Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care.

Background: In the United States, the scheduling system for controlled substances was established by the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. In 2009, Parker et al. published the study "Physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward scheduling.

Assessing learning gains of pharmacy students in communications, ways of thinking, and intercultural skills through self-assessment.

Background And Purpose: Intercultural and Global Health Issues was developed to address learning outcomes in communication, ways of thinking, intercultural personal skills, and intercultural knowledge. The aim of this study was to assess learning gains of pharmacy students through self-assessment.

Educational Activity And Setting: Course design, learning outcomes, objectives, and activities were created to meet the expected educational outcomes.

Grading trends and evaluation of student performance across advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) in the Big Ten Academic Alliance (The GRAPPES study).

Introduction: With over a third of the doctor of pharmacy curriculum relying on experiential education (EE), it is critical that students are assessed and graded in accordance with their actual performance. The objective of this paper is to review advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) grading across the Big Ten Academic Alliance to describe how APPE grading occurs at these institutions and highlight differences in approach and outcomes.

Methods: Experiential directors/deans were asked to import de-identified data (e.

Hydralazine-associated Amenorrhea in a Premenopausal Patient With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Purpose: Several antihypertensive medications have been associated with various forms of sexual dysfunction. We present a case report of a premenopausal patient with hydralazine-associated amenorrhea.

Methods: The Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale was used to assess causality.

Integrating parts of the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for pharmacy professionals into a career development lab.

Background And Purpose: To use parts of the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals in a career development laboratory designed to provide students with relevant information that will help them prepare for successful careers across the profession of pharmacy.

Educational Activity And Setting: Students enrolled in the second professional year of pharmacy school participated in an interactive three-hour career development laboratory. Students completed the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals Online Assessment Tool prior to the laboratory.

Cost savings associated with pharmacy student interventions during APPEs.

Objective: To quantify the impact of pharmacy students' clinical interventions in terms of number and cost savings throughout advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) using a Web-based documentation program.

Methods: Five hundred eighty doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students completing ten 4-week APPEs during the final year of the curriculum were asked to document all clinical interventions they made using a Web-based documentation tool. Data were collected over 4 academic years.

Pilot testing of checklists to discern adverse drug reactions and adverse drug events.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of patient-reported adverse drug events (ADEs)/adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the community pharmacy setting and determine the prevalence relative to pharmacist judgment.

Data Sources: The 2009 version of the Pharmacy Times top 200 drugs was used to identify the prescription medications most commonly used within the ambulatory population during 2008. All ADEs/ADRs for each medication were obtained by combining the ADEs/ADRs listed in Drug Facts and Comparisons, Lexi-Comp, and Micromedex.

Potential new treatments for diabetic kidney disease.

Antifibrotic agents, antioxidant agents, ET-a receptor antagonists, and a few other agents with nonspecific or multifaceted mechanisms of action have been evaluated and progressed to small clinical studies in human subjects. Although there are limited data at the present time, these early evaluations have produced some favorable results that at least warrant further investigation. There is certainly not enough compelling evidence to justify the routine use of any of these products specifically for DKD at the moment; however, more well-controlled and adequately powered studies in several hundred patients will help determine which of these may have a place in the DKD treatment armamentarium of the future.

Evaluation of morbidity and mortality data related to cardiovascular calcification from calcium-containing phosphate binder use in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Several mechanisms are thought to contribute to vascular calcification and subsequent cardiovascular disease in patients who require hemodialysis. One of these mechanisms is the use of calcium-containing phosphate binders to treat hyperphosphatemia.

Active-learning laboratory session to teach the four M's of diabetes care.

Objective: To implement an active-learning methodology for teaching diabetes care to pharmacy students and evaluate its effectiveness.

Design: Laboratory instruction was divided into 4 primary areas of diabetes care, referred to by the mnemonic, the 4 M's: meal planning, motion, medication, and monitoring. Students participated in skill-based learning laboratory stations and in simulated patient experiences.

Comparison of sevelamer hydrochloride and sevelamer carbonate: risk of metabolic acidosis and clinical implications.

Hyperphosphatemia is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in those with advanced or end-stage renal disease. Sevelamer hydrochloride is an ion-exchange resin that reduces serum phosphorus concentrations. The agent also produces favorable lipid profile effects and does not cause hypercalcemia.

Cinacalcet: a new treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Cinacalcet is the first calcimimetic drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease. A literature search, performed by using PubMed and MEDLINE from January 1997-June 2004, identified articles concerning the efficacy and safety of cinacalcet in this patient population. Currently, Vitamin D and its analogs are considered first-line therapy for secondary hyperparathyroidism.