Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is characterised by urgency symptoms, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia and severely affects the quality of life. This systematic review evaluates the various drug delivery strategies used in practice to manage OAB. Advanced drug delivery strategies alongside traditional strategies were comprehensively analysed and comparatively evaluated. The present review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. A total of 24 studies reporting the development of novel formulations for the treatment of OAB were considered eligible and were further categorised according to the route of drug administration. The review found that various drug delivery routes (transdermal, intravesicular, oral, vaginal and intramuscular) are used for the administration of drugs for managing OAB, however, the outcomes illustrated the marked potential of transdermal drug delivery route. The findings of the current review are expected to be helpful for pharmaceutical scientists to better comprehend the existing literature and challenges and is anticipated to provide a basis for designing and fabricating novel drug delivery systems to manage OAB.

Electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) has been part of the community pharmacy contact since 2005 and a requirement in the General Medical Services contract since 2019. NHS England highlights benefits of eRD as increased efficiency in general practice of 2.7 million hours annually if 80% of all repeat prescriptions are issued as eRD. Despite clear benefits to patients, community pharmacies and general practices, the uptake of eRD remains low and variable across general practices in West Yorkshire, UK. To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on eRD in general practice and understand the key enablers to its uptake. A 19-item questionnaire was developed and piloted during cognitive interviews. A cross-sectional survey was conducted via emails to general practices in West Yorkshire, UK, between July 2020 and November 2020. Sixty-seven complete responses were received (23 pharmacists, 21 practice managers, 11 general practitioners, seven pharmacy technicians, four advanced practitioners, one prescription clerk). 59% of respondents were aware of eRD uptake in their surgery (mean value 4.56% ± 0.229%). Higher uptake of eRD was demonstrated where the general practice integrated eRD into routine workflows during the repeat prescription reauthorisation process (P < 0.001) and where an eRD service lead is nominated (P = 0.04). Utilising eRD in the respective practices should be considered due to potential efficiency gains and the increase in average eRD utilisation observed in the study participating general practices was from 7.2% average uptake in March 2020 to 10.4% November 2020, as the response to COVID-19. The stated benefits of eRD by NHS England of 2.7 million hours per annum predates the roll out of electronic transmission of prescriptions suggesting further research is needed to quantify the efficiency gains in present NHS general practice environments.

Introduction: Pharmacist roles in primary care are evolving, with increasing involvement in long-term condition management. An example is their crucial role in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), particularly in prescribing and monitoring oral anticoagulation therapy. However, their experiences and challenges in this area remain underexplored, particularly within the context of general practice. Aim: This study aimed to explore the experiences, perceptions, and challenges of independent prescribing pharmacists when managing and prescribing for AF within general practice, using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to guide enquiry and analysis. Method: We conducted a qualitative study underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which informed both the interview guide and the analytic coding framework. Independent prescribing pharmacists working in general practice in England were purposively recruited via professional networks; eligible participants were patient-facing and had experience prescribing for atrial fibrillation. One-to-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams® in August 2024, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and returned to participants for checking. Recruitment proceeded until thematic saturation. Two researchers independently applied the framework method, resolved discrepancies by consensus, and mapped final themes to relevant TDF domains. Results: Twenty pharmacists took part in the study (9 men, 11 women; age 25–52 years), providing perspectives from a range of experience levels. Four overarching themes emerged: (1) confidence and experience in prescribing, (2) perceived role and responsibilities, (3) barriers to effective prescribing, and (4) strategies for effective prescribing. Pharmacists with extensive AF experience demonstrated higher confidence, whereas less experienced pharmacists relied on guidelines and colleagues. Perceived roles ranged from central to supportive within multidisciplinary teams, with some uncertainty about role boundaries. Key barriers included incomplete access to patient records, limited training, and workload pressures. Strategies to support prescribing included continuous professional development, decision support tools, and peer consultation. Conclusion: The study emphasises the challenges pharmacists encounter in managing AF, highlighting the need for clearer role definitions, improved access to patient data and ongoing peer support. Addressing the identified barriers through targeted interventions could enhance the effectiveness of pharmacist-led AF management in general practice. Future research should evaluate interventions designed to support pharmacists in this evolving role.

Electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) has been part of the community pharmacy contact since 2005 and a requirement in the General Medical Services contract since 2019. eRD allows the prescribing of medicines for stable long-term conditions for a defined period without authorisation, consultation, by prescribing healthcare professionals each time. NHS England highlights benefits of eRD as increased efficiency in general practice of 2.7 million hours annually if 80% of all repeat prescriptions are issued as eRD. Despite clear benefits to patients, community pharmacies and general practices, the uptake of eRD remains low and variable across general practices in West Yorkshire. The current COVID-19 pandemic has placed huge strains on repeat prescribing systems in general practice. The aim of the project was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on eRD in general practice and understand the key enablers to its uptake. In conclusion, two main enabling factors identified within this study that may lead to improved implementation and uptake of eRD. These are integrating eRD into normal routine workflows where prescribing authorisation is concerned and nominating an internal eRD champion. Utilising eRD in the respective practices should be considered due to potential efficiency gains and the increase in average eRD utilisation observed in the study participating general practices across West Yorkshire was from 7.2% average uptake in March 2020 to 10.4% November 2020. The stated benefits of eRD by NHS England of 2.7 million hours per annum predates the roll of electronic transmission of prescriptions suggesting further research is needed.