Research

NHS Grampian project: treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in community pharmacy

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common conditions seen in female patients in general practice (GP) and account for 1–3% of all GP consultations each year in the UK. Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for UTIs currently available in community pharmacy only attempt to relieve …

Published: 9 January 2018

Research

Treatments for neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is a common condition characterised by subjective negative and positive symptoms that range from numbness to debilitating pain.…

Published: 1 December 2017

Research

The implications of the Montgomery judgment on pharmacy practice and patients with learning disability

The judgment in Montgomery v Lanarkshire (Scotland) 2015 introduced a new definition of informed consent which has implications for all healthcare professionals. This article focuses specifically on the implications for pharmacy practice and patients with learning disability. During consultations, b…

Published: 28 November 2017

Research

Pharmacological treatment options for fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a high-impact and prevalent condition. Its clinical features include widespread pain and tenderness — often associated with high levels of poor-quality sleep, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. The mechanism leading to fibromyalgia development is associated with a cha…

Published: 7 November 2017

Research

Pharmacologic treatment options for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neuropsychiatric condition that is often associated with severe behavioural challenges that can be as diverse in response to treatment as they are in presentation. While environmental, behavioural, communicative, therapeutic and supportive interventi…

Published: 10 October 2017

Research

Antimicrobial therapies for Gram-positive infections

Gram-positive bacteria are among the most common human pathogens associated with clinical infections, which range from mild skin infections to sepsis. In an era defined by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and an increasing drive toward delivering patient care via ambulatory pathways, the paradigm for …

Published: 12 September 2017

Research

An update on the management of chronic hepatitis B and C infection

Chronic hepatitis B and C infection are leading causes of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection consisting of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) rarely lead to functional cure. With a better understanding of the HBV lifecycle, nove…

Published: 9 August 2017

Research

Safe dispensing in community pharmacies: applying the software, hardware, environment and liveware (SHELL) model

The human aspects of the community pharmacy work system are vulnerable to medication-related errors. Established models of human error can identify actual or potential hazards, and are important in our understanding of the interaction between human and system factors that influence performance. The …

Published: 1 July 2017

Research

Examining the implications of analytical and remote monitoring in pharmacy practice

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) incorporates digital technology that collects health data from individuals in one location and electronically transmits secure data to healthcare providers in a different location for review and assessment. This allows healthcare professionals to make recommendat…

Published: 5 June 2017

Research

Ceftazidime-avibactam: a novel cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor

Over the past decade, infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms have increased. The limited availability in treatment options for these infections prompted both the UK to create a five-year antimicrobial resistance strategic plan to stimulate the development of new antibiotics…

Published: 10 May 2017