Pharmacogenomics: an overview
With the NHS working towards the integration of personalised medicine, in particular, aiming for whole-genome sequencing to be standard for specific conditions by 2020, it is important for pharmacists and healthcare professionals to be aware of the principles of pharmacogenomics and its evolving application into clinical practice.
Managing diabetes in women during preconception and pregnancySubscription
Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with risks to the woman and to the developing foetus. Pharmacists and healthcare professionals need to be able to support and educate women who are planning pregnancy and those who are already pregnant to manage their diabetes.
The diabetic foot
Diabetes-related foot problems are common, and negatively impact patients’ quality of life, so it is important that pharmacists are aware of symptoms and the relevant care pathways for these patients to ensure they receive the best care and education regarding how to manage their condition. Produced in partnership with RB.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes: diagnosis, assessment and management
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. The condition is thought to be highly prevalent; however, the dearth of symptoms during early disease and the lack of a specific diagnostic test make it difficult to detect and manage at an early stage. This presents a considerable challenge for healthcare professionals.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopeniaSubscription
Heparin is widely used for thromboprophylaxis or as a treatment in many clinical situations, however, it can cause serious adverse effects. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), an immune-mediated adverse drug reaction, is associated with high morbidity and mortality if undiagnosed.
Chronic oedema: treatment and the impact of prescribed medicinesSubscription
Early diagnosis of lower limb oedema is crucial to prevent early oedema becoming chronic. Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are ideally placed to identify patients on certain medicines at higher risk of oedema, and should be aware of signs of chronic oedema when assessing patients to allow for prompt referral.
Fluoroquinolones for treating tuberculosisSubscription
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health and socioeconomic challenge. The duration of current anti-TB therapies, the adverse effects of certain anti-TB drugs and the growing problem of drug-resistant TB on an international scale mean that it is imperative for new, effective and safe treatment regimens to be developed. Fluoroquinolones are a class of drugs that have been used in the treatment of TB for several decades. This article provides an overview of the current treatment ...
Depression in adults: recognition and management
Pharmacists and healthcare professionals should be able to recognise the symptoms of depression in people who use their services and direct them towards accessing treatment. This article examines how a diagnosis of depression is made, the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments available, specific considerations for different patient groups, self-management approaches, and the role of the pharmacy team in managing and supporting patients who have symptoms of depression.
Multiple myeloma: pharmacological management
Although multiple myeloma is currently regarded as being incurable in the majority of patients, the outlook for patients diagnosed with the condition has improved markedly over the last 40 years, with survival rates quadrupling. Significant advances in both treatment and supportive therapies have contributed to these improved outcomes and are discussed in this article.
Clostridium difficile: diagnosis and treatment update
There are around 12,000 cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) each year in the UK and during 1999 to 2007, deaths from CDI peaked at around 4,000 per year. This article summarises diagnosis and management, as well as the current therapeutic options for CDI, including faecal microbiota transplant.
Sepsis: an update on identification and management Subscription
All healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, should be aware of the clinical features and management of sepsis. This article summarises the recent changes in the definition of sepsis in adults, as well as its management.
How to identify causes of a subtherapeutic INRSubscription
Pharmacists and healthcare professionals are often involved in the management of patients with subtherapeutic international normalised ratios (INRs), the cause of which is important to identify because this will affect decisions and the subsequent management of the patient.
CLUSTER 1. Expert Professional Practice
Cancer care
Care of older people
Critical care
HIV
Antimicrobial stewardship
Medication safety
Medicines procurement
Neonatal and Paediatric Care
Palliative care
Renal
Substance misuse
CLUSTER 2. Collaborative Working Relationships
Communication skills
Teamwork
CLUSTER 3. Leadership
CLUSTER 4. Management
CLUSTER 5. Education, Training and Development
CLUSTER 6. Research and evaluation
CLUSTER 1. Patient and Pharmaceutical Care
Patient consultation
Need for the medicine
Provision of medicine
Selection of the medicine
Medicine specific issues
Monitoring medicine therapy and evaluation of outcomes
Transfer of care
CLUSTER 2. Professional Practice Competencies
Professionalism
Organisation
Effective communication skills
Education and training
CLUSTER 3. Personal Practice Competencies
Gathering and providing information
Knowledge
Identifying problems
Research and evaluation
CLUSTER 4: Management and organisation
Clinical governance
Service provision
Medicines procurement
Staff management
Learning topics
Adherence, compliance and concordance
Adverse drug reaction, side effects and toxicity
Alcoholism and substance-related disorders
Anaesthesia
Anticoagulants
Blood
Cancer
Cardiovascular diseases
Clinical pharmacology
Dentistry
Digestive system diseases
Drug discovery and development
Drug interactions
Ear, nose and throat
Endocrine system diseases
Eye
Health care provision
Infectious diseases
Mental Health
Musculoskeletal disorders
Nervous system disorders
Nutrition
OTC medicines
Paediatrics
Pain management
Palliative care
Pregnancy, obstetrics and gynaecology
Renal diseases
Respiratory tract diseases
Skin and connective tissue diseases
Urogenital diseases
Wounds, burns and injuries
Other learning and CPD articles
