Pharm World Sci
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Review
Instruments for measuring patient satisfaction with pharmacy services in the spanish language.
The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate instruments used to assess patient satisfaction with pharmacy services available in the Spanish language, and specifically those designed to assess pharmaceutical care provided in community pharmacies. ⋯ A comprehensive, reliable, and valid instrument for assessing patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies in the Spanish language is not yet available. The two published questionnaires that we have identified are a beginning, further research and development is needed.
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Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and prophylactic radiotherapy can prevent ectopic bone formation around the hip after total hip arthroplasty. ⋯ Because of the potential of serious gastrointestinal side effects of NSAIDs and their interaction with anticoagulant drugs, rofecoxib and other COX-2 specific NSAIDs may be a safer option for the treatment of HO. However, randomised controlled studies are needed to confirm the results of the rofecoxib study.
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Shortly after the invention of nitroglycerin (NTG), it was noticed that this substance is capable of inducing a violent headache. Only recently, it became known that this was due to the release of nitric oxide (NO) by NTG. ⋯ The evidence supporting the role of NO in migraine is discussed, e.g. substances capable of inducing experimental vascular headache do so with NO as the common mediator, while drugs with antimigraine activity inhibit NO and the cascade of intracellular reactions triggered by NO. The importance of NO as a potential initiator of the migraine attack opens new directions for the pharmacological treatment of migraine and other vascular headaches.
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Medicines information services (MISs) aim to promote the safe, effective and economic use of medicines. Results from published studies suggest that they provide effective information, which in many cases results in improved patient outcome. However, there are several methodological issues that are important in the interpretation of such studies. ⋯ Most studies have been conducted in the United States. Various methodological considerations were identified: study design, sampling, data collection, choice of outcome measures, and validity. The results of each study are interpreted in view of the methods used. In addition, the implications of the methods selected on the validity, reliability and generalisability of the results are discussed. Finally, suggestions for future studies are provided, in order to maximise validity and reliability.
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Nebulizers are widely used for the inhalation of drug solutions in a variety of respiratory diseases. The efficacy of nebulizer therapy is influenced by a great number of factors, including the design of the device and the characteristics of the drug solution. Incorrect cleaning, maintenance and disinfection procedures may change the nebulizer performance in time, whereas patient factors can influence the lung deposition of the generated aerosol. ⋯ This is partly due to the fact that, at present, drug solutions for nebulizers cannot be administered efficiently within a short period of time. More efficient systems should be developed. If possible, nebulizers should be substituted to more efficient systems, e.g. dry powder inhalers or metered dose inhalers.