South Africa has a high prevalence of infectious diseases; the major ones being the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome epidemic, and tuberculosis. South Africa’s burden of resistant bacteria is also increasing. Antibiotic resistance in hospitalised patients leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality, resulting in longer hospital stays, and an increase in hospital costs. In order to counteract the problem of antibiotic resistance in hospitals and other healthcare facilities and preserve the efficacy of currently available antibiotics, there is a need for serious antibiotic management. Antibiotic stewardship initiatives have thus been put in place to guide healthcare professionals on the correct use of antibiotics. Clinical pharmacists can intervene and contribute to antibiotic stewardship owing to comprehensive knowledge of antibiotics, including the properties, uses, safety and efficacy of individual agents. There is a paucity of research to support the role of the clinical pharmacist in antibiotic stewardship in public sector hospitals. The current pharmacist staffing system within public sector hospitals does not adequately support pharmacists, in particular clinical pharmacists, to participate actively in antibiotic stewardship. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the role of the clinical pharmacist in antibiotic stewardship in a public hospital setting. A secondary aim was to contribute towards more rational inpatient use of antibiotics in the general medical ward. The hypothesis for the study was that clinical pharmacists can make a positive contribution to the correct use of antibiotics in a public hospital setting. The study showed that the introduction of a pharmacist-driven antibiotic stewardship in the ward, using a prospective audit and feedback strategy, had a positive effect on overall appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing (Chi2=7.89; df=3; p=0.04815, Cramer’s V=0.13). However, this finding did not show any reduction in the volume of antibiotic use. Positive patient outcomes were achieved and shown through a reduction in the length of hospital stay (p=0.00487; one-way ANOVA). Although patients were not followed up on discharge to assess re-admission rates, the results are relevant in order to inform the hospital staff about the implementation of antibiotic stewardship at the public hospital setting with the aims of reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and improving patient outcomes. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the hypothesis was achieved and that the clinical pharmacist did play an integral role in antibiotic prescribing at the public hospital setting. Thus, it can be concluded that the study, though limited in its scope, achieved its aims and objectives, and showed that the clinical pharmacist does play an integral role in the rational use of antibiotics in a public hospital setting.

There is a severe shortage of pharmacists in the Nelson Mandela Metropole with a current vacancy rate of over 50 percent on the approved posts for pharmacists (PERSAL 31 December 2007). The metropole has struggled to retain pharmacists in spite of the urban setting. The aim of this research was to measure the level of job satisfaction amongst pharmacists working in the public sector of the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The research objective was to conduct a questionnaire-based survey of pharmacists working in public sector facilities in the Nelson Mandela Metropole in order to assess their levels of job satisfaction, and report the findings with appropriate recommendations to management. For this study, the modified JDI Index survey was used focusing on the subscales; work, pay, promotion, supervision, co-workers and patient interaction. Possible retention strategies were also investigated through the use of open ended questions. The questionnaire was administered to 30 pharmacists in full time employment within the public sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. A total of 25 questionnaires were returned giving an 83.3 percent response rate. The pharmacists were generally satisfied with the job, their pharmacy co-workers, patient interaction and supervision but were not satisfied with salary and promotion opportunities in the public sector. Using a score from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating a level of high satisfaction, the mean scores for the six subscales were, job (3.2), income (2.1), patient interaction (3.3), promotion (2.0), co-workers (3.4) and supervision (3.7). Financial packages (23, n=25) and fringe benefits (22, n=25) were indicated as the most effective strategies in attracting and retaining pharmacists into the public service. The majority of respondents (15, n=25) agreed that the favourable working hours, flexibility of work, regular working hours with no weekend duties were the most vii positive aspects about their job. The negative aspects mentioned by the majority of the respondents (15, n=25) included poor remuneration, unrealistic notch increases and salaries that were not market-related and uncompetitive.

Class of 2008 Abstract / Objectives: The APhA Pathway Program provides Pharm.D. candidates with direction in refining their career choices. The purpose of this study was to collect data about pharmacy student perspectives regarding which year of pharmacy school is the optimal time for students to complete the APhA Career Pathways Briefing Document. Methods: The subjects of the study were Pharm.D. candidates currently enrolled in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of didactic courses at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. Students were provided a copy of the Pathway Program Briefing Document and asked to complete a 19-item questionnaire regarding their opinions about this information. The independent variable in the study was the class year. The dependent variable was the usefulness of the Pathway Program. Results: The overall response rate was 121 of 219 (55%) distributed questionnaires. Baseline characteristics of the three classes were similar. Statistically significant differences in responses existed between the 1st and 3rd year classes. The first year pharmacy students found the Pathway Program the most useful. Students with less work experience found the Pathway Program more useful than students with more work experience. Conclusions: First year pharmacy students had the strongest level of agreement that the Pathway Program was a useful tool. Students with less pharmacy work experience found the Pathway Program more useful than students with more extensive work experience. Based on these results, it appears that the first year of pharmacy school is the most appropriate time to utilize the program.

Since 2010, the incidence of acute Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections in the U.S. has nearly quadrupled. Re-use and sharing of syringes among people who inject drugs (PWID) is a significant contributor to increased rates of HCV transmission and a risk factor for HIV infection. Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to offer harm reduction services that lower the transmission of HCV/HIV by providing sterile syringes to PWID. However, legislation on non-prescription syringe dispensing varies by state and differences in individual pharmacists’ interpretation and attitudes regarding these laws may impact their willingness to participate in harm reduction services. Little is known about the impact of these factors on pharmacist engagement with harm reduction services in central Appalachia, a region particularly hard-hit by the opioid epidemic. The objective of this project is to qualitatively evaluate open-ended responses collected as part of a survey administered to community pharmacists in three central Appalachian states in order to determine: 1) pharmacists’ knowledge and attitudes regarding their state’s non-prescription syringe dispensing laws; and 2) the correlation of attitudes about state legislation to pharmacists’ intent to sell syringes to PWID. A telephonic community pharmacist survey on non-prescription syringe attitudes and behaviors was conducted between April and June 2018 in Northeast Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and Southwest Virginia. Survey responses were obtained from pharmacists practicing in 391 community pharmacies (51% response rate) in the study region. Transcribed responses to open-ended survey questions were extracted from the dataset and a qualitative analysis was completed using a generalized inductive approach. A single investigator coded all qualitative data and a second investigator coded data from a random selection of 10% of the respondents in order to develop themes through consensus. Descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 to compare syringe law attitude thematic categories to respondents’ intent to sell syringes to PWID. Preliminary analysis identified discrepancies in pharmacists’ non-prescription syringe law knowledge, state-specific differences in pharmacists’ non-prescription syringe law attitudes, and underlying differences in willingness to sell syringes to PWID based on attitudes. The findings may encourage pharmacists to reflect on personal attitudes and interpretation of state-specific legislation as factors that may influence participation in an evidence-based harm reduction strategy for prevention of HCV/HIV transmission. This study offers preliminary results that will serve as a basis for larger studies and interventions aimed at reducing ambiguity in pharmacists’ interpretation of non-prescription syringe dispensing laws and encouraging pharmacists to counter the spread of HCV/HIV in an evidence-based manner.

Objective: This pilot study sets out to discover the consumer's attitudes and perceptions about herbal therapy-both before and after viewing student pharmacists' posters that included information on various supplements and herbal therapies. Methods: An eleven-question survey was distributed among 61 attendees. In addition to demographic information, questions were asked about opinions of safety and efficacy of natural supplements and herbal therapies. Additionally, respondents were asked about their intended future use of herbal therapies. Results: Twenty-four percent of the survey respondents changed their perception regarding the safety of natural and herbal therapies, (p = 0.23), while 45fc changed their perception of efficacy (p = 0.012). Overall, there was not an anticipated change in the use of natural and herbal therapies among the respondents. Prior use of or familiarity with natural or herbal products did not influence future anticipated use. Conclusion: Student pharmacists' poster presentations significantly changed the perception regarding the efficacy of dietary supplements, but not the perception of safety.

Objective: To measure the impact of an automated outbound telephone messaging system on herpes zoster (HZ) vaccinations among older adults in the community pharmacy setting. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: 16 grocery store chain community pharmacies in Georgia and Tennessee, between December 2006 and May 2007. Patients: Adults 60 years or older who filled at least one prescription at a participating study pharmacy. Intervention: A 30-second automated outbound telephone message was delivered to patient households monthly during the first week of March through May 2007. The message advertised that older adults should speak with their pharmacist about the risk for HZ and the availability of a new vaccine. Main outcome measure: HZ vaccinations based on pharmacy profile records. Results: After 3 months, 146 and 46 vaccinations were administered to older adults among the study cohort populations, translating into HZ vaccination rates of 2.60% and 0.72% at intervention and control pharmacies, respectively (odds ratio 3.69 [95% CI 2.64-5.15], P < 0.001). Conclusion: Use of an automated outbound telephone messaging tool to inform older adults about their risk for HZ and the availability of a vaccine significantly improved vaccination rates in the community pharmacy setting.

Objective: This pilot study sets out to discover the consumer's attitudes and perceptions about herbal therapy-both before and after viewing student pharmacists' posters that included information on various supplements and herbal therapies. Methods: An eleven-question survey was distributed among 61 attendees. In addition to demographic information, questions were asked about opinions of safety and efficacy of natural supplements and herbal therapies. Additionally, respondents were asked about their intended future use of herbal therapies. Results: Twenty-four percent of the survey respondents changed their perception regarding the safety of natural and herbal therapies, (p = 0.23), while 45fc changed their perception of efficacy (p = 0.012). Overall, there was not an anticipated change in the use of natural and herbal therapies among the respondents. Prior use of or familiarity with natural or herbal products did not influence future anticipated use. Conclusion: Student pharmacists' poster presentations significantly changed the perception regarding the efficacy of dietary supplements, but not the perception of safety.

Objective: To measure the impact of an automated outbound telephone messaging system on herpes zoster (HZ) vaccinations among older adults in the community pharmacy setting. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: 16 grocery store chain community pharmacies in Georgia and Tennessee, between December 2006 and May 2007. Patients: Adults 60 years or older who filled at least one prescription at a participating study pharmacy. Intervention: A 30-second automated outbound telephone message was delivered to patient households monthly during the first week of March through May 2007. The message advertised that older adults should speak with their pharmacist about the risk for HZ and the availability of a new vaccine. Main outcome measure: HZ vaccinations based on pharmacy profile records. Results: After 3 months, 146 and 46 vaccinations were administered to older adults among the study cohort populations, translating into HZ vaccination rates of 2.60% and 0.72% at intervention and control pharmacies, respectively (odds ratio 3.69 [95% CI 2.64-5.15], P < 0.001). Conclusion: Use of an automated outbound telephone messaging tool to inform older adults about their risk for HZ and the availability of a vaccine significantly improved vaccination rates in the community pharmacy setting.

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / Evidence indicates that most South African households do not dispose of unused medicines in the manner prescribed by the medicine’s regulatory authority. This trend is not unique to South Africa, but several developing nations have also lagged. An in-depth understanding of practices of disposal of unused as well as expired medicines is cardinal and critical to the development of an effective programme to reverse the situation. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the disposal practices of household unused and expired medicines, and the role of pharmacists in creating an efficient and robust system for proper disposal of unused medicine from households in the southern suburbs area of Cape Town.

Yes / The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and importance of management skills in the pharmacy profession and pharmacists’ ability to respond to current and future challenges in healthcare provision. As service professionals, pharmacists are engaged based on their expertise and skills, and are noted for their contribution to the knowledge-based economy and control over the application of their knowledge (Abbott, 1991). The same premise would apply to other professionals e.g. healthcare (nurses, doctors and psychologists); legal (lawyers, solicitors and barristers); consultancy; accountancy; banking and architecture (von Nordenflycht, 2010). An exploratory analysis of UK and Spanish pharmacists’ roles and their adoption of management skills was thus undertaken. Both healthcare systems are very similar and likewise the clinical training and role of pharmacists, professional standards and regulations are similar but there are subtle differences. Data were collected using semi-structured online surveys; two thirds of the data were collected from a UK audience and the final third from Spanish pharmacists. The data collection was planned and iterative in the first two stages (stage one influencing stage two) (UK) and the final stage (Spain) offered an opportunistic comparator study. The results demonstrated that there was overwhelming support for management skills to be part of undergraduate studies. The outputs of this study identify the most important management skills pharmacists need to perform effectively. Consideration was also given to the impact of inability to perform in their role, and hence the possibility of occupational derailment (leaving their role or being demoted). These findings offer important learning to support workforce development in all professional services.