The struggle is real: Facilitating pharmacy student success on rotations when challenges arise.

Pharmacy preceptors are pivotal to facilitating and maximizing student learning on experiential rotations. However, preceptors may encounter a variety of behaviors or barriers that can hinder student success. Although some guidance exists for preceptors, emerging learner challenges along with new educational outcomes call for an updated practical approach to promoting student success on rotations.

A scaffolded problem-based learning course for first-year pharmacy students.

Background And Purpose: There has been an increased use of active learning pedagogies in pharmacy curricula. Structured, complex pedagogies such as problem-based learning (PBL) may require rigorous training for students to be successful. We aim to describe the development and implementation of an introductory PBL course for first-year pharmacy students.

Appropriateness of Term Limits for Administrative Appointments in Pharmacy Programs.

The appropriateness of term limits for administrative appointments is a subject of much discussion, not just within pharmacy programs, but in organizations of all types. The prospect of term limits for involves a wide variety of important organizational issues, including succession planning, institutional memory, strategic decision-making, and concepts regarding leadership styles overall. This paper examines both sides of the debate regarding the appropriateness of term limits for administrative appointments.

Reliability and Validity of a Checklist to Evaluate Student Performance in a Problem-Based Learning Group.

To validate a problem-based learning (PBL) evaluation checklist to assess individual Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students' performance in a group. In 2013, a performance checklist was developed and standardized. To evaluate the reliability and discriminant validity of the checklist, pharmacy students' evaluation scores from 2015-2016 were assessed along with overall program grade point averages (GPA), and scores on knowledge and problem-solving examinations.

Pharmacokinetics and investigation of optimal dose ertapenem in intermittent hemodialysis patients.

Background: Previous pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated an increase in serum ertapenem concentrations with decreasing kidney function, including patients receiving renal replacement therapy. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetic parameters of ertapenem in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods: This prospective, single-center, open-label study examined the pharmacokinetics of a single intravenous (IV) dose of ertapenem 1 g in seven hospitalized noninfected patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Implementation and Use of the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment at US Schools of Pharmacy.

Objective: To describe how schools and colleges of pharmacy use the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) in relation to student assessment and curricular feedback.

Methods: A survey was distributed to all programs that have implemented the PCOA. The survey was designed to assess 3 domains regarding the use of the PCOA: rationale for use, logistics of administration, and performance data review and distribution.

Insulin sensitivity and secretion in Arab Americans with glucose intolerance.

Background: This study examined the pathophysiological abnormalities in Arab Americans with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Subjects And Methods: Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment of insulin secretion (HOMA-%β), and the Matsuda Insulin Sensitivity Index composite (ISIcomposite) were calculated from the fasting and stimulated glucose and insulin concentrations measured during the oral glucose tolerance test in a population-based, representative, cross-sectional sample of randomly selected Arab Americans.

Results: In total, 497 individuals (42±14 years old; 40% males; body mass index [BMI], 29±6 kg/m(2)) were studied.

Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease events.

Aspirin has been used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for several decades. The efficacy of aspirin for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease is well established, but the clinical benefit of aspirin for primary prevention of CVD is less clear. The primary literature suggests that aspirin may provide a reduction in CVD events, but the absolute benefit is small and accompanied by an increase in bleeding.

An objective structured clinical examination to assess problem-based learning.

Objectives: To compare pharmacy students' performance on an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) to their performance on a written examination for the assessment of problem-based learning (PBL); and to determine students' and faculty members' perceptions of OSCEs for PBL evaluations.

Design: Four OSCEs were added to the written examination to assess 4 PBL cases in a third-year pharmacotherapy course. OSCE scores were compared to written examination scores.