Development of a Smartphone App for Women Living With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Qualitative Study.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a type of blood glucose intolerance or hyperglycemia that occurs during pregnancy, is a common condition increasing in prevalence both globally and in Australia. Mobile health apps have been shown to be a useful resource for women with type 1 diabetes and could successfully contribute to GDM management by facilitating healthy behaviors.

Objective: This study aimed to seek the perspectives of health care consumers (HCCs) and health professionals (HPs) regarding the development of a smartphone app for women living with GDM.

Impact of pharmacist-led interventions on COVID-19, herpes zoster, influenza, pneumococcal, and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines uptake in people aged 60 years and older: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: While some review studies have assessed the role of pharmacists in vaccination services, none have comprehensively assessed their impact specifically on improving vaccination uptake among older adults across all major recommended vaccines. These include COVID-19, herpes zoster, influenza, pneumococcal disease, and respiratory syncytial virus. This systematic review aimed to generate evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacist-led interventions in promoting the uptake of these vaccines among individuals aged 60 years and older.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Uptake Among Australian Healthcare Professionals: An Archetype for Success.

Background/objectives: Qualitative research suggests there may be identifiable characteristics that form a health professional (HCP) archetype associated with habitual seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV). However, the validity of this archetype requires further investigation, ideally within a theoretical framework that can elucidate this association and its generalisability to other vaccines. This study aims to confirm key HCP archetype characteristics associated with SIV, as informed by prior qualitative research findings, and test the generalisability of the association between this archetype and SIV to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Cannabinoids as Antibacterial Agents: A Systematic and Critical Review of In Vitro Efficacy Against and .

Background: Two major bacterial pathogens, and , are becoming increasingly antibiotic-resistant. Despite the urgency, only a few new antibiotics have been approved to address these infections. Although cannabinoids have been noted for their antibacterial properties, a comprehensive review of their effects on these bacteria has been lacking.

The healthcare experience of young stroke survivors: an interpretative phenomenological study.

Purpose: While stroke is becoming increasingly prevalent in young people (<65 years), diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and management continue to reflect the needs of older people. This study aimed to characterise and appreciate the healthcare experiences of young stroke survivors, whose needs and trajectories differ from those of older people.

Materials And Methods: Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 stroke survivors aged 18-49 using virtual conferencing software.

Cannabinoids in Integumentary Wound Care: A Systematic Review of Emerging Preclinical and Clinical Evidence.

This systematic review critically evaluates preclinical and clinical data on the antibacterial and wound healing properties of cannabinoids in integument wounds. Comprehensive searches were conducted across multiple databases, including CINAHL, Cochrane library, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and LILACS, encompassing records up to May 22, 2024. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria.

The Impact of Australian Bushfires on Asthma Medicine Prescription Dispensing.

Background: Air pollution can cause numerous health problems and increase the need for medicines to treat and prevent asthma in affected areas. There is limited evidence about the association between airborne particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller (PM) and asthma medicine usage.

The holistic maternity care needs of women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review with thematic synthesis.

Problem: Models of care for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have evolved in an ad hoc way and do not meet women's needs.

Background: GDM affects 50,000 Australian women per annum with prevalence quadrupling in the last ten years. Many health services are struggling to provide a quality service.

Restricting access to antibiotics: The effectiveness of a 'no repeats' government policy intervention.

Background: Australia has a high rate of antibiotic use. Government policy interventions are one strategy to optimise the use of antibiotics. On 1 April 2020, the Australian Government Department of Health introduced a policy intervention to increase the quality use of four antibiotics.

Novel pictograms to improve pharmacist understanding of the number needed to treat (NNT).

Introduction: Number needed to treat (NNT) is a clinically useful "yardstick" used to gauge the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. The objective of this project was to develop and pilot a series of pictograms and assess their impact on pharmacist understanding of the NNT.

Methods: Three decision aids containing NNT pictograms were developed following a preliminary literature review and three focus groups with current Australian-registered pharmacists and pharmacist interns.

Exploring pharmacists' understanding and experience of providing LGBTI healthcare.

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people experience health and wellness challenges additional to and separate from those of the wider population. Extant research has identified that LGBTI patients support education for healthcare providers to improve their access to appropriate care. Community pharmacists have a role in providing appropriate care to LGBTI patients.

Spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting by community pharmacists: preparedness and barriers.

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are undesired, unintended responses to drugs, and are significantly underreported. Pharmacists are drug experts recognized as custodians of drug safety, who are expected to be prepared for and knowledgeable about ADR reporting.

Objectives: To identify Egyptian community pharmacists' preparedness for and perceived barriers to spontaneous ADR reporting.

Availability and use of number needed to treat (NNT) based decision aids for pharmaceutical interventions.

Background: The number needed to treat (NNT) is a medical statistic used to gauge the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. The versatility of this absolute effect measure has allowed its use in the formulation of many decision aids to support patients and practitioners in making informed healthcare choices. With the rising number of tools available to health professionals, this review synthesizes what is known of the current NNT-based tools which depict the efficacy of pharmaceutical interventions.

Mass drug administration campaigns for scabies and impetigo: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Scabies is recognised as a neglected tropical disease, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations around the world. Impetigo often occurs secondarily to scabies. Several studies have explored mass drug administration (MDA) programmes, with some showing positive outcomes-but a systematic evaluation of such studies is yet to be reported.

Emerging Treatment Strategies for Impetigo in Endemic and Nonendemic Settings: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Impetigo affects approximately 162 million children worldwide at any given time. Lack of consensus on the most effective treatment strategy for impetigo and increasing antibiotic resistance continue to drive research into newer and alternative treatment options. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of new treatments for impetigo in endemic and nonendemic settings.

Protecting the Herd: Why Pharmacists Matter in Mass Vaccination.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. The unprecedented challenges worldwide implore the urgent development of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Globally, pharmacists have been delivering important public health services as part of the COVID-19 response.

Evaluation of Vaccination Training in Pharmacy Curriculum: Preparing Students for Workforce Needs.

Background: To introduce and evaluate a university vaccination training program, preparing final year Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) students to administer vaccinations to children and adults in community pharmacy and offsite (mobile and outreach) settings.

Methods: Final year BPharm and MPharm students were trained to administer intramuscular vaccinations to adults and children. The education program embedded in pharmacy degree curriculum was congruent with the requirements of the Australian National Immunisation Education Framework.

Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Compounding Training in the Australian Undergraduate Pharmacy Curricula.

In recent decades the role of the Australian community pharmacist has evolved to focus primarily on pharmaceutical care provision. Despite this, compounding remains an important product service offered by pharmacists. The aim of this study was to qualitatively describe the current integration of training in compounding within Bachelor of Pharmacy courses in Australia.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis is an increasingly common fungal nail infection, chiefly caused by dermatophyte fungi. The disease is notoriously difficult to treat due to the deep-seated nature of fungi within the nail plate, prolonged treatment requirements, poor patient adherence and frequent recurrences. Given the poor efficacy of currently available topical and systemic therapies, there is a renewed interest in exploring alternative treatment modalities for onychomycosis.

Using Focus Groups to Validate a Pharmacy Vaccination Training Program.

Focus group methodology is commonly used to quickly collate, integrated views from a variety of different stakeholders. This paper provides an example of how focus groups can be employed to collate expert opinion informing amendments on a newly developed training program for integration into undergraduate pharmacy curricula. Four focus groups were conducted, across three continents, to determine the appropriateness and reliability of a developed vaccination training program with nested injection skills training.