A newly established Science Shop in Ankara Sharing

A newly established Science Shop in Ankara: Sharing experiences Evelyn S. Schaafsma (Pharm D) Director Science Shop for Medicines University of Groningen, The Netherlands e. 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 Shop www. livingknowledge. org General concept

A Science Shop (is a unit that) provides in response to concerns experienced by civil society. © Henk Mulder

Science shop actors & factors SCIENTIFIC CULTURAL POLICYMAKERS HOSTS Where ? SUPPLY DEMAND STAFF FUNDERS SOCIO-POLITICAL © Henk Mulder

Dutch Science Shops Groningen University of Utrecht (7 x) Erasmus University Rotterdam University of Tilburg Twente Utrecht Rotterdam Wageningen University of Groningen (9 x) Technical University of Twente Wageningen Agricultural University Tilburg Eindhoven Maastricht University of Maastricht Technical University of Eindhoven (8 x) © Henk Mulder

Science Shop - Wetenschapswinkel - Boutique de Science - Videnskabsbutiken Wissenschaftsladen - Bazar de las Ciencias 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 actors & factors SCIENTIFIC CULTURAL POLICYMAKERS HOSTS What Hostinstitutes ? SUPPLY DEMAND STAFF FUNDERS SOCIO-POLITICAL © Henk Mulder

Organisation Forms v University Central Office Faculty Office v NGO Separate entity University links v Community-University Research Alliances © Henk Mulder

Science shop actors & factors SCIENTIFIC CULTURAL POLICYMAKERS HOSTS What clients ? SUPPLY DEMAND STAFF FUNDERS SOCIO-POLITICAL © Henk Mulder

Criteria 1. Not commercial. Public results. 2. Able to use results 3. No (full) financial means © Henk Mulder

Demand Community/voluntary groups Environmental NGOs Local/regional authorities Schools/pupils Patient groups Labour unions Religious groups Individuals (sometimes conditional) Clients of Science Shops Other: student organisations, museums, police, parliamentarians/political parties Some: other research institutes, SMEs, larger firms/industry © Henk Mulder

Science shop actors & factors What research SCIENTIFIC CULTURAL POLICYMAKERS HOSTS SUPPLY DEMAND capacity provided ? STAFF FUNDERS SOCIO-POLITICAL © Henk Mulder

Supply © Henk Mulder

Science shop actors & factors SCIENTIFIC CULTURAL POLICYMAKERS HOSTS SUPPLY What do they do for a living ? DEMAND STAFF FUNDERS SOCIO-POLITICAL © Henk Mulder

Mediation Tasks 1 Receive/solicit clients and (new) questions 2 Map the problem (articulation) 3 Preliminary research: Refer, Refuse, Advice or Formulate (scientific) research question (Incl. funds if required) 4 Find a (co-) supervisor 5 Find a student or researcher 6 Maintain communication and process 7 Facilitate useable presentation/publication of results 8 Help client implement results and formulate follow up actions 9 Make inventory of follow-up research/themes 10 Evaluation © Henk Mulder

Wetenschapswinkels Science Shops Wetenschapswinkels Experiences > 25 years at University of Groningen The Netherlands

University of Groningen Science Shops Biology Chemistry Economic Sciences and Business Management Education & Youth Studies History Languages & Communication Medicine and Public Health Photo: http: //www. xray. chem. rug. nl/thomas/ Pharmaceutics Physics © Henk Mulder

University of Groningen Network Front of the main building of the University of Groningen 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 Photo: TIMCED Intermediu Ploiesti Paid Board (0. 4 fte + Secretariat 0. 2 fte) © Henk Mulder p TIMCED Intermediu Ploiesti

University of Groningen Financing from Board of University Regional image Political/social awareness of students Part of “Third Mission”: Knowledge Transfer Financing from Faculty / Department Practical education Research Themes PR

Science Shop for Medicines School 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 Shop and what did they ask?

Safe use of drugs has 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 Ph. D project on production and storage of tablets

Detecting unexplored research areas: Pregnancy Student projects (80 s) Ph. D project (90 s) 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 patients Ethnic 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 use Why bother? ? • Fasting and medication: suboptimal pharmacotherapy or adverse effects • Seen by health care workers in deprived areas (first generation immigrants) • Almost 1. 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!!