This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of communication and information on the potential adoption of optical scanners by hospital pharmacy directors. The study used a randomly selected national mail survey of 600 hospital pharmacy directors. A response rate of 64.17% was attained and the instrument was determined to have adequate reliability. Believability of optical scanner assessment information was compared between directors with high and low optical scanner familiarity. Directors with high familiarity rates the information's influence on their decision to adopt significantly higher than directors with low familiarity. Directors were also asked to rate the importance of the source of information and the optical scanner characteristics when making their decision to adopt. Directors with high familiarity rated management sources, administrative uses and time-savings higher and cost lower in importance. The survey revealed that 18.96% of the respondents were currently using optical scanners, primarily for inventory control.

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The extent and quality of strategic planning by institutional pharmacy directors was assessed. Also examined was how the extent and quality of strategic planning, institutional characteristics, pharmacy characteristics, and pharmacy director characteristics might be associated with the pharmacy's overall level of performance in selected areas. The majority of institutional pharmacy directors reported utilizing strategic planning for their departments. The global quality of strategic planning reported by pharmacy directors was average. However, directors conducting strategic planning reported a high level of strategic planning. The directors' rated time available, knowledge, and importance of strategic planning were found to be significantly associated with pharmacy directors' rated quality of strategic planning. Additionally, pharmacy directors' rated quality of strategic planning was found to be significantly associated with pharmacy performance for clinical, distributive, and administrative services.

Mémoire (M. P.M.O.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1986. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Class of 2010 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To explore the viewpoints of physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals on the creation of a behind- the-counter class of drugs. METHODS: This was a descriptive study of testimony contained in public hearings that were held by the FDA regarding behind-the- counter availability of certain medications. A data collection form was created to classify the testimony into categories according to the list comprised of 14 general issues, 11 logistical issues, and 11 miscellaneous issues. Testifiers were divided into three groups: medical, pharmacy, and health care related. Testimonies were analyzed for issues addressed by each speaker and marked pro, con, or neutral next to the corresponding issue. Frequencies and percentages were derived from the count data and groups were compared using a Yate’s Chi-square test. RESULTS: The medical, pharmacy, and health care related groups had a significantly different number of responses (p<0.001). The responses of the medical testifiers were significantly more opposed to a BTC class than the pharmacy testifiers (p<0.001). The pharmacy testimony was also significantly more in favor of a BTC class compared to the health care related groups testimony (p=0.014). The medical testimony was not significantly different from the health care related testimony (p=0.064). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists supported and physicians opposed the creation of a BTC class of drugs. Other healthcare related professionals had mixed opinions as a group.

Abstract Non-benzodiazepine drugs such as zopiclone and zolpidem are alternatives to treatment of insomnia, but are recommended only for short-term treatment. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the prescribing patterns and usage of these drugs. Method: Data was collected from Clicks Rosebank Pharmacy. One hundred (100) patients presenting with prescriptions for either zolpidem or zopiclone were followed over a period of seven months and data was collected regarding: demographic characteristics of patients; drug and dose distribution; ICD10 codes; prescriber characteristics; period of use; and whether use was continuous or as needed (uninterrupted or interrupted). All data was collected from the Unisolv computer system. Over a period of one year, total prescriptions received for all drugs were compared to the total number of zopiclone/zolpidem prescriptions received to gauge whether there was any seasonal variation in hypnotic use. Results: In each age group, excluding 20 years and below, the number of females was greater than males. The mean age of all patients between the ages of 21 and 80 years was 53.1 years. Out of 100 patients, 85 (85%), used either zolpidem 10mg or zopiclone 7.5mg, which are the standard doses. The most common ICD 10 code observed was G47.0, Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep [insomnias], occurring in 52 (52%) of 100 prescriptions. Of the 100 initial prescriptions, 68 (68%) were prescribed by General Practitioners, while 32 (32%) were prescribed by Specialists. Thirty of the 100 patients (30%) used one of the drugs for the full seven months; twenty two patients (22%) used one of the drugs for a period of one month or less; and the remaining 48 patients (48%) used a hypnotic for a total of two to six months. The number of patients who used a hypnotic in an interrupted manner, with each period of use of one month or less duration, was 34 (34%). The number of patients who used a hypnotic for at least one uninterrupted period of more than 1 month s duration was 66 (66%). Over a period of 12 months, prescriptions for either zolpidem or zopiclone represented 3.17% of total prescriptions. There was no significant seasonal fluctuation in hypnotic use. Conclusion: The majority of patients used one of the two hypnotics in an uninterrupted manner, and over a long term as well. Despite numerous cautions in the literature, these medications are still being prescribed and used in a manner contrary to existing guidelines.

A Thesis submitted to the faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of Witwatersrand, School of Governance in 50% fulfilment for the Master of Management in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation 9 May 2016 / The purpose of the study was to analyse the Supply Chain Management (SCM) approaches used in the Public Hospital Outpatients Pharmacy and compare the findings with successful supply chain practices from other industry sectors. The study of academic literature locates the unavailability of drugs in the public hospital pharmacies to the domino effect of the lack of governance and accountability in the public hospital. The data for the study was gathered from public and private hospitals in Gauteng, and large FMCG manufacturers and retailers. The study finds that the public sector adoption of SCM in the absence of a coherent technology and human resource support environment results in a lack of accountability and coherence across systems. The research study corroborated the view of academics and the interviewees that the unavailability of drugs in the public hospital is a multidimensional problem that has its roots in the lack of governance throughout the drug supply chain. It is a complex manifestation of policy, processes, practices, structure, people, communication and donor funding that contribute to the problem. Resolving the drug availability issues will require the ‘whole supply chain re-engineering’ with the added focus on developing the operational capability and capacity of the actors within the supply chain continuum. / MT2017

Yes / Conference abstract from the British Geriatrics Society Autumn Meeting, 14-16 Nov 2018, London, UK.

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