Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jan 2021
An evaluation of co-use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin on cardiac outcomes: A pharmacoepidemiological study to inform use during the COVID19 pandemic.
Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine (chloroquine) plus azithromycin is considered as therapy for COVID-19. With benefit evaluations underway, safety concerns due to potential additive effects on QTc prolongation should be addressed. ⋯ Combination use of chloroquine and azithromycin at routine doses did not show pronounced increases in arrhythmias in this real-world population, though small sample size and outcome rates limit conclusions.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jan 2021
FIP's response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Global pharmacy rises to the challenge.
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), as the global leadership body for pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical educators, coordinated and produced as of January 2020 an international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. FIP's response included professional guidance, a programme of digital events and other resources, as well as advocacy and policy tools to support national pharmacists' associations and academic institutions, as well as individual practitioners, in their response at country level. This article describes the strategy adopted by FIP in collaboration with an international group of experts to support the valuable service that pharmacists and their teams provide to communities throughout the pandemic, and their important contribution to easing the huge strain being placed on health systems around the world.
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Community pharmacies provide an important healthcare service, which is broadly established, and constitutes the preferred and initial contact for members of the community. The significant value of community pharmacies was further highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. ⋯ Government and policymakers strive to mitigate the shortage of PPE and medication. More attention should be given to infection control measures around interactions between staff and customers to ensure community pharmacists are fit and able to provide continuity in their important role. Educating customers using regularly-updated posters, banners or signs will contribute to decreasing contact with patients, and reducing the number and duration of visits to the pharmacy. Pandemic preparedness of community pharmacists must also extend to reporting procedures. By avoiding under-reporting or over-reporting, community pharmacists will contribute to accurate monitoring of the national spread of infection.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jan 2021
Personal protective practices and pharmacy services delivery by community pharmacists during COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a national survey.
Coronavirus disease (COVID19) has adversely affected the delivery of various health services. Little is known about the impact of COVID19 on pharmacy services across the United Kingdom (UK). We surveyed community pharmacists across the UK to understand their protective practices, professional and general well-being, and the delivery of pharmacy services during the COVID19 pandemic. ⋯ Community pharmacists in the UK are facing considerable challenges in terms of personal protection and the delivery of pharmacy services. Inappropriate behaviour from patients and carers towards community pharmacists require urgent attention to ensure a safe working place for all community pharmacists.
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Res Social Adm Pharm · Jan 2021
COVID-19 related regulatory change for pharmacists - The case for its retention post the pandemic.
The delivery of healthcare including the provision of pharmacy services globally is highly regulated internationally in order to protect public health and welfare. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated the need internationally to amend the model of regulation in order to ensure that people were able to continue to access a range of healthcare services in a timely and effective manner. ⋯ Many of the regulatory changes that have been introduced to support the COVID-19 public health emergency effort are ones that pharmacists have previously sought to enable them provide a more effective and expanded model of pharmaceutical care to their patients. Accordingly, many pharmacists will want these regulatory changes to be retained and further expanded in the aftermath of the COVID-19 public health emergency in order to extend their scope of practice and support them in the care of their patients.