Pharmacy GRIT

Online ISSN: 2208-245X

Pharmacy Growth, Research, Innovation and Training (Pharmacy GRIT) is SHPA’s member voice, providing a online magazine-style platform for publishing pharmacy research as well as feature articles and instructional papers to assist and inspire members. Officially citable, from 2017 to 2021 Pharmacy GRIT appeared in quarterly printed and digital form, housing DrugScan (now MedsScan), Medication Safety and Case Reports, and complementing SHPA's flagship research journal the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR).

In 2022, GRIT moved wholly online. For members and by members, GRIT's content is now published and promoted via this website to promote greater collaboration and innovation, before moving to a new, dedicated digital home. Recent articles and previous issues are available below.

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Recent articles

Research reflection

Smooth seas don't make for skilled sailors (or researchers)

Sophie De Rota

This absorbing research reflection offers a sophisticated and personal account of the ups and downs of the research process during a Digital Health Record rollout process.

[Published 17 June 2024]

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technicians and assistants research series

Breaking research down: your research plan to help you stay on topic

Natasha Lemuelu and Julia Tisdall

Meet new contributing author Natasha Lemuelu in the second instalment of the Technicians and Assistants Research Series. 

[Published 3 June 2024]

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Research reflection

Can video-assisted learning kill the radio star?

Samuel B. Bougher

This delightful reflection recounts Sam’s research experiences while investigating the appropriateness of video-assisted debriefing to the teaching of medication history skills.

[Published 27 May 2024]

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Research reflection

The research cycle: assessing the effectiveness of an intervention on the bowel preparation dispensing process

Shannon L. Edwards

Shannon’s article is based on the implementation of a new bowel preparation dispensing process at Cairns Hospital and offers a sophisticated reflection on existing limitations in academic publishing.

[Published 20 May 2024]

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Research reflection

Evaluating the benefit of pharmacist integrated charting of discharge medications on Electronic Discharge Summaries

Janita Singh

Drawing on the experience of an observational study on pharmacist integrated charting of discharge medicines on electronic discharge summaries, Janita shares an engaging reflection on the opportunities for growth when conducting research.  

[Published 13 May 2024]

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Research reflection

Anticoagulation reversal audit: a reflection

Joshua Lui

After undertaking a retrospective medication use evaluation on anticoagulation reversal, Joshua reflects on the ways research design and data collection can impact results and interpretation.

[Published 6 May 2024]

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Research reflection

Reflection: appropriateness of ADT booster vaccines administered in the emergency department

Julie J. Kalf

Julie’s project focused on assessing the appropriateness of ADT Booster vaccine use in the emergency department in North Queensland. Julie encountered significant challenges throughout the research process; proving herself to be a resilient and insightful researcher and the importance of knowledge and mentorship to support emerging researchers.

[Published 29 April 2024]

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Research reflection

Drug use evaluation on cabergoline for post-partum lactation suppression at Canberra Health Services

Kalya Cho

Arising from a project investigating medication administration timeframes of cabergoline, this engaging reflection documents the impact of unforeseen challenges and the importance of data collection for enhancing research power.

[Published 22 April 2024]

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Research reflection

The benefit of local research: conducting an audit of appropriateness of new proton pump inhibitor prescriptions on discharge

Alice I. Hann

This article is a sophisticated reflection on the ways smaller, local projects can lay foundations for future research and Alice’s changing perspective of the value of local audits.

[Published 17 April 2024]

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Feature

The ultimate guide to Medication Safety Week 

Julianne Chong, Russell Levy, Garry Soo, Jocelyn Ong, and Rosemary Burke (PSM)

This feature article explores the creation of the innovative Medication Safety Week promotion successfully undertaken within the Sydney Local Health District in 2022 and 2023. 

[Published 3 April 2024]

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Medication safety

Medication safety everywhere: displaying parracetamol and ibuprofen products

Linda Graudins and Toni Howell

On behalf of the Medication Safety Leadership Committee, Linda Graudins (editor) and Toni Howell (chair) call for safe displaying of common pain-relieving medicines. 

[Published 25 March 2024]

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Research reflection

Navigating new horizons: reflecting on my journey through through student supervision and charting a course for error remediation

Irina Rigoli

This reflection provides an account of Irina’s first experience as a lead supervisor of a team including five student researchers. The mixed-method project aimed to explore mental health education among Australian hospital pharmacists, identify areas of improvement and included development and data analysis managed by the five talented student researchers. Irina’s reflection documents some of the key challenges she encountered as lead supervisor and includes a range of improvements for future projects.

[Published 19 February 2024]

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Research reflection

Stepping into the digital era

Emma K. Whitney

An engaging reflection that explores the impact of the Digital Health Record on data collection.

[Published 30 January 2024]

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Feature

Access to leadership and management training resources

Russell Hill, on behalf of the Specialty Practice Leadership and Management Leadership Committee

SHPA’s Leadership and Management Leadership Committee has been considering hospital pharmacist access to, and support for, continuing professional development (CPD), in particular, access to leadership and management training programs. Anecdotal feedback indicated differing levels of access and support from healthcare organisations for leadership and management training. The Leadership and Management Leadership Committee holds the position that adequate support should be available to ensure that pharmacy leaders, as well as aspiring pharmacy leaders, have the requisite skills to confidently lead and take the profession forward.

[Published 15 January 2024]

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Research Article

Effectiveness of an electronic prescription tracking tool on improving patient care in a tertiary hospital chemotherapy day unit

Jennifer Nguyen, Lois Cheung, Chi Hao La, and Berenice Sheridan

This research measured the impact of the introduction of an electronic prescription tracking tool in a chemotherapy day unit.

[Published 8 November 2023]

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Technicians and assistants research series

Part 1: Pharmacy assistants and technicians wanting to get involved in research, this is for you!

Julia Tisdall

Looking to begin your research journey? Read the first instalment of the new Technicians and Assistants Research Series. 

[Published 31 October 2023]

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Research Reflection

Developing pre-recorded pharmacist video-education for cancer patients

Tara M. Poke

Currently in development, this project aims to develop pre-recorded patient education resources for cancer treatment. 

[Published 19 October 2023]

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Research Reflection

A first for me but probably not my last: a reflection on my research project

Muhammad Nashrudin Bin Jamaludin

Reflecting on the experience of implementing the Digitial Health Record on Parkinson's Disease medicine administration.

[Published 19 October 2023]

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Research Article

Improving care transitions between hospital and residential aged care facilities: a pharmacist perspective

John C. Kao, Eugene Ong, Julie E. Stevens, and Samanta Lalic

This research article explores the development of an information tool and its impact on pharmacist workflows in residential aged care facilities and their servcing pharmacies.

[Published 16 October 2023]

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Research Reflection

Hospital pharmacists' understandings of and attitudes towards beta-lactam allergies and de-labelling

Rhiannon Froude

Authored by Rhiannon Froude, SHPA's 2022 Resident of the Year. 

[Published 9 October 2023]

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oration

2022 Medal of Merit

Duncan McKenzie

Awarded at MM2022!

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oration

2022 Australian Clinical Pharmacy Award

Deirdre Criddle

Awarded at MM2022!

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oration

2021 Medal of Merit 

Kerry Fitzsimons

Awarded at MM2022!

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oration

2021 Australian Clinical Pharmacy Award

Sally Marotti

Awarded at MM2022!

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Research Reflection

Piloting a research project through the COVID-19 pandemic

Abigail A. Pinto

Celebrate the first published Research Reflection article by sharing Abigail A. Pinto's research experience during the emergence of COVID-19. 

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Feature

This International Women's Day instead of having it all, it's time to share it all

Kate Woods

To celebrate International Women's Day (8 March 2023) Kate Woods (Gosford Hospital Central Coast Local Health District) explores the Gender Pay Gap and makes a compelling call for greater flexibility in the workplace and a sector wide gender-pay-gap audit. 

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Medication safety

We're medicine experts, why don't we refer to them as that?

Wendy Ewing

To accompany the announcement of MedsScan and writing on behalf of the Medicine Safety Leadership Committee, Wendy Ewing explains why its time to move away from the term 'drug'.

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