Aim: Patient-oriented pharmaceutical care in pharmacies could improve patient satisfaction and influence patient’s choice of a community pharmacy. The aim of the work was to assess patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Methods: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to patients visiting 33 community pharmacies in a total of 23 Slovak cities during October-December 2013. The questionnaire contained 29 items and three dimensions were supposed (managing therapy, interpersonal relationship, general satisfaction). A 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = very satisfied, 2 = satisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = dissatisfied, 5 = very dissatisfied) was used for assessing patient satisfaction. The results are presented in percentages and by the level of satisfaction within the range: high satisfaction (score 1.00-2.50), moderate satisfaction (score 2.51-3.50) and low satisfaction (score 3.51-5.00). Reasons for attendance in the community pharmacy and factors influencing pharmacy choice were evaluated either. Results: A total 2 844 respondents were included into the survey. Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care achieved high satisfaction level: interpersonal relationship (1.85 ± 0.598; 86.7% highly satisfied respondents) and general satisfaction (2.02 ± 0.643; 71.3% highly satisfied respondents). Managing therapy scored lower (2.24 ± 0.704; 65.4% highly satisfied respondents). The most frequently reported reasons for attending community pharmacy were to obtain prescription (70.4%) and over-the-counter medications (70.4%). The patient choice of a particular pharmacy was influenced by its location (74.1%). Conclusion: This study presents the first nationwide patientreported outcomes about patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Future development and advancement of pharmacy practice leading to higher patient satisfaction requires modification of community pharmacists’ professional behaviour in Slovakia namely in managing therapy of patients.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to describe approaches to health technology assessment (HTA) for medicines in the Slovak healthcare system and the related decision-making processes concerning reimbursement for medicines. Methods: Analysis of the Slovak legislative framework related to HTA and the reimbursement process for medicines was performed. Additionally, current practices of the Working Group for Pharmacoeconomics, Clinical Outcomes and Health Technology Assessment of the Slovak Ministry of Health were evaluated. Results: In Slovakia, there is always at least one treatment available in each determined therapeutic class with no co-payment. HTA is becoming an established method for the evaluation of cost-effectiveness of medicines in Slovak healthcare policy. The majority of decision makers within Slovakia support the idea of increased use of and the quality and efficiency of HTA methods. However, it is crucial to overcome several practical barriers to facilitate progress in the field of HTA in the Slovak Republic. Conclusions: It can be seen that participation within the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA JA 2 and EUnetHTA JA 3 projects) has significantly improved the quality of the process of HTA in Slovakia. Further legislative activities in this field are required due to the approved strategy for European Union cooperation on HTA.

Introduction: Intervention of pharmacists in medication adherence can meaningfully contribute to achieving therapeutic outcomes. Exploring the real-life readiness and opportunities of pharmacists may result in the adoption of measures, which could be seen through improvement of patients’ adherence to pharmacotherapy. Aim: The aim of the paper was to make a survey on community pharmacists’ potential in medication adherence support in its connectivity to technical and personnel factors, which underline the capacities of pharmacies in dealing with medication adherence. Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted from October to December 2014 and involved 158 pharmacists from 117 Czech (CZ) and 41 Slovak (SK) community pharmacies. The structured questionnaire surveyed both technical and personnel factors, including provision of consultancy services related to medication adherence. Non-adherence risk reduction was evaluated by adopting Morisky Scale modified from the pharmacist’s perspective. Questionnaires outcomes were summarised in contingency tables and analyzed for associations between respective categorical variables using χ2 or exact tests and association coefficients. All results are reported as significant at P≤0.05. Results: The average score of adherence support (CZ/SK 1.95/1.93) was significantly higher as compared to that of persistence or concordance (P<0.001). Reduction of non-adherence risk reached the score of a medium degree (P=0.73, average 2.29 in CZ and 2.22 in SK). These findings were significantly associated with personnel capacities (provision of consultancy, preference for the use of recommended procedures in CZ (P<0.001), number of years of practice in SK (P=0.029)), while significant association with technical equipment (consultancy room) in the SK (P=0.037). Conclusion: The pharmaceutical care is developing towards the improvement of medication adherence in both countries - assuming a medium degree of adherence support. Further progress may be observed in strengthening the pharmacists’ personnel capacities, and accelerated mainly using information technologies, i.e. through technical capacities.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive impairment (CI) is increasing with age. MetS reduces overall cognition, and CI predicts an increased risk of drug-related problems. We investigated the impact of suspected MetS (sMetS) on cognition in an aging population receiving pharmaceutical care in a different state of old age (60–74 vs. 75+ years). Presence or absence of sMetS (sMetS+ or sMetS−) was assessed according to criteria modified for the European population. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, being ≤24 points, was used to identify CI. We found a lower MoCA score (18.4 ± 6.0) and a higher rate of CI (85%) in the 75+ group when compared to younger old subjects (23.6 ± 4.3; 51%; p < 0.001). In the age group of 75+, a higher occurrence, of MoCA ≤ 24 points, was in sMetS+ (97%) as compared to sMetS− (80% p < 0.05). In the age group of 60–74 years, a MoCA score of ≤24 points was identified in 63% of sMetS+ when compared to 49% of sMetS− (NS). Conclusively, we found a higher prevalence of sMetS, the number of sMetS components and lower cognitive performance in subjects aged 75+. This age, the occurrence of sMetS and lower education can predict CI.

Objectives: The British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register (BADBIR) is a long-term pharmacovigilance register of patients with psoriasis treated with biologic therapies. The objectives were to describe patterns of use of index biologics for biologic-naïve psoriasis patients in BADBIR by: (i) country; and (ii) comorbid psoriatic arthritis (PsA). MethOds: 7495 patients receiving biologics were recruited from 153 dermatology centres across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Registrations from 01/09/2007 (cohort inception) to 01/01/2016 were included. Patients receiving their first biologic therapy (infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab or ustekinumab) were classified as "biologic-naïve" at registration. Proportions of registrations to each therapy by country and PsA were examined. Results: 6140 biologic-naïve patients (82%) registered to BADBIR (median age 45 years, inter-quartile range 36-54; 60% male). Adalimumab (57%) was the most common index biologic (23% etanercept; 18% ustekinumab; 2% infliximab). 76% registrations were in England (9% Scotland; 5% Northern Ireland (NI); 5% ROI; 5% Wales). Adalimumab registrations were highest (73%) in NI (56% England; 48% ROI; 69% Scotland; 46% Wales); etanercept accounted for 46% registrations in ROI (22% England; 15% NI; 21% Scotland; 34% Wales); ustekinumab registrations were highest (20%) in England (11% NI; 6% ROI; 9% Scotland; 18% Wales). PsA was recorded as a comorbidity in 18% of patients at registration. For patients with concomitant PsA, 62% were commenced on adalimumab (25% etanercept; 10% ustekinumab). From 2009 to 2015, registrations for patients with concomitant PsA to ustekinumab and adalimumab increased (4% to 30% and 51% to 61%, respectively), while etanercept registrations decreased (42% to 9%). cOnclusiOns: Adalimumab was the most commonly prescribed index biologic drug across the United Kingdom and ROI. The availability of biologics has influenced prescribing practices. Future work will explore the influence of guidelines for biologic use on prescribing patterns.

Additional process duration for LenSx was widely compensated by nurses/ support staff and only in 1 case an extra surgeon operated the laser. Complexity and time to add the LenSx steps to the cataract surgery was very low. ConClusions: This study demonstrates that different LenSx setups may be efficiently utilized for LenSx without major differences in process times. High overlap in time range with LenSx and phacoemulsification indicates that factors other than LenSx have a large influence on time and efficiency. Capacity can be the same for LenSx® and phacoemulsification, especially if laser is done in parallel with usual preparations and setup in the OR. It appears that a facility can implement LenSx laser into their process and keep patient numbers equal to where they are currently with non-LenSx procedures.

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0.9(95%CI:0.7-1.1), with a mean increase in total length of stays per SRE of ) and 17.2(95%CI:13.6-20.7) days, respectively. For the same countries, the mean increase in number of outpatient visits per SRE were 3.8(95%CI:2.7-4.9), 4.7(95%CI: 3.5-6.0), 1.1(95%CI:0.7-1.5), 1.3(95%CI:0.7-1.8) and 5.2(95%CI:4.0-6.5). Mean increase in number of procedures per SRE were 10.9(95%CI:9.5-12.2), 6.9(95%CI:5.6-8.2), 4.4(95%CI:3.7-5.0), 4.7(95%CI:3.9-5.6) and 10.1(95%CI:8.8-11.4). Data by SRE type show considerable HRU variation. CONCLUSIONS: Data indicate that SREs may result in a mean increase of 0.8 -1.0 inpatient stays with a mean total duration of 10.9 -17.2 days. SREs are also linked to numerous outpatient visits and procedures. Thus, a further reduction in the number of SREs by new bone-targeted agents should reduce the financial burden on European health care systems. OBJECTIVES:The main objective of this study was to evaluate the utilisation of antineoplastic agents in Slovak Republic during the period of 2006-2010. METHODS: Statistical analysed data including the number of medicine packages, DDD and financial expenditures were abstracted from the Slovak Institute of Drug Control. Key data were provided by wholesalers due to their legal obligation towards the SIDC. RESULTS: Consumption of antineoplastic agents in terms of DID (DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) reached its highest peak in 2007 with 31,12 and the lowest value of DID was observed in 2009 with 27,30. The total expenditures doubled their volume within period of 2006-2010 from 56,021,412 € to 111,646,240 € respectively. Number of delivered packages showed slight increase from 426,412 in 2009 to 629,782 in 2010 while price per single package was rising from 131,29 € (2006) to 197,68 € (2008) and then decreased to 177,28 € (2010). Resulting from further study the highest consumption in terms of DID was reached by gemcitabine (7,38 in 2006 and 7,21 in 2010), ifosfamide (5,91 in 2006 and 6,94 in 2010) and fourouracil (2,56 in 2006 and 3,26 in 2010). Expressed in financial units the most costly antineoplastic agent in 2006 was imatinibum with 8 569 021 €, followed by rituximab with 4,896,000 € and irinotecan with 4,888,660 €. In 2010 reached paramount financial consumption bevacizumab with 17,771,426 €, trastuzumab with 10,173,699 € and imatinibum with 8,212,353 €. CONCLUSIONS: Expenditures for antineoplastic agents are continually rising as a result of biological treatment establishment. There is observed significant increase of their consuption due rheumatic diseases treatment.