In this issue
Research
Impact of including clinical indications on inpatient prescriptionsSubscription
The appropriate use of medicines is dependant on the accurate use of clinical indications on inpatient paper and electronic prescriptions. This mixed-methods study involving semi-structured interviews with 64 chief pharmacists, 11 focus groups from three NHS trusts and a medical documentation review of 89 patients determined both positive and negative implications of including clinical indications on healthcare professionals’ clinical workflow.
Insight
Personalising treatment for type 2 diabetes: why is NICE so behind?Subscription
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s rudimentary approach to managing diabetes needs to catch up with the available evidence and put patients centre stage.
CPD article
Tobacco smoking and its potential drug interactionsSubscription
Smoking and smoking cessation treatments have a pharmacological impact on some commonly used drugs and should be taken into account during the selection, introduction and cessation of medicines.
Short communications
Recruiting community pharmacies to a smoking support service trial using the 'Russian doll' approachSubscription
‘Smoking Treatment Optimisation in Pharmacies’ (STOP) is a six-year programme funded by the National Institute for Health Research. STOP is a complex intervention based on behavioural theory, and involves training for pharmacy staff and associated study materials, such as badges and posters. The STOP trial is assessing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the STOP intervention on smoker recruitment, retention and quit rates in the NHS stop smoking service based in community pharmacy. ...
Managing interstitial lung disease: impact of involving a specialist respiratory pharmacistSubscription
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an umbrella term describing a diverse group of lung diseases that result in impairment or fibrosis of the alveolar interstitium. Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias are the most common ILDs; and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is most common among this cohort of patients. Symptoms of ILD include breathlessness and a persistent, dry and irritating cough. Patients with ILD may experience acute exacerbations, which can increase the burden of disease, ...
