ADHD prescribing: national findings of children and adolescents attending mental health services in Ireland.

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, which initially presents in childhood. While prescribing trends for treating ADHD have been previously examined in Ireland's paediatric population, off-label prescribing of ADHD medication has yet to be studied.

Aim: We aimed to describe ADHD medication prescribing and off-label prescribing of ADHD medication in Ireland.

Perceptions of human factors and patient safety in undergraduate healthcare education: A multidisciplinary perspective.

Background: Adoption of Human Factors (HF) principles to healthcare can help to jointly optimise work systems performance and human wellbeing. A recent systematic review identified a lack of formal patient safety (PS) and HF education in undergraduate healthcare curricula. To address this gap, qualitative research is needed to explore faculty and student perspectives, offering a deeper understanding of current educational practices and potential areas for development.

Patient safety culture and medication safety in European intensive care units: a focus group study.

Background: Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are susceptible to medication errors (MEs) for many reasons, including the complexity and intensity of care. Little is known about patient safety culture, its relationship to medication safety, and ME prevention strategies used in ICUs. This study explored the attitudes of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in ICUs or within medication safety towards patient safety culture, medication safety, and factors influencing implementation of ME prevention strategies in ICUs across Europe.

Antipsychotic prescribing: national findings of children and adolescents attending mental health services in Ireland.

Antipsychotic prescribing trends vary internationally, albeit off-label use remains high (i.e., target symptoms).

Development and prioritisation of policy recommendations for medication safety improvement for intensive care units: a European Association of Hospital Pharmacists Special Interest Group Delphi Study.

Objectives: Medication errors (MEs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the healthcare system. Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are potentially more susceptible to MEs due to severity of illness, the complexity of treatments they receive and the challenging nature of the ICU setting. The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists established a Special Interest Group (SIG) to undertake a programme of work to develop and prioritise recommendations to support medication safety improvement in ICUs across Europe.

Methylphenidate and Sleep Difficulties in Children and Adolescents With ADHD: Results From the 2-Year Naturalistic Pharmacovigilance ADDUCE Study.

Objective: Short-term RCTs have demonstrated that MPH-treatment significantly reduces ADHD-symptoms, but is also associated with adverse events, including sleep problems. However, data on long-term effects of MPH on sleep remain limited.

Methods: We performed a 2-year naturalistic prospective pharmacovigilance multicentre study.

Multidisciplinary DEprescribing review for Frail oldER adults in long-term care (DEFERAL): Implementation strategy design using behaviour science tools and stakeholder engagement.

Introduction: Deprescribing is a strategy for reducing the use of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults. Limited evidence exists on the development of strategies to support healthcare professionals (HCPs) deprescribing for frail older adults in long-term care (LTC).

Objective: To design an implementation strategy, informed by theory, behavioural science and consensus from HCPs, which facilitates deprescribing in LTC.

Long-term safety of methylphenidate in children and adolescents with ADHD: 2-year outcomes of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs Use Chronic Effects (ADDUCE) study.

Background: Methylphenidate is the most frequently prescribed medication for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents in many countries. Although many randomised controlled trials support short-term efficacy, tolerability, and safety, data on long-term safety and tolerability are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of methylphenidate over a 2-year period in relation to growth and development, psychiatric health, neurological health, and cardiovascular function in children and adolescents.

Barriers and enablers to deprescribing in long-term care: A qualitative investigation into the opinions of healthcare professionals in Ireland.

Introduction: The prevalence of polypharmacy increases with age, increasing the exposure of older adults to potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Deprescribing has been shown to reduce PIMs for older residents in long-term care; however, deprescribing is not universally implemented. This study aims to identify the barriers and enablers to deprescribing in Irish long-term care facilities from the healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perspective.

Identification of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Frail Older Adults Residing in Long-Term Care: A Retrospective Chart Review Study.

Introduction: Deprescribing is associated with positive health outcomes for older adults in long-term care (LTC), however deprescribing is not universally implemented.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescribed to frail older adults in Irish long-term care facilities (LTCFs), as identified by the Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions in Frail adults with limited life expectancy, version 2 (STOPPFrail v2).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in two publicly funded LTCFs in Ireland.

A qualitative study investigating Stakeholders' perspectives on a professional body of pharmacy.

Background: With the advent of "shared regulation" over a decade ago in healthcare to allow for greater public input, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) shed its professional leadership role. Since then there has been no unified voice for the profession of pharmacy in Ireland, which is in stark contrast to other jurisdictions and allied healthcare professions, where both public and practitioner are catered for in separate entities. This is an issue which has received little academic scrutiny thus far, and therefore this study provides a unique opportunity for stakeholders to submit their views.

Barriers and enablers to deprescribing in long-term care facilities: a 'best-fit' framework synthesis of the qualitative evidence.

Introduction: older adults are at risk of adverse outcomes due to a high prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Deprescribing interventions have been demonstrated to reduce polypharmacy and PIMs. However, deprescribing is not performed routinely in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Establishing an Electronic Referral System from Speech and Language Therapy to Pharmacy to Improve Medication Administration in Patients with Dysphagia in an Acute Hospital Setting.

Dysphagia affects swallowing not only of food and drink, but also of orally administered medications. Altering solid or liquid dose formulations renders administration unlicensed and may have adverse effects. Medication administration in patients with dysphagia necessitates a multidisciplinary approach with no one profession holding all necessary expertise.

The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder.

Background: Misconceptions about ADHD stigmatize affected people, reduce credibility of providers, and prevent/delay treatment. To challenge misconceptions, we curated findings with strong evidence base.

Methods: We reviewed studies with more than 2000 participants or meta-analyses from five or more studies or 2000 or more participants.

Effects of long-term methylphenidate use on growth and blood pressure: results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS).

Background: Concerns have been raised over the safety of methylphenidate (MPH), with regard to adverse effects on growth and blood pressure. Our study investigates whether, and to what extent, methylphenidate use in boys with ADHD is associated with having low body mass index (BMI), having low height, and increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Methods: Data used for this study stem from the German KiGGS dataset.

Impact of a Universal Medication Schedule on rationalising and understanding of medication; a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Patients frequently encounter difficulty understanding their prescription drug labels. This problem is more common in patients with limited health literacy (HL). Patients are not always counselled on their medicines by their doctor or pharmacist, therefore this label can be an important source of information.

"You Don't Feel": The Experience of Youth Benzodiazepine Misuse in Ireland.

There are negative effects to inappropriate use of benzodiazepines, yet the percentage of young people in Ireland experimenting with benzodiazepines has increased. There is a paucity of research about why Irish young people misuse benzodiazepines. In this study, people between 18 and 25 years attending substance misuse services in the south of Ireland (N = 13) were interviewed in a semi-structured style between June 2012 and April 2013.

Parental knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on fever: a cross-sectional study in Ireland.

Objectives: Fever is a common symptom of mostly benign illness in young children, yet concerning for parents. The aim of this study was to describe parental knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding fever in children aged ≤5 years of age.

Design: A cross-sectional study using a previously validated questionnaire.

Paediatric Patient Safety and the Need for Aviation Black Box Thinking to Learn From and Prevent Medication Errors.

Since the publication of To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System in 1999, there has been much research conducted into the epidemiology, nature and causes of medication errors in children, from prescribing and supply to administration. It is reassuring to see growing evidence of improving medication safety in children; however, based on media reports, it can be seen that serious and fatal medication errors still occur. This critical opinion article examines the problem of medication errors in children and provides recommendations for research, training of healthcare professionals and a culture shift towards dealing with medication errors.