Search Results (124)

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as the chat generative pre-trained transformer (ChatGPT), into health professions education is rapidly accelerating, creating new opportunities for personalized learning and clinical preparation. These tools have demonstrated the potential to enhance learning efficiency and critical thinking. However, concerns regarding reliability, academic integrity, and potential overreliance highlight the need to better understand how healthcare students adopt and perceive these technologies in order to guide their effective and responsible integration into educational frameworks. This nationwide, cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted between February and April 2024 among undergraduate students enrolled in medical, pharmacy, nursing, dental, and allied health programs in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire collected data on ChatGPT usage patterns, satisfaction, perceived benefits and risks, and attitudes toward integrating them into the curricula. Among 1044 participants, the prevalence of ChatGPT use was 69.25% (n = 723). Students primarily utilized the tool for content summarization, assignment preparation, and exam-related study. Key motivators included time efficiency and convenience, with improved learning efficiency and reduced study stress identified as major benefits. Conversely, major challenges included subscription costs and difficulties in formulating effective prompts. Furthermore, concerns regarding overreliance and academic misconduct were frequently reported. In conclusion, the adoption of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT among healthcare students in Saudi Arabia was high, driven by its perceived ability to enhance learning efficiency and personalization. To maximize its benefits and minimize risks, institutions should establish clear policies, provide faculty oversight, and integrate AI literacy into the education of health professionals. Full article

Background: Community pharmacies are increasingly delivering structured services to support chronic disease management, such as Multidose Drug Dispensing (MDD). This strategy can improve adherence and safety, but evidence of its economic feasibility in Portuguese pharmacies remains limited. Objective: To estimate the cost of implementing and operating an MDD system in a community pharmacy, informing reimbursement models and policy. Methods: A micro-costing approach assessed fixed and variable expenses for serving polymedicated elderly patients. Costs were calculated in euros (2024/2025) and expressed per working day based on 253 annual preparation days. Results: First-year costs totaled €70,985.68, including €8184.00 for setup, €21,579.00 for supplies, and €41,222.68 for staff salaries. The daily operating cost was €280.58, with labour representing the major expense. A break-even analysis indicated sustainability with around 700 users at €10/month. Conclusion: Although requiring significant initial investment, MDD can become financially viable through scaling, workflow efficiency, and supportive reimbursement strategies. Full article

Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are one of the most common problems related to drug administration which represent a risk for patient safety. Considering their position in the healthcare system, pharmacists should be more proactively involved in DDI management. The paper shows representation of DDI intervention models in each DDI category. This research enrolled outpatients prescribed pharmacotherapies from 40 randomly selected community pharmacies. DDIs were analyzed using Lexicomp^® Lexi-InteractTM Online (Lexi-Comp, Inc., Hudson, NY, USA) software. Clinical pharmacists’ panel, according to the necessary interventions, determined an independent model of pharmacist interventions (category 1) and models that require cooperation with physicians (category 2) for DDI management. In total, 4107 patients were enrolled in the study. Mean patient age was 67.5; they were mostly women (56.5%) and had on average of 3.4 diagnosis and 5.5 prescription drugs. Overall, 14,175 potential clinically significant DDIs were identified: 83.3% of C, 15.4% of D, and 1.3% of X category. At least one potential DDI was found in 78.6% of patients. Models of pharmacist DDI interventions in collaboration with a physician (category 2) were more prevalent than independent models (category 1): 57.5% vs. 42.5% in C category DDIs, 97.8% vs. 2.2% in D category, and 100% vs. 0% in category X DDIs. This research aimed to gain an insight into the distribution of interventions in DDI management models between physicians and pharmacists, which can contribute to more efficient pharmaceutical care and visibility. Full article

Background: Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is proliferating in society and in pharmacy practice. For some, this represents a great advancement that will enhance effectiveness and efficiency of health care. For others, it is an existential risk that will worsen inequalities, lead to deskilling of the workforce, and spiral beyond the comprehension or control of humans. Human-in-the-loop (HiL) vs. human-out-of-the loop (HoL) AI have different potential risks and challenges that raise questions regarding patient safety. Defining principles for responsible adoption of AI in pharmacy practice will be an important safeguard for both patients and the profession. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 12 pharmacy regulators from across Canada and the United States were undertaken, with informed consent. Constant comparative data analysis using nVivo v15 was used to identify common themes. The COREQ framework was applied to assure quality of research processes used. Results: Pharmacy regulators highlighted the value of a principles-based, rather than rules-based, approach to AI. Core principles related to transparency, redundancy, audit and feedback, quality assurance, privacy/data security, alignment with codes of ethics, and interoperability were identified. There was limited consensus on the role of consent and choice as principles to be considered. Conclusions: The role of regulation in shaping responsible adoption of AI in pharmacy will be significant. This study highlighted a series of agreed-upon principles but also identified lack of consensus with respect to how consent and choice could be operationalized in pharmacy practice. Full article

Background: Supply chains in pharmaceutical industry encounter constant challenges in balancing the availability of medicine with cost efficiency, particularly in developing regions with limited storage capacity, as regulatory constraints increase operational complexity. Methods: This research focuses on developing a multi-product, multi-period inventory planning model designed to optimize the supply process for a pharmacy located in Barranquilla, Colombia. The methodology involves conducting field studies within the pharmaceutical sector, which includes regular visits to pharmacies, interaction with employees, and analysis of historical data collected over a 16-month period. Results: The primary goal is to minimize costs while ensuring that products remain available to customers, considering various internal and external factors. Several scenarios will be examined to evaluate different alternatives for enhancing the supply process. Initial findings suggest that the proposed model could reduce inventory planning costs by approximately 15.78% by classifying antibiotics, which in turn leads to better resource utilization and improved order management. Conclusions: The proposed model minimizes the inventory planning costs associated with antibiotic management, ultimately leading to improved resource utilization and more accurate order management. Full article

(1) Background: Pharmacist interventions are key to optimizing medication therapy and improving patient outcomes. The CLEO multidimensional tool assesses the clinical, economic, and organizational impact of these interventions, though its use in Portuguese hospital settings is limited. This study explored the predicted impact of pharmacist interventions in the Oncology Department of a Portuguese hospital, using CLEO to quantify their potential contribution to patient care and healthcare system efficiency;(2) Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the hospital’s Oncology Outpatient Pharmacy between April and December 2024. Data from 144 pharmacist interventions were analyzed, focusing on drug-related problems, corrective actions, and CLEO scores. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis; (3) Results: The most frequent drug-related problems were incorrect administration frequency (57.6%), drug interactions (22.2%), and incorrect dosing (10.4%). Nearly half of the interventions (47.2%) resulted in prescription corrections. CLEO analysis demonstrated a predicted positive clinical impact (80% of interventions scored 1C–3C), potential economic benefits (40.3% scored 1E), and organizational improvements (79.9% scored 1O), especially in lung, breast, and colorectal cancer treatments; (4) Conclusions: Pharmacist interventions were predicted to be associated with improvements in clinical, economic, and organizational outcomes in oncology care. These findings suggest that systematic documentation and evaluation of interventions using CLEO may enhance patient safety and healthcare efficiency, although further multicenter and prospective studies are needed to confirm these observations. Full article

Pharmacy technicians (PT) are vital to the efficient and safe operation of hospital pharmacy services, fulfilling a range of technical and clinical responsibilities that directly impact patient care. However, increasing healthcare demands have underscored the importance of adequate staffing levels to sustain service quality and safeguard patient outcomes. This perspective paper explores how appropriate staffing levels for PT in hospital settings are essential and important to support safe, efficient care and a sustainable workforce. It compares evidence-informed staffing models, highlights real-world benchmarks, and proposes governance recommendations to guide policies that strengthen pharmacy services. Recommendations are made to inform clinical governance, suggesting that staffing policies, continuous training, and professional development programs are essential to supporting PT effectiveness and retention. The findings advocate for regulated staffing ratios and governance measures to foster an environment where PTs can deliver high-quality care and uphold safety standards within hospital pharmacies. Full article

Intravenous push (IVP) administration of controlled substances in hospital settings presents operational challenges related to medication waste, documentation, and diversion risk. This multi-site observational study aimed to quantify the pharmacy workforce time and associated costs linked to IVP waste management across a 16-hospital health system in Southwest Florida. Data were collected from over 4400 controlled substance transactions involving fentanyl, midazolam, hydromorphone, morphine, ketamine, and lorazepam. Methods included automated transaction analysis, manual chart reviews, and software-based compliance case evaluations. Results indicated patterns of partial dose waste, particularly for midazolam (85.2%) and hydromorphone (78.8%), and identified opportunities where documentation efforts could be further optimized through automation. Manual review of 333 incidents required an average of 6 min and 43 s per case, extrapolating to over 496 h of quarterly pharmacy labor or nearly 1985 h annually. Software-based case reviews added another 32 h per quarter or 130 h annually. Additionally, waste receptacle systems incurred over USD 1.1 million in capital costs and USD 322,500 in annual maintenance, with technician labor contributing further operational burden. These findings underscore the resource demands of IVP waste management and support the need for standardized dosing, enhanced documentation workflows, and pharmacy-led interventions to improve efficiency and reduce diversion risk. Full article

The healthcare industry faces mounting pressure to enhance efficiency and accuracy in logistics operations. Despite its critical role, the sector demonstrates a low adoption rate of logistics automation, with the investment ratio at 14.9%, significantly lower than the industrial average of 18%. This study explores the current state and strategic application of logistics automation in healthcare through 20 in-depth interviews with stakeholders across manufacturers, wholesalers, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in South Korea. Analysis revealed that automation adoption is largely contingent on two key factors: annual order volumes and inventory complexity. Companies handling over 100,000 order lines annually and managing over 1000 SKUs were more likely to have adopted or planned automation systems such as AS/RSs, AMRs, or Cube-based AS/RS. The research culminates in a directional map that aligns automation strategies with operational scale and product characteristics. This study contributes novel empirical insights into the fragmented healthcare logistics sector, offering actionable guidance for phased automation implementation based on contextual constraints and stakeholder typologies. Full article

Isoflavones are the main phenolic compounds of soybean that affect its biological activity. The quantity of these valuable compounds extracted from plant material can significantly vary, influenced by the chosen extraction method and the specific extractants employed. Moreover, in cosmetics and pharmacy, the application of non-toxic, eco-friendly solvents is very important. This study aimed to develop the best mixture of extractants to maximize the recovery of individual isoflavones from soybean seeds by optimization of the proportion of three components: ethanol, water, and propanediol. The design of experiments (DOE) method was strategically employed. The extracts were obtained through accelerated solvent extraction and meticulously analyzed for isoflavone content using advanced electrospray ionization–time of flight–mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) profiling. The predominant isoflavones were daidzin, genistin, malonylgenistin, malonyldaidzin, and malonylglycitin. Our experiment demonstrated that employing three extractants in a balanced 1:1:1 v/v/v ratio resulted in the highest isolation of isoflavones compared to all other mixtures tested. Nevertheless, a detailed exploration of approximate values and utility profiles revealed a more effective composition for extraction efficiency. This optimal mixture features 32.8% ethanol, 39.2% water, and 27.8% propanediol, maximizing the yield of isoflavones from soybean seeds. The innovative use of mixture design and triangular response surfaces has proven to be a powerful approach for developing this superior three-component extraction mixture. This innovative approach not only enhances extraction efficiency but also paves the way for improved processing methods in the industry. Full article

Background: Pharmaceutical compounding remains a predominantly manual process with limited innovation, particularly in non-sterile applications. This study explores the implementation of an automated compounding platform based on 3D printing to enhance precision, efficiency, and adaptability in pediatric corticosteroid formulations. Methods: Personalized hydrocortisone dosage forms were prepared in a hospital pharmacy setting using a proprietary excipient base and standardized procedures, including automated dosing and syringe heating when required. Three dosage forms—3.2 mg gel tablets, 2.8 mg water-free troches, and 1.2 mg orodispersible films (ODFs)—were selected to demonstrate the platform’s versatility and to address pediatric needs for varying strengths and dosage types. All products were prepared using a reproducible semi-solid extrusion (SSE)-based workflow with the consistent API-excipient blending and automated deposition. Results: Analytical testing confirmed that all formulations met pharmacopeial criteria for mass and content uniformity. The ODF and troche forms achieved rapid drug release, exceeding 75% within 5 min, while the gel tablet showed a slower release profile, reaching 86% by 60 min. Additionally, in-process homogeneity testing across syringe printing cycles confirmed the consistent API distribution. Conclusions: The results support the feasibility of integrating automated compounding technologies into pharmacy workflows. Such systems can improve accuracy, minimize variability, and streamline the production of customized pediatric medications, particularly for drugs with poor palatability or narrow therapeutic windows. Overall, this study highlights the potential of automation to modernize non-sterile compounding, and to better support individualized therapy. Full article

Silver nanoparticles, with various uses in pharmacy, cosmetics, sanitation, textiles, optoelectronics, photovoltaics, etc., that are provided by worldwide industrial production, estimated to hundreds of tons annually, are finally released in the environment impacting randomly the biosphere. An alternative synthesis approach could be implemented by replacing chemical reductants of silver with natural antioxidants ensuring production and utilization sustainability with focus on environmental pollution diminishing. We synthesized silver nanoparticles by using plant extracts, aiming to offer antimicrobial products with reduced impact on the environment through sustainable green-chemistry. Fresh extracts of lemon pulp, blueberry and blackberry fruits as well as of green tea dry leaves were the sources of the natural antioxidants able to ensure ionic silver reduction and silver nanoparticle formation in the form of colloidal suspensions. The four samples were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, dark field optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, dynamic light scattering, which evidenced specific fine granularity, plasmonic features, standard crystallinity, and good stability in water suspension. Antimicrobial activity was assayed using the agar diffusion method and the bacteria kill-time technique against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In both cases, all silver nanoparticles revealed their adequacy for the aimed purposes, the sample synthesized with green tea showing the best efficiency, which is in concordance with its highest contents of polyphenols, flavones and best total antioxidant activity. Various applications could be safely designed based on such silver nanoparticles for sustainable chemistry development. Full article

Salvia officinalis (common or medicinal sage) is a highly valued member of the genus Salvia. Due to its wide range of applications in various fields, including medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics, and food, S. officinalis is a common target for economic fraud. It is imperative to implement rigorous quality control measures to ensure that fraudulent practices are prevented. Such measures should include fast and simple diagnostic tools that can also be used in the field. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the true plant composition of several Salvia-based products. This was accomplished by using PCR-RFLP and LAMP assays. In both procedures, the chloroplast trnL (UAA)-trnF (GAA) intergenic spacer served as the target analyte. The findings demonstrated the reliability and validity of the two DNA-based methods for the unequivocal identification of S. officinalis as the principal component in various sage products, as well as for the detection of irregularities (mainly the presence of adulterating species) in the production and marketing of some of these products. Nonetheless, the LAMP assay offers a more straightforward, rapid, efficient, and cost-effective approach that facilitates the authentication process for sage. The adoption of this method by quality control laboratories could then ensure safety and protect consumers from potential health risks associated with adulterated sage products. Full article

Diabetes is a growing chronic disease with complications that impose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Pharmacists are readily accessible for diabetes management beyond simply dispensing medications. Consequently, they are involved in disease prevention and detection, therapy management, and patient monitoring. However, with the current escalating impact of diabetes, pharmacists must upgrade their strategies by integrating guidelines from sources like the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2024 with pharmacy expertise. This perspective serves as a guide for pharmacists, identifying key foundations involved in diabetes management, highlighting five crucial steps for optimal disease control, ranging from prevention strategies to pharmacist-led counseling interventions. We employed PubMed, CDC, WHO guidelines, and key reference texts. Searches were performed using combinations of terms such as “pharmacist”, “type 2 diabetes”, “diabetes prevention”, “pharmacist intervention”, and “diabetes management”, covering publications from January 2010 to March 2025. Studies were included if they focused on pharmacist-led prevention, intervention, or management strategies related to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and were published in English. Studies focusing exclusively on type 1 diabetes were excluded. Generative artificial intelligence was employed to order and structure information as described in the acknowledgments. Conflicting evidence was resolved by giving relevance to recent systematic reviews, randomized trials, and major guidelines. Additional insights were gained through consultations with PharmD professionals experienced in diabetes care. Evidence from selected studies suggests that pharmacist-led care models may enhance and promote the early detection of T2D, improve therapy adherence, enhance glycemic control, and increase overall treatment efficiency. This work suggests that pharmacists must play a key role in diagnosing, preventing, managing, and mitigating the consequences associated with T2D. They must contribute to early treatments with appropriate training and involvement to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce diabetes-related complications. Full article

Background/Objectives: The integration of digital technologies into dental education is becoming increasingly important, particularly in prosthodontics, where digital design tools offer enhanced precision and efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate second-year dental students’ perceptions regarding conventional versus digital design in prosthodontics, assessing their theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and attitudes toward these approaches. Methods: A total of 141 dental students enrolled in Faculty of Dentistry from “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, participated in an online survey consisting of 19 questions evaluating their understanding, preferences, attitudes, and expectations regarding digital and conventional prosthodontic workflows. Additionally, students’ practical exam grades and task completion times for both conventional and digital design methods were evaluated. Results: Participating students reported sufficient understanding of theoretical concepts in both conventional (92.9%) and digital design (91.5%). A significant proportion (78.7%) felt confident in their practical skills for conventional design, while 78% expressed the same for digital design. Statistically significant correlations indicated that students who believed digital design could replace conventional methods associated digital design with greater accuracy (p = 0.020), predictability (p = 0.048), and sustainability (p = 0.032). Students who believed they had acquired enough skills in digital design responded more frequently that the time allocation for digital design by the university was sufficient (p < 0.001). Moreover, students scored significantly higher in digital design practical exams compared to conventional design (p < 0.001). Task completion times were also shorter for digital workflows, further supporting their efficiency. Conclusions: The findings suggest that students are highly receptive to digital technologies in prosthodontics, favoring digital workflows over conventional techniques. These results highlight the need for continued integration of digital tools into dental curricula to enhance students’ competency and prepare them for modern clinical practice. Full article