Effectiveness of the BreatheSuite Device in Assessing the Technique of Metered-Dose Inhalers: Validation Study.

Background: The majority of medications used in treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are taken through metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). Studies have reported that most patients demonstrate poor inhaler technique, which has resulted in poor disease control. Digital Health applications have the potential to improve the technique and adherence of inhaled medications.

Distant metastatic foci of infection in adult patients with diabetic foot - not as rare as we think?: case series and review of the literature.

Background: Diabetic foot is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus. We report clinical and microbiological characteristics and outcomes of cases with distant metastatic foci of infection arising from diabetic foot.

Methods: Retrospective review of adult patients with diabetic foot infection or diabetic foot ulcer who demonstrated distant metastatic foci of infection between August 2017 and December 2019.

Features of a mobile health intervention to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study.

Background: The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions has the potential to enhance chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment outcomes. Further research is needed to determine which mHealth features are required to potentially enhance COPD self-management.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the potential features of an mHealth intervention for COPD management with healthcare providers (HCPs) and patients with COPD.

Review of high dose vancomycin in the treatment of infection.

Background: Guidelines recommend oral vancomycin as first-line therapy for infection. Guideline recommendations vary regarding dosing of vancomycin. Our aim was to summarize the current evidence on the efficacy and adverse effects of high dose oral and vancomycin retention enema (>500 mg/day) for the treatment of infection.

Perceptions of Patients Regarding Mobile Health Interventions for the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Using a mobile health (mHealth) intervention consisting of a smartphone and compatible medical device has the potential to enhance chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment outcomes while mitigating health care costs.

Objective: This study aims to describe the demographics, use, and access to smartphones of patients with COPD. It also aims to explore and develop an understanding of potential facilitators and barriers that might influence patients using mHealth interventions for COPD management.

Perceptions of Health Care Providers Regarding a Mobile Health Intervention to Manage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Qualitative Study.

Background: Using a mobile health (mHealth) intervention, consisting of a smartphone and compatible medical device, has the potential to enhance chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment outcomes while mitigating health care costs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the potential facilitators and barriers among health care providers (HCPs) regarding the use of mHealth interventions for COPD management.

Methods: This was a qualitative study.

The Iterative Convergent Design for Mobile Health Usability Testing: Mixed Methods Approach.

Although patients express an interest in using mobile health (mHealth) interventions to manage their health and chronic conditions, many current mHealth interventions are difficult to use. Usability testing is critical for the success of novel mHealth interventions. Researchers recognize the utility of using qualitative and quantitative approaches for usability testing, but many mHealth researchers lack the awareness of integration approaches from advances in mixed methods research that can add value to mHealth technology.

How Two Small Pharmacy Schools' Competency Standards Compare with an International Competency Framework and How Well These Schools Prepare Students for International Placements.

International standards of pharmacy curricula are necessary to ensure student readiness for international placements. This paper explores whether curricula from two pharmacy programs, in Australia and Canada, are congruent with international standards and if students feel prepared for international placements. Nationally prescribed educational standards for the two schools were compared to each other and then against the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Global Competency Framework.

Validation of a Cystic Fibrosis Medication Knowledge Questionnaire.

Low adherence to cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment is associated with poor health outcomes, while knowledge of the disease and medication regimen can positively influence adherence. This study's purpose was to develop and validate a questionnaire to help determine CF medication knowledge of pediatric patients and caregivers. Our questionnaire had 37 items: 22 selected-response and 15 open-response questions.

Effectiveness of a pharmacist-driven intervention in COPD (EPIC): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often nonadherent with medications and have poor inhaler technique. Community pharmacists can help to improve health-related quality of life and overall outcomes in patients with COPD. We aim to measure the effectiveness of a systematic, pharmacist-driven intervention on patients with diagnosed COPD.

The Effect of Smartphone Interventions on Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and mortality rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are increasing worldwide. Therefore, COPD remains a major public health problem. There is a growing interest in the use of smartphone technology for health promotion and disease management interventions.

Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: Predictors of Complications and Length of Hospital Stay.

Background: The primary objective of the study was to determine factors associated with complications and length of hospital stay (LOS) in hospitalized adult patients with diabetes along with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). CAP is a common infection in patients with diabetes mellitus and is associated with a significant mortality and morbidity.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 215 adult patients with diabetes who were admitted with CAP.

Patients' and physicians' satisfaction with a pharmacist managed anticoagulation program in a family medicine clinic.

Background: A pharmacist managed anticoagulation service was initiated in a multi-physician family medicine clinic in December 2006. In order to determine the patient and physician satisfaction with the service, a study was designed to describe the patients' satisfaction with the warfarin education and management they received from the pharmacist, and to describe the physicians' satisfaction with the level of care provided by the pharmacist for patients taking warfarin. A self-administered survey was completed by both eligible patients receiving warfarin and physicians prescribing warfarin between December 2006 and May 2008.

Alignment of learning objectives and assessments in therapeutics courses to foster higher-order thinking.

Objective: To determine whether national educational outcomes, course objectives, and classroom assessments for 2 therapeutics courses were aligned for curricular content and cognitive processes, and if they included higher-order thinking.

Method: Document analysis and student focus groups were used. Outcomes, objectives, and assessment tasks were matched for specific therapeutics content and cognitive processes.

Pharmacist and physician views on collaborative practice: Findings from the community pharmaceutical care project.

Background: Strong working relationships between pharmacists and physicians are needed to optimize patient care. Understanding attitudes and barriers to collaboration between pharmacists and physicians may help with delivery of primary health care services. The objective of this study was to capture the opinions of family physicians and community pharmacists in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) regarding collaborative practice.

Risk factors of cellulitis treatment failure with once-daily intravenous cefazolin plus oral probenecid.

Objectives: Once-daily intravenous cefazolin with probenecid is used commonly to treat cellulitis. The primary objective of this study was to determine the risk factors of treatment failure with this regimen.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult outpatients with cellulitis who were initially treated with once-daily intravenous cefazolin plus probenecid.

Comparison of pharmacist managed anticoagulation with usual medical care in a family medicine clinic.

Background: The beneficial outcomes of oral anticoagulation therapy are dependent upon achieving and maintaining an optimal INR therapeutic range. There is growing evidence that better outcomes are achieved when anticoagulation is managed by a pharmacist with expertise in anticoagulation management rather than usual care by family physicians. This study compared a pharmacist managed anticoagulation program (PC) to usual physician care (UC) in a family medicine clinic.

Management of complicated urinary tract infections in the era of antimicrobial resistance.

Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) are a major cause of hospital admissions and are associated with significant morbidity and health care costs. Patients presenting with a suspected UTI should be screened for the presence of complicating factors, such as anatomic and functional abnormalities of the genitourinary tract. In the setting of cUTIs, the etiology and susceptibility of the causative organism is not predictable; therefore, when infection is suspected, patients should undergo a urinalysis in addition to culture and sensitivity testing.

Use of evidence-based therapy at discharge for patients with acute myocardial infarction: retrospective audit of medical records.

Background: Various guidelines are available outlining optimal therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction. Canadian institutions providing care for such patients have been encouraged to evaluate their care processes using specific indicators.

Objective: To determine the proportion of patients with acute myocardial infarction discharged from a single health authority for whom acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), adrenergic β-receptor antagonists (β-blockers), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) had been prescribed.

Survey of Canadian Pharmacists' Responses to Warnings of Potential Interactions Between Ceftriaxone and Calcium in IV Solutions.

Background: In 2007, because of a potential interaction between ceftriaxone and calcium-containing IV solutions, Roche Laboratories (manufacturer of Rocephin [ceftriaxone] in the United States) issued letters to health care professionals advising them of changes to the product monograph. Subsequently, warning letters were also issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada. The Health Canada recommendations and their implications for clinical practice generated debate in the Canadian hospital pharmacy community.

Intramuscular methotrexate-induced aseptic meningitis.

Objective: To report a case of aseptic meningitis induced by intramuscularly administered methotrexate in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Case Summary: A 62-year-old male presented on 3 separate occasions with symptoms consistent with aseptic meningitis: 2 required hospitalization and 1 was noted during a subsequent ambulatory care visit. Prior to the first episode, the methotrexate dose ranged between 17.