Prescribing e-cigarettes

Remote consultations, prescribing and virtual teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic

Before the pandemic, the modernisation of the NHS included digitalisation and the use of remote consultations (NHS UK, 2019; Welsh Government, 2019; NHS Digital, 2020). There had been a slow but...

Small steps, big changes

I suppose I should begin this editorial by letting you know I have now had my second COVID-19 vaccination! I know I am part of a growing number of those afforded increased protection from the virus,...

Polypharmacy and multimorbidity

This Canadian review paper by Potempski and Bilimoria (2021) aimed to highlight the common phenomenon of polypharmacy in the light of the COVID-19 global pandemic. They begin by pointing out that...

The role of community pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Pharmacies have played a vital role during the pandemic, not only by ensuring a stable supply of key medicines, but also in becoming an information hub regarding the virus. Many pharmacies are now the...

Carbon footprints and pharmacy

COVID-19 research and non-vaccine treatment

Inhaled therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Pharmacological treatment includes ensuring that all patients with COPD are offered pneumococcal and annual influenza vaccination (NICE, 2019). Although not exclusive to COPD, the London Respiratory...

Management of COPD exacerbations: pharmacotherapeutics of medications

COPD is described as a preventable and treatable group of lung conditions characterised by airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease...

Inhaled therapy for asthma

While the intention of this article is to review inhaled therapies, it is also worth considering oral therapies for asthma..

Teaching inhaler technique

Although there are many learning theories, Visual Aural Reading Kinesthetic (VARK) learning styles are a simple way to think about how people see and respond to the world (Fleming and Mills, 1992a)....

Prescribing inhaled therapy in asthma: health professionals' habits and beliefs

Questionnaires were circulated to delegates attending a series of evening educational meetings around asthma and national guidelines. As there is a growing plethora of combination inhalers, including...