Clinical
“Media hype must be tempered by clinical evidence”
Clinicians say they are cautious as demand for prescription cannabinoids outruns research on safety profile and effectiveness Doctors have written to the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) on behalf of …
Evidence for pharmacist-led education in prescribing
An Australian trial has found hospital pharmacists providing guidance to junior doctors led to significantly reduced prescribing errors Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne Medical School …
Vapers vulnerable to pneumonia: research
Vapour from e-cigarettes seems to help pneumonia-causing bacteria to stick to the cells that line the airway, say researchers A study based on experiments with cells, mice and humans has …
Responding to codeine effects
Under-reporting of codeine dependence is highly likely and interventions are needed, say Australian researchers in new systematic review A systematic review published this week in the Medical Journal of Australia …
The kids are alright
Pharmacies play a pivotal role in supporting parents in dealing with their child’s ailments. A well-stocked category plus the right advice is imperative Pharmacists and their staff are in a …
Antibiotics in pregnancy infection link
Taking antibiotics in pregnancy linked to rise in infant infections Children born to mothers who were prescribed antibiotics during pregnancy may have up to a 20% higher risk of being …
At-home prostate test launched
A controversial test has now been made available for online purchase and at-home use MyHealthTest, an online provider of blood test services, has now added the Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) …
New compounding guidelines now in effect
The Board’s revised guidance on the compounding of sterile injectable medicines kicked in on the first of the month A revised guidance titled ‘Compounding of sterile injectable medicines’, has been …
Could pharmacists really help reduce emergency visits?
A study has found pharmacist intervention may potentially lead to reduced risk of ED visits and hospital readmissions Danish researchers have looked at the role of pharmacists in reducing hospital …
How good are pharmacists at antimicrobial stewardship?
According to this QLD study, they’re doing quite well at delaying ‘wait and see’ prescriptions – but improvements can be made A number of strategies have been trialled in primary …
Minimal impact
Mixed findings for benefits of tamper-resistant oxycodone The introduction of tamper-resistant oxycodone formulations in Australia in early 2014 has led to little change in the levels of population-level opioid use …
Just lighting up once turns into daily addiction for most
At least two-thirds of those who try cigarettes just once will go on to become daily smokers, new research finds Researchers said that data obtained from the UK, US, Australia …