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Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of theory-based, structured, standardized pharmaceutical care services led by community pharmacists (CPs) on patient-related outcomes in older Turkish adults. Practice description This prospective, quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted at the national level at community pharmacies in Turkey. After virtual training of CPs, pharmaceutical care services including medicine bag check-up, medication review, patient medicine card, patient education, and counseling services (including motivational interviewing) were delivered to promote medication adherence in older adults. Practice innovation Theory-based, structured, standardized pharmaceutical care services addressing medication adherence problems in older Turkish adults with noncommunicable diseases. Evaluation Methods Descriptive data (including demographic and clinical data, medication-related problems by using the DOCUMENT classification, potential inappropriate prescribing by using the Ghent Older People’s Prescriptions Community Pharmacy Screening- (GheOP3S) tool, and pharmacy service satisfaction) were presented. Pre- and post-evaluation were compared by using the Wilcoxon test (for continuous variables) and McNemar’s or McNemar-Bowker chi-square test (for categorical variables). Results One hundred and thirty-eight medication-related problems were identified among 52 older adults. The medication adherence rate was significantly increased from 51.9% to 75%, and the mean of total quality of life (QoL) score rose significantly from 51.7 to 53.4 (P Conclusion Community pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care services significantly improved patient-related outcomes (such as medication adherence, beliefs about medication, and QoL) in older adults with noncommunicable diseases. No statistically significant change was detected in their lifestyle behaviors (such as physical activity and diet program) or health awareness.

Background It is crucial to develop and implement community pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care services in primary care that could prevent and detect potentially inappropriate prescribing and promote medication adherence in older patients. Objective The aim of this study was to determine community pharmacists' perceived barriers and facilitators face during the provision of pharmaceutical care to older patients by using a theoretical domains framework. Method A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among community pharmacists in Turkey. A Turkish version of the 50-item Determinants of Implementation Behavior Questionnaire was developed to evaluate behavioral determinants of community pharmacists on delivering pharmaceutical care to older patients. Main outcome measures The behavioral determinants of community pharmacists. Results A total of 354 community pharmacists answered the questionnaire. The mean age was 43.2 (standard deviation = 11.1), and 227 (64%) of the pharmacists were female. Community pharmacists' positive opinions on pharmaceutical care service outcomes in older patients and feedback were regarded as facilitators. Community pharmacists' motivational level and emotions were additional determinant facilitators in delivering pharmaceutical care to older patients. Their negative opinions on the impact and action of pharmaceutical care in older patients were regarded as barriers. Conclusion In primary health care, a theory-based e-distant training program for community pharmacists and the guidelines for standard pharmaceutical care services led by community pharmacists could be designed by addressing barriers related to the impact and action of pharmaceutical care in older patients.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that pain is an important public health problem. Aim: To determine prevalence of pain and the characteristics of pain symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed on the adult population in Turkey. This study was carried out in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions with a questionnaire consisting of 28 questions, and 2994 participants were interviewed with face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed with chi-squared and Fisher exact tests. Results: The prevalence of pain among adults in Turkey was 63.7%. The prevalence increased with age and was higher in females, urban residents, in western and central regions than in males, rural residents and other demographic regions (p < 0.001). The most involved age was 55–65 years. The prevalence of pain in head, lower back, lower extremities and abdomen was 34.4%, 14.1%, 12.0% and 10.9%, respectively.

OBJECTIVE: Use of analgesics has been increasingly recognized as a major public health issue with important consequences in Turkey. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of analgesics usage and associated factors in adults with pain complaints. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions in Turkey. The study sample population comprised 1.909 adults 18-65 age groups suffering from pain. The sampling method was multi-step stratified weighted quota-adjusted sampling. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured survey questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. Odds ratios were produced by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of analgesic use was 73.1%, and it was higher in females (75.7%; p0.05), and in subjects of lower socioeconomic status (74.1%; p>0.05). One in ten of the participants used non-prescription analgesics. Non-prescription analgesics were more prevalent among the 55-65 age groups (18.1%; p0.05), among the urban population (10.7%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower middle socioeconomic status (13.2%; p