UNASSIGNED: To know within the scope of the May Measurement Month (MMM) project, the blood pressure (BP) situation in the Spanish population, disseminate the importance of its periodic measurement and estimate the prevalence of masked hypertension (MH).
UNASSIGNED: Transversal descriptive study in Spanish community pharmacies during May 2019.
UNASSIGNED: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in millimetres of mercury (mmHg), heart rate (HR) in beats per minute (bpm).Subjects with BP ≥130/85 and <149/90 were offered the possibility of home blood pressure monitor- ing (HBPM) to confirm MH.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 3402 valid records performed by 491 pharmacists. In all 61.9% women, mean age 56.6 years. A total of 143 (4.2%) had never measured BP and 918 (27.0%) had not measured BP in the last year; 1047 were taking anti-hypertensives, of whom 45.7% had high BP.A total of 780 (22.9%) subjects had high BP values; both, 252 (7.4%). mSBP and mDBP was 125.0 mmHg and 76.5 mmHg, respectively; higher in men (P<0.001). mHR was 72.6 bpm..A direct relationship was detected between SBP and DBP and BMI (P<0.0001). mSBP and mHR were higher in smokers (P<0.0001). In diabetic patients, SBP, DBP and HR were greater.A total of 61 subjects with suspected MH agreed to undergo HBPM. A total of 25 (40.1%) resulted in BP ≥135/85 mmHg.
UNASSIGNED: Almost a quarter of subjects had BP ≥140/90 mmHg. The risk factors most closely related to high BP were overweight, diabetes and age; 40% of suspected cases of MH were confirmed by means of HBPM.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is a global serious health problem that has a clear negative impact on economy. The high prevalence of diabetes worldwide urges for prevention and educational programs. Engagement of community pharmacists in offering various diabetes care services enables delivery of quality of care for patients and could play key role in diabetes management. The current study was designed to assess the knowledge towards diabetes among community pharmacists and to investigate their role in diabetes management through identifying different diabetes care services they provide in Asir region, Saudi Arabia. In addition, possible barriers for providing these services were evaluated.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using an online self-administered anonymous survey that consisted of 4 domains: demographics, knowledge, practice and barriers related to diabetes management.
RESULTS: A total of 258 pharmacists completed the survey, and one-third of respondents (34.5%) demonstrated good knowledge while 42.2% showed moderate knowledge towards diabetes. Respondents of the age group (30-39) years, males, those with bachelor\'s degree and those with 5 years or less of experience had higher mean knowledge. Nearly half of the participants had positive practice. The most prominent (75%) services offered by the community pharmacists were counselling on the appropriate administration, handling and storage of insulin and the appropriate time to administer oral antidiabetic drugs. Pharmacists who received training had higher mean practice scores. Lack of time, lack of diabetic patients visiting the pharmacy and low patient expectations regarding pharmacists\' role in diabetes care were identified as the most important barriers they encountered.
CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacists of Asir region exhibited moderate knowledge and practices regarding diabetes management. Our results support the need for national advanced diabetes training programs targeting community pharmacists for providing quality of care services for diabetic patients Moreover, strategies to overcome the reported barriers are indispensable.

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids are commonly used to treat several skin conditions, most notably atopic dermatitis. Many studies have found that patients lack knowledge about the safety, potency, and appropriate use of topical corticosteroids. This can be due to ineffective education by pharmacists and other healthcare providers. This study aims to evaluate the appropriateness of dispensing and counseling practices of community pharmacists towards topical corticosteroids in Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Saudi Arabia among 418 community pharmacists from different regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire that covered community pharmacists\' sociodemographic information, their perceptions of patient knowledge about topical corticosteroid use, and their dispensing and their counseling practices, in addition to their perceived barriers to counseling.
RESULTS: The majority of the participating community pharmacists were Saudi (57.4%), female (66.7%), holding a bachelor\'s degree (63.4%), and full-time workers (91.1%). Most of the time, community pharmacists counseled patients on the frequency of application per day and the duration of treatment (75.8% and 74.8%, respectively). The median counseling practice score was 17, with an IQR of 14-21. The main barrier to counseling was lack of time (33.7%). Only 15% of community pharmacists accurately identified all scenarios that necessitate medical referrals. Dry skin, itchiness, and irritation were the most common side effects reported by community pharmacists for patients to complain about (69.4%). Most pharmacists agreed that misuse is the most likely cause of topical corticosteroid adverse drug events (53.7%), followed by medication overuse, such as patient self-treatment (48%).
CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacists counseling practices to their patients about the use of topical corticosteroids require improvement. Continuing education and hands-on training are needed for community pharmacists regarding counseling about topical corticosteroids use.

Reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is fundamental in improving medication safety. Community pharmacists (CPs) being the first point of contact for individuals seeking healthcare in a community, play a significant role in ADR reporting. However, this has been poorly implemented in many countries including Nigeria. This paper aims to explore stakeholders\' perspectives on current reporting practices and suggest ways to enhance ADR reporting among CPs in Nigeria. This qualitative study employed a purposive sampling approach to identify key informants. Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with 25 carefully selected pharmacists, using a semi-structured interview guide between July 2023 and August 2023. The interview transcripts were analyzed using a thematic content approach. While a low ADR reporting trend was observed among all participating pharmacists, it was notably higher among those with less than five years of experience. The main barriers to ADR reporting, as identified by the interviewed community pharmacists were lack of awareness and knowledge, absence of motivation, and insufficient feedback from National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Training and awareness campaigns were the most frequently suggested methods for improving ADR reporting. Other proposed strategies included providing motivation, regular feedback, establishing mandatory reporting, and simplifying the reporting process. The study has highlighted the suboptimal ADR reporting practices among CPs in Anambra state. It underscores the significance of training, sensitization, advocacy, and other related interventions as pivotal means to enhance ADR reporting in this group. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for intervention-based studies to delve into and implement these approaches effectively.

UNASSIGNED: Community pharmacists play a vital role in the healthcare system, serving as accessible healthcare providers and entrepreneurs. To effectively manage community pharmacies, pharmacists must possess financial literacy and utilize appropriate financial indicators. However, studies addressing community pharmacists\' awareness of financial indicator concepts are scarce. This study assesses the awareness of community pharmacists in Jordan regarding financial indicators.
UNASSIGNED: Employing a cross-sectional study design, we utilized a structured and validated questionnaire to collect data from 353 community pharmacy owners across Jordan. The questionnaire assessed pharmacists\' awareness and utilization of financial indicators in pharmacy management. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic data, while analytical statistics examined associations between demographic factors and financial indicator awareness.
UNASSIGNED: The study revealed varying levels of awareness among pharmacists regarding financial indicators, with younger pharmacists exhibiting higher awareness levels. Factors such as educational background and years of experience were found to influence awareness. Furthermore, pharmacists predominantly utilize profitability indicators to assess financial performance.
UNASSIGNED: The findings underscore the importance of enhancing pharmacists\' financial literacy and integrating financial management principles into pharmacy education. Continuous professional development programs are essential to improve financial competence among pharmacists. This study provides valuable insights into the awareness of financial indicators among community pharmacists in Jordan, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts from policymakers, pharmacy faculties, and associations to enhance financial education and promote research in this critical area.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to map the available literature and provide an overview of the published articles discussing the impact of electronic prescribing on medication errors and pharmacy workflow.
METHODS: The literature search was conducted using PubMed®, Web of Science®, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews®, as well as grey literature reports, using the search terms and related components of \"pharmacists\", \"electronic prescribing\", \"medication errors\", and \"efficiency\". The search included all articles that were published from January 2011 to September 2023. Twenty-two relevant articles were identified and fully reviewed, ten of which were included in this review.
RESULTS: Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) provides a solution for some of the challenges that are associated with handwritten and paper prescriptions. However, the implementation of e-prescribing systems has been recognized as a source of new unforeseen medication errors in all the reviewed articles. Productivity in community pharmacies has been affected with receiving electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions) and having to deal with the issues that arise from them. The pharmacists\' interventions were not eliminated with e-prescriptions compared to other prescription formats. The most frequently reported reason for intervention was related to incomplete instructions in the field of directions of use. Other common challenges with e-prescriptions were related to missing information, quantity, inappropriate dose, dosage form, and drug.
CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates the scarcity of research about the impact of electronic prescribing on medication error and efficiency in community pharmacies. In the literature, most of the studies had mainly focused on hospital pharmacies. The literature search demonstrated that there are still some barriers to overcome with e-prescribing systems and that medication errors were not fully eliminated with e-prescriptions. New errors have been identified with e-prescriptions, all of which caused delays in processing, which affected the productivity of the pharmacy staff, and could have negatively impacted patients\' safety if not properly resolved.
CONCLUSIONS: e-Prescribing solved some of the challenges associated with illegibility of handwritten prescriptions. However, more time is required to allow e-prescribing systems to mature. Further training for prescribers and pharmacists is also recommended before and after the implementation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate and provide insight into the prevalence and patterns of off-label drug use in the pediatric population from the perspective of community pharmacists, addressing the existing data gap in a developing setting.
METHODS: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Albanian community pharmacists in June 2021. The online administered survey explored the participants\' demographic details, perceptions, and experiences with off-label prescriptions in pediatric patients. The statistical analysis conducted on the survey data comprised the construction of frequency tables and the application of the chi-square test for independence.
RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-six community pharmacists nationwide completed the survey, out of which 186 (55.3%) were practiced in Tirana, the capital of Albania. Over 80% of surveyed pharmacists (n = 275) had encountered off-label drug prescriptions in pediatric patients, yet only 40% of participants reported dispensing medicines for off-label use. Community pharmacists reported that general pediatricians tended to prescribe off-label medications more frequently than pediatric subspecialists or general practitioners. It was found that off-label prescriptions were more frequently observed among children aged between 2 and 11 years. Antibiotics were the most reported medicines for off-label use in this study mentioned in almost all off-label categories.
CONCLUSIONS: Prescribing medicines for unapproved uses for the treatment of pediatric patients is present in community settings in Albania. This indicates the need for further data collection and analysis to understand off-label practices in our country\'s pediatric population comprehensively.

UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to assess the role of community pharmacists and their perception toward antimicrobial stewardship, in addition to identifying factors influencing their perception and practices in community pharmacy.
UNASSIGNED: A cross-sectional study was carried out among community pharmacists regarding antimicrobial stewardship. Convenience sampling was used to obtain the required sample from a community pharmacy in Baghdad. In total, 381 participants have completed the survey.
UNASSIGNED: The majority of the participants (85.6%) strongly agreed/agreed that \"antimicrobial stewardship programs reduce the problems of antibiotic resistance\"; and 85.5% of them strongly agreed/agreed that community pharmacists required adequate training on antibiotics use. In addition, high percent of community pharmacists (88.4%) strongly agreed/agreed that pharmacists have a responsibility to take a prominent role in antimicrobial stewardship programs and infection-control programs in the health system. The total score of perception was significantly influenced by older age groups, postgraduate degrees, and experience of 6-10 years (p < 0.001). This study also showed that 65.4% of pharmacists always/often advise patients to continue the full course of antimicrobials, and 64.9% of them reported always/often considering clinical and safety parameters before dispensing antibiotics. The role of pharmacists was significantly influenced by the younger age group, females, higher degree in pharmacy, experience of 3-5 years, and medical complex pharmacy (p < 0.001).
UNASSIGNED: Community pharmacists have a good perception toward antimicrobial stewardship programs, but their role is still limited. More efforts are needed to design better strategies for antimicrobial stewardship in community pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Being the professional membership body for pharmacists in Jordan, the Jordan Pharmacists Association (JPA) took the initiative to establish a training centre for practising pharmacists. This study aims to identify the self-assessed training priorities of community pharmacists in Jordan.
METHODS: In the period between August and October 2022, an online self-administered questionnaire was distributed using a variety of participants\' identification and recruitment approaches. The questionnaire targeted currently practising community pharmacists. Data were analysed descriptively and inferentially.
RESULTS: In total, 470 community pharmacists participated in this study. Of 470 participants, 307 (65.3%) were employees, of which 206 were full-time employees. Results showed that only 97 (21%) had access to an in-house training programme or scheme. Self-assessment of training needs highlighted differences between the three competencies clusters. While administrative and managerial skills and competencies were more frequently prioritised on average than the other two clusters, interpersonal and communication skills were needed the least. Evidence showed a significant difference between female and male participants regarding the need for training addressing maternity and early childhood health training issues. Lastly, the role-based comparison showed that, compared to pharmacy owners, employees had a significantly higher need for training related to bookkeeping and taxation returns preparation and how to handle and manage records of narcotic and controlled medicines.
CONCLUSIONS: If training and development programmes are tailored to address specific needs in administrative, clinical, and interpersonal competencies, community pharmacists have the potential to enhance public health, expand their role, provide patient-centred care, and support the national healthcare system.

BACKGROUND: Herbal medicine has seen remarkable growth in consumption over the past few years. Community pharmacists are health care professionals who have an important role in the dispensing and counselling of these products. The aim of this study was to evaluate perceptions, professional practices and knowledge about herbal medicine among community pharmacists in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain).
METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in community pharmacies in Tenerife using a questionnaire that included demographic data, perceptions, professional practices and knowledge of herbal medicine. Data from 610 community pharmacists was analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software program.
RESULTS: Most of the responders had a positive attitude towards herbal medicine, considering its products useful (80.9%), safe (64.2%) and those sold in pharmacies of high quality and standardized (84.6%). They thought that these products should only be sold in pharmacies (78.0%) and that it was their responsibility to provide information about them (95.5%). However, only 32.1% believed they are well prepared to provide herbal pharmaceutical care services and 36.1% that there are reliable and easily accessible sources of information. Moreover, 60.7% considered lack of training a barrier to recommending herbal medicinal products, being interested in updating their knowledge on it (96.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that community pharmacists have a positive perception of herbal medicines, considering them beneficial and safe. However, participants requested reliable sources of information, easy access, and more training to dispense, counsel, and safely label these products. Education and training programs in herbal medicine are needed to enhance their ability to provide herbal pharmaceutical care.