With the introduction of the diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) system, the reduction of the health expenditure is expected. The use of generic drugs is promoted. It is imperative for introduction of generic drugs to assure the appropriate use of drugs to decrease medical costs without reducing medical services. Additionally, we should make a concerted effort to prevent the injudicious use of antimicrobial agents resulting in the emergence of drug resistance. In this study, we assessed the effects of switching to generic antimicrobial drugs on drug purchases cost, AUD (antimicrobial use density), hospital days, and antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study was carried out at Yashima General Hospital for the period from April 2008 to September 2011. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry designated Yashima General Hospital as a DPC hospital from July 2009. Since the DPC introduction, the drug purchase cost has been decreased about 40% without reduction of AUD, hospital days, and antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Hospitals are making efforts to assess and improve management efficiency while maintaining the quality of medical care. Our results suggested that the introduction of generic drugs with assessment of efficacy may be one of the useful methods for pharmacy management.

The number of heated tobacco product users is increasing rapidly in Japan; thus, smoking prevention education that includes heated tobacco products is necessary. To clarify the current status and issues related to smoking prevention education programs for school pharmacists, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 300 school pharmacists. The response rate was 45.3% (136/300). Smoking prevention education was provided by 42.6% (58/136) of school pharmacists. Among them, 56.9% (33/58) included heated tobacco products in their education programs. Moreover, 75.9% (44/58) of pharmacists also provided support for smoking cessation at pharmacies, and 93.1% (54/58) of pharmacists felt the necessity of providing support for smoking cessation for heated tobacco product users at pharmacies. On the other hand, 21.8% (17/78) of school pharmacists who did not provide smoking prevention education responded that they did not have sufficient information and knowledge about heated tobacco products. In addition, among these pharmacists, 53.8% (42/78) did not provide support for smoking cessation at pharmacies. Although both groups felt the need for the smoking prevention education provided by school pharmacists, the school pharmacists who provided such education felt the need more strongly. Regarding the necessity of including the taking up of heated tobacco products in smoking prevention education, it was found that pharmacists who provided such programs felt the necessity more strongly. It is important to obtain accurate information about heated tobacco products and change the content to unified educational in cooperation with schoolteachers to enhance smoking prevention education by school pharmacists.

Prophylaxis is sometimes offered to inpatients who share a room with, or individuals who have been in close contact with, patients who have contracted influenza. In our hospital, 5-day prophylactic oseltamivir has been used as a standard procedure. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of this post-exposure prophylaxis for inpatients and healthcare professionals, as well as its effect on hospital management. The study period was 5 years from fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2017, and the effectiveness outcome was the secondary infection rate. Medication costs for this prophylaxis were compared with those for oseltamivir used according to the package insert. The secondary infection rates were 3.0% and 0.5% in 133 inpatients and 434 healthcare professionals who had received post-exposure oseltamivir, respectively. The medication costs were reduced by 50% compared with the estimated costs for 10-day oseltamivir administration. The effectiveness of 5-day prophylactic oseltamivir was similar to or higher than that reported previously, indicating that this prophylaxis was effective. Moreover, 5-day post-exposure prophylactic oseltamivir is expected to reduce the prolongation of hospital stay and influenza outbreaks and thus contribute to hospital management.

Objective: In order to ensure the safety of nursing home residents, it is very important to implement appropriate assistance to ensure compliance with necessary medication. The purpose of this study is to identify issues and to plan solutions for medication assistance.Design: We conducted a workshop involving care workers (CWs), nurses and pharmacists together.Methods: Using the KJ method, participants extracted problems related to medication assistance and planned solutions in a mixed group of CWs, nurses and pharmacists. Questionnaire surveys were conducted for the participants before, immediately after, and 3 months after the workshop.Results: A number of important and urgent issues related to medication assistance were identified. There were differences in the recognition patterns of the importance and urgency of the issues among the three categories of participants. In addition, many possible solutions were proposed. Among these solutions, 25% had been implemented by at least two participants. More than 75 % of participants felt that their awareness of the value of cooperation in medication assistance had been improved by participating in the workshop.Conclusion: These results suggest that a workshop with a group of CWs, nurses and pharmacists in one place is a useful approach for extracting problems and planning effective solutions related to cooperation in medication assistance.