Implementation of longitudinal thematic course design across four institutions.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to describe thematic course design utilized in pharmacy courses at four different institutions. Best practices and lessons learned are shared.

Methods: Four institutions independently incorporated a longitudinal Harry Potter (HP) theme into their courses.

The Role of Novel Bone Forming Agents in the Treatment of Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a growing epidemic that leads to significant morbidity and mortality among the elderly population due to associated fractures that lead to disabilities and reduced quality of life. Bisphosphonates are well-established as a first-line and cost-effective treatment for osteoporosis. Unfortunately, clinicians are often uncertain as to how to select treatments when bisphosphonates are ineffective as initial treatment or contraindicated.

Critically Ill Recipients of Weight-Based Fluconazole Meeting Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network Criteria.

Fluconazole-associated liver injury is estimated to occur in <10% of patients; however, effect of weight-based fluconazole dosing on liver injury is unknown. Furthermore, no studies have systematically applied the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN) Criteria to identify patients who may have drug-induced liver injury in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. This study evaluated how often patients met DILIN criteria when receiving fluconazole daily doses of <6 mg/kg versus ⩾6 mg/kg.

Pharmacists' Perspectives on Prescribing and Expanding Access to Hormonal Contraception in Pharmacies in the United States.

Introduction: Pharmacist prescribing of contraception is becoming increasingly available in selected states. The objective of this study was to assess US community pharmacists' perspectives on expanding access, barriers, and facilitators since states have begun pharmacist scope of practice expansions for prescribing contraception.

Methods: A survey study of US community pharmacists' support for expanded access models, pharmacist prescribing practices and interest, and importance of safety, cost, and professional practice issues for prescribing was conducted.

Guide for Drug Selection During Pregnancy and Lactation: What Pharmacists Need to Know for Current Practice.

Objective: To provide guidance for clinicians on risk assessment of medication use during pregnancy and lactation.

Data Sources: Authors completed PubMed searches to identify articles focused on the use of medications in pregnancy, including fetal development, drug transfer across the placenta, trimester exposure, chronic conditions in pregnancy, medications in lactation, and lactation and chronic disease.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Articles were reviewed to provide overall guidance to medication selection during pregnancy.

Point/Counterpoint: Are Outstanding Leaders Born or Made?

The question of whether outstanding leaders are born or made has been debated for years. There are numerous examples of historical figures that came naturally to leadership, while others developed their leadership skills through tenacity and experience. To understand leadership, both nature (the genetic component) and nurture (the environmental influences) must be considered.

The Validation of a Case-Based, Cumulative Assessment and Progressions Examination.

Objective: To assess content and criterion validity, as well as reliability of an internally developed, case-based, cumulative, high-stakes third-year Annual Student Assessment and Progression Examination (P3 ASAP Exam).

Methods: Content validity was assessed through the writing-reviewing process. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing student scores on the P3 ASAP Exam with the nationally validated Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA).

Roles of the pharmacist in the use of safe and highly effective long-acting reversible contraception: an opinion of the women's health practice and research network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

The U.S. population continues to experience an alarmingly high rate of unintended pregnancies that have an impact on individual families and society alike.

Awareness of heart disease among female college students.

Objective: Awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death in women has increased over the past 10 years, but little is known about the awareness level of college students. This study evaluated the level of awareness and knowledge of heart disease in women among college students.

Methods And Results: Using a cross-sectional design, a sample of 320 women from a private university was queried.

Pharmacy students' reading ability and the readability of required reading materials.

Objective: To determine the reading level of third-professional year doctor of pharmacy students and whether a significant correlation existed between Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT) grade equivalence scores and the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) percentile scores, and to determine the reading level of selected course materials.

Methods: The NDRT was administered to third-professional year (P3) pharmacy students. Scores from the NDRT were compared to the percentile rankings of the students' PCAT scores to determine whether significant correlations existed.

The relationship between literacy and glycemic control in a diabetes disease-management program.

Purpose: This study examined the role of literacy in patients with poorly controlled diabetes who were participating in a diabetes management program that included low-literacy-oriented interventions.

Methods: A before-after analysis was performed of a pharmacist-led diabetes management program for 159 patients with type 2 diabetes and poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c [A1C] > or = 8.0%).

Pharmacist-led, primary care-based disease management improves hemoglobin A1c in high-risk patients with diabetes.

We developed and evaluated a comprehensive pharmacist-led, primary care-based diabetes disease management program for patients with Type 2 diabetes and poor glucose control at our academic general internal medicine practice. The primary goal of this program was to improve glucose control, as measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Clinic-based pharmacists offered support to patients with diabetes through direct teaching about diabetes, frequent phone follow-up, medication algorithms, and use of a database that tracked patient outcomes and actively identified opportunities to improve care.