Background: Community pharmacies in many countries around the world provide healthcare services for patients. Pharmacists trained as medication experts provide a wide range of patient care services related to medication therapy, patient education, disease prevention, and health promotion. Professional training, expertise, and skills qualify pharmacists to engage in health screenings. These screening programs performed by community pharmacists can help to identify risk factors, facilitate early detection of common diseases, and assist physicians with making effective diagnoses. Objectives: In this study, we created and tested a novel model to provide professional monitoring and counseling on blood pressure by community pharmacists. The aims of the study were to identify the prevalence of elevated blood pressure among patients visiting a community pharmacy and describe the demographic characteristics of patients with hypertension (sex, age, education, body weight, and hypertension risk factors). Methods: The research project was conducted in an accredited community pharmacy in Poznan, Poland, from January to April 2019. A total of 118 anonymous patients (30.5% men and 69.5% women) participated in this study. To qualify for this study, participants had to be older than 18 years of age and have no previous diagnosis of hypertension or other cardiovascular disease. Results: Based on the blood pressure screenings, 61.9% of patients were qualified for the standard consultation (SC: normal blood pressure), 21.2% for the intensive consultation (IC: normal blood pressure and hypertension risk factor), 16.9% patients with elevated blood pressure for the high-risk consultation (HRC: referred to a physician), and 3.4% received a diagnosis of hypertension. We qualified 35.6% with a high-pressure value (greater than 140/90 mmHg). Conclusions: The novel model for blood pressure control screening and counseling implemented in a generally accessible community pharmacy may help with early detection of hypertension problems, lead to initiation of effective patient counseling by a community pharmacist, and result in early referral of the patient to a physician.
It is necessary to monitor and adapt pharmacy curricula to make graduates ready to effectively meet the health needs of the society. Therefore, the aim of the study was to obtain Polish final year pharmacy students’ opinions on the activities related to pharmaceutical care (PC) andtheir perception of PC. Two questionnaires were used: one evaluating a PC regarding classes and in practice (n = 64), and the other on the assessment of existing educational solutions in the field of professional counseling (n = 118). Statistical analysis showed that the students agreed that there are not enough hours of a PC classes, since these are necessary to enable them to provide PC services in the future (R = 0.05, p = 0.0007). In previous classes, teachers’ knowledge was rated the highest on a five-point scale (4.74), and role play (3.92) and the duration of the classes (3.77) were rated the lowest. Although the students were aware of the role of a PC in the work of a pharmacist, they indicated that more extensive use of active learning methods would better prepare them for the profession. Therefore, pharmacy students’ self-efficacy survey and a curriculum renewal would be recommended in Poland.
Background: Following the example of other countries, it is very important to educate patients on the correct use of inhalers by properly trained healthcare professionals, including pharmacists. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the quality and comprehensiveness of professional advice given by pharmacists on the use of inhalers, which was determined by the pharmacists’ level of training. Methods: The study was conducted from June 2019 to March 2020. 150 pharmacists from Poznan and Warsaw (Poland) were involved. Before the study began, the professional education of 240 pharmacists was conducted in Warsaw to implement standard operating procedures. The study used the model of a mystery shopper. Results: The conversation with a trained pharmacist lasted on average 5.5 min, with an untrained one—3.0 min (p < 0.0001). Placebo inhalers were used more often by trained pharmacists during patients’ education (p < 0.0001). Moreover, 10.3% of untrained pharmacists did not provide any education. Additionally, untrained employees’ quality of advice was assessed on an average of 3.5 points, while trained ones—7.6 points (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: This study has shown that there is a need for professional training among pharmacists in Poland, which translates into better patient education in the field of inhalation techniques.
Introduction. The transformation of the role of a pharmacist from a drug dispenser to an advisor and patient educator, partially accelerated by COVID-19 pandemic, requires a thorough change in the pharmacy curriculum. Preparation for the provision of modern pharmaceutical services requires the use of the most advanced teaching methods, such as pharmaceutical simulation. Knowledge alone does not guarantee the students’ readiness and motivation to take on new challenges in their professional work, but it seems crucial that graduates of medical faculties have the ability to use their knowledge in practice, also in new and non-standard situations. Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of simulation exercises on self-efficacy according to the Bandura's theory and self-assessment of the students in the provision of education services for a diabetic patient. Study setting. The questionnaire-based study was conducted during pharmaceutical care peer role-play classes in a simulation environment with a debriefing session among 85 final year pharmacy students at Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland. It consisted of two surveys: General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and a pre-post self-assessment and self-efficacy questionnaire. Results. It was revealed that there is a positive correlation between GSE and self-efficacy (R = 0.52, p < 0.0001). There was also a statistically significant increase in the post-self-assessment of all the skills and competencies included in the survey in the field of pharmaceutical care of a patient with diabetes compared to the pre values (p < 0.001). Also, the students' self-efficacy regarding communication with the patient was higher than before the classes (4.85 vs. 6.26, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The peer-role play active teaching method turned out to be a cost-effective method that allows to increase the self-assessment and self-efficacy of a pharmacy students in the diabetic patient pharmaceutical care. Further in-depth research is needed to fully confirm the effectiveness of simulation exercises in teaching pharmacy undergraduates.
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