Pharmacists are vital in disaster response efforts, dispensing essential medications, managing pharmacy services, consulting, and educating survivors regarding their medications. Their contributions, however, are often underrepresented in scientific literature. This study aimed to explore the experiences of pharmacists who provided pharmacy services to meet the pharmaceutical needs of the survivors after 2 major earthquakes in Türkiye in 2023.

This study adopted a phenomenological approach. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to invite pharmacists who provided pharmacy services to survivors. Interview transcripts were analyzed following an inductive, reflexive thematic analysis.

In total, 15 pharmacists were interviewed. Four main overarching themes “response to the earthquake,” “preparedness for the earthquake,” “experiences during service delivery,” and “mental and physical experiences” were developed.

From participants’ experiences, it is essential to expand the clinical responsibilities of pharmacists and train them in providing wound care, administering immunization, and prescribing. Pharmacists should be integrated as essential members of disaster health teams. International health organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and governments are encouraged to work collaboratively and develop disaster management plans including pharmacists in early responders. This might help mitigate the deficiencies and overcome challenges in health-care systems to provide effective patient-centered care by health professionals and respond effectively to disasters.

Community-based medication therapy management advanced pharmacy practice experiences (MTM APPE) can engage pharmacy students in public health initiatives, including emergency response preparedness, to successfully impact patient care. This study aimed to evaluate pharmacy students’ perceptions of their experience on an MTM APPE during disasters in Puerto Rico.

After completing the MTM APPE during times of hurricanes, earthquake or pandemic, pharmacy students were asked to voluntarily participate in a questionnaire about their perception of assisting during a disaster. The survey consisted of 5 questions. Four questions were based on a Likert scale with answers choices ranging from Agree, Not Sure, Disagree, or Not Applicable. One question requested free text comments from participants.

Sixteen students completed the survey. Pharmacy students agreed that the MTM APPE taught them the clinical skills needed to assist and educate individual patients and the community that suffered from a disaster, and that the role of the pharmacist is vital when a disaster disrupts a community’s health-care system.

Training in emergency response to disasters should be a considered component of MTM APPE.

Pharmacies have a particularly important responsibility to supply medicine to disaster victims in order to save lives. This study investigated the characteristics of pharmacies that are well prepared for disasters as well as the efforts of the prefectural pharmaceutical association (PPA) to which the pharmacies belong.

Questionnaires on matters related to disaster preparedness were mailed to 50 randomly selected pharmacies in each of Japan’s 47 prefectures as well as all 47 PPAs in Japan. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association of pharmacy background and the activities of the PPA to which they belong with pharmacy disaster preparedness as well as the association with pharmacies’ awareness of disaster preparedness.

Pharmacies in prefectures that conducted disaster preparedness training at least three times a year were better prepared for disasters. In addition, pharmacies with high online utilization and high disaster-preparedness awareness were significantly more prepared for disasters.

Pharmacies that can promptly provide medicine to disaster victims are considered to be well-prepared for disasters. The results suggest that pharmacy preparedness is also influenced by the disaster preparedness activities of their prefectures.

This developmental study tested the feasibility of training pharmacy staff on the psychologically informed environments (PIE) approach to improve the delivery of care.

Community pharmacies provide key services to people who use drugs (PWUD) through needle exchange services, medication-assisted treatment and naloxone distribution. PWUD often have trauma backgrounds, and an approach that has been demonstrated to work well in the homeless sector is PIEs.

Bespoke training was provided by clinical psychologists and assessed by questionnaire. Staff interviews explored changes made following PIE training to adapt the delivery of care. Changes in attitude of staff following training were assessed by questionnaire. Peer researchers interviewed patient/client on observed changes and experiences in participating pharmacies. Staff interviews were conducted six months after training to determine what changes, if any, staff had implemented. Normalisation process theory (NPT) provided a framework for assessing change.

Three pharmacies (16 staff) participated. Training evaluation was positive; all participants rated training structure and delivery as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. There was no statistically significant change in attitudes. COVID-19 lockdowns restricted follow-up data collection. Staff interviews revealed training had encouraged staff to reflect on their practice and communication and consider potentially discriminatory practice. PIE informed communication skills were applied to manage COVID-19 changes. Staff across pharmacies noted mental health challenges for patients. Five patients were interviewed but COVID-19 delays in data collection meant changes in delivery of care were difficult to recall. However, they did reflect on interactions with pharmacy staff generally. Across staff and patient interviews, there was possible conflation of practice changes due to COVID-19 and the training. However, the study found that training pharmacy teams in PIE was feasible, well received, and further development is recommended. There was evidence of the four NPT domains to support change (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring).

In this study, we sought to determine the source of an outbreak of Achromobacter denitrificans infections in patients at a tertiary-care academic hospital.

Outbreak report study with intervention. The study period extended from February 2018 to December 2018.

The study was conducted at a tertiary-care academic hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.

All patients who cultured A. denitrificans from any site were included in this study. During the study period, 43 patients met this criterion.

Once an outbreak was confirmed, the microbiology laboratory compiled a list of affected patients. A common agent, chlorhexidine-and-water solution, was used as a disinfectant–antiseptic for all affected patients. The laboratory proceeded to culture this solution. Environmental and surface swabs were also cultured from the hospital pharmacy area where this solution was prepared. Repetitive-element, sequence-based, polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) was performed on the initial clinical isolates to confirm the relatedness of the isolates.

In total, 43 isolates of A. denitrificans were cultured from patient specimens during the outbreak. The laboratory cultured A. denitrificans from all bottles of chlorhexidine-and-water solutions sampled from the wards and the pharmacy. The culture of the dispenser device used to prepare this solution also grew A. denitrificans. The rep-PCR confirmed the clonality of the clinical isolates with 2 genotypes dominating.

Contaminated chlorhexidine-and-water solutions prepared at the hospital pharmacy was determined to be the source of the outbreak. Once this item was removed from the hospital, the laboratory did not culture any further A. denitrificans isolates from patient specimens.

Administrative databases (AD) are repositories of administrative and clinical data related to patient contact episodes with all sorts of health facilities (primary care, hospitals, pharmacies,…).The large number of patients/contact episodes with pharmaceutical facilities available, the systematic and broad register and the fact that AD provides Real-world data are some of the pros in using AD data.

To perform a narrative review on the role of Big Data pharmaceutical registries in Mental Health research.

We conducted a narrative review using MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases in order to analyse current literature regarding the role of BigData pharmaceutical registries in Mental Health Research.

Administrative variables like drug names and prices may be used and linked to other clinical variables such as patients disease, in-hospital mortality, length of stay,(…). The use of electronic medical records may also contribute to systematic surveillance approaches like local or national pharmacovigilance strategies, identification of patients at risk of developing complications and software pop-up warnings related to medication dosage, duplication and lateral effects. The use of Big Data pharmaceutical registries allows to create predictive epidemiological models regarding drugs lateral effects or interactions and may help to perform pharmacovigilance phase 4 clinical trials. Its use may be applied to the optimization of clinical decision, monitoring of drug adverse events, drug cost and administrative monitoring and as surrogate measures of quality care indicators.

Big Data use in pharmaceutical registries allows to collect large and important clinical and administrative data that may be later used in Mental Health care and research.

No significant relationships.

ECT is an effective care with high level of recommendation. During the COVID19, new recommendations to protect patients and caregivers combined with the increasing use of medicines and medical devices (MD) for anesthesia, caused greater difficulties of supply. Even if vital for patients, it is challenging to maintain ECT in this environment.

The aim of this study is to resume the measures implemented in order to maintain ECT during COVID19.

Retrospective analysis of measures implemented to maintain the ECT during COVID19.

As FFP2 masks were restricted to intensive care units, our hospital were not supplied. After negotiations, the regional health agency (ARS) has granted us an allocation of 100 masks to maintain ECT. Our efficient stock management of personal protective equipment as well as our transparency on these stocks with ARS and sharing with other hospitals out of stock played a role in this agreement.We had to adapt our MDs references according to breaks of many ones and new recommendations. The university hospital helping us in supplying certain missing references. Considering the difficulties in supplying drugs and MDs, and limited availability of anesthetists, we have reduced the number of ECT. Prioritization of patients with vital indications had to be achieved.

The prioritization of some services by the regulatory agency causes many supply difficulties for the others. It would be important to reassess the priority of ECT in such crisis because most of the time other caregivers and regulatory agencies are not aware how they are vital for patients.

In March 2020, academic medical center (AMC) pharmacies were compelled to implement practice changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes were described by survey data collected by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program which were interpreted by a multi-institutional team of AMC pharmacists and physician investigators.

The CTSA program surveyed 60 AMC pharmacy departments. The survey included event timing, impact on pharmacy services, and corrective actions taken.

Almost all departments (98.4%) reported at least one disruption. Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) were common (91.5%) as were drug shortages (66.0%). To manage drug shortages, drug prioritization protocols were utilized, new drug supply vendors were identified (79.3%), and onsite compounding was initiated. PPE shortages were managed by incorporating the risk mitigation strategies recommended by FDA and others. Research pharmacists supported new clinical research initiatives at most institutions (84.0%), introduced use of virtual site visits, and shipped investigational drugs directly to patients. Some pharmacies formulated novel investigational products for clinical trial use. Those AMC pharmacies within networked health systems assisted partner rural and inner-city hospitals by sourcing commercial and investigational drugs to alleviate local disease outbreaks and shortages in underserved populations. Pharmacy-based vaccination practice was expanded to include a wider range of pediatric and adult vaccines.

The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered hospital pharmacy practice. By adopting innovative methods and adapting to regulatory imperatives, pharmacies at CTSA sites played an extremely important role supporting continuity of care and collaborating on critical clinical research initiatives.

The aim of this study was to analyze pharmacy functionality, or the volume of operational pharmacies, among areas in North Carolina and South Carolina affected by Hurricane Florence.

Using geographic information system software and data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Healthcare Ready, we computed, mapped, and analyzed pharmacy functionality measures for the period of September 12, 2018, through September 20, 2018, among counties in North Carolina and South Carolina to examine health-care–related disaster readiness for and response to Hurricane Florence.

In the Hurricane Florence-impacted region, counties located along the coast had the most suboptimal pharmacy functionality, whereas counties located more centrally within North Carolina and South Carolina had more optimal pharmacy functionality throughout the disaster. Generally, functionality was high at Hurricane Florence’s landfall on September 14, 2018, for which operating pharmacy capacity was reported at 85% in North Carolina and 88% in South Carolina. Both states had the lowest functionality on September 16, 2018, at 71% for North Carolina and 62% for South Carolina.

During the Hurricane Florence event, suboptimal pharmacy functionality was detected for coastal areas and during the disaster response period. Hurricane readiness plans and infrastructure strengthening should be emphasized for community pharmacies in hurricane-prone areas.

The aim of this study was to assess whether burnout and empathy levels among general practitioners (GPs) might influence prescribing performance assessed using pharmaceutical prescription quality standard indicators.

Cross-sectional descriptive study of 108 GPs from 22 primary care centers in Lleida, Spain, and of centralized data corresponding to 183 600 patients under their care. The study was conducted between May and July 2014.

Burnout and empathy were measured using the Spanish versions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Jefferson Scale for Physician Empathy, and prescribing quality was measured using the Catalan Pharmaceutical Prescription Quality Standard (EQPF). Normal distribution of scores was verified using the Chi-square and Kolmogorov–Smirnov–Lilliefors tests. The effect of each of the variables was evaluated using crude odds ratios.

Older GPs scored significantly higher in the EQPF (P < 0.05). High empathy scores were positively associated with high EQPF scores. GPs with low burnout also performed better in the EQPF.

More empathic, less burned-out, older GPs showed better prescribing performance according to quality indicators. However, further studies are needed to evaluate other factors influencing prescribing habits. The promotion of communication skills may increase empathy and reduce burnout, thus benefiting patients.

Outdoor music festivals (OMFs) attract large numbers of guests and benefit from the help of large numbers of volunteers. Studies have previously described the injury patterns at OMFs, but no studies have described the use of medication and sales from on-site pharmacies at a large OMF.

The usage of medication and prescriptions in the Medical Health Care Organization (MHCO), including sales from the on-site pharmacy, at the Roskilde (Denmark) Festival 2015 were prospectively recorded.

In excess of 130,000 attendees (guests and volunteers) participated in the Roskilde Festival 2015. The number of attendees contacting the MHCO was 15,133, of which 3,723 (25%) had a consultation with a doctor. Of all attendees evaluated by a doctor, 669 attendees received some form of medication in relation to the consultation. The MHCO administered and/or handed out a total of 6,494 units of prescription and over-the-counter medication, of which analgesics represented nearly 51%. Asthma was the condition with the highest proportion of attendees requiring pharmaceutical treatment, as 28 out of 48 (58%) received medication during the consultation. Sixty-five attendees received both medicine and a prescription. The MHCO handed out 562 prescriptions. In total, 609 prescriptions were redeemed at the on-site pharmacy. Antibiotics represented more than 78% of all redeemed prescriptions at the on-site pharmacy.

The most utilized medications were analgesics and antibiotics. The data indicate a need for on-site prophylaxis using tetanus toxoid in combination with diphtheria toxoid vaccine and an on-site pharmacy. The content of the formulary at a mass-gathering event should be based on: evacuation time by ambulance/helicopter to hospitals with the level of competence needed; types of conditions to be treated on-site; level of competencies of festival medical staff; expected incidence and type of illness and injuries; and treatment of acute, life-threatening illnesses and or injuries.

The prevention of deaths caused indirectly by disasters is important, especially for evacuees requiring medication. Pharmacies play a major role in providing medication to disaster victims. Therefore, this study evaluated the current status of disaster preparedness among pharmacies, the extent of disaster awareness and knowledge of disaster mitigation measures, and any associations of these with the characteristics of pharmacies.

Questionnaires about disaster preparedness were sent to 337 pharmacies in Japan, in a region at high risk of major earthquakes. Tabulation analyses were carried out to examine the characteristics of pharmacies and then a logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between disaster awareness and the level of preparedness of pharmacies. Furthermore, to examine in detail any differences associated with pharmacy size, subgroup analyses were performed.

High disaster awareness was significantly correlated with adequate disaster preparedness. However, in the subgroup analyses, no significant differences were observed among large pharmacies. In contrast, disaster awareness was significantly related to the disaster preparedness of small pharmacies.

The findings suggest that the disaster preparedness of pharmacies is related to the level of disaster awareness, highlighting the importance of disaster awareness activities in ordinary times before a disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:753–757)