However, approximately one-third (31.7%; CI 26.0–39.6%) did not expect pharmacists to be available for consultation during rounds. Physicians’ experiences with pharmacists were

less favourable; whereas 77% (CI 70.2–81.5%) of the physicians agreed that pharmacists were always a reliable source of information, only 11.5% (CI 6.2–16.4%) agreed that pharmacists appeared to be willing to take responsibility for solving any drug-related problems. The present study showed that hospital physicians are more likely to accept traditional pharmacy services than newer clinical services for hospital-based pharmacists in the West Bank, Palestine. Pharmacists should therefore interact more positively and more frequently with physicians. This will close the gap between the

physicians’ commonly held perceptions of what they expect pharmacists to do and R428 what pharmacists can actually do, and gain support for an extended role of hospital-based pharmacists in future patient therapy management. “
“Feasibility of pharmacist delivered motivational interviewing (MI) to methadone patients has been demonstrated, but its efficacy is untested. This study aimed to determine whether pharmacists trained in MI techniques can improve methadone outcomes. A cluster randomised controlled trial by pharmacy, with community pharmacies across Scotland providing supervised methadone to >10 daily patients, aged >18 years, started on methadone <24 months. Pharmacies were randomised to intervention or control. Intervention pharmacists received MI training and a resource pack. BIRB 796 Control pharmacists continued with normal practice. Primary outcome was illicit heroin use. Secondary outcomes were treatment retention, substance use, injecting behaviour, psychological/physical health, treatment satisfaction and patient feedback. Data were collected via structured interviews at baseline

and 6 months. Seventy-six pharmacies recruited 542 patients (295 intervention, 247 control), mean age 32 years; 64% male; 91% unemployed; mean treatment length 9 months. No significant difference in outcomes between groups for illicit heroin use (32.4% cf. 31.4%), although within-groups use reduced (P < 0.001); treatment retention was Montelukast Sodium higher in the intervention group but not significantly (88% cf. 81%; P = 0.34); no significant difference between groups in treatment satisfaction, although this improved significantly in intervention (P < 0.05). More intervention than control patients said pharmacists had ‘spoken more,’ which approached statistical significance (P = 0.06), and more intervention patients found this useful (P < 0.05). Limited intervention delivery may have reduced study power. The intervention did not significantly reduce heroin use, but there are indications of positive benefits from increased communication and treatment satisfaction. Methadone is the most commonly prescribed opiate replacement treatment in Scotland.