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Author(s): Kristine Heitmann [sup.1] , Jan Schjøtt [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.412008.f, 0000 0000 9753 1393, Regional Medicines Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre (RELIS Vest), Department of Medical Biochemistry and [...], Purpose Approximately 80% of pregnant women use medications. There is a need for evidence based medicines information that provide realistic risk estimates as pregnant and breastfeeding women tend to overestimate the risk of medications. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and future perspectives of an innovative medicines information service aiming to increase empowerment among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Description SafeMotherMedicine (SMM) (http://www.tryggmammamedisin.no http://www.tryggmammamedisin.no ) is a Norwegian medicines information service for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Established in 2011, the service was initially web-based only, in contrast to most teratology information services that at the time mainly operated using telephone and/or e-mail. Assessment During the last eight years, SMM has provided close to 30,000 answers promoting appropriate medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding women. SMM launched a telephone-service in 2016, however, the annual number of questions received through the web-based service continues to increase. Conclusion The service seems to have fulfilled a previously unmet need of evidence-based, individually tailored information about medications to pregnant and breastfeeding women in Norway. SMM empowers the women to make informed decisions regarding medication use in pregnancy and breastfeeding, thus contributing to person-centred medicine. The web-based design of the service may represent the pregnant and breastfeeding women's preferred way of communication.

Self‐perceived learning outcomes of virtual academic detailing (AD) are poorly studied. We compared self‐perceived learning outcomes of virtual and in‐person AD among general practitioners (GPs). GPs from the Western region of Norway received a questionnaire before and after AD concerning rational pharmacotherapy of migraine in the autumn 2022. Five statements addressing specific knowledge and two statements addressing general knowledge and skills in pharmacotherapy of migraine were rated in both questionnaires. A 7‐point Likert scale ranging from 1: Strongly disagree to 7: Strongly agree was applied to all the statements. Histograms that showed the difference in the mean composite scores before and after AD were used to compare learning outcomes of virtual and in‐person AD. Positive self‐perceived learning outcomes were observed among 80%–88% of the GPs. No significant differences between virtual and in‐person AD were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a challenge in modern healthcare, particularly given the increasing complexity of drug therapy, an ageing population, rising multimorbidity, and a high patient turnover. The core activity of detecting potential ADRs over the last half century has been spontaneous reporting systems. A recent Norwegian regulation commits healthcare professionals other than physicians and dentists to report serious ADRs. In this discussion paper, we share our preliminary experience with a training programme using nurses as ADR advocates to stimulate ADR reporting among the clinical staff in a hospital department. Central Illustration: Central Illustration Nurses as adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting advocates participating in pharmacovigilance (PV) at the Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. The department is a 'lighthouse' (inspiring other departments) in PV in the hospital, and cooperates with the drug committee and the regional PV centre. Commitment is achieved through the department manager and the medical director in the hospital. In addition, a new national regulation commits healthcare professionals other than physicians and dentists to report serious ADRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the need for enhanced education and training of healthcare professionals regarding the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in treating cardiovascular disease. Topics include the challenges healthcare providers face in prescribing these drugs, the importance of improving medical knowledge about new treatments, and the role of targeted educational initiatives such as e-learning and academic detailing.