Purpose: Medication non-adherence is a global public health issue influenced by various factors, including the quality and comprehensiveness of medication information provided to patients. Migrants, particularly women, face unique healthcare and societal challenges in their new home countries. This study aims to explore Arabic-speaking migrant women’s experiences and perspectives on medication information and use.

Methods: This study was part of the Equal Health program, a health promotion initiative established in socially vulnerable areas to address health inequities. Arabic-speaking women aged 40–80 years with chronic illnesses participated in multistage focus group sessions exploring their experiences with medication information from healthcare, medication use, and perspectives on necessary improvements in medication information at hospital discharge. The sessions were conducted in Arabic, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated into Swedish for analysis. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clark’s six-phase reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Four multistage focus group sessions with 15 participants were conducted. The analysis generated three themes: receiving or not receiving professional medication information, medication adherence patterns, and needs and suggestions for improved medication information—a call for action. Participants reported inadequate medication information from physicians, particularly at the time of discharge from the hospital, and described instances of intentional and unintentional non-adherence. Suggestions for improvement included providing written medication information at discharge in their native language, using interpreters, and including a current medication list detailing overall medication information and potential drug interactions.

Conclusion: This study highlights inadequate medication information provision to Arabic-speaking migrant women, which may impact medication use and pose patient safety risks. Although the adherence patterns of the study subjects resembled those of the general population, unique barriers require additional healthcare support. This study can inform healthcare practices and establish a foundation for further research on medication information and use in this group, including comparisons with native-born individuals.

Decades ago, WHO identified low adher-ence (defined as the extent to which aperson’s behaviour regarding medicationcorresponds with agreed recommenda-tions from a healthcare provider) to medi-cations for chronic illnesses as a significantsocietal challenge, emphasising that fewerthan 50% of people adhere to their medi-cation regimens.1 In one of the largeststudies on the subject, the authorsconcluded that the long-term survivalbenefits associated with improved drugadherence appear to be class specific,suggesting that adherence improvementsare influenced by patients' overallbehaviour ‘healthy adherer’ and drugeffects. 2 In another study, the authorsfound that improving antidiabetic medica-tion adherence could reduce the risk ofcardiovascular disease and long-term all-cause mortality.3 These findings align withWHO’s assertion that ‘the increased effec-tiveness of adherence interventions mayhave a far greater impact on the health ofthe population than any other specificmedical treatment’.

(1) Background: In general, it is known that continuity of care can contribute to an increase in patient satisfaction, reduce health care costs, and improve patient outcomes. A guarantee of continuity in pharmacotherapy is a big challenge facing Japanese health care as a system that encourages cooperation/collaboration for pharmacists with other health care professions is currently lacking. (2) Method: This is a narrative review. (3) Results: The Lund Integrated Medicine Management (LIMM) model describes a systematic approach to individuals and was developed in Sweden to optimize pharmacotherapy among elderly inpatients. The aim of the LIMM model is to provide patients with continuous pharmacotherapy at different levels of care. The LIMM model, in which a clinical pharmacist is the catalyst and leads other health care professions in completing the process, has the potential to reduce potentially inappropriate prescriptions, reduce rehospitalization risk, unscheduled hospital revisits due to problems related to medications, reduce total medical expenditure, and provide a comprehensive understanding of patients' conditions of taking medicine. (4) Conclusions: Introducing a framework such as Sweden's LIMM model, anchored by clinical pharmacists, could provide a good opportunity to promote collaborations among different health care professionals and improve continuity in pharmacotherapy.

Background Medication discrepancies in care transitions and medication non-adherence are problematic. Few interventions consider the entire process, from the hospital to the patient’s medication use at home.

Aim In preparation for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), this study aimed (1) to investigate the feasibility of recruitment and retention of patients and data collection to reduce medication discrepancies at discharge and improve medication adherence and (2) to explore the outcomes of the interventions.

Method Participants were recruited from a hospital and a residential area. Hospital patients participated in a pharmacist-led intervention to establish a correct medication list upon discharge and a follow-up interview two weeks post-discharge. All participants received a person-centred adherence intervention for three to six months. Discrepancies in the medication lists, the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-S), and the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) were assessed.

Results Of 87 asked to participate, 35 were included, and 12 completed the study. Identifying discrepancies, discussing discrepancies with physicians, and performing follow-up interviews were possible. Conducting the adherence intervention was also possible using individual health plans for medication use. Among the seven hospital patients, 24 discrepancies were found. Discharging physicians agreed that all discrepancies were errors, but only ten were corrected in the discharge information. Ten participants decreased their total BMQ-S concern scores, and seven increased their total MARS-5 scores.

Conclusion Based on this study, conducting the two RCTs separately may increase the inclusion rate. Data collection was feasible. Both interventions were feasible in many aspects but need to be optimised in upcoming RCTs.

Ordination av läkemedel börjar oftast hos en läkare och då inleds en komplex process där flera olika professioner, framför allt sjuksköterskor och farmaceuter, bidrar med sin kompetens till en helhetssyn för att optimera läkemedelsbehandling. Detta är fokus i denna bok, Farmakologi och farmakoterapi. Här presenteras den teoretiska bakgrunden som ger förståelse i hur läkemedel omsätts och fungerar i kroppen, men även farmakoterapi (läkemedelsbehandling) och vanliga läkemedelsrelaterade problem beskrivs. Boken är uppdelad i tre delar. Den första delen beskriver olika aspekter på praktisk läkemedelsanvändning i vården och av patienten. Speciellt fokus läggs på utvärdering av läkemedelsbehandling och samarbete mellan vårdens olika professioner. Den andra delen beskriver basalfarmakologiska principer och tillämpningar där teori och praktiska utföranden varvas. Del tre är uppbyggd enligt ATC-systemet och fokuserar på farmakoterapi vid olika sjukdomstillstånd där rekommendationer samt nytta och eventuella risker med läkemedel beskrivs. Boken vänder sig till studenter på sjuksköterskeprogrammet och till yrkesverksamma sjuksköterskor. Den kan även användas av andra professioner inom hälso- och sjukvården, såväl i undervisning som i informationssökande.

Introduction: Beliefs about medicines is one of the strongest determinants of adherence. It’s plausible that adherence interventions can be effective by changing patients’ beliefs about medicines.

Aim: To describe how a pharmaceutical care intervention affected beliefs about medicines and adherence.

Methods: In the Motivational Interviewing and Medication review in Coronary heart disease (MIMeRiC) trial, 316 patients were randomized to a pharmaceutical care intervention during around 6 months, or standard care. Key secondary outcome was a combination of persistence (at least one refill in the period 12–16 months) and a self-report instrument at 15 months. Beliefs about medicines specific (BMQ-S) was used as a process measure.

Results: At follow up, 88% and 77% (P = 0.033) of patients were adherent in the intervention and control group respectively. Patients who had received the intervention had a more positive necessity–concern differential (NCD) than patients with standard care, 7.9 (5.7) vs. 6.3 (5.8); P = 0.022. Patients in the intervention group who were adherent had a mean NCD of 8.8 (5.6), while intervention patients who were not adherent had mean NCD 5.4 (5.5); P = 0.046. In patients receiving standard care, the mean NCD was 6.7 (5.5) and 6.3 (5.9); P = 0.746 among patients who were adherent and not adherent at follow-up.

Conclusion: The intervention seemed to increase adherence through an effect on patients’ medication beliefs.

Background After completing university education, biomedical laboratory scientists work in clinical laboratories, in biomedical research laboratories, in biotech, and in pharmaceutical companies. Laboratory diagnostics have undergone rapid development over the recent years, with the pace showing no signs of abatement. This rapid development challenges the competence of the staff and will most certainly influence the education of future staff. This study aimed to examine what was considered the necessary competencies needed to pursue a career as a biomedical laboratory scientist. Methods A modified Delphi technique was used, with the panel of experts expressing their views in a series of three questionnaire. Consensus was defined as the point which 75 % or more of the panel participants agreed that a particular competency was necessary. Results The study highlights the perceived importance of mostly generic competencies that relate to quality, quality assurance, and accuracy, as well as different aspects of safety, respect, trustworthiness (towards patients/clients and colleagues), and communication skills. The results also stress the significance of self-awareness and professionality. Conclusions We identified important competencies for biomedical laboratory scientists. Together with complementary information from other sources, i.e., guidelines, laws, and scientific publications, the competencies identified can be used as learning outcomes in a competency-based education to provide students with all the competencies needed to work as professional biomedical laboratory scientists.