[Objectives] Visually impaired is assumed that the taking medicine is difficult. This study aimed to elucidate the actual status of using drugs as part of medication assistance for people with acquired visual disabilities. [Method] We conducted a questionnaire survey of 14 people with acquired visual disabilities who use the Fukuoka Welfare Center for the Disabled. [Results] The mean age of the subjects was 70.2 years. The reading method “voice” was the highest at 12 cases. Thirteen people (93%) managed their medications by themselves. Among medication-related problems, 10 were associated with “vision.” Regarding efforts in using drugs, 6 cases the efforts involved using “vision.” People who always carry around the medication notebooks was two people (14%). Three people (21%) had a family pharmacy. Among requests and dissatisfaction concerning medication notebooks, 8 cases citing dissatisfaction had factors attributable to “pharmacy’s actions.” [Discussion] From the fact that voice in the reading methods are most often used, as a means of communication of information to the acquired visual disabilities, it is considered a method using the sound is suitable. In order to resolve medication difficulties, pharmacies need to make efforts according to the remaining ability of each individual.

We performed waiting time prediction using the data collected from prescription pick-up. A regression equation was used to predict waiting time. An explanatory variable was adopted as “a number of retention prescriptions at the time of acceptance”, “the variety of drug to dispense”and “the presence or absence of a particular task of time-consuming work in computing multiple medications into one package”. Using waiting time as an objective variable, three regression equations were formulated. Method ①: A single regression equation using the number of retention prescriptions with only one explanatory variable. Method ②: Multiple regression equation using factors such as number of prescriptions and variety of drugs to be dispensed as explanatory variables. Method ③: Multiple regression equation using number of prescriptions, variety of drugs and the presence or absence of particular tasks involved in the preparation of the prescription. Compared to the prediction of Method ①, the prediction of Method ② resulted in better accuracy. Compared to Method ①, Method ② resulted in better accuracy, and Method ③ resulted in even better accuracy than Method ②, as predicted.

Seminars on physical assessment (PA) are being held at a wide variety of universities and medical institutions. However, the current situation shows that the number of pharmacists practicing PA at medical sites is still very small. We therefore conducted a questionnaire survey, targeting all 70 individuals who took part in a PA seminar carried out in 2013 at Daiichi University of Pharmacy, to investigate the reasons for pharmacists being unable to practice PA at present, and then we studied the types of seminars that would be needed for them to practice PA in the future. The results showed that 91% of pharmacists, currently working in a pharmacy, who took part in the seminar and 100% of hospital pharmacists hoped to practice PA, if possible, although they had no immediate plans for implementing PA. Of those who participated in the current seminar, only 10% felt that they could practice PA immediately after taking the seminar just once, although the degrees of their understanding of the seminar content and mastering of the techniques were high. Our findings suggested additional training and studies to be necessary in order for the participating pharmacists to practice PA.

As part of the “Project to Promote Utilization of Pharmacies and Pharmacists as a Health Information Base” commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Saga Pharmaceutical Association carried out a self-measurement of blood glucose project in FY2014 and 2015. The present state of the Bioanalytical Labs in community pharmacies that participated in the self-measurement of blood glucose project nearly one and a half years ago was investigated. This project aimed to establish Bioanalytical Labs inside the community pharmacies to recommend hospital checkups to local residents based on the test results of self-measured blood glucose. In this study, a survey was given to those pharmacies to evaluate the present utilization status of the Bioanalytical Labs. About half of the pharmacies had canceled their Lab designation (46.4%). The most frequent reason for not continuing the designation was “Number of staff engaged in the measurement”, and that for continuing the designation, “To contribute to local residents self-medication”(53.6%). These pharmacies still promote self-measurements of blood glucose and encourage checkups to local residents who are above standard blood glucose levels and HbA1c and could be at risk of developing diabetes. Based on the above results, pharmacies that are continuing the Bioanalytical Labs have been shown to be used as bases for health support information in their local community. Therefore, while the shortage of pharmacists in rural areas is being pointed out, even from the viewpoint of promoting health support pharmacies, it is necessary to discuss seriously on how to secure the personnel required for continuing the Bioanalytical Labs.

The aging population in Japan continues to grow, leading to the emergence of complex issues. To understand the current awareness of these issues among member pharmacies of the Fukuoka City Minami Ward Pharmaceutical Association and promote various initiatives, support tools such as the “Consultation Flowchart” and “Consultation Checklist” were distributed to share information about the elderly with the local comprehensive support center. A survey was conducted to assess the awareness of complex issues and support tools. The survey revealed that about half of the pharmacy pharmacists were aware of the complex issues themselves, but the Consultation Flowchart had a recognition rate of 35.34%, and the Consultation Checklist had a recognition rate of 31.03%. It was also found that pharmacies with higher participation in regional collaboration meetings and a greater number of visits for medication management counseling had higher awareness of complex issues and support tools. To enhance efforts in addressing complex issues, the Fukuoka City Minami Ward Pharmaceutical Association needs to approach pharmacies with limited participation in regional collaboration meetings and a lower number of visits for medication management counseling. Building visible relationships with diverse professions in the community is crucial for improvement initiatives related to complex issues.