Writing PharmD program-level, ability-based outcomes: key elements for success.

A set of PharmD program curricular outcomes form the foundation of a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum and are critical to the development of both the structure/courses of the curriculum and the assessment plan for the program. A goal for developing these outcomes is to craft a set of clear, concise, assessable statements that accurately reflect competencies of the generalist entry-level pharmacist or graduate of the first-professional doctor of pharmacy degree. This article will provide a review of one specific type of outcome, ability-based outcomes, and present a case study of how one college revised their PharmD program-level outcomes.

Screening questions to predict limited health literacy: a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: Limited health literacy is increasingly recognized as a barrier to receiving adequate health care. Identifying patients at risk of poor health outcomes secondary to limited health literacy is currently the responsibility of clinicians. Our objective was to identify which screening questions and demographics independently predict limited health literacy and could thus help clinicians individualize their patient education.

The renal protective effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To review the renal protective effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Data Sources: A MEDLINE search (1966-March 2004) was completed using irbesartan, candesartan, losartan, valsartan, eprosartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, renal protection, nephropathy, albuminuria, and type 2 diabetes mellitus as key words.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: All identified English-language articles were reviewed.

Effect of phosphate binders on supplemental iron absorption in healthy subjects.

A single-dose, prospective, randomized, four-treatment, four-period crossover study was conducted to determine the acute effect of therapeutically equivalent doses of three commonly used phosphate binders on oral iron absorption. Twenty-three healthy subjects received 65 mg of elemental iron alone and with each phosphate binder (calcium carbonate 3000 mg, calcium acetate 2668 mg, or sevelamer HCl 2821 mg). Area under the change in plasma iron concentration-time curve over 6 hours postdosing was measured.