Isan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IJPS (Isan J Pharm Sci)

Outcomes of Implementing a Revised Dispensing System for Schedule II Controlled Substances in Inpatient Pharmacy Services, Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Schedule II controlled substances are high-risk drugs if misused or overdosed. Therefore, it is very necessary to manage the risks from their use. Objectives: To develop a dispensing system for Schedule II controlled substances by evaluating drug utilization, drug returns, regulatory compliance, staff satisfaction, and system quality according to the CIPP Model. Materials and methods: This evaluative research was conducted from January 2023 to January 2025 in three phases: before system improvement, during system implementation, and evaluation phase. The study samples included inpatient prescription data of Schedule II controlled substances and ward personnel by questionnaire. The sample size of ward staff was calculated using Yamane’s formula from a population of 675, giving 270 samples. The research tools were dispensing reports, the IPserve program, narcotic drug return forms, a compliance assessment form, a satisfaction assessment form, and a questionnaire under the CIPP Model framework, using a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: After the system improvement, the number of prescriptions increased from 445,448 to 498,623 (an increase of 11.9%), but actual drug utilization decreased from 101,932 to 96,125 ampuls/syringes (a decrease of 5.7%). At the same time, drug returns increased from 53 to 14,602 ampuls/syringes, and the completeness of returns within 24 hours rose to 99.26%. Meanwhile, the dispensing and storage system was developed to a higher standard. Staff satisfaction was at a very good level (48.15%). Evaluation according to the CIPP Model showed every component at the level of agree/strongly agree. Conclusion: The improved dispensing system reduced unnecessary drug use, increased drug returns, enhanced safety and transparency in the management of controlled substances, and created satisfaction among staff.

Effectiveness of a prevention system on medication errors related to herbal medicines in a Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Group, Detudom Crown Prince Hospital

Suriyon Mingkwan — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Medication errors related to herbal medicines that occur while herbal medicines are under the care of healthcare professionals, which may cause harm to patients or have inappropriate medication. Therefore, a special system is needed to prevent the differences. Objective: To develop a prevention system on medication errors related to herbal medicines and evaluate the effectiveness of the developed system. Methods: This action research consisted of three steps: problem analysis and development of a prevention system on medication errors related to herbal medicines; system implementation; and evaluation of the effectiveness of the developed system by comparing the rate of medication errors related to herbal medicines occurring during official working hours before and after implementing the developed medication errors related to herbal medicines prevention system. Data on medication errors related to herbal medicines related to medication prescribing, pre-dispensing processes, and dispensing from the hospital risk reporting program and the medication errors related to herbal medicines report record of the Thai Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine Group, Detudom Crown Prince Hospital. General data were analyzed, including the number of herbal prescriptions, the number of herbal medicine items, and the number of medication errors related to herbal medicines, using descriptive statistics (frequency). The difference in rate of medication errors related to herbal medicines was compared before and after using the developed system using Chi-squared test statistics, with statistical significance at p < 0.05. Results: The developed a prevention system on medication errors related to herbal medicines consisted of 13 measures. For example, creating a pop-up notification when prescribing herbal medicine, placing warning labels on herbal medicines with similar names or external characteristics, and dispensing herbal medicines by pharmacists, etc. After the implementation of the developed system, the overall medication errors related to herbal medicines rate in all processes can be reduced statistically significantly (p < 0.001) from 14.15 to 2.24 times per 1,000 prescriptions. Conclusion: The developed a prevention system on medication errors related to herbal medicines can effectively reduce medication errors related to herbal medicines at a Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Group.

A Comparative Study of Caregivers' Knowledge, Understanding, and Medication Adherence to Methylphenidate Use in ADHD Children Pre- and Post-Intervention, and the Differences by Personal Factors

Ratreekal Sirirattanaphaisalkul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study aimed to compare the knowledge, understanding, and medication adherence of caregivers in administering methylphenidate to children pre and post education, and to examine the differences by personal factors. Methods: This research employed a quasi-experimental research design, specifically a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The sample consisted of 50 caregivers of children receiving methylphenidate at Mae Chan Hospital, Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province. The research procedure began with the pretest data collection using a questionnaire to assess the caregivers' knowledge, understanding, and medication adherence. This was followed by the intervention, where education on the proper use of methylphenidate was provided to the sample group. Finally, posttest data collection was conducted using the same questionnaire. All data collection procedures took place between June and July 2025. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, median, and interquartile range (IQR), were used to summarize the data. The Shapiro–Wilk test was employed to check for the normality of data distribution. Non-parametric tests were then applied for all comparisons: the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for paired comparison, and the Mann-Whitney U test or the Kruskal-Wallis H-test was applied for inter-group comparisons, as appropriate. Results: The median scores for all three variables increased significantly after the educational intervention (p < 0.001). Specifically, the caregivers' median scores increased as follows: Knowledge rose from 3.00 to 4.00 (out of 5), Understanding saw a notable rise from 1.00 to 5.00 (out of 5), and Medication Adherence increased from 5.50 to 7.00 (out of 8). Furthermore, the analysis of differences based on personal factors revealed several findings: Knowledge scores after the intervention were significantly different across educational levels (p = 0.027); specifically, caregivers with higher education levels demonstrated significantly greater post-intervention knowledge scores. A significant difference was found in Understanding before the intervention based on educational level (p = 0.015); furthermore, the primary education group demonstrated significantly greater post-intervention Understanding scores. Similarly, the occupational group showed a significant difference in Understanding after the intervention (p = 0.042) with the general laborer group demonstrating greater Understanding scores. A significant difference was found in Medication Adherence before the intervention based on gender (p = 0.027), with male caregivers demonstrating greater post-intervention adherence. Conclusion: Providing education to caregivers effectively improved their knowledge, understanding, and adherence in administering methylphenidate to children.

Situation of media about medications on TikTok

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The objective of this study is to explore the situation of medication-related media on TikTok in terms of content and legal compliance. Methodology: This study was conducted as a qualitative study. Medication-related media on TikTok were collected using Thai Search keywords including “medicine”, “pharmacist recommendation”, “doctor recommendation”, “use of medicine”, “selling medicine” and TikTok’s algorithm. A total of 30 media samples were collected between November and December 2024. The content of each post was recorded in a structured data collection form and analyzed using Qualitative Content Analysis. If the collected post was identified as an advertisement, it was further assessed for legal compliance with the Drug Act B.E. 2510 (1967). Results: A total of 30 medication-related TikTok media were analyzed, comprising 21 advertisements and 9 educational videos. Most presenters (21 videos, 70%) identified themselves as healthcare professionals. Dangerous drugs were the most frequently mentioned category (18 videos, 58%), with anti-infective agents such as antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic drugs being the most common indication group (10 videos, 29.4%). Most videos were under one minute in duration (16 videos, 53.3%). None of the advertisements displayed a license number, thus all violated Section 88 (1) of the Drug Act B.E. 2510 (1967) prohibiting unauthorized drug advertising. Conclusion: Most medication-related media on TikTok are advertisements that violate regulations on unauthorized drug promotion. As they are not reviewed before publication, they may affect public understanding and medication-related behaviors. Authorities should regulate such media to prevent the spread of inaccurate health information.

The Clinical Outcomes of Asthma Self-Management Education during Acute Asthma Exacerbations at the Asthma Clinic of Mukdahan Hospital

Lalita Wongwunnakorn — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Currently, in Thailand, 11.8% require emergency treatment, and 9.8% of asthma patients experience acute exacerbations that require hospitalization. Therefore, the researcher had developed a self-management education concept for asthma exacerbations based on three main components, 1) providing knowledge to asthma patients, 2) enabling patients to assess and monitor their disease status, and 3) providing a written action plan. Method: This study aimed to 1) evaluate the clinical outcomes of providing self-care education during acute asthma exacerbations in patients with asthma, 2) To improve patients’ adherence to medication regimens, and 3) To investigate problems related to patients’ medication use. The quasi-experimental study employed purposive sampling to select 159 asthma patients who received treatment at the asthma clinic over a period of six month from September 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025. Results: The pharmacist provided education on self-care management for acute asthma exacerbations significantly reduced the percentage of patients with well-controlled asthma increased (p < 0.05). The number of patients requiring emergency treatment (p < 0.05) and those requiring hospitalization (p < 0.05), and pulmonary function, as measured by peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), also improved significantly (p < 0.05). Additionally, medication adherence scores significantly increased (p < 0.05), and medication-related problems decreased by 35.8%. Conclusion: Providing education on self-management for acute asthma exacerbations leads to improved clinical outcomes, including better asthma control, fewer exacerbations requiring emergency treatment or hospitalization, and enhanced lung function in patients.

Preliminary Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity and Total Phenolic Content of Ready-to-drink Tea Beverages from Convenient Stores in Thailand

Varunnika Thirasak, Naphatsorn Ditthawutthikul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Ready-to-drink tea beverages are widely consumed in Thailand due to their convenience and accessibility. While tea is known to possess numerous health-promoting properties, the efficacy of these benefits in the ready-to-drink (RTD) formulation remains uncertain. This is primarily attributed to the potential instability and degradation of key phytochemicals in tea over time. Objective: This study aims to assess the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of ready-to-drink (RTD) tea beverages. Methods: During July - October 2025, twelve commercially available tea beverages—purportedly derived from green, oolong, and black tea varieties—were purchased from convenience stores in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The claimed caffeine content of each sample was documented. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity of the beverages was assessed using the hydrogen peroxide and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays. Total phenolic content of these RTD tea beverages was also evaluated. Results: Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of tea beverages were in the range between 0.45 ± 0.02 to 1.56 ± 0.01 mg vitamin C equivalent (VCE)/ml RTD tea while DPPH radical scavenging activity were in the range between 0.36 ± 0.02 to 0.80 ± 0.02 mg VCE/ml RTD tea. Total phenolic content of tea beverages was in the range between 0.23 ± 0.01 to 0.53 ± 0.01 mg gallic acid equivalent/ml RTD tea. Among the tested samples, beverages prepared from black and oolong tea demonstrated the highest hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, while black tea and green tea showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (p < 0.05). Green tea and Oolong tea contained the highest phenolic content (p < 0.05). A moderate positive correlation between caffeine content, total phenolic content and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was observed (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r = 0.552, p < 0.001 and r = 0.402, p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: The results suggested that drinking tea beverages might have positive health benefits. Further investigations should assess antioxidant activity using alternative methods, as well as quantify phytochemical levels in tea beverages.