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Background: Community pharmacy-delivered interventions for smoking cessation are effective. The impact of behavioural interventions on short-term health benefits remains unclear. Objective: We aimed to evaluate a community pharmacy-delivered motivational interview for smoking cessation with characterization of the population that can be reached and assessment of the association between the motivation to quit smoking and short-term health benefits. Method: Demographics of smokers approached during a Flemish community pharmacy-delivered encouragement for smoking cessation in the months May-June 2021, their motivation to quit and dispensing records were retrieved from the pharmacy database. The use of pharmacotherapeutic smoking cessation aids and inhalers, cough medicines, antibiotics and oral corticosteroids (proxies for short-term health benefits) was evaluated 90 and 180 days after the interview. Data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test, χ² test and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Community pharmacists provided a brief motivational interview to a broad population (n=300), including young persons and persons without chronic medication use. Two out of three were motivated to quit (67.7%) and a third (33.0%) purchased a smoking cessation aid on the index date (36.7% after 90 and 39.3% after 180 days). Smokers motivated to quit and purchasing a smoking cessation aid on the index date, had a significantly lower use of cough (OR = 0.37; p = 0.032) and inhaler medication (OR = 0.37; p = 0.009) after 90 days than those not motivated to quit. Effects were less pronounced after 180 days but still statistically significant for lower inhaler use (OR = 0.46; p = 0.031). Conclusion: By implementing a brief pharmaceutical counselling for smoking cessation in Belgian community pharmacies, a broad range of smokers can be reached, motivated to quit and triggered to start smoking cessation aids. A motivation to quit is associated with suggestive short-term health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite limited supporting evidence, the practice of thickening breast milk or infant formula with commercially available thickening agents is prevalent. This study explored the viscosity‐enhancing impact of carob bean gum (CBG) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) when added to infant formula at various concentrations and for different thickening durations. The findings indicate that thickening leads to an exponential increase in milk viscosity, from 25% of the recommended dosage onward. This suggests that minor adjustments in dosage can significantly impact formula thickness, underscoring the importance of accurately dosing and preparing infant milk. The considerable variability in viscosity also emphasizes the need for thoughtful selection of teat size, considering the energy expenditure of the sucking infant. When using 50% of the recommended CBG dose or 25% of NaCMC, the resulting viscosity matches that of a commercially available casein‐based formula containing CBG for anti‐regurgitation. In the case of CBG, a viscosity plateau is only reached after 30 min. Therefore, educating parents on the correct handling and preparation steps for CBG‐thickened infant milk is crucial, including a 30‐min waiting period to achieve the intended thickening effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In this study, we aimed to (i) determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in community-dwelling older polypharmacy patients using the Ghent Older People's Prescriptions community-Pharmacy Screening (GheOP³S) tool, (ii) identify the items that account for the highest proportion of PIP and (iii) identify the patient variables that may influence the occurrence of PIP. Additionally, pharmacist--physician contacts emerging from PIP screening with the GheOP³S tool and feasibility of the GheOP³S tool in daily practice were evaluated. Methods A prospective observational study was carried out between December 2013 and July 2014 in 204 community pharmacies in Belgium. Patients were eligible if they were (i) ≥70 years, (ii) community-dwelling, (iii) using ≥5 chronic drugs, (iv) a regular visitor of the pharmacy and (v) understanding Dutch or French. Community pharmacists used a structured interview to obtain demographic data and medication use and subsequently screened for PIP using the GheOP³S tool. A Poisson regression was used to investigate the association between different covariates and the number of PIP. Results In 987 (97%) of 1016 included patients, 3721 PIP items were detected (median of 3 per patient; inter quartile range: 2-5). Most frequently involved with PIP are drugs for the central nervous system such as hypnosedatives, antipsychotics and antidepressants. Risk factors for a higher PIP prevalence appeared to be a higher number of drugs (30% extra PIPs per 5 extra drugs), female gender (20% extra PIPs), higher body mass index (BMI, 20% extra PIPs per 10-unit increase in BMI) and poorer functional status (30% extra PIPs with 6-point increase). The feasibility of the GheOP³S tool was acceptable although digitalization of the tool would improve implementation. Despite detecting at least one PIP in 987 patients, only 39 physicians were contacted by the community pharmacists to discuss the items. Conclusion A high prevalence of PIP in community-dwelling older polypharmacy patients in Belgium was detected which urges for interventions to reduce PIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]