Validation of Diagnosis Codes for Low Birth Weight and Small-for-Gestational Age in the Medicaid Analytic Extract Database.

Background: The accuracy of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) in administrative healthcare records is crucial for perinatal studies but has few validity studies.

Methods: Using 1999-2010 MAX linked to birth certificates (BC), we identified mother-infant dyads (≥30 days enrollment after delivery, with valid gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW)). LBW and SGA were identified based on ICD-9-CM codes.

Bringing Pandemic Science to the Classroom: Building Public Health Capacity at a Rural Kentucky High School.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a multidisciplinary team at the University of Kentucky developed an interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and environmental health unit-the Wastewater Assessment for Coronavirus in Kentucky: Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Technology (WACKIEST) Unit-for high school students in summer 2022. This case study outlines the WACKIEST Unit, which focused on wastewater surveillance and COVID-19, the obstacles faced during development and recruitment, and implementation of the WACKIEST Unit in conjunction with a rural wastewater surveillance initiative. The unit was implemented in spring 2023 at a rural high school in Kentucky, spanning 12 days and engaging 190 students.

Reasons for Use and Perceived Effects of Medical Cannabis: A Cross-Sectional Statewide Survey.

Introduction: Medical cannabis (MC) is available upon certification for one of several qualifying conditions in Florida, USA. Previous studies suggested that some people seek cannabis for medical conditions/symptoms beyond those legally permitted. However, data remain limited on patient motives for seeking MC and their experiences around its impact on their health.

Trajectories of Adherence to Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Risks of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectiveness is highly dependent on medication adherence, which is associated with differential HIV risks and possibly sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study of PrEP users (01/01/2012-12/31/2021) used the MarketScan database of commercially insured enrollees to examine PrEP adherence trajectory groups' associations with HIV and STI acquisition risks. Distinct PrEP adherence trajectories were identified by group-based trajectory modeling among individuals who used oral PrEP.

Legalization of Smokable Medical Cannabis and Changes in the Dispensed Amount of Δ-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol Per Patient.

Florida's medical cannabis (marijuana) program is among the largest in the United States. Smokable cannabis forms were not legally available in this program until 2019, and five years after other forms of cannabis were available. This study assessed changes in Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dispensed per patient following legalization of smokable cannabis in Florida.

End-of-Life Healthcare Utilization in Lewy Body Dementia.

Background: Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia in the US, presenting unique end-of-life challenges.

Objective: This study examined healthcare utilization and care continuity in the last year of life in LBD.

Methods: Medicare claims for enrollees with LBD, continuously enrolled in the year preceding death, were examined from 2011-2018.

A Review of Concordance and Quality in Clinical Guidelines for Hormonal Contraceptives to Mitigate Drug-Drug Interactions in Women With Epilepsy.

Purpose: Concomitant use of hormonal contraceptive agents (HCAs) and enzyme-inducting antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) may lead to contraceptive failure and unintended pregnancy. This review identified and evaluated concordance and quality of clinical treatment guidelines related to the use of HCAs in women with epilepsy (WWE) receiving EIAEDs.

Methods: Relevant clinical guidelines were identified across four databases and were independently evaluated for quality utilizing the AGREE-II protocol instrument.

An explainable machine learning framework for predicting the risk of buprenorphine treatment discontinuation for opioid use disorder among commercially insured individuals.

Objectives: Buprenorphine is an effective evidence-based medication for opioid use disorder (OUD). Yet premature discontinuation undermines treatment effectiveness, increasing the risk of mortality and overdose. We developed and evaluated a machine learning (ML) framework for predicting buprenorphine care discontinuity within 12 months following treatment initiation.

Updated core competencies in pharmacoepidemiology to inform contemporary curricula and training for academia, government, and industry.

Purpose: The first paper to specify the core content of pharmacoepidemiology as a profession was published by an ISPE (International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology) workgroup in 2012 (Jones JK et al. PDS 2012; 21[7]:677-689). Due to the broader and evolving scope of pharmacoepidemiology, ISPE considers it important to proactively identify, update and expand the list of core competencies to inform curricula of education programs; thus, better positioning pharmacoepidemiologists across academic, government (including regulatory), and industry positions.

Trajectories of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Adherence Among Commercially Insured Individuals.

We used group-based trajectory models to identify 4 distinct trajectory patterns of adherence to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among 20 696 users. Only 44.5% were consistently PrEP adherent, with younger age, being female, or having substance use disorder or depression associated with early discontinuation.

Proceedings of the 2023 Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference.

The Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research, a multi-university collaboration established by the state of Florida in the USA, hosted its third annual Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference (CCORC) in May 2023. CCORC was held as a hybrid conference, with a scientific program consisting of in-person sessions, with some sessions livestreamed to virtual attendees. CCORC facilitated and promoted up-to-date research on the clinical effects of medical cannabis, fostering collaboration and active involvement among scientists, policymakers, industry professionals, clinicians, and other stakeholders.

Incident mental health episodes after initiation of gabapentinoids vs. dopamine agonists for early-onset idiopathic restless legs syndrome.

Limited long-term safety information exists for gabapentinoid treatment of idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS). We estimated incident mental health-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations with a primary mental health diagnosis (primary outcome) among early-onset idiopathic RLS patients following first-line treatment initiation and examined outcome risk with gabapentinoids compared with dopamine agonists (DAs). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using administrative claims data from 2012 to 2019.

Pragmatic Model and Faculty Toolkit for PharmD Student Engagement in Social and Administrative Pharmacy Research.

Objective: We aim to describe the development of a pharmacy student workgroup as an experiential education model to provide social and administrative pharmacy research opportunities and provide a toolkit for faculty seeking to increase student research engagement via this model.

Methods: Three pharmacy faculty with diverse training backgrounds but a common interest in opioid medications established a workgroup named the Opioid Research Workgroup. The workgroup consisted of first-year pharmacy students, research interns, and advanced graduate trainees.

Acceptability of an mHealth App for Monitoring Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health: Qualitative Study With Women and Providers.

Background: Up to 15% of pregnant and postpartum women commonly experience undiagnosed and untreated mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, which may result in serious health complications. Mobile health (mHealth) apps related to mental health have been previously used for early diagnosis and intervention but not among pregnant and postpartum women.

Objective: This study aims to assess the acceptability of using mHealth to monitor and assess perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety.

Protocol of a Combined Cohort and Cross-Sectional Study of Persons Receiving Medical Cannabis in Florida, USA: The Medical Marijuana and Me (M) Study.

Significant knowledge gaps regarding the effectiveness and safety of medical cannabis (MC) create clinical challenges for MC physicians, making treatment recommendations and patients choosing treatment among the growing number of options offered in dispensaries. Additionally, data describing the characteristics of people who use MC and the products and doses they receive are lacking. The Medical Marijuana and Me (M) Study was designed to collect patient-centered data from MC users.

Enhancing active learning of medication errors in the PharmD curriculum through a multi-perspective video-based experience.

Introduction: We created and assessed an immersive instructional series of video-based activities for pharmacy student evaluation of medication errors via root cause analysis (RCA).

Methods: A novel series of video vignettes showed a medication error from the perspectives of each healthcare team member involved. Students were engaged in a series of activities to guide them through RCA interspersed with the vignettes.

Clinician barriers, perceptions, and practices in treating patients with hepatitis C virus and substance use disorder in the United States.

Unlabelled: The likelihood of clinicians prescribing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and substance use disorder (SUD) was assessed via a survey emailed throughout the United States to clinicians (physicians and advanced practice providers) in gastroenterology, hepatology, and infectious disease specialties. Clinicians' perceived barriers and preparedness and actions associated with current and future DAA prescribing practices of HCV-infected patients with SUD were assessed. Of 846 clinicians presumably receiving the survey, 96 completed and returned it.