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Introduction The process of transformation of pharmacy is closely related to the professional development of pharmacists, with the aim of increasing their competencies and performance. The biggest changes in this process are related to the education of pharmacists, both through undergraduate teaching and through lifelong learning, which includes learning through practice and continuing education, which is especially important for young pharmacists. The aim of the research was to identify the most common challenges and problems faced by pharmacists and preceptors during professional practice through a systematic review and meta-synthesis. Methods The research included a systematic review (PRISMA method) and meta-synthesis of selected publications (6 of the initial 133) for the period from 2006 to 2020. The included publications were considering the development and evaluation of professional development programs for pharmacists and preceptors; challenges and problems faced by pharmacists in these programs. The quality ranking of 6 selected publications was performed according to the GRADE methodology. Further systematic search of data from selected publications was performed by meta-synthesis, which included the extraction of important determinants, and afterwards the thematic analysis in identifying the characteristics of the study, descriptive and analytical topics, which provided the basis for meta-synthesis of de novo topics. Results Six publications were selected (by the PRISMA method) and analyzed. Assessed quality of three studies was high, two were assessed as moderate, and one study had low quality. The publications were studied through three phases as a part of meta-synthesis. Phase 1 showed the difference in the type and characteristics of the examined population. In Phase 2, two descriptive topics of importance were identified: (a) development and evaluation of preceptor development programs and (b) outcomes of preceptor development programs. The results o

Background: Pharmacists are often the first healthcare professionals that patients contact with their illnesses and requests for medical information, which is enhanced following the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Community pharmacists are expected and required to possess a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills. Self-assessment of these competencies is needed for their self-improvement. Purpose of the study: To assess pharmacists’ clinical knowledge and practice in the safe use of contraceptives, and to compare the scores obtained by external observation with pharmacists’ self-assessment of their knowledge as well as investigate the significance of preceptorship experiences. Contraceptives was chosen as the subject area in view of high rates of abortions as a means of contraception in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: A questionnaire approach was used. The questionnaire included the following: the first domain contained two case scenarios (safe use of contraceptives), which evaluated clinical knowledge, a second domain in which pharmacists self-assessed their knowledge to resolve cases from the first domain and a third domain that measured the demographics of pharmacists (including experience in preceptorship). Dispensing practice was evaluated in the second domain. The questionnaires were distributed to a convenient sample of 100 pharmacists at the Annual Meeting of Bosnia and Herzegovina Pharmacists. The results were presented as counts (%). The groups (preceptors and non-preceptors) were compared using Mann-Whitney U test, paired assessments were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Spearman’s correlation was used to assess the correlation between variables. Results: Of the 100 pharmacists invited to participate, 84 completed the questionnaire (84 % response rate). There was no agreement between pharmacists’ real knowledge (average score - case 1: 2.71, case 2: 3.3) and their self-assessment (average score - case 1: 3.77, case 2: 3.91). There was no statistically

Background: In last 2 decades, there have been substantial changes in the utilization patterns of antihypertensive medicines following new clinical trials and the introduction of new treatment guidelines. The aim of this study was to analyze utilization and prescribing patterns regarding antihypertensive medicines in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina during an 11-years follow-up according to national and European treatment guidelines. Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, medicine utilization data were analyzed between 2009-2019 period using the ATC/DDD methodology and expressed as the number of DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day (DID/TID). The medicine utilization 90% (DU90%) method was used for determine the quality of prescribing. Results: During the observed period, the use of antihypertensive medicines increased more than 3-times (125.97 DDD/TID in 2009 vs 414.95 DDD/TID in 2019), corresponding to a rise in the prevalence of hypertensive patients from 91.7/1,000 to 186.3/1,000 in the same period. This was mainly driven by increased use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors with 241.69%, beta blockers with 146.87%, calcium channel blockers with 251.55%, and diuretics with 178.95%. Angiotensin receptor blockers were the fastest growing group of antihypertensive medicines in this period and their utilization increased nearly 40 times. Conclusions: The overall antihypertensive medicines utilization was largely influenced by national and ESH/ESC guidelines and strongly corresponded to the positive medicine list of the national health insurance fund. Antihypertensive medicines utilization is comparable with medicine utilization trends in other countries.

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., Značaj mentorskih programa u cilju razvoja karijere i povećanja zadovoljstva na poslu farmaceuta i drugih zdravstvenih radnika je prepoznat prije više od 30 godina, dok je mentorstvo povezano sa nizom pozitivnih ličnih i profesionalnih ishoda. Cilj ovog rada je bio sistematski pregled literature koji se odnosi na razvoj i evaluaciju programa profesionalnog usavršavanja mentora stručne prakse farmaceuta, kao i identifikacija najčešćih izazova i problema. Pretražena je elektronska baza naučnih radova PubMed (posljednji put 11. decembra 2016. godine). Od početno pronađena 124 rada samo je 5 zadovoljilo kriterijume za uključivanje u pregled. Studije koje su uključene treba da daju odgovore na ciljeve našeg sistematskog pregleda, da sagledaju razvoj i evaluaciju programa profesionalnog usavršavanja mentora stručne prakse farmaceuta, a ujedno i identifikuju izazove i probleme. Dvije studije su procjenjene kao visoko kvalitetne, dvije kao umjereno i jedna kao studija slabog kvaliteta. U većini studija rezultati pokazuju povećanje samopouzdanja i mentora i stažista nakon završenog programa za mentore, zatim povećanje zadovoljstva na poslu, te poboljšanje vještina u kritičkom razmišljanju i rješavanju problema. Mali broj radova koji se bave ovom temom upravo potvrđuje da su potrebna dodatna originalna istraživanja iz ove oblasti.