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ObjectivesTo present the ‘Wise List’ (a formulary of essential medicines for primary and specialised care in Stockholm Healthcare Region) and assess adherence to the recommendations over a 15-year period.DesignRetrospective analysis of all prescription data in the Stockholm Healthcare Region between 2000 and 2015 in relation to the Wise List recommendations during the same time period.SettingAll outpatient care in the Stockholm Healthcare Region.ParticipantsAll prescribers in the Stockholm Healthcare Region.Main outcome measuresThe number of core and complementary substances included in the Wise List, the adherence to recommendations by Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) 1st level using defined daily doses (DDDs) adjusted to the DDD for 2015, adherence to recommendations over time measured by dispensed prescriptions yearly between 2002 and 2015.ResultsThe number of recommended core substances was stable (175–212). Overall adherence to the recommendations for core medicines for all prescribers increased from 75% to 84% (2000 to 2015). The adherence to recommendations in primary care for core medicines increased from 80% to 90% (2005 to 2015) with decreasing range in practice variation (32% to 13%). Hospital prescriber adherence to core medicine recommendations was stable but increased for the combination core and complementary medicines from 77% to 88% (2007 to 2015). Adherence varied between the 4 therapeutic areas studied.ConclusionsHigh and increasing adherence to the Wise List recommendations was seen for all prescriber categories. The transparent process for developing recommendations involving respected experts and clinicians using strict criteria for handling potential conflicts of interests, feedback to prescribers, continuous medical education and financial incentives are possible contributing factors. High-quality evidence-based recommendations to prescribers, such as the Wise List, disseminated through a multifaceted approach, will become increasingly important and should be developed further to include recommendations and introduction protocols for new expensive medicines.

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BackgroundIn resource-poor countries access to essential medicines, suboptimal prescribing and use of medicines are major problems. Health workers lack updated medical information and treatment support. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) could help tackle this. The impact of ICT on health systems in resource-poor countries is likely to be significant and transform the practice of medicine just as in high-income countries. However, research for finding the best way of doing this is needed. We aimed to assess current approaches to and use of ICT among health workers in two rural districts of Tanzania in relation to the current drug distribution practices, drug stock and continuing medical information (CME), as well as assessing the feasibility of using ICT to improve ordering and use of medicines.MethodsThis pilot study was conducted in 2010–2011, mapping the drug distribution chain in Tanzania, including problems and barriers. The study was conducted in Bunda and Serengeti districts, both part of the ICT4RD (ICT for rural development) project. Health workers involved in drug procurement and use at 13 health facilities were interviewed on use and knowledge of ICT, and their attitudes to its use in their daily work. They were also shown and interviewed about their thoughts on an android tablet application prototype for drug stock inventory and drug ordering, based on the Tanzanian Medical Stores Department (MSD) current paper forms.ResultsThe main challenge was a stable supply of essential medicines. Drug supplies were often delayed and incomplete, resulting in stock-outs. All 20 interviewed health workers used mobile phones, 8 of them Smartphones with Internet connection. The Health workers were very positive to the tablet application and saw its potential in reducing drug stock-outs. They also expressed a great need and wish for CME by distance.ConclusionThe tablet application was easily used and appreciated by health workers, and thus has the potential to save time and effort, reduce transportation costs and minimise drug stock-outs. Furthermore, the android tablet could be used to reach out with CME programs to health care workers at remote health facilities, as well as those in towns.

ObjectiveTo explore registered nurses’ experience of medication management in municipal care of the elderly in Sweden, with a focus on their pharmacovigilant activities.DesignA qualitative approach using focus-group discussions was chosen in order to provide in-depth information. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis.SettingFive focus groups in five different long-term care settings in two regions in Sweden.SubjectA total of 21 registered nurses (RNs), four men and 17 women, aged 27–65 years, with 4–34 years of nursing experience.ResultsThe findings reveal that RNs in municipal long-term care settings can be regarded as “vigilant intermediaries” in the patients’ drug treatments. They continuously control the work of staff and physicians and mediate between them, and also compensate for existing shortcomings, both organizational and in the work of health care professionals. RNs depend on other health care professionals to be able to monitor drug treatments and ensure medication safety. They assume expanded responsibilities, sometimes exceeding their formal competence, and try to cover for deficiencies in competence, experience, accessibility, and responsibility-taking.ConclusionThe RNs play a central but also complex role as “vigilant intermediaries” in the medication monitoring process, including the issue of responsibility. Improving RNs’ possibility to monitor their patients’ drug treatments would enable them to prevent adverse drug events in their daily practice. New strategies are justified to facilitate RNs’ pharmacovigilant activities. Key pointsThis study contributes to the understanding of registered nurses’ (RNs’) role in medication management in municipal care of the elderly (i.e. detecting, assessing, and preventing adverse drug events or any drug-related problems). RNs can be considered to be “vigilant intermediaries” in elderly patients’ drug treatments, working at a distance from staff, physicians, and patients.RNs occasionally take on responsibilities that exceed their formal competence, with the patients’ best interests in mind.In order to prevent adverse drug events in municipal care of the elderly, new strategies are justified to facilitate RNs’ pharmacovigilant activities.

Background NHs have been severely exposed during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Little is known about how staff who provide practical daily care of older residents experienced work during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to understand how nursing assistants (NAs) experienced their work at nursing homes (NHs) for older people during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a qualitative study of focus group discussions with in total 20 participants from four NHs in Stockholm, Sweden. Discussions were held in November 2020. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results We identified three major themes: 1) We felt abandoned, scared and disrespected, 2) We made sure we made it through, and 3) We can do good work with appropriate resources. NAs felt disregarded as they were often left alone without adequate support from managers, registered nurses and the municipalities. NAs felt distressed and guilty and developed their own strategies to cope and manage their work. Conclusion and Implication for Practice During the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic NAs felt abandoned and burdened due to lack of leadership. Organizational improvements are required to protect the wellbeing of NAs and to ensure sustainability of patient safety. NAs are crucial in the care for vulnerable older people and their experiences should constitute a keystone for development of future policy and practice in NHs.

BackgroundDecision-making is central for general practitioners (GP). Practice guidelines are important tools in this process but implementation of them in the complex context of primary care is a challenge. The purpose of this study was to explore how GPs approach, learn from and use practice guidelines in their day-to-day decision-making process in primary care.MethodA qualitative approach using focus-group interviews was chosen in order to provide in-depth information. The participants were 22 GPs with a median of seven years of experience in primary care, representing seven primary healthcare centres in Stockholm, Sweden in 2011. The interviews focused on how the GPs use guidelines in their decision-making, factors that influence their decision how to approach these guidelines, and how they could encourage the learning process in routine practice.Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Meaning units were condensed and grouped in categories. After interpreting the content in the categories, themes were created.ResultsThree themes were conceptualized. The first theme emphasized to use guidelines by interactive contextualized dialogues. The categories underpinning this theme: 1. Feedback by peer-learning 2. Feedback by collaboration, mutual learning, and equality between specialties, identified important ways to achieve this learning dialogue. Confidence was central in the second theme, learning that establishes confidence to provide high quality care. Three aspects of confidence were identified in the categories of this theme: 1. Confidence by confirmation, 2. Confidence by reliability and 3. Confidence by evaluation of own results. In the third theme, learning by use of relevant evidence in the decision-making process, we identified two categories: 1. Design and lay-out visualizing the evidence 2. Accessibility adapted to the clinical decision-making process as prerequisites for using the practice guidelines.ConclusionsDecision-making in primary care is a dual process that involves use of intuitive and analytic thinking in a balanced way in order to provide high quality care. Key aspects of effective learning in this clinical decision-making process were: contextualized dialogue, which was based on the GPs’ own experiences, feedback on own results and easy access to short guidelines perceived as trustworthy.

Background: Inappropriate use of medicines increases the risk of therapeutic failure, adverse events, antimicrobial resistance, and is a waste of resources. This was a driving force behind the establishment of Drug and Therapeutics Committees (DTC) and the Essential Medicines concept in the 1970s. A joint formulary for Stockholm Healthcare Region was first issued in 2000. The formulary, called the "Wise List" ("Kloka Listan" in Swedish), consists of recommended core and complementary medicines for treatment of common diseases in primary and specialist care. We aimed to assess adherence to the "Wise List" recommendations over a 15-year period. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all prescription data in the Stockholm Healthcare Region (population 2.3 million) between 2000 and 2015 related to the Wise List recommendations in the same time-period, measuring the number of substances included in the Wise List, adherence to recommendations by Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) 1st level using Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) adjusted to DDD for 2015, adherence to recommendations over time measured by dispensed prescriptions yearly. Results: The number of recommended core substances was rather stable over time (175 to 212). Overall adherence to the recommendations for core medicines for all prescribers increased from 75% to 84% (2000 to 2015). The adherence to recommendations in primary care for core medicines increased from 80% to 90% (2005 to 2015) and the variability in adherence between practices decreased (32% to 13%). Hospital prescriber adherence to core medicine recommendations was stable but increased for the combination of core and complementary medicines from 77% to 88% (2007 to 2015). Adherence varied between the four therapeutic areas studied. Conclusions: High and increasing adherence to the Wise List recommendations was seen for all prescriber categories. The transparent process for developing recommendations involving respected experts and clinicians using strict criteria for handling potential conflicts of interests, feedback to prescribers, continuous medical education and financial incentives are possible contributing factors. High quality evidence based recommendations to prescribers, such as the Wise List, disseminated through a multifaceted approach, will become increasingly important and should be developed further to include recommendations and introduction protocols for new, expensive medicines.