Nigerian Hospital and Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Awareness, and Perceptions of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Background: Pharmacists can play a role in enhancing treatment outcomes of autistic people, but they must possess sufficient knowledge and awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Current evidence is scant among Nigerian pharmacists. The objectives of this study were to: (1) Describe and compare Nigerian hospital and community pharmacists' ASD knowledge, awareness, and perceptions; (2) Determine if there is a significant correlation between ASD knowledge, awareness, and perceptions; (3) Determine if demographic and practice-related factors are significantly related to pharmacists' ASD awareness.

Opioid Prescribing and Outcomes in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Post-2016 CDC Guideline.

Importance: Although the intention of the 2016 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain was not to limit pain treatment for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), clinicians and patients have recognized the possibility that the guideline may have altered outcomes for this population. However, the outcomes of the 2016 guideline for this patient population are unknown.

Objective: To examine changes in opioid prescribing patterns and health outcomes among patients with SCD before and after the release of the 2016 CDC guideline.

Treatment patterns and outcomes among adults with immune thrombocytopenia receiving pharmaceutical second-line therapies: a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data.

Objectives: To describe and compare real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among individuals with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) receiving second-line therapies (rituximab, romiplostim, or eltrombopag).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a large administrative claims database (January 2013-May 2020) among continuously enrolled patients ≥18 years prescribed second-line ITP therapies. The index date was the date of the first claim of the study medications.

Pregnancy-related risk factors and receipt of postpartum care among Texas Medicaid pregnant enrollees: Opportunities for pharmacist services.

Background: The United States (US) experiences the highest rate of maternal mortality of similar countries. Postpartum care (PPC) focused on chronic disease management is potentially lifesaving, especially among pregnancies complicated by risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions (MHCs), which are conditions in which pharmacists can have an impact.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of maternal mortality risk factors and their relationships with receipt of PPC among Texas Medicaid enrollees.

Comparing survival outcomes between neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy within breast cancer subtypes and stages among older women: a SEER-Medicare analysis.

Background: This study aimed to compare survival outcomes of neoadjuvant (NAC) and adjuvant chemotherapy (AdC) within each breast cancer subtype and stage among older women.

Methods: Older (≥ 66 years) women newly diagnosed with stage I-III invasive ductal breast cancer during 2010-2017 and treated with both chemotherapy and surgery within one year were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Analyses were performed within each of six groups, jointly defined based on subtype (hormone receptor [HR]-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]-negative, HER2 + , and triple-negative) and stage (I-II and III).

Reliability and Validity Evidence for an Academic Gender Equity Questionnaire.

The majority of practicing pharmacists and student pharmacists are women. However, instruments to assess perceptions of gender equity within pharmacy academia are not available. The objective of this research was to describe the psychometric analysis of a questionnaire developed to assess gender equity by a Gender Equity Task Force and to report reliability and validity evidence.

Real-world opioid use among patients with migraine enrolled in US commercial insurance and risk factors associated with migraine progression.

Migraineurs may be categorized as having episodic migraine (EM: < 15 headache days/month) or chronic migraine (CM: ≥ 15 days/month for > 3 months with ≥ 8 days/month having features of migraine). Opioid use has been linked to progression from EM to CM. To describe the utilization of opioid prescriptions among patients with migraine, to determine the association between opioid use and migraine progression, and to explore demographic and clinical risk factors for migraine progression.

Impact of adherence to hydroxyurea on health outcomes among patients with sickle cell disease.

Although new pharmaceutical therapy options have recently become available, hydroxyurea is still the most commonly used and affordable treatment option for sickle cell disease (SCD). This study aimed to update the evidence on hydroxyurea adherence and its association with clinical and economic outcomes among individuals with SCD. This retrospective study used Texas Medicaid claims data from 09/2011-08/2016.

Patient-Reported Barriers to Adherence Among ACEI/ARB Users from a Motivational Interviewing Telephonic Intervention.

Purpose: Hypertension is a common comorbidity among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Despite the proven benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in this population, poor medication adherence is prevalent, resulting in higher complications and mortality rate. Motivational interviewing (MoI) has demonstrated effectiveness in improving medication adherence and identifying barriers.

Gender inequity: Enough talk, time for action.

While gender inequity has been shown to be an ongoing issue in the pharmacy profession, it has moved to the forefront due to increasing numbers of women in pharmacy. Two national organizations, American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) convened a joint Gender Equity Task Force to examine this matter among social and administrative sciences pharmacy faculty. The Task Force launched a survey and conducted interviews, as well as held several forums to solicit recommendations.

Gender equity perceptions among social and administrative science faculty: A qualitative evaluation.

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests that gender inequity persists in academic pharmacy. To date, there are limited published data about the perception of gender inequity in academic pharmacy.

Objective: The objective of this project was to determine themes associated with gender inequity perceptions in social and administrative science faculty from 2 national pharmacy organizations.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy use trends among older women with breast cancer: 2010-2017.

Purpose: This study assessed chemotherapy use trends before (neoadjuvant chemotherapy [NAC]) or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy [AdC]) among older women with breast cancer and examined factors related to NAC receipt.

Methods: Women (> 65 years) diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer during 2010-2017 who received NAC or AdC were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. All patients were stratified into six strata based on subtype (hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative [HR + /HER2-], HER2 + , and triple-negative breast cancer [TNBC]) and stage (I-II and III).

Healthcare Fraud Data Mining Methods: A Look Back and Look Ahead.

Healthcare fraud is an expensive, white-collar crime in the United States, and it is not a victimless crime. Costs associated with fraud are passed on to the population in the form of increased premiums or serious harm to beneficiaries. There is an intense need for digital healthcare fraud detection systems to evolve in combating this societal threat.

Economic Burden of Chronic Comorbidities Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Dementia: A Propensity Score Matched National-Level Study.

Objective: This study examined the extent to which chronic comorbidities contribute to excess health care expenditures between older adults with dementia and propensity score (PS)-matched nondementia controls.

Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, PS-matched case (dementia): control (nondementia) study of older adults (65 y or above) using alternative years data from pooled 2005 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS). Chronic comorbidities were identified based on Clinical Classifications System or ICD-9-CM codes.

Improving Asthma Management: Patient-Pharmacist Partnership Program in Enhancing Therapy Adherence.

Community pharmacist interventions can assist in improving adherence in patients with asthma. The objective of the study was to assess the feasibility of patient-centered counseling using the developed asthma-specific tools to identify barriers to adherence and identify their preliminary effect on adherence barrier score and asthma control. Adult patients with persistent asthma were invited to participate in a 3-month pre-post intervention study involving community pharmacist-provided patient-centered counseling.

Healthcare utilization and costs among patients with chronic migraine, episodic migraine, and tension-type headache enrolled in commercial insurance plans.

Objective: To quantify and compare healthcare utilization and costs for patients with chronic migraine (CM), episodic migraine (EM), and tension-type headache (TTH) enrolled in US commercial health plans.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart database from January 2015 to December 2018. Adult patients with a diagnosis of EM, CM or TTH and at least 12 months of continuous enrollment before and after diagnosis were included.

Impact of a pilot workshop on student pharmacists' confidence and comfort in counseling patients at risk for maternal mortality.

Background And Purpose: This study examined whether a pilot workshop focused on maternal mortality had an impact on pharmacy students' confidence, comfort, and knowledge regarding preeclampsia, postpartum depression and opioid poisoning.

Educational Activity And Setting: The two-hour workshop included lecture, video, discussion and case studies. P1-P3 student pharmacists completed pre- and post-surveys measuring confidence (N = 5) and comfort (N = 15) using a 5-point Likert type scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree), as well as knowledge with 12 true/false statements.

Age-related prescription medication utilization for the -management of sickle cell disease among Texas Medicaid patients.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with recurrent complications and healthcare burden. Although SCD management guidelines differ based on age groups, little is known regarding actual utilization of preventative (hydroxyurea) and palliative therapies (opioid and nonopioid analgesics) to manage complications. This study assessed whether there were agerelated differences in SCD index therapy type and SCD-related medication utilization.

Off-label antipsychotic use patterns among Texas Medicaid adults 2013-2016.

To describe trends in off-label antipsychotic use among Texas Medicaid adults and examine whether demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with off-label use. Three diagnostic groups (i.e.

Trends in off-label use of antipsychotic medications among Texas Medicaid children and adolescents from 2013 to 2016.

Antipsychotics are frequently prescribed for off-label indications in the pediatric population. However, little is known regarding this issue in Texas Medicaid. To (1) describe off-label antipsychotic use among Texas Medicaid children and adolescents and (2) examine factors associated with off-label use.

Perceptions among Muslims regarding fasting, medication use and provider engagement during Ramadan in the United States.

Background: Muslims with chronic diseases tend to fast during Ramadan, although Islam allows them not to fast. Therefore, understanding their perceptions and how they manage their health, especially as a minority population, is very important.

Objective: To examine Muslims' (1) perceptions of fasting exemptions, (2) medication usage behaviour, (3) perceptions of relationships with healthcare providers and (4) factors impacting health management during Ramadan.

Medication Therapy Management for Texas MediCAID Patients With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-A Pilot Study.

Background: Pharmacists can play an important role in providing medication therapy management (MTM) services, which focus on appropriate medication use. This pilot study aimed to describe pharmacists' MTM service provision, results/outcomes of pharmacists' recommendations and resolution/acceptance rate among patients with high-risk asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study of MTM services provided by community pharmacists to Texas Medicaid patients (5-63 years) with "high risk" asthma or COPD.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Gabapentinoid Use and Misuse Among Texas Medicaid Recipients.

Background And Objectives: Gabapentin and pregabalin have been considered relatively safe opioid-sparing adjuncts for pain management. However, rising prescribing trends, presence of gabapentinoids in opioid-related overdoses, and the growing body of evidence regarding gabapentinoid misuse and abuse, have caused gabapentinoids to emerge as a drug class of public health concern. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of, and factors associated with gabapentinoid use and misuse.