Thing

Assessing authorship, study purpose and journals when evaluating clinical studies

Part of a comprehensive series showing how to evaluate a clinical study or research paper. This article focuses on why it is important to consider the authors’ background, aims and where the article was published.…

Next frontier: crystallising the future of medicines

The UK is taking a lead in creating the regulatory framework needed to manufacture medicines in space, which is a move that could pave the way for improved treatments for cancer and rare diseases.…

Inhaled corticosteroids not linked to increased risks during pregnancy, study suggests

Researchers found that there were no statistically significant differences in neonatal outcomes linked to the use of inhaled corticosteroids while pregnant, such as low birth weight and congenital malformation.…

Urgent action on Scotland’s healthy life expectancy gap needed, RCPharm conference told

The chief executive of Public Health Scotland said that in the 10% most deprived areas in Scotland, healthy life expectancy is around 26 years less than in the 20% least deprived areas of the country.…

Identifying and evaluating research study types

Part of a comprehensive series showing how to evaluate a clinical study or research paper. This article focuses on the importance of understanding the study type and research design.…

ICB to use pharmacists for penicillin allergy de-labelling following patient death

A patient died as a result of a hypoxic brain injury, which was caused by medication given in the peri-operative period of an elective procedure in the days before her death.…

From liquids to solids: resetting paediatric prescribing for a safer, sustainable future

Pharmacists can lead an evidence-based shift to make convenient solid oral dosage forms the new normal.…

Four in five people carry out personal health monitoring, survey finds

The polling by YouGov also found that nearly half of respondents said blood pressure was the health aspect that they self-monitored.…

What causes medicines shortages: the supply chain explained

Record numbers of price concessions over the past year indicate increasing shortages. But what’s behind them — global events, commercial decisions or confusion about where stock is located?…

Regulator encourages development of microbiome-based medicines

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s position paper is aimed to provide clarity on microbiome medicinal products and how to bring them forward “with confidence”.…