. Public knowledge and perception significance in tackling pandemics have been evidenced in the previous research. This study aimed to explore public perceptions about pharmacists' educational and prescribing role, and the medication delivery service provided during COVID-19 outbreak. ⋯ However, male participants, those aged less than 50 years, those with postgraduate degrees and those from non-medical profession showed a significantly higher perception score towards the impact of pharmacists and pharmacy services provided during COVID-19 outbreak compared with others (P value < .05 for all). This study indicates that the public positively endorsed the impact of the educational role of the pharmacist, medication delivery services and extending pharmacists' prescribing authority during COVID-19 pandemic. Also, findings from this study provide a platform to examine the perception of the public towards pandemic diseases and inform policy decision-makers to react by updating their regulation to allow extending pharmacy services and prescribing role during COVID-19 pandemic.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Combination of prealbumin and tuberculosis-specific antigen/phytohemagglutinin ratio for discriminating active tuberculosis from latent tuberculosis infection.
Given that there is no rapid and effective method for distinguishing active tuberculosis (ATB) from latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), the discrimination between these two statuses remains challenging. This study sought to investigate the value of nutritional indexes and tuberculosis-specific antigen/phytohemagglutinin ratio (TBAg/PHA ratio) for distinguishing ATB from LTBI. ⋯ The diagnostic model based on combination of prealbumin and TBAg/PHA ratio is a rapid and accurate tool for discriminating ATB from LTBI.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
A Cut-Off value for the operation time and the other risk factors in terms of the infection risk for flexible ureterorenoscopy.
To investigate the operation time (OT) and ureteral access sheath (UAS) usage with the infection rates and to determine a cut-off value for OT. ⋯ While the infection risk increases when OT exceeds 60 minutes, FURS can be safely performed up to 87.5 minutes with 89% sensitivity and 69% specificity infection risk.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2021
Comparison of the Efficacy of Silodosin and a Terpene Combination in the Medical Expulsive Therapy of Distal Ureteral Stones.
We aimed to compare the efficacy of silodosin and a terpene combination in the treatment of distal ureteral stones. ⋯ The treatment of distal ureteral stones with silodosin is as effective as the terpene combination. However, the terpene combination is more effective than silodosin in managing pain and accelerating stone expulsion.