research
Heart attack meds not consistent
Despite clear evidence of medication benefits during year after heart attack, low dispensing of key recommended medication classes has been found Medicine strategies following a heart attack vary from patient …
‘Safe and professional’: pharmacist flu vax boosts uptake
High rates of satisfaction and increase in vaccination rates from pharmacy-based flu vax, study finds Community pharmacists across the world have contributed to an increased uptake of immunisations by the …
‘I have concerns about this, as opposed to you… being the police.’
Scope expansion means community pharmacists can do more to promote optimal use of antibiotics, but should they “police” antibiotics scripts written by GPs? Community pharmacists often don’t feel comfortable raising …
Community pharmacists ‘underutilised’ in AMS
Community pharmacy has a bigger role to play in antimicrobial stewardship than commonly thought, say pharmacy experts, but funding and awareness is needed Community pharmacists can participate as much as …
Deprescribing missing from guidelines
New research has found many clinical practice guidelines contain limited guidance on deprescribing… could pharmacists be the missing link? Deprescribing recommendations are becoming more common but are still missing from …
‘Any symptoms that cause distress should be taken seriously’
Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms affect around one in six people, a large study estimates, after taking into account the “nocebo” effect One in six people who stop taking antidepressants experience discontinuation …
Emergency pharmacists speed up pain relief
Pharmacists included on trauma response teams significantly improve speed and delivery of pain relievers to trauma patients, Melbourne trial finds The Pharmacists in Trauma (PHIT) Trial, conducted by Alfred Health …
Boost needed for pharmacy diabetes role
Pharmacists in rural and remote locations need more financial support and education to service travellers who have diabetes needs, research finds Rural and remote pharmacies are often the first port …
‘We hope to pave the way for more pharmacist-researchers’
Many patients are prescribed opioids for hip and knee pain – but can pharmacists help them taper safely before replacement surgery? Two pharmacists have just been awarded a grant to …
No ‘golden ticket’ for reducing risky meds harm
High-risk prescribing in aged care residents under the spotlight, as Australian experts weigh in on the role of embedded pharmacists Polypharmacy and the use of potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs) in …
‘It’s all about quality of life at the end.’
Community pharmacists can help people with terminal illness manage medicines, pain and other symptoms, but they are currently underutilised, say researchers Community based pharmacists can help support people who have …
‘Do not supply’
Around half of pharmacists agree with the right to object to medication supply based on personally held moral or ethical values, a new study has found Most pharmacists agreed to …