Objectives: To determine the influence of pharmacists on customers who have to decide between Over the Counter products in independently owned Maltese pharmacies. Methods: 20 managing pharmacists in independently owne...Objectives: To determine the influence of pharmacists on customers who have to decide between Over the Counter products in independently owned Maltese pharmacies. Methods: 20 managing pharmacists in independently owned Maltese pharmacies were interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and the data were coded. The main categories and subcategories were extracted and interrelated by using the grounded theory of action approach. Key findings Pharmacists dedicate time to ensure the right OTC is received by their patients. Before recommending an OTC medication the pharmacists ask key questions, which help them determine if an OTC is appropriate for the patient. The Maltese pharmacists engage their patients in a discussion before recommending an OTC product. In order to ensure that the patients are following their advice, pharmacists use different techniques. Whenever the patient might want to purchase an OTC, which could interfere with their medication regimen or might not be appropriate from the age point of view, then pharmacist intervenes accordingly. Each pharmacist offered specific examples how they convince their patients to purchase the correct medication. The pharmacists provided specific examples how they decide to select a specific OTC medicine and what type of questions were asked before taking a decision. In order to ensure their patients have the best access to the health care, many pharmacists embraced other roles and services, such as measuring and monitoring the blood pressure and glucose levels, determining the correct weight management product. Conclusions: The analyzed data highlight that Maltese community pharmacists play an important role in counseling patients on their choice of OTC products. The analysis has also identified some useful counseling techniques, which has been used by pharmacists for prescription medications. However, the Maltese pharmacists use these counseling techniques on a larger scale. It seems likely that many pharmacists are embracing more additional roles to ensure their population receives the best clinical services. Before dispensing an OTC medication, pharmacists use their clinical knowledge.展开更多
The search for possible effective local therapeutic agents led to the discovery of a plant that was later known as Fungus Melitensis.This parasitic flowering plant was initially believed to grow only on a small islet ...The search for possible effective local therapeutic agents led to the discovery of a plant that was later known as Fungus Melitensis.This parasitic flowering plant was initially believed to grow only on a small islet off Gozo known variably as General's or Fungus Rock.It is now known to be more widely distributed with a range extending from the Canary Islands to China.First mentioned in 1647 by the Maltese historian Gian Francesco Abela,the plant was later described and illustrated in 1674 by the Palermo botanist Paolo Boccone,while a detailed clinical treatise was prepared in 1689 by the Maltese physician Gio Francesco Bonamico.Based on the principles of the“doctrine of signatures,”the plant was considered useful by virtue of its color in conditions involving bleeding,while on the basis of the phallic appearance,it was considered efficacious for venereal disease.The medicinal properties of the plant became renowned throughout the European continent,increasing the demand for its collection and export.Measures were introduced to limit the collection to authorized individuals while physical access to the islet was made more difficult by cutting away the sloping parts of the islet.The plant lost its medicinal reputation during the early decades of the 19^th century and has now been relegated to the annals of medical history and folklore,though it is still designated a protected species.展开更多
The Maltese Islands in the central Mediterranean was one of the earliest European countries to initiate political relationships with the People’s Republic of China.The political interaction translated eventually to a...The Maltese Islands in the central Mediterranean was one of the earliest European countries to initiate political relationships with the People’s Republic of China.The political interaction translated eventually to a better appreciation of the cultural diversity of the respective countries.This appreciation led to an early adoption of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)services and their incorporation within the mainline western-based contemporary medicine generally practiced on the Islands.TCM clinical services were formally introduced in the public government-managed hospital in 1994 after a bilateral agreement was signed between the health ministries of the two respective countries.This service has now extended into the private health sector.The adoption of TCM clinical services,in the light of a greater acceptance of TCM by the patients,necessitated specific legislation to regulate the practice of TCM within the legal framework of the Maltese Healthcare Professions Act.In more recent years,since 2015,the University of Malta in collaboration with Shanghai University of TCM,have provided a postgraduate master program in TCM aimed at graduates holding a primary degree in a western-oriented health-care science.展开更多
文摘Objectives: To determine the influence of pharmacists on customers who have to decide between Over the Counter products in independently owned Maltese pharmacies. Methods: 20 managing pharmacists in independently owned Maltese pharmacies were interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and the data were coded. The main categories and subcategories were extracted and interrelated by using the grounded theory of action approach. Key findings Pharmacists dedicate time to ensure the right OTC is received by their patients. Before recommending an OTC medication the pharmacists ask key questions, which help them determine if an OTC is appropriate for the patient. The Maltese pharmacists engage their patients in a discussion before recommending an OTC product. In order to ensure that the patients are following their advice, pharmacists use different techniques. Whenever the patient might want to purchase an OTC, which could interfere with their medication regimen or might not be appropriate from the age point of view, then pharmacist intervenes accordingly. Each pharmacist offered specific examples how they convince their patients to purchase the correct medication. The pharmacists provided specific examples how they decide to select a specific OTC medicine and what type of questions were asked before taking a decision. In order to ensure their patients have the best access to the health care, many pharmacists embraced other roles and services, such as measuring and monitoring the blood pressure and glucose levels, determining the correct weight management product. Conclusions: The analyzed data highlight that Maltese community pharmacists play an important role in counseling patients on their choice of OTC products. The analysis has also identified some useful counseling techniques, which has been used by pharmacists for prescription medications. However, the Maltese pharmacists use these counseling techniques on a larger scale. It seems likely that many pharmacists are embracing more additional roles to ensure their population receives the best clinical services. Before dispensing an OTC medication, pharmacists use their clinical knowledge.
文摘The search for possible effective local therapeutic agents led to the discovery of a plant that was later known as Fungus Melitensis.This parasitic flowering plant was initially believed to grow only on a small islet off Gozo known variably as General's or Fungus Rock.It is now known to be more widely distributed with a range extending from the Canary Islands to China.First mentioned in 1647 by the Maltese historian Gian Francesco Abela,the plant was later described and illustrated in 1674 by the Palermo botanist Paolo Boccone,while a detailed clinical treatise was prepared in 1689 by the Maltese physician Gio Francesco Bonamico.Based on the principles of the“doctrine of signatures,”the plant was considered useful by virtue of its color in conditions involving bleeding,while on the basis of the phallic appearance,it was considered efficacious for venereal disease.The medicinal properties of the plant became renowned throughout the European continent,increasing the demand for its collection and export.Measures were introduced to limit the collection to authorized individuals while physical access to the islet was made more difficult by cutting away the sloping parts of the islet.The plant lost its medicinal reputation during the early decades of the 19^th century and has now been relegated to the annals of medical history and folklore,though it is still designated a protected species.
文摘The Maltese Islands in the central Mediterranean was one of the earliest European countries to initiate political relationships with the People’s Republic of China.The political interaction translated eventually to a better appreciation of the cultural diversity of the respective countries.This appreciation led to an early adoption of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)services and their incorporation within the mainline western-based contemporary medicine generally practiced on the Islands.TCM clinical services were formally introduced in the public government-managed hospital in 1994 after a bilateral agreement was signed between the health ministries of the two respective countries.This service has now extended into the private health sector.The adoption of TCM clinical services,in the light of a greater acceptance of TCM by the patients,necessitated specific legislation to regulate the practice of TCM within the legal framework of the Maltese Healthcare Professions Act.In more recent years,since 2015,the University of Malta in collaboration with Shanghai University of TCM,have provided a postgraduate master program in TCM aimed at graduates holding a primary degree in a western-oriented health-care science.
