Investigating the Primary Care Management of Low Back Pain: A Simulated Patient Study

Shaheed, Christina Abdel; McFarlane, Brett; Maher, Christopher G.; Williams, Kylie; Bergin, Jenny; Matthews, Andrew; McLachlan, Andrew J.

doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2015.09.010

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…A study by Abdel Shaheed et al (2016), which also used simulated patient scenarios, had somewhat similar results to this study on inadequate counselling for OTC analgesics recommended by pharmacists for back pain states 25. They surveyed 534 pharmacies all over Australia, and reported that incomplete information was provided by the pharmacists in several of the encounters they recorded.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

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Management of musculoskeletal pain in retail drug outlets within a Nigerian community: a descriptive study

Abdu-Aguye

Shehu

Ahmad

2017

Pharm Pract (Granada)

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Objective:This work aimed to describe attitudes and practices of both community pharmacies and patent and proprietary medicine vendor (PPMV) outlets towards over-the-counter (OTC) analgesic use for musculoskeletal pain states within Zaria, Nigeria.Methods:The study was carried out in 2 phases from May to August 2016. Phase one was a cross-sectional survey of 40 retail drug outlets (10 community pharmacies and 30 PPMVs). A simulated patient scenario of a young adult male complaining of acute onset back pain was used to collect data on the type and quality of analgesic recommended, duration of consultation, as well as nature of information provided during the drug dispensing process. The second phase involved semi structured interviews with 7 drug vendors (4 pharmacists and 3 patent medicine vendors). The interviewees were asked questions to assess their knowledge of analgesics as well as what type of analgesic they would recommend in three hypothetical patient scenarios.Results:A wide variety of therapeutic agents were recommended for the simulated patient. Majority of these drugs were oral analgesics and contained NSAIDS either alone or in combination. Less than half of both patent medicine outlets and pharmacies (26.7% and 40% respectively) provided the simulated patient with information on duration of therapy, and asked the patient questions about their past medical and medication history (30% and 33.3% respectively). All analgesics purchased from the pharmacies were registered with the Nigerian drug regulatory agency and had expiry dates compared to only 66.7% and 90% of those bought from patent medicine outlets. Interviewed drug vendors admitted to obtaining a large amount of their knowledge on analgesics from drug information leaflets and prior learning. They also showed some knowledge deficits when questioned on side effects of analgesics and appropriate drug selection in the hypothetical scenarios.Conclusions:There are problems with both the OTC analgesics recommended, and the counselling provided for these medicines by drug vendors within the Zaria community. While both pharmacies and patent medicine outlets had shortcomings in several of the areas assessed by the simulated patient, the pharmacies performed better.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…Other studies both within11 and outside5,6,25 the country have reported similar results indicating the widespread use of these drugs. These drugs were mostly in combination with other ingredients, including paracetamol, caffeine and B-group vitamins.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Management of musculoskeletal pain in retail drug outlets within a Nigerian community: a descriptive study

Abdu-Aguye

Shehu

Ahmad

2017

Pharm Pract (Granada)

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“…Out of the 1107 papers in the original search and two added due to quoting the 2006 review, 148 papers met the criteria . Extraction of relevant papers from those found by the search strategy was done jointly by two researchers (IB and PN) and independently by a third researcher (AA).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of the 148 papers were about different aspects of the same study. For example, the Quality Care Pharmacy Support Centre (QCPSC), a joint venture between the University of Sydney and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia ran a large programme of SP visits in Australian pharmacies, resulting in 14 analysis publications, while development of standards was presented in Benrimoj et al . 2008 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review of the use of simulated patient methodology in pharmacy practice research from 2006 to 2016

Björnsdóttir

Granås

Bradley

et al. 2019

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice

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Objectives Simulated patient (SP) methodology (mystery shopping) is used increasingly to assess quality of pharmacy services, and evaluate impact of interventions. Our objective was to review papers reporting on the use of SP methodology in pharmacy practice research 2006-2016 in community pharmacies worldwide. Methods We searched EMBASE and MEDLINE for papers reporting on the use of mystery shopping in pharmacy settings, using a wide range of terms for SPs, based on previous review. We removed irrelevant papers, duplicates, papers not written in English, and review papers and reviewed remaining papers. Two reviewers carried out data abstraction, using the same tool as the previous review and inserting data into Excel, focusing on how the SP methodology is used. Key findings A total of 148 papers from 52 countries from all regions of the world were included in the review. A wide range of terms described the method, and simulated patient was the most common (49 papers). Most studies were cross-sectional (124), and most investigated only community pharmacies (115). The most common aim was to evaluate some aspect of pharmacists' or other staff's advice and counselling (94). Number of visits is 2-7785. Many papers did not cover details, such as number of visits planned, and carried out, scenario used, training and background of SPs, and ethical approval for the study. Conclusions The use of SP methodology has increased substantially in the field of pharmacy over the past decade. This is a useful method in a wide range of countries and settings. Greater detail is required in reporting.

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“…A checklist was used, which should be completed by the student (simulated patient), immediately after the end of the visit to the pharmacy. This checklist was adapted from literature [17]. The checklist was piloted in 5 pharmacies.…”

Section: Data Collection Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community pharmacists' response to acute back pain: A simulated patient study in western region, Saudi Arabia

Mahmoud¹,

Althobaiti²,

Althobaiti³

et al. 2018

GSC Biol. Pharm. Sci.

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Objectives: To investigate response of the community pharmacists to acute back pain consultations by the patients, using doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm D) final year students as simulated patients. Method:The study was a cross-sectional study, conducted over a three months period from April 2016 to July 2016 in community pharmacy setting. The study was done at the western area in Saudi Arabia, at three cities: (Jeddah-Mecca-Taif). Convenient sample of 300 pharmacies were chosen. The students appeared in the pharmacy as patients. A check list was filled immediately after the visit. Results: Results of the study showed that most of pharmacies studied were chain pharmacies (67.3%). The response of the pharmacists towards patients' counseling ranges from (6-55%). The majority of the pharmacists did not ask about spreading of the pain (93%), other disease (91%), medications taken (90%), intensity of pain (83.67%), and duration (83%). There was a low response of pharmacists towards self-care, except rarely, who gave advice for back exercise (6.667%). About 98% and above, did not give information about expected drug problems. Referral was given mainly for numbness symptoms (10.67%). Types of medications recommended were diclofenac sodium (44.67%), muscle relaxants (28.67%) and topical NSAIDS (25.33%). About 70%, of the pharmacists did not give advice spontaneously. Counseling time was less than one minute in 67.67% of the cases. Conclusions: The response of community pharmacists, to acute back pain consultations was inadequate, which necessitates educational and training programs in minor disease treatment, and availability of national guidelines.

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Investigating the Primary Care Management of Low Back Pain: A Simulated Patient Study

Cited by 12 publications

References 38 publications

Management of musculoskeletal pain in retail drug outlets within a Nigerian community: a descriptive study

Management of musculoskeletal pain in retail drug outlets within a Nigerian community: a descriptive study

A systematic review of the use of simulated patient methodology in pharmacy practice research from 2006 to 2016

Community pharmacists' response to acute back pain: A simulated patient study in western region, Saudi Arabia

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