BPharm, MSc, GradDipCommPracPharm, MPS

Lecturer in Pharmacy Residency and PhD candidate

After graduating with a Pharmacy degree from the University of Sydney, Juanita was commissioned as a pharmaceutical officer in the RAAF working in Wagga Wagga, Newcastle and Adelaide. In 1997, she completed the Graduate Diploma in Community Practice Pharmacy at the University of South Australia and become involved in the QUM Domiciliary Medication Management Review Trial, most elements of which were incorporated into the current DMMR (or HMR) model funded by the Federal Government. In the trial, Juanita worked as a GP division liaison officer and completed the first 50 funded domiciliary medication reviews. This work and the Grad Dip made her very interested in the medication needs for older people.
England beckoned in 2000 and Juanita was appointed as a NHS pharmacist advisor in Southern Cheshire. She worked in GP surgeries and was also the lead for older people’s issues. At the same time, she completed a Masters of Science on compliance/concordance in the older age group at the Department of Medicines Management at Keele University in Staffordshire.

While in the UK, Juanita became concerned about the level of psychotropic prescribing in nursing homes; particularly the use of antipsychotics to manage the behaviour of older patients with dementia. It is known that these medications are widely prescribed for this indication, yet the evidence for effectiveness is not robust and health warnings have been issued in the US and the UK linking use with increased mortality. In 2007, She was awarded a PSA/University of Tasmania scholarship to complete a doctor of philosophy degree. Her PhD thesis title is: "Roles for Pharmacists in improving the Quality Use of Medicines to treat behavioural disturbance in dementia". Her aim is to find out if drugs for this indication are being prescribed appropriately in Tasmanian Residential Care Facilities, what drives prescribing of these medications and trial interventions by pharmacists in nursing homes to ensure QUM for older patients with dementia.

Research Interests

PhD thesis title: "Roles for pharmacists in improving the quality use of psychotropic medicines in residential care facilities" Supervisors: G Peterson, S Jackson and A Robinson

Research Areas:

• Clinical Pharmacy / Pharmacology  Read More
• Pharmacy Practice  Read More

Teaching

Lab demonstrating CSA155, CSA156

Full Publication List