Observational studyInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2015
Non-prescription treatment of NSAID induced GORD by Australian pharmacies: a national simulated patient study.
Observational study in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Treatment of Heartburn: A Survey of Ontario and Québec Community Pharmacists.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Quality of Community Pharmacy Practice in Antibiotic Self-Medication Encounters: A Simulated Patient Study in Upper Egypt.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Article
- A simulated patient evaluation of pharmacist's performance in a men's mental health program.BMC research notes · 2018Article
- Assessment and management of serotonin syndrome in a simulated patient study of Australian community pharmacies.Pharmacy practiceArticle
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPatients regularly present to community pharmacies for advice about and treatment for reflux symptoms and NSAIDs are a common cause of these symptoms. There is no published literature detailing the approach that pharmacies take to these enquiries, the pharmacotherapy they recommend or whether they contribute to the safe and effective use of reflux medicines.
objectivesTo assess in an observational study design the clinical history gathering, recommendations for GORD management and counselling provided by community pharmacies in a simulated patient scenario involving suspected NSAID induced reflux symptoms. Setting Australian community pharmacies.
methodSimulated patients visited 223 community pharmacies to request treatment for reflux symptoms. The interaction was audiotaped and assessed against guidelines for the treatment of reflux symptoms.
main outcome measuresAlignment of community pharmacies with international expert gastroenterologist guidance and national professional practice guidelines for the treatment of reflux symptoms by pharmacists including: consultation with a pharmacist; confirmation of reflux diagnosis based on symptoms; recommendation of short courses proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy; advice on the safe and effective use of reflux medicines and referral to a doctor for further assessment.
resultsPharmacists consulted with the simulated patient in 77% of cases. Symptoms were enquired about in 95% of cases and a medicines history taken in 69% of cases. Recommendations for treatment included: PPIs (18%), histamine H2 antagonists (57%) and antacids (19%). Advice on product use was given in 83% of cases. Referral to a doctor to discuss reflux symptoms was made in 63% of cases.
conclusionWhen assessing patients for the symptoms of GORD, Australian pharmacists and non-pharmacist support staff take a comprehensive history including symptomatology, duration of symptoms, concomitant medicines and medical conditions and any GORD treatments previously trialled. They provide comprehensive counselling on the use of antisecretory and antacid medicines. Counselling could involve more comprehensive information on lifestyle approaches for GORD management and side effects of antisecretory and antacid medicines. Further alignment with guidelines for the management of GORD would result in greater referral to a doctor for assessment of recurrent GORD and greater recommendation of PPIs for symptoms. However alignment with guidelines by all pharmacists is unrealistic if the guidelines are not universally available to them.
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