The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) recently made changes to the listings for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in an effort to address overprescribing. The changes, which came into effect on 1 May 2019, affect prescribing of esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole and...

In the fourth of a six-part series, we expand on the PSA Choosing Wisely recommendations, taking a closer look at the dispensing of repeat antibiotic prescriptions. There is considerable evidence that clinical outcomes between short and long courses of antibiotics...

Treating bacterial infections without antibiotics might sound like a problem from another time, but it is a challenge that healthcare professionals in remote areas are facing. Antibiotic shortages are transforming ‘school sores’ (impetigo), a treatable bacterial skin infection common amongst...

The evidence is in: positive health outcomes can hinge on patients’ ability to understand health information – and on pharmacists’ ability to impart it. Health literacy has important implications for understanding health information,1,2 guiding health behaviours3 and producing health outcomes.4...

Research highlights the vital role HMRs play in averting medicine misadventure. In 2016, members of the PSA Accredited Pharmacist Leadership Group (APLG) undertook an audit to determine the clinical impact of HMRs on patients. The aim of this audit...

A recent study from the University of South Australia has highlighted the significant number of patients at risk of developing opioid dependence post-surgery, calling for greater support for patients from healthcare professionals during recovery. The retrospective cohort study analysed data...

The discovery of sodium thiopental ushered in the era of modern intravenous anaesthesia, but its darker side as a ‘truth serum’ and use in lethal injections made it a household name. Sodium thiopental (also known as sodium pentothal) was first...

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests that 13 million people have at least three risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).1 A new addition to the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS), as well as early intervention, could significantly...

Arthritis Australia has launched a National Strategic Action Plan which resolves to prevent arthritis, invest in research, and improve treatment and support for people living with the condition. Arthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain in Australia. Around four...

In Australia, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in males, with its prevalence increasing with age, but metformin may have a role to play. Prostate cancer is the third leading cause (12.7%) of cancer-related deaths in...