Objective To assess the perception of Maltese consumers regarding extended professional services for community pharmacists. Methods The self‐administered questionnaire developed by Wirth et al. was formulated into a concise questionnaire consisting of seven Likert scale statements focusing on extended professional services for community pharmacists including; longer pharmacy opening hours, pharmacist accessibility outside pharmacy opening hours, availability of a private consultation area, provision of diagnostic testing, keeping patient medication records, pharmacist–physician collaboration to manage chronic conditions and pharmacist prescribing. The questionnaire was distributed to 824 consumers recruited by random sampling during educational activities organised to promote the role of the community pharmacist in five localities in Malta. The importance given to each statement by the consumers was analysed. Key findings The consumers perceived pharmacist–physician collaboration in the management of chronic conditions (93%) and provision of diagnostic testing (92%) to be the most important extended professional services. Pharmacist prescribing (69%) and pharmacist accessibility outside pharmacy opening hours (68%) were perceived to be the least important. The percentage of consumers who perceived having a private consultation area in the pharmacy, keeping medication records and longer pharmacy opening hours as important was 87%, 83% and 81% respectively. Conclusions Maltese consumers perceive community pharmacist extended professional services as important, particularly pharmacist–physician collaboration in the management of chronic conditions and provision of diagnostic testing.

Background Antibiotics have been a breakthrough in medicine; however, their use is also associated with risks, one of which is the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The misuse of antibiotics is affecting not just the individual patient but the community at large. Objectives The aims were to investigate antibiotic practices among local medical practitioners and to assess their perception of potential antibiotic prescribing by pharmacists. Methods A questionnaire entitled ‘Antibiotic Prescribing Practices Questionnaire’ was developed to study medical practitioners’ perception and practices on antibiotic prescribing and to establish pharmacists’ contribution in prescribing and dispensing antibiotics. The questionnaire was disseminated to medical practitioners practising in Malta. Key findings 180 medical practitioners answered the questionnaire. Activity of antibiotic against the most likely pathogen present is the most important drug‐related factor when prescribing antibiotics according to 88% of respondents. Diagnosis is the most important factor which influences the choice of antibiotic in 91% of respondents. Pharmacists are regarded as being competent to treat common infections by 36% of medical practitioners. Conclusions Medical practitioners state that a clinical examination influences their prescribing of antibiotics. They assign the concept of lack of clinical examination competence by pharmacists to be one of the determining factors in their lack of support for pharmacist prescribing. A collaborative practice between medical practitioners and pharmacists should be evaluated before embarking on proposing national structures for pharmacist prescribing.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which was globally declared during the first quarter of the year 2020, led to the transition of teaching activities from the traditional classroom setting to online platforms. This study evaluated preparedness and perception towards online learning and its impact among pharmacy academics and students by using two self-administered questionnaires. Fifteen academics and 60 students answered the questionnaire. Participants had the required technology for online learning (academics n=14, 93%; students n=56, 93%) and believed that the transition to online learning was easy (academics n=12, 80%; students n=41, 68%). Most participants (academics n=12, 80%; students n=46, 77%) stated that online learning allowed more flexibility even though they preferred classroom-based approach. A minority of students stated that the shift to online learning during the pandemic made them feel alone (n=11, 18%), anxious (n=7, 12%) and depressed (n=9, 15%). Given the option, participants would prefer a hybrid learning approach, whereby some teaching activities are switched to online platforms.

Objectives To develop and evaluate a framework for pharmacist prescribing in a hospital setting, assess differences between pharmacist and physician prescribing and analyse pharmacist perceptions on pharmacist prescribing. Methods A framework for pharmacist prescribing in hospital based on a collaborative drug therapy management approach was developed. Guidelines on three therapeutic scenarios, namely oral anticoagulation therapy, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, were compiled as part of the framework. The framework was validated by an expert panel consisting of five pharmacists and four physicians. A self‐administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to the expert panel to evaluate the framework. A case study relating to each therapeutic scenario identified was designed and given to the expert panel to assess differences between pharmacist and physician prescribing. The framework and the questionnaire were disseminated to all 62 pharmacists practicing in local public hospitals to evaluate the framework and their perceptions on pharmacist prescribing. Key findings All nine expert panel members strongly agreed or agreed that the proposed framework is well‐presented, clear and comprehensive, and seven strongly agreed or agreed upon its practicality for use in the hospital setting. Results of the case studies showed that pharmacists and physicians prescribed similar treatment when the correct diagnosis was established. Of the 31 pharmacists who completed the questionnaire, more pharmacists were willing to prescribe antihypertensive (n = 27) and antidiabetic medications (n = 27) compared to oral anticoagulation therapy (n = 20). Twenty‐seven pharmacists recommended further education to a specialised Masters or Doctorate level for pharmacist prescribing. Conclusions The proposed framework puts forward a well‐presented, comprehensive and practical system to prepare pharmacists for pharmacist prescribing in a hospital setting within a multidisciplinary team practice for chronic conditions.

This abstract was published in error and withdrawn at the author’s request.