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Obesity is a chronic, complex, relapsing disease impacting healthcare systems and the economy worldwide. We aim to analyze the utilization trends of antiobesity drugs, and their reimbursement status on drug lists of health insurance funds (HIF) in selected European countries. The DDD/1000 inhabitants/day methodology is used for utilization trend analysis, where data from official national utilization reports were used. For the reimbursement status analysis of 5 antiobesity drugs (orlistat, semaglutide, liraglutide, naltrexone/bupropion, setmelanotide), the websites of national health insurance funds (HIF) of 22 European countries were screened. Trend analysis revealed fluctuation for almost all antiobesity drugs (the highest decrease seen for orlistat in Serbia, and the highest increase for liraglutide in Croatia). Novel antiobesity drugs show an increasing utilization trend in almost all the countries. In two out of three European countries, 437 antiobesity drugs are not covered by the HIF. Slovenia and Denmark reimburse most of the antiobesity drugs. The Netherlands is the only country where the cost of setmelanotide is paid by the HIF. Our results emphasize the importance of prioritizing the introduction and implementation of new strategies and reimbursement scheme models in global and national antiobesity policies.

Smoking is a global public health problem, and control measures should be implemented in the community so as to reduce the number of smoking-related diseases and healthcare costs. Community pharmacies are ideal places for providing tobacco cessation counselling as a type of public health service, because they are the most accessible health facilities with direct contact with patients. We aimed to examine attitudes towards the implementation of such services, conducting surveys on a sample of pharmacy students (N=300), community pharmacists (N=383) and the general public (N=987) in the Republic of Serbia. The introduction of smoking cessation services at pharmacies was supported by pharmacy students (59.7%), pharmacists (49.2%), and the general public (36.7%). No difference was found between pharmacistsàttitudes in terms of their gender, age, level of education and years of experience. We found evidence that pharmacists as public health practitioners were recognized mostly by students (94.3%). The majority of them (86.3%) recognized the need for additional education in order to implement new services, and every third pharmacist recognized a gap in their education. The data indicate the need for directed research in order to explore the educational needs and competences for practicing pharmacists and enable them to perform services such as smoking cessation in the future.

The number of software - mobile applications intended for use in the field of people's health and well-being is constantly increasing. The aim of this review is to compare regulations on software - mobile applications as medical devices in the United States of America (USA), European Union (EU) and Serbia, with reference on the efforts for international harmonization of the regulations. The goal is to increase awareness of the broader healthcare professionals' (HCPs) audience about this topic. Publicly available information from official regulatory bodies websites was analyzed and synthesized for two regions and one country of interest. The results show differences in regulatory approaches in this area between two biggest medical device markets - the USA and the EU, while regulations in Serbia are being harmonized with the EU. Regulations clearly define criteria that software - mobile application needs to meet to be assessed as a medical device; on the other hand, they leave a number of applications that provide health-related services out of the regulated scope. Based on the increased awareness of regulations, recommendations for future research can be directed towards greater involvement of HCPs in patient counseling and decision making regarding the selection of mobile applications, to prevent the use of inadequate mobile applications and ensure that their patients are correctly using the right applications with positive effects on health and well-being.

The importance of preceptorship programs, for pharmacists and other health professionals, in order to develop careers and increase satisfaction at the work was recognized more than 30 years ago, while percepting is associated with positive personal and professional outcomes. The aim of this review was systematic review of the development and evaluation of preceptorship programs for pharmacist and identifying challenges and problems for preceptors. An electronic database PubMed was searched (last searched December 11, 2016). A total of 124 reports were found, and only 5 of them met our inclusion criteria. All of them assessed the development and evaluation of preceptorship programs, and also, helped us to identify challenges and problems. Assessed quality of two studies was high, two were assessed as moderate, and one study had low quality. Most studies showed an increase in mentors and interns confidence and job satisfaction and improved skills in critical thinking and problem solving after completing a preceptorship program. More original research is needed, and a small number of publication in this field is a confirmation by itself.

Health literacy measurement means appliance of different instruments which determine the degree of understanding of read and written information, as well as numerical skills necessary for making relevant health decisions. The objective of this study is to identify instruments which are used to measure health literacy at a primary healthcare level, to compare them and analyze their structure in order to examine their relevance for health literacy evaluation in public pharmacies. Collection of data related to health literacy is done by literature search, and for every instrument for measuring health literacy given is its content and description of performance and conditions for use (with special view if it is applicable in pharmacy settings). Analysis of instruments is done by method of comparison. There were identified 5 instruments for direct measuring of health literacy and each could be used in pharmacy settings. It was concluded that the NVS (Newest Vital Sign) which measures functional and critical health literacy in a very short time would be the most suitable instrument for health literacy measurement in pharmacy settings.

Introduction. The use of drugs in pregnancy, despite to potential risks, is a very common and necessary. Pharmacists' interventions in the process of drug dispensing to pregnant women may be essential for the use of the safest drug for the foetus. The aim of the study was to explore Serbia pharmacists' interventions in the population of pregnant women and to suggest measures for interventions advancement. Methods. Internet-based study was performed during the period April 1st - May 31th, 2012. The questionnaire, specially designed according to aims of the study, was distributed to pharmacists via their e-mails. Participation in the study was anonymous and voluntarily. Data according to pharmacists' socio-demographics characteristics and their experiences in interventions during drug dispensing to pregnant women were gathered. SPSS software was used in data analysis. Results. The questionnaire was distributed to 2972 pharmacists, 4% accepted to participate. More than half of participants, 57.6%, had experience with dispensing of drug to pregnant women which is not safe for the foetus. In total 47.9% of all participants made a contact with prescriber and warned about potential risk of proscribed drug for the foetus. A less than a half of such interventions, 40.7 %, ended with the change in therapy. Conclusion. Pharmacists could give a significant contribution to prevention of unsafe drug use trough the interventions and consultation with physicians about drug safety for the fetus which is the fondation for development of pharmacy servises derectited to pregnant women.

Pharmacy profession has undergone through a period of intensive review and redefining of its professional roles, practice, and educational needs. Pharmacy graduates are now expected to be equipped with specific competencies necessary for provision of patient-centered and population-based pharmaceutical care, responsible use of medicines and management of limited healthcare resources. In line with other health professionals' education, pharmacy education progresses through several 'generations' of reforms which are faced with different professional and societal challenges. Thus, they have been implemented differently and to different extent in various regions. The aim of this communication is to point out the critical factors for further advancement of pharmacy education, with the emphasis on relevant societal and professional challenges in Serbia. Contemporary health professionals' education in developed countries is based on the four main paradigm including: (I) integrated interdisciplinary competency-based curriculum, (II) active learning approach involving clinical experience and interprofessional teaching and learning, (III) commitment to serve the community health needs and (IV) continuous teaching competencies development of academic staff and teacher practitioners in order to accommodate these innovations. The majority of developing countries, including Serbia, are in the initial phase of these reforms. Lack of integrated policy for healthcare and education system development, insufficient capacity of the professional regulatory bodies, and lack of motivation and commitment to change in the academic community were identified as major obstacles to progress.

Pharmacists as the most accessible health care professionals in outpatient settings can improve palliative patient care. The aim of this review was to assess utility of pharmacists (the effectiveness of pharmacists' interventions) on clinical outcomes of patients in palliative care at all levels of health care and in home care. Two electronic databases were searched: PubMed and SCOPUS (last searched August 2014). Primary studies, of any type of research design, in English, related to clinical outcomes of patients in palliative care and pharmacists' interventions were eligible. Studies that used surrogate outcome measures, such as number of pharmacists' recommendations were excluded. A total of 764 reports were found, and only three of them met our inclusion criteria. All of them assessed effects of pharmacists' interventions in outpatient settings and were case series. Symptoms improvement and stabilization of patients' conditions has been the main utility of pharmacists' interventions. Assessed quality of two studies was moderate, and one study had low quality. As number of studies and quality of the evidence were limited, and results of reviewed studies indicate that pharmacists' interventions potentially could improve clinical outcomes of patients in palliative care, more research is needed to provide evidences in this field.