Vol. 4 No. 1 (2018): Sarawak Journal of Pharmacy

This issue of the Sarawak Journal of Pharmacy (2018, Volume 4, Issue 1, EISSN 2462-2486) presents a diverse range of studies focused on clinical pharmacy, mental health among healthcare professionals, and medication utilization patterns in Sarawak, Malaysia. The research highlights significant challenges in specialized care, such as the 100% prevalence of depression and anxiety found among provisionally registered pharmacists in the region and the notable knowledge gaps among pharmacists regarding women's issues in epilepsy. Several articles utilize ATC/DDD methodology to audit the prescribing of high-impact medications, revealing substantial inappropriate use of oral proton pump inhibitors (52.96%) and a concerning lack of drug-drug interaction knowledge among hospital staff. Additional studies examine the clinical and economic implications of therapy choices for chronic conditions, including the shift toward cheaper vildagliptin for diabetes management, the rising costs of insulin analogues, the efficacy of different bowel preparation formulations for colonoscopy, and the prescribing trends of iron chelators for thalassemia. Collectively, these findings emphasize the critical need for targeted educational interventions and strategic medication management to improve both provider well-being and patient safety within the state's healthcare system.