Comparing algorithms for composite measures of intra-disease multiple medication adherence: The case of diabetes.

Background: Adherence to multiple medications (i.e., separate dosage forms) intended for a disease can be measured by different single estimators, termed as composite estimators of intra-disease multiple medication adherence: 80% days covered (a) by at least one medication ("at least one"); (b) by both medications ("both"); (c) by each medication measured separately ("all"); and (d) computing an average of the individual medication adherence estimates ("average").

Development of the medication adherence estimation and differentiation scale (MEDS).

Objectives: To develop a self-reported measure for medication adherence and compare its ability to predict the proportion of days covered (PDC) with contemporary scales.

Methods: Retrospective prescription fill data from three community pharmacies in the Southeastern US were assessed to identify patients that were 18 years of age or older, and had received at least one medication for diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. A cross-sectional survey containing the Medication adherence Estimation and Differentiation Scale (MEDS) was administered among these pharmacy patrons.

The Relationship Between Prior Experiences in Mathematics and Pharmacy School Success.

To assess students' pre-pharmacy math experiences, confidence in math ability, and relationship between experiences, confidence, and grades in math-based pharmacy courses. A cross-sectional survey of first year to third year pharmacy students was conducted. Students reported type of pre-pharmacy math courses taken, when they were taken [high school (HS) vs.

Hospital pharmacists' perceived beliefs and responsibilities in indication-based off-label prescribing.

Background Off-label prescribing is prevalent in healthcare. There is a lack of understanding of pharmacists' attitudes toward the practice of off-label prescribing, especially those that are prescribed for other indications than approved ones (termed as indication-based off-label prescribing). Objective Explore hospital pharmacists' attitudes toward and perceived responsibility in off-label and indication-based off-label prescribing in hospital pharmacy practice.

Preliminary development of the Medication Nonpersistence Scale.

Objectives: To develop the Medication Nonpersistence Scale (MNPS)-a multi-item self-reported scale to measure medication persistence.

Setting: Six hundred seventy-five patients patronizing 3 separate independent community pharmacies in the southeastern United States participated in this research.

Practice Innovation: The MNPS, a self-reported measure, developed to provide an estimate of, and reasons for, medication nonpersistence.

The role of perceived impact on relationship quality in pharmacists' willingness to influence indication-based off-label prescribing decisions.

Little is known about factors that affect pharmacists' roles in off-label prescribing. This study examined the effect of perceived impact on relationship quality (IRQ) on hospital pharmacists' willingness to influence a physician's decision regarding an indication-based off-label medication order (WTIP) (i.e.

Store and prescription characteristics associated with primary medication nonadherence.

Background: Primary medication nonadherence (PMN) is any instance whereby patients fail to initiate a pharmacotherapy regimen after receiving a prescription for new therapy. The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has proposed a standardized definition for PMN and a quality measure to assess the rates of PMN in community pharmacies.

Objectives: To (a) measure PMN using the proposed PQA measure with data available from a pharmacy dispensing system and (b) identify the prescription-level (patient, prescriber, and medication) and store-level (store and neighborhood) characteristics associated with PMN.

Factors that physicians find encouraging and discouraging about electronic prescribing: a quantitative study.

To determine factors that physicians find encouraging and discouraging about e-prescribing and to compare these factors based on physicians' adoption status, a cross-sectional study was conducted using an internet-based survey administered to a national convenience sample of primary care physicians. A scale was developed to measure factors related to the adoption of e-prescribing. Analysis procedures included exploratory factor analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, and Tukey's post-hoc tests.

The influence of symbols on the short-term recall of pharmacy-generated prescription medication information in a low health literate sample.

The effect of symbols on conveying health information has been studied in a variety of contexts and populations. This investigation assessed whether short-term recall of prescription medication information could be enhanced in a low health literate population through the use of symbols. Participants recruited from various nonpharmacy educational service locations were randomly assigned to receive a prescription medication information leaflet in either a text-only, text with symbols, or symbols-only format and then administered the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM).

Adoption of and experience with e-prescribing by primary care physicians.

Background: The impetus of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is the reduction of preventable medication errors by generating a legible prescription checked via e-prescribing software for drug-drug and other interactions. Although the adoption of e-prescribing among physicians is growing, the Institute of Medicine's recommendations that all prescriptions be routed electronically by 2010 certainly has not been met.

Objectives: To provide an update on e-prescribing use among primary care physicians (PCPs), describe their experience with e-prescribing, and provide insight into prescribers' decisions to implement e-prescribing in their practices.

Health literacy in the pharmacy setting: defining pharmacotherapy literacy.

Objective: All currently available definitions of health literacy may be considered quite general. Given the complex nature of the patient-pharmacy encounter and the varying tasks required to properly and successfully consume or administer medication or to adhere to a pharmaceutical care regimen, these available definitions may describe inadequately a patient's health literacy for the purpose of pharmacotherapy and pharmacist intervention. Therefore, the objective of this research was to conceptualize the Pharmacotherapy Literacy construct.

The role of the medial prefrontal cortex in the play fighting of rats.

Although decorticated rats are able to engage in play, their play is abnormal in three ways. First, decorticates do not display the normal, age-related shifts in defensive strategies during development. Second, decorticates do not modify their defensive tactics in response to the social identity of their partners.

Pharmaceutical product withdrawal: attributions of blame and its impact on trust.

Background: Six major pharmaceutical products were withdrawn from the market from 2000 to 2006. Little evidence exists in understanding consumer reactions to such events and the influence the withdrawal has on its competitors.

Objective: To explore consumers' attribution of blame after pharmaceutical product market withdrawal (PPMW) and its effect on trust.

The psychosocial work environment and maternal postpartum depression.

Background: Postpartum depression is a debilitating mental disorder affecting women after childbirth. This study examined the correlates of postpartum depression at 11 weeks after childbirth, focusing on work-related stressors and applying the job demand-control-support model.

Method: Investigators recruited a prospective cohort of 817 employed Minnesota women when hospitalized for childbirth in 2001.

Ratings of journals for the dissemination of pharmacy-related social and administrative science.

Background: It has been over a decade since a journal quality rating study has been conducted in the social and administrative sciences (SAdS). This study sought to reevaluate perceptions of journal quality.

Objectives: To develop a list of journals that are suitable publication venues for SAdS scholars and compare the quality of these journals as rated by school of pharmacy deans, SAdS department/division chairs, and SAdS faculty.

Mothers' health and work-related factors at 11 weeks postpartum.

Purpose: Many new mothers return to work soon after childbirth. This study examines personal and work-related factors associated with the postpartum health of employed women 11 weeks after childbirth.

Methods: Using a prospective cohort design, we recruited 817 Minnesota mothers into the study while they were hospitalized for childbirth in 2001.

Should I stay or should I go?

Deciding the best option for your practice is by no means straightforward. It would be easy to look at the financial effects and simply decide to withdraw from the DTSS; however, consideration should be given to other factors such as the dentist's duty of care to patients, whether the practice facilities need to be upgraded and how your nearest dental competitor will react to your decision to withdraw. At the end of the day, it is an individual decision for each dentist, which should be based on facts, not assumptions, so do your homework and fully understand the impact of withdrawing on your practice.

Giving birth and returning to work: the impact of work-family conflict on women's health after childbirth.

Purpose: Since 1970, women of childbearing age have increasingly participated in the workforce. However, literature on work-family conflict has not specifically addressed the health of postpartum women. This study examined the relationship between work-family conflict and mental and physical health of employed mothers 11 weeks after childbirth.

Seller beware.

Any dentist thinking of retiring needs to plan for the event, and that planning should include how to maximise Capital Gains Tax retirement relief. With assets having to be held for 10 years prior to retirement, that planning should start when the dentist reaches 45 years of age. As every dentist's circumstances are different, it is a tax that can become complicated.