Impact of pharmacist interventions during transition of care in older adults to reduce the use of healthcare services: A scoping review -- Public attitudes towards community pharmacy in Arabic speaking Middle Eastern countries: A systematic review -- Identifying barriers, facilitators and behaviour change techniques to the adoption of the full scope of pharmacy practice among pharmacy professionals: Using the Theoretical Domains Framework -- Positive deviants for medication therapy management: A mixed-methods comparative case study of community pharmacy practices -- Assessing adherence to infusion-based biologic therapies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease -- Effect of medication reconciliation on patient reported potential adverse events after hospital discharge -- A user-centered evaluation of medication therapy management alerts for community pharmacists: Recommendations to improve usability and usefulness -- Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of Danish version of the revised Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire: Version for older people with limited life expectancy -- Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the revised Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire in French -- Trajectories of pro re nata (PRN) medication prescribing and administration in long-term care facilities -- Racial/ethnic disparities in measure calculations for Part D Star Ratings among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, hypertension, and/or hyperlipidemia -- Survey-reported medication changes among older adults during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic -- Factors associated with opioid prescriptions among women proximal to pregnancy in the United States -- 60 Years after Kefauver: Household income required to buy prescription drugs in the United States and abroad -- Medication synchronization adoption and pharmacy performance -- Health-, medication- and dietary supplement-related behaviors and beliefs relatively unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown -- Provision of clinical pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of pharmacists from 16 European countries -- Pharmacists, are words enough? The case for pictograms as a valuable communication tool.

[Article Title: Impact of pharmacist interventions during transition of care in older adults to reduce the use of healthcare services: A scoping review / Yannick Villeneuve and eight others, pp. 1361-1372]

Abstract: Current literature has shown increasing risk of error in transition of care between different healthcare settings, especially in the older population. Moreover, drug-related hospital readmission has been reported due to lack of appropriate communication. However, the literature is not clear about the impact of pharmacist interventions during transition of care of older adults on the reduction in use of healthcare services.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.006

[Article Title: Public attitudes towards community pharmacy in Arabic speaking Middle Eastern countries: A systematic review / Maguy Saffouh El Hajj and five others, pp. 1373-1395]

Abstract: This systematic review aims to identify, synthesize and assess the quality of the literature in the Middle East concerning public attitudes on community pharmacist role and services and in relation to public perceptions on strategies to improve pharmacy services and the image of community pharmacist.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.013

[Article Title: Identifying barriers, facilitators and behaviour change techniques to the adoption of the full scope of pharmacy practice among pharmacy professionals: Using the Theoretical Domains Framework / Rand Hussein and three others, pp. 1396-1406]

Abstract: As pharmacy evolves, pharmacy professionals continue to struggle to practice to their full scope. A theoretically-informed intervention to change practice can support pharmacy professionals in providing full scope services. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) can inform the design of a behaviour change intervention to improve the uptake of full scope services among pharmacy professionals.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.10.003

[Article Title: Positive deviants for medication therapy management: A mixed-methods comparative case study of community pharmacy practices / Omolola A. Adeoye-Olatunde and six others, pp. 1407-1419]

Abstract: To optimize medication use in older adults, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services as part of Medicare Part D policy; however, strategies for achieving high quality MTM outcomes are not well understood.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.10.006

[Article Title: Assessing adherence to infusion-based biologic therapies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease / Geoffrey S. Haar and three others, pp. 1420-1425]

Abstract: The intravenous biologics infliximab and vedolizumab are effective long-term therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Though highly effective, suboptimal adherence may result in loss of response and adverse sequelae. The extent and outcomes of suboptimal adherence with intravenous biologics, including in IBD, requires further evaluation.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.10.011

[Article Title: Effect of medication reconciliation on patient reported potential adverse events after hospital discharge / C.C.M. Stuijt and three others, pp. 1426-1432]

Abstract: Although medication reconciliation (MedRec) is effective in decreasing medication discrepancies, the effectiveness on Adverse Events (AEs) is very scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of MedRec by a pharmacy team on patient-reported, potential AEs post-discharge..

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.10.012

[Article Title: A user-centered evaluation of medication therapy management alerts for community pharmacists: Recommendations to improve usability and usefulness / Margie E. Snyder and six others, pp. 1433-1443]

Abstract: Community pharmacists provide comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) through pharmacy contracts with medication therapy management (MTM) vendors. These CMRs are documented in the vendors' web-based MTM software platforms, which often integrate alerts to assist pharmacists in the detection of medication therapy problems. Understanding pharmacists’ experiences with MTM alerts is critical to optimizing alert design for patient care.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.10.015

[Article Title: Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the Danish version of the revised Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire: Version for older people with limited life expectancy / Carina Lundby and five others, pp. 1444-1452]

Abstract: Knowledge about patients' attitudes towards deprescribing is essential for optimizing medication use. The revised Patients' Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire is a 22-item self-report instrument capturing older patients’ beliefs and attitudes towards deprescribing.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.001

[Article Title: Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the revised Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire in French / Barbara Roux and 10 others, pp. 1453-1462]

Abstract: Polypharmacy is common in older adults with multimorbidity1 and may be associated with potentially inappropriate medication use and numerous negative health outcomes.2 Deprescribing, defined as “the process of withdrawal of inappropriate medication, supervised by a health care professional with the goal of managing polypharmacy and improving outcomes”,3 may be an optimal way to tackle the harms associated with polypharmacy. Deprescribing may be also considered when a patient receives only one medication that could be potentially inappropriate.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.004

[Article Title: Trajectories of pro re nata (PRN) medication prescribing and administration in long-term care facilities / Monica Sharma and five others, pp. 11463-1468]

Abstract: This study examined the prevalence and resident characteristics associated with the administration of PRN medications and explored changes in PRN prescribing and administration over 12-months.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.003

[Article Title: Racial/ethnic disparities in measure calculations for Part D Star Ratings among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, hypertension, and/or hyperlipidemia / Chi Chun Steve Tsang and seven, pp. 1469-1477]

Abstract: The present study examined the disparity implications of the 3 medication adherence measures in Star Ratings among individuals with 3 chronic conditions: diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. These three conditions are critical conditions for Medicare because they are 3 of the 4 most prevalent chronic conditions among Medicare beneficiaries.16 The three adherence measures for medications for the three conditions are the only medication utilization measures considered when plan performance scores are determined in Star Ratings.1 Other medication utilization measures are display measures, which are only candidate measures for Star Ratings or are only listed for informational purposes.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.002

[Article Title: Survey-reported medication changes among older adults during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic / Joshua D. Brown, Scott M. Vouri and Todd M. Manini, pp.1478-1482]

Abstract: Speculation on benefits and harms of prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medications has been widespread during the SARS-CoV-2 (or COVID-19) pandemic. This community-based survey assessed self-reported changes in medications including those stopped, started, or if access had been impacted.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.005

[Article Title: Factors associated with opioid prescriptions among women proximal to pregnancy in the United States / Guanming Chen and five others, pp. 1483-1488]

Abstract: Receipt of an opioid prescription in the perinatal period is associated with maternal psychiatric disorders in the United States. Study findings add new data to the literature on opioid use among pregnant women and provide evidence for healthcare providers and policy makers to tailor treatment and educational programs to avoid opioid overuse among pregnant women.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.008

[Article Title: 60 Years after Kefauver: Household income required to buy prescription drugs in the United States and abroad / T. Joseph Mattingly II and four others, pp. 1489-1495]

Abstract: Americans receive bargain prices on par with international comparators for many low-priced generics drugs. For commonly used mid-priced drugs or high-priced specialty products, whether or not drug prices are considered a bargain in the US compared to international markets may depend on individual income. Policies that address pricing for mid-price or high-price drugs may improve affordability on a country-level GDP per capita basis, but prices may still represent a significant percentage of income for lower wage-earning Americans.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.007

[Article Title: Medication synchronization adoption and pharmacy performance / Chelsea P. Renfro and three others, pp. 1496-1500]

Abstract: While medication synchronization programs are becoming a staple in community pharmacies, a standard process needs to be identified to provide consistent positive outcomes. Many studies demonstrate how medication synchronization affects individual level patients but have not examined how medication synchronization affects the pharmacy's performance. Because community pharmacies are calibrated based on performance to adherence measures for all patients, it is important to understand whether resource-intensive interventions, such as medication synchronization, lead to improved performance.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.009

[Article Title: Health-, medication- and dietary supplement-related behaviors and beliefs relatively unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown / Michał Seweryn Karbownik and four others, pp. 1501-1506]

Abstract: The lockdown imposed to counter the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has evoked an unprecedented phenomenon that could affect health behaviors and beliefs.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.015

[Article Title: Provision of clinical pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of pharmacists from 16 European countries / Vibhu Paudyal and seven others, pp. 1507-1517]

Abstract: This study sought to explore the views and experiences of clinical pharmacists in relation to the provision of clinical pharmacy services during COVID-19. Participants in this multinational qualitative study described a range of service adaptations and adoption of novel roles to prevent and mitigate the public health impact of the pandemic. The study findings may help to inform governments, public health agencies and healthcare systems in harnessing ongoing service provision and adapt to any future interruptions.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.017