Characterisation of patient encounters in community pharmacies (with special focus on self-medication)

Epidemiology of non-deferrable medical conditions in primary care in Italy

Non-deferrable medical conditions (NDMC) are clinical entities other than exacerbations of chronic diseases which are too frequently managed by emergency departments. The primary care setting would be indeed the ideal environment to proficiently treat them. Few studies have investigated the epidemiology of NDMC in primary care, especially in Italy. With the aim to better identify NDMC sufferers, we assessed the accuracy of the NDMC definition by means of four algorithms, featured by different specificities and sensitivities. Four algorithms, based on the hierarchical definition of NDMC, were developed to calculate the incidence rate of NDMC in 2014. Each was tested using a Cox univariate model adjusted for gender, comparing patients aged <45 years old with older patients. Algorithms 1 and 3 gave similar results (408.1 vs. 405.5 per 1,000 person-years); Algorithms 2 and 4 reported sensibly lower rates (84.7 and 84.0 per 1,000 person-years). Incidence rate of NDMC for female patients was higher than in males and for older age group (i.e. 75-84 age group) than younger patients, for both gender groups. Regarding the regression model, a higher risk of NDMC was estimated in patients aged 45 years or more and in females. This study allowed us to assess the incidence rate of NDMC in Italy which was unexpectedly higher among older patients. Given the crucial role of general practitioners (GPs) in the diagnosis and management of these conditions, as well as the healthcare system reforms imposed by the ongoing financial crisis, our findings may contribute to informing the capacity and strategic workload planning in group of GPs to improve service quality and profitably to reduce the excessive use of emergency departments.

Public Perception of the Range of Roles Played by Professional Pharmacists

Background: Professional pharmacists should be directly involved in patient healthcare as members of therapeutic teams are not the only dispensers of medication. Public perceptions of the professional role of pharmacists is expressed through patients’ attitudes, trust, and expectations as health and illness consultants, or qualified retailers of medicines. This perception is influenced by numerous determinants, both health-related and social. Objective: This research intends to describe the range of social roles pharmacists play from the perspective of potential pharmacy customers/patients. Methods: The data presented in the article comes from cross-sectional survey-based research, undertaken in 2018, on a representative sample of 600 Polish adults. Results: Over-the-counter medication is purchased by almost all Polish adults, but they do not tend to ask for advice at pharmacies. Most respondents consider a pharmacist to be “a person qualified to sell medicines”, with some of the participants regarding pharmacists as “ordinary retailers”. A small number of respondents are interested in benefiting from pharmaceutical care, but the pharmacy is still perceived to be a point of purchase for medication. Conclusions: Respondents do not treat pharmacists as health advisors and reduce its role to that of dispensing medication. Sociodemographic variables have no significant effect on social perception of pharmacists.