Purpose: To assess the current extent of pharmacy students’ involvement in collecting best possible medication histories (BPMHs) in different hospital settings, as well as the accuracy and financial implications of the collected BPMHs. Summary: A scoping review methodology was conducted following best-practice Cochrane guidance with findings reported using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. An appropriate search string was developed followed by a search across databases: PubMed, PubPharm, LIVIVO, PubMed Central, and Web of Science. All selected studies were published between 2000 and 2023 and met the predetermined inclusion criteria. After removing duplicates and independent screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts, 20 papers were retained. The highest number of original research papers originated from the US (n = 13, 72%). In these papers, the number of patients whose medication histories were collected ranged from 40 to 4,070 (mean, 504.6) and the number of pharmacy students who collected BPMHs ranged from 2 to 71 (mean, 17.8). Students obtained BPMHs alone or in a team with healthcare professionals (HCPs). Several papers described additional training for students. The information sources used were face-to-face patient interviews, data from community pharmacies, and interviews with HCPs and caregivers. Studies demonstrated that students can accurately collect BPMHs, identify unintentional discrepancies, and suggest healthcare interventions. Two studies identified notable cost savings from clinical interventions by pharmacy students. Conclusion: Pharmacy students can accurately collect BPMHs. The results of this scoping review can inform the development of pharmacy curricula to enhance students’ competencies and student pharmacy services that can contribute to patients’ safety.

The role of pharmacists in managing urinary tract infections (UTIs) is crucial, yet there is no instrument to assess their attitudes and practices in this area. The study aimed to develop and initially validate a questionnaire to evaluate pharmacists' attitudes and practices concerning patient counselling for UTIs, with the ultimate goal of supporting improvements in pharmacy practice and enhancing the quality of patient care. The questionnaire was developed and initially validated (content and face) through a multi-phase mixed-methods approach consisting of: 1) initial item generation applying a comprehensive literature review, 2) first expert panel discussion, 3) content and cultural validation by pharmacists (focus group discussion), 4) second expert panel discussion, and 5) pretesting by the target population. The necessity, relevance, and clarity were assessed by calculating the Content Validity Ratio (CVR), Item-Level Content Validity Index (I-CVI), and Scale-Level Content Validity Index (S-CVI/Ave). Qualitative data was analyzed using an ethnographic content analysis. The initial questionnaire consisted of 33 items, divided into two domains: pharmaceutical practice and attitudes. After phases 2–4, all items were rated with satisfactory CVR and I-CVI values (over 0.99 and 0.83, respectively). The final phase of content validation resulted in the questionnaire final version of 25 items with S-CVI/Ave = 0.98 for relevance and S-CVI/Ave = 1 for clarity. Internal consistency analysis demonstrated high reliability for the attitudes toward antibiotics subscale (Cronbach's α = 0.850) and acceptable reliability for the attitudes toward herbal products subscale (Cronbach's α = 0.735). The developed questionnaire is concise, easy to use and has satisfactory content and face validity. The developed questionnaire can be used to assess pharmacists' practices and attitudes in counselling patients with UTI symptoms, contributing to the identification of areas for improvement in pharmacy practice and patient safety.

Background/Objectives: Pharmacists play a key role in managing urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms by providing medications, self-care advice, and over-the-counter treatments, while referring patients to a doctor when necessary. This study aimed to examine the practices of community pharmacists in managing UTI symptoms and to gain insight into their attitudes toward antibiotic use for this condition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among community pharmacists in Serbia using a previously validated online questionnaire, assessed for content and face validity and pilot-tested among pharmacists. Results: A total of 430 community pharmacists participated in the study. Patients more often consulted pharmacists before visiting a doctor than after (median 5 vs. 3 per week; p < 0.001). For uncomplicated UTIs, pharmacists primarily recommended increased fluid intake (92.8%), herbal teas (94.7%), and food supplements (85.6%), whereas for complicated UTIs, most referred patients to a doctor (95.4%). Attitudes, perceived competence, and support for over-the-counter antibiotic availability were significantly associated with gender, years of experience, and specialization. Pharmacists who agreed that antibiotics are the most effective treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections were more likely to refer patients to a doctor (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Pharmacists are frequently consulted for UTI management and emphasize non-antibiotic approaches for uncomplicated cases. Their attitudes influence counseling practices, highlighting the need for standardized UTI counseling services, antimicrobial stewardship education, and structured communication training to support appropriate antibiotic use.