By D. Morgan, R. Roberts, D. Casey and M. Petrovic (Department of public health medicine, North Wales health authority)
This project compared the use of the "Bug Buster" kit with commercially available malathion 0.5 per cent lotion in the treatment of head lice. The trial was in a representative sample of infected children from an area with established intermediate resistance to malathion. It provided an estimate of the effectiveness of each method in normal use by the general public rather than by researchers. Malathion lotion was found to be twice as effective as the "bug busting" method, which was wet combing. Although half of all participants did not comply fully with treatment the results have implications for treatment policy in other developed countries and also in developing countries.
By M. Duman (BBC Education, London)
This was a multimedia initiative developed by BBC Education. The overall objective of the campaign was to educate the public on the importance of healthy eating and increased physical activity. It also aimed to motivate the public to make small, yet permanent changes to improve their health, rather than focusing on dieting and short-term weight loss. A pack was available to the public which included a self-help guide, with practical advice on healthy eating and exercise, and three registration cards to return over a five month period to chart progress in weight loss, activity levels and eating habits. The campaign has raised awareness and understanding of the problems of obesity and promoted key health promotion messages. A six month evaluation study was conducted by University College London and funded through a research grant from the British Heart Foundation.
By D. Morgan, R. Roberts, M. Petrovic and C. Williams (Department of Public Health Medicine, North Wales health authority)
As a result of adverse publicity in the media, there has been a fall in the uptake of MMR immunisation. A multidisiplinary group (consisting of a pharmacist, health visitor and two public health doctors) produced a training resource package for all health care professionals involved in administering the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to young children. "Mythbuster" examined the 10 most common "myths" about the vaccine and provides facts about MMR immunisations. It was designed to be used during a consultation with a parent. Patient uptake of the vaccine is being regularly monitored and there are initial signs of an increase.
By N. Shah and S. Parnham (H. I. Weldrick Ltd, Doncaster, South Yorkshire)
The study focused on identifying the types and extent of prescribing errors reported by three community pharmacies in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. A total of 38,016 prescribed items were analysed. The prescribing error rate was found to be 7.5 per cent. The most common error was absence of directions. The highest rate for an individual general practitioner was 11.8 per cent. The clinically significant error rate was 2.2 per cent.
By M. Bennett (Associated Chemists [Wicker] Ltd, Sheffield)
A co-ordinated community pharmacy service for methadone users was set up. This initiative involved supervised oral methadone consumption and support to users collecting their dispensed prescriptions for methadone and other drugs used in the management of drug misuse. The service also provided a syringe and needle exchange scheme for injecting drug users and advice on harm reduction methods and the supply of condoms.
Associated Chemists was awarded the contract to become the central service provider and all Sheffield pharmacies were invited to provide these services. The service provides participating pharmacies with a means of recording information regarding the treatment of drug users and feeding back relevant notes to prescribers. Supervised daily consumption has encouraged individual general practitioners to prescribe methadone and has increased the number of addicts that can be treated.
By J. Wells (National Co-operative Chemists, Sunderland), B. Graham (Sunderland Health Authority) and M. Shaw (National Pharmaceutical Association community pharmacy development co-ordinator, Derbyshire)
A service has been set up to manage head lice infections in an evidence based fashion. The service is accessed by families who believe they are suffering from head lice by going to their local community pharmacy. Referral may also take place via a general practitioner, school nurse or practice staff. The pharmacist counsels the client on the detection of head lice and supplies a detection comb and leaflet. Any living lice found attached to a piece of sticky tape are returned to the pharmacist who then supplies a treatment course.
Questionnaires have been sent out to general practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, practice staff and school head teachers to assess awareness of the scheme and professional opinion of the service.
The Pharmaceutical Care Awards were launched in 1992. They are sponsored by The Pharmaceutical Journal and Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd. The awards are designed to recognise excellence in the development of pharmaceutical services and are given in three categories: shared care, community care and hospital care. Shared care entries require the participation of professionals in both the hospital and community setting. There are runner-up awards in each category. Applicants are required to demonstrate worthwhile initiatives that improve patient care and hence quality of life. This can be in relation to the pharmacist's core activity of providing drug therapy or in relation to peripheral activities such as diagnostic testing, health promotion, formulary development, etc.
The developments must have been initiated in the calendar year to which the awards relate. Practising pharmacists may enter singly or in small groups. Co-operative efforts involving other professions are welcome but pharmacists should play a leading role in them. Entries from overseas are also welcome. Entrants are required to supply descriptions of their initiatives, explaining why, where, when and how they were undertaken and describing how their initiatives have improved patient care and how patient outcomes have been measured.
The winner in each category receives an engraved plaque plus £1,000 to use in developing professional services. The runner-up prize is £500 for the same purpose.
Judging is carried out by a panel comprising representatives from professional bodies and from Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd. The editor of The Pharmaceutical Journal acts as chairman.