A newly established Science Shop in Ankara:

Sharing experiences

Evelyn S. Schaafsma (Pharm D)Director Science Shop for Medicines

University of Groningen, The Netherlandse.s.schaafsma@rug.nl

Turkey-Netherlands

Outline

• Science Shops: what is it??!

• Science Shop University of Groningen

• Science Shop for Medicines

• Examples of projects

Science Shopwww.livingknowledge.org

General concept

A Science ShopA Science Shop (is a unit that) provides (is a unit that) provides

© Henk Mulder

concerns experienced concerns experienced by civil society.by civil society.

in response toin response to

SCIENTIFICSCIENTIFIC CULTURALCULTURAL

SOCIO-POLITICALSOCIO-POLITICAL

POLICY-POLICY-MAKERSMAKERS

FUNDERSFUNDERS

HOSTSHOSTS

SUPPLYSUPPLY DEMANDDEMAND

STAFFSTAFF

© Henk Mulder

actors & factors

Science shop

Where ?

Wageningen

Maastricht

© Henk Mulder

Rotterdam

Utrecht

University of Utrecht (7x)

University of Utrecht (7x)

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam

University of Maastricht

University of Maastricht

University of Tilburg

University of Tilburg

Tilburg

Eindhoven

Technical University of

Eindhoven (8x)

Technical University of

Eindhoven (8x)

University of Groningen

(9x)

University of Groningen

(9x)

Groningen Technical University of

Twente

Technical University of

Twente

Twente Wageningen Agricultural University

Wageningen Agricultural University

Dutch Science Shops

From the 70’s to the 00’s

70’s: Netherlands, (USA)

80’s: Australia, Denmark, England, Northern Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium

90’s: Israel, Canada, Spain, Romania, Norway, Malaysia, South Korea, Czechoslovakia, South Africa, New Zealand,

00’s: Belgium (renewed), France (renewed), South Korea (renewed), Portugal

2005 initiatives: Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Japan, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Turkey

Science Shop - Wetenschapswinkel - Boutique de Science - Videnskabsbutiken - Wissenschaftsladen - Bazar de las Ciencias

SCIENTIFICSCIENTIFIC CULTURALCULTURAL

SOCIO-POLITICALSOCIO-POLITICAL

POLICY-POLICY-MAKERSMAKERS

FUNDERSFUNDERS

HOSTSHOSTS

SUPPLYSUPPLY DEMANDDEMAND

STAFFSTAFF

© Henk Mulder

actors & factors

Science shop

What Host-institutes ?

© Henk Mulder

Organisation FormsOrganisation Forms

NGO

Separate entity

University links

Community-University Research Alliances

University

Central Office

Faculty Office

SCIENTIFICSCIENTIFIC CULTURALCULTURAL

SOCIO-POLITICALSOCIO-POLITICAL

POLICY-POLICY-MAKERSMAKERS

FUNDERSFUNDERS

HOSTSHOSTS

SUPPLYSUPPLY DEMANDDEMAND

STAFFSTAFF

© Henk Mulder

actors & factors

Science shop

What clients ?

CriteriaCriteria

1. Not commercial. Public results.

2. Able to use results

3. No (full) financial means

© Henk Mulder

Community/voluntary groups

Environmental NGOs

Local/regional authorities

Schools/pupils

Patient groups

Labour unions

Religious groups

Individuals (sometimes conditional)

Other: student organisations, museums, police, parliamentarians/political parties

Some: other research institutes, SMEs, larger firms/industry

© Henk Mulder

Clients of Science Shops

Demand

SCIENTIFICSCIENTIFIC CULTURALCULTURAL

SOCIO-POLITICALSOCIO-POLITICAL

POLICY-POLICY-MAKERSMAKERS

FUNDERSFUNDERS

HOSTSHOSTS

SUPPLYSUPPLY DEMANDDEMAND

STAFFSTAFF

© Henk Mulder

actors & factors

Science shop

What research

capacity

provided ?

© Henk Mulder

Supply

SCIENTIFICSCIENTIFIC CULTURALCULTURAL

SOCIO-POLITICALSOCIO-POLITICAL

POLICY-POLICY-MAKERSMAKERS

FUNDERSFUNDERS

HOSTSHOSTS

SUPPLYSUPPLY DEMANDDEMAND

STAFFSTAFF

© Henk Mulder

actors & factors

Science shop

What do they

do for a living ?

© Henk Mulder

Mediation TasksMediation Tasks

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Find a student or researcher

Receive/solicit clients and (new) questions

Map the problem (articulation)

Preliminary research: Refer, Refuse, Advice or Formulate (scientific) research question (Incl. funds if required)

Find a (co-) supervisor

Evaluation

Maintain communication and process

Facilitate useable presentation/publication of results

Help client implement results and formulate follow up actions

Make inventory of follow-up research/themes

Wetenschapswinkels Science ShopsWetenschapswinkels

Experiences > 25 years

at University of Groningen

The Netherlands

© Henk Mulder

Pharmaceutics

University of Groningen Science Shops

Biology

Chemistry

Economic Sciences and Business Management

Education & Youth Studies

History

Languages & Communication

Medicine and Public Health

Physics

Photo: http://www.xray.chem.rug.nl/thomas/

University of Groningen Network

Nine Science Shops (14 staff, 8.2 fte)

Funded 60/40 by University Board and Departments*

6-weekly meetings of coordinators

Policy, PR, bilateral projects

Joint activities

– Newsmagazine, website

– Seminars, Conferences

– Societal Assessment of Faculties

– Obtaining questions through newspaper

Paid Board (0.4 fte + Secretariat 0.2 fte)

Front of the main building of the University of Groningen

© Henk Mulder TIMCED Intermediu Ploiestip

Photo: TIMCED Intermediu Ploiesti

Financing from Board of University

Regional image

Political/social awareness of students

Financing from Faculty / Department

Practical education

Research Themes

PR

University of Groningen

Part of “Third Mission”: Knowledge Transfer

Science Shop for MedicinesSchool of Pharmacy

Groningen University Institute for Drug Research

Science Shop for Medicines

• Science Shops for Health

• Clients & questions and output

• Detecting unexplored research areas

• Pro-active approach: themes– Children– Etnic minorities

• Ramadan and medication

Benefits

• Patient or consumer organizations: Independent research of good quality at low price

• Students: Apply theory to practice in “own” project

• University: Detecting unexplored research areas

Who came to the Science Shopand what did they ask?

Safe use of drugshas always been an import topic

Examples

• Adverse effects of Melatonin in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (2002)?

• DES hormone used in girls to stop growing? (2000)

• Safe use of breastfeeding suppressants (bromocriptine ea): Report and brochure (1998)

• Hypothyroid patients complaining about Thyranon change towards Thyrax (1992)

Melatonin: experiences of users

• Client: patient group with CFS• Problem: bad experiences with Melatonin (unlicenced

drug, food supplement)• Research question: Experiences (good and bad) with

Melatonin, lit. review + questionnaires • Done by Master student (3 months full time) and

science shop coordinator (3/4 year parttime)• Involved expertise: Dep. pharmaceutical chemistry,

hospital doctor and nurse, Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre

Other themes

• Effectiveness of medication:– Alternative medicines: herbs, food supplements – New drugs: biotech

• Drug Information for lay public– 70’s: no info enough -> help find (new

contraceptives Implanon etc)– Now: to much info -> find trustworthy info and

summarize in understandable language

Detecting unexplored research areas: Third World

Several student

projects on production

of drugs in third world

Resulting in a PhD

project on production

and storage of tablets

Detecting unexplored research areas: Pregnancy

Student projects (80s)

PhD project (90s)

Major research area in

Social Pharmacy

department (today)

Pro-active approach: themes

Questions within society not via patient group or other NGO, because they are (hardly) represented:

• Children

• Ethnic minorities

Children

• Health education to children about their drugs: a survey among patient organisations.

• What kind of health education do you think should be adressed regarding drugs and children?

• Slection of questions -> one example chosen for brochure

Ethnic minorities

• 10% of Dutch population non-native background

• Cultural diversity in health care should be addressed

• Interdisciplinary approach: intercultural communication involved

Examples• Drug information for refugees

• Drug information for deaf patients

• Ramadan and medication use

Deaf patientsEthnic minority?? No, but:

Sign language is first language and dutch grammar differs

=> need for visual leaflet

DEAFMED: EU project

in collaboration with

Dr Yegenoglu (Hacettepe)

Dr Visser (Intercul. Comm.)

Ramazan and medication use

Ramadan and medication useWhy bother??

• Fasting and medication: suboptimal pharmacotherapy or adverse effects

• Seen by health care workers in deprived areas (first generation immigrants)

• Almost 1.000.000 moslims in NL • Next years: fasting time a day will increase

up to 18 hours (Dutch summer)

Ramadan and medication use• Several projects:

– Literature review– Pharmaceutical Care project – Comparative study Turkey-Netherlands

Pharmaceutical Care Project

• Aims to

guide muslim patients, their families, and their caregivers in rational medication use during ramadan, adapted to their religion

Pharmaceutical Care Project:Multiple Intervention

• Individual counseling for muslim patients in pharmacies, in collaboration with prescribers– Invited before ramadan: diabetes– During ramadan

• Educational meeting with – pharmacy team– GP’s– invited patients

• “cultural mediators”

Pharmaceutical Care Project:Results of Pilot

• Estimate: 70% of pharmacy visitors insisted to fast, despite medical condition

• 86% (2005), 65% (2004) of fasting patients were categorized as “at risk”

Pharmaceutical Care Project:Results of Pilot (continued)

Outcome of counselling:

• 60% changed prescription

• 92% changed use

• Few referrals

• Patient interviews

Pharmaceutical Care Project:Results of Pilot (continued)

Patient interviews• Fast majority of patients think the

counselling of pharmacy is important and useful

• 50% also received info from other sources (incl. informal)

• Both pharmacy and doctor’s advice are appreciated

• Religious leaders are hardly consulted for advice

Comparative study: Turkey- Netherlands

• What can we learn from each other in both countries?– Turkey: Selen Yegenoglu– Netherlands: Evelyn Schaafsma

• Interviews with health professionals, patients and patient organizations on their experiences and opinions on current practice about advice giving on ramadan and medication use

• EU project: good rating, but not selected

• Thank you for your attention!

• Questions?

e.s.schaafsma@rug.nl

Good luck on the

Science Shop in Ankara!!