Refrigerated medicinal products: what pharmacists need to know
Patients and other healthcare professionals are entitled to expect that medicines sold or supplied from a pharmacy are fit for their intended purpose. In this article, Steve Todd looks at safeguarding the cold chain
Drug interations and fruit juices
Fruit juices contain a number of biologically active substances that have the potential to affect the metabolism and transport of some drugs. In most instances the exact interacting component of the juice is unknown and, particularly with grapefruit, has been the subject of much debate
Why adherence is a sensitive issue
Nicola Gray and Gianpiero Celino look at how pharmacists can help patients struggling with adherence to their medication
Engaging with your GP surgery
As the range of patient services delivered through pharmacies widens, pharmacists are increasingly having to work with their primary care colleagues, most notably GPs and their staff. Meera Sharma gives advice on how to foster closer working
First aid: getting people equipped
Pharmacies are a natural authority for information on first aid and logical suppliers of first aid requisites and kits, be it for homes, small commercial premises, such as shops, offices and cafés, or travel
CPD: what pharmacists are doing
By now, pharmacists will be familiar with the Society’s CPD recording format. Seven of them give examples of the CPD they have recorded
Clinical developments in 2007
Harriet Adcock highlights some of the important clinical developments of the past 12 months and reviews the medicines that came to market along with some of the more significant drug safety issues that surfaced in 2007
Clinical developments in 2006
More than 20 new medicines were launched in the UK in 2006. Harriet Adcock, news editor of The Pharmaceutical Journal, looks back at them and considers some of the more significant clinical developments of the past year
New emphasis in the Code of Ethics
In July 2007, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society published a single code of ethics for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, which was sent to every registered pharmacist and pharmacy technician, along with supplementary standards and guidance. In the first of three articles, Joy Wingfield explores the new professionalism implicit in the 2007 code and the concept of autonomy
Consent: the heart of patient respect
In the second article of a series discussing the 2007 Code of Ethics for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, Joy Wingfield looks at the new requirements concerning consent and the capacity to consent
When confidences should be kept and what constitutes an exception
In the final article of a series on the 2007 code of ethics, Joy Wingfield discusses the issues around confidentiality and privacy, and how they affect professional boundaries
Genetics, health and medicine
Advances in genetics are driving a revolution in health care, promising greater understanding of disease, superior tools for prevention and diagnosis, and novel treatments. The first of two articles by Philippa Brice and Simon Sanderson
Uses for genetics in pharmacy
It is likely that pharmacogenetics will be one of the earliest applications of genetic science in the post-genomic era. In a second article on genetics and medicines, Philippa Brice and Simon Sanderson look at current and future applications of pharmacogenetics in drug development and prescribing
An overview of hepatitis: part 1
The UK is the only major developed country showing an increase in the number of deaths from all forms of liver disease, including hepatitis. In part 1, Gareth Nickless focuses on non-viral hepatitis and drug use in liver dysfunction
An overview of hepatitis: part 2
In part 2 of this overview of hepatitis, Gareth Nickless looks at viral hepatitis and its treatment
How to harness all your resources
The airline industry has been described as the safest industry in the world. It was one of the first to adopt a system of error reporting, which was later taken up by pharmacy. Chris Seal describes another aviation practice that may be useful to pharmacists
The informed patient: friend or foe?
Like the use of the internet, the informed patient is a growing phenomenon. Marjorie Weiss looks at how pharmacists can deal with them
Developing the right marketing mix to promote pharmacy services
The introduction of a new community pharmacy contract in April 2005 in England and Wales led to increased focus on the development, design and delivery of pharmacy services. Some pharmacists report difficulties in getting patients and healthcare professionals to buy in. Nathan Nzekwue looks at how to market these services successfully
How to make a success of MURs
Lin-Nam Wang, The Journal’s senior contributions editor and community pharmacist, recently attended an event organised by Barnet Primary Care Trust and run by UniChem, where community pharmacists shared their experiences and tips for improving medicines use review services.
Understanding what motivates staff
As pharmacy evolves, many might be wondering if motivation and the profession are still compatible. Keeping staff happy includes keeping them motivated and this results in several benefits, says Chijioke Agomo
Peri-operative medication (9 parts)
A nine-part series considering various aspects of treatment in the the peri-operative period.
