Top 10 learning articles of 2014 from The Pharmaceutical Journal

Ask anyone what the main health story of 2014 was, and the answer is likely to be the same: Ebola. The outbreak in West Africa dwarfed all other stories, and understandably proved the most popular learning article from the Pharmaceutical Journal last year.

We almost did not tackle the topic as a learning article. Ebola, while a major health crisis, has limited relevance to most health professionals due to the specialist nature of care.

Ultimately, this did not matter.  We want our learning to be globally relevant. There was a clear lack of a simple overview of Ebola for pharmacists, explaining its pathology and treatment, and the situation was of international importance and escalating rapidly. These points outweighed our concerns, and your response told us how much you valued our approach.

Another clear message you’ve given us is the need for a strong evidence base, with a clear subject in focus. Second and third on the list of most popular articles were pieces looking at the evidence around interactions with theophylline and fruit juices respectively. The evidence base for the treatments of acne (4), the latest NICE guidance on atrial fibrillation (5), the management of gout (6) and an evidence-based approach to falls prevention (7) also emphasise what you want, as well as the emphasis you put on practical advice.

A practical focus is a key element: you want your CPD to be relevant to your job. As seen above, evidence-based, trusted materials with clear diagnostic value is something you want, from skin conditions through to the signs and symptoms of diabetes (our 8^th most popular article of the year). This year we’re going to look at making articles even more practical, breaking out of the traditional model of learning articles and focusing on the steps you need to take, in order, to care for your patients.

The final articles in our top 10 for 2014 – on QT interval (9) and antimicrobial stewardship (10) – also hint at changes to come. There is a clear desire for CPD to move beyond diagnosis and treatment, and include science, physiology and practical health management.

You’ve told us what you want. And, as ever, we aim to meet those needs.

1. Ebola: the essential facts
2. 
   Theophylline interactions
   
3. 
   How fruit juice interacts with common medicines
   
4. 
   Acne vulgaris
   
5. 
   Atrial fibrillation guideline updates
   
6. 
   Acute management and prevention of gout
   
7. 
   Preventing falls in older people
   
8. 
   Identifying patients at risk of diabetes
   
9. 
   Long QT syndrome
   
10. 
    Improving antimicrobial stewardship