Interventional, Quasi-Experimental Study of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Education Care Plan for Hospital Discharge.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life for patients. Proper use of inhaler devices is critical for effective drug delivery and prevention of COPD progression. The primary endpoint of this study was a mean percent increase in correct steps associated with inhaler technique after pharmacist education.

Mixed-Method Study of Utilizing Portfolios to Document and Assess Co-Curricular Activities: Student and Advisor Perceptions.

Development of professional behaviors must occur in tandem with clinical skills to ensure graduates provide quality care. Portfolios have been widely utilized as a medium to document and reflect on experiences related to professional skills. Students were required to complete a series of co-curricular activities and document them via paper or electronic portfolios, which were shared with their advisors for feedback and review.

Students' perceptions of biostatistics following integration into an evidence-based medicine course series.

Background And Purpose: Student pharmacists are expected to demonstrate an understanding of commonly employed statistical tests. This study describes the integration of biostatistics in an evidence-based medicine course series using a learner-centered model tailored to students' needs and interests.

Educational Activity And Setting: This course series included thirteen two-hour biostatistics sessions focused on interpreting results and critiquing statistical methods.

Association between prothrombin time and bleeding in hospitalized patients receiving rivaroxaban.

Purpose: Results of an investigation of the pharmacodynamic effect of rivaroxaban anticoagulation, as measured by prothrombin time (PT), on bleeding risk and other outcomes in hospitalized patients are reported.

Methods: In a single-center retrospective cohort study, adult inpatients who had a PT measured within 24 hours after rivaroxaban administration during a designated 23-month period were identified. Patients who experienced in-hospital bleeding events were compared with those who did not.

Pharmacists' Attitudes and Practices Regarding Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccination in Pregnancy and Surrounding Newborns.

Background: Bordetella pertussis or whooping cough is a serious and vaccine-preventable illness. Despite widespread vaccination in the pediatric population, pertussis still infects approximately 100,000 infants each year in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine gaps in pharmacists’ understanding, attitudes, practices, and barriers surrounding the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination recommendation for patients who are pregnant or planning to come in close contact with infants.

The impact of pharmacy monitoring and intervention in patients receiving intravenous heparin.

Background Intravenous unfractionated heparin (IV UFH) has a narrow therapeutic index and poses a high risk of bleeding. Objective To determine the impact of pharmacy monitoring and intervention on adherence to and appropriate implementation of IV UFH protocol. Setting A 438 bed hospital specializing in cardiac services.

Retrospective Evaluation of Postoperative Adverse Drug Events in Patients Receiving Rivaroxaban After Major Orthopedic Surgery Compared with Standard Therapy in a Community Hospital.

Study Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence of bleeding and venous thromboembolic (VTE) events in patients receiving rivaroxaban, warfarin, or warfarin with the addition of enoxaparin during the immediate postoperative period following major orthopedic surgery.

Methods: Patients older than 18 years who received at least one dose of rivaroxaban the morning following surgery, adjusted dose warfarin, or adjusted dose warfarin with the addition of enoxaparin for VTE prophylaxis after major orthopedic surgery between October 1, 2011, and February 28, 2015, were included. Data collected from the electronic health record included patient demographics, renal function, inpatient aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitor and/or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use, type of surgery, postoperative analgesia, and presence of VTE risk factors.

Discharge Diuretic Dose and 30-Day Readmission Rate in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Loop diuretics play a crucial role in symptom management in patients with fluid overload. There is a paucity of data regarding optimal diuretic dose at hospital discharge for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients requiring loop diuretics.

Objective: To compare all-cause 30-day readmission in ADHF patients on chronic loop diuretics who had an increase in loop diuretic dose at discharge (relative to their preadmission dose) with patients without a change or a decrease in loop diuretic dose at discharge.

Evaluating antidepressant treatment prior to adding second-line therapies among patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Background: Patients with depression can be mistakenly labeled as treatment-resistant if they fail to receive an adequate first-line antidepressant trial. Adding second-line agents to the treatment regimens can create an additional burden on both the patients and the healthcare system.

Objectives: To determine if depressed patients receive an adequate antidepressant trial prior to starting second-line therapy and to investigate the association between the type of second-line treatment and severity of illness or depression among unipolar versus bipolar patients.

Does the use of atypical antipsychotics as adjunctive therapy in depression result in cost savings? Comparing healthcare costs and utilization between second-line treatment options.

Background: Several atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) are used as second-line agents for treatment resistant depression. AAPs can be expensive compared to other treatment options and can cause several side effects.

Objectives: To estimate healthcare costs and utilization of AAPs compared to other second-line agents.