Substance misuse and tobacco addiction are among topics being discussed at two-day conference opening today (April 3).
More than 100 delegates from across the world are on the University of Aberdeen's King’s College campus for the 20th Health Services Research and Pharmacy Practice conference.
The theme of the conference is pharmacy, medicines and public health and the keynote speakers are Professor Robbie Foy from theLeeds Institute of Health Sciences; Professor Susan Michie, University College London, and Professor Robert West, University College London.
Issues being discussed include improving medication safety; pharmacists’ contribution to helping patients with long term medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes, and also the international perspective regarding how pharmacists could or should contribute to helping patients manage their health.
Dr Catriona Matheson, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, said: “Sponsorship of a workshop at the conference from the Society for the Study of Addiction gives a unique opportunity for researchers and pharmacists working with substance misusers to get together and share innovations in effective practice."
Dr Margaret Watson, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, and one of the conference organisers, added: “This event is the main pharmacy practice research conference in the UK and the research that has been presented at previous years' events has gone on to inform practice and policy locally, nationally and internationally.”