Evaluation of a Teaching Assistant Program for Third-Year Pharmacy Students.

To determine if a teaching assistant (TA) program for third-year pharmacy students (PY3s) improves confidence in teaching abilities. Additionally, 3 assessment methods (faculty, student, and TA self-evaluations) were compared for similarities and correlations. An application and interview process was used to select 21 pharmacy students to serve as TAs for the Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory course for 2 semesters.

Transitioning Pharmacogenomics into the Clinical Setting: Training Future Pharmacists.

Pharmacogenomics, once hailed as a futuristic approach to pharmacotherapy, has transitioned to clinical implementation. Although logistic and economic limitations to clinical pharmacogenomics are being superseded by external measures such as preemptive genotyping, implementation by clinicians has met resistance, partly due to a lack of education. Pharmacists, with extensive training in pharmacology and pharmacotherapy and accessibility to patients, are ideally suited to champion clinical pharmacogenomics.

Limited Predictive Utility of Admissions Scores and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations for APPE Performance.

Objective: To examine the relationship between admissions, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), and advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) scores.

Methods: Admissions, OSCE, and APPE scores were collected for students who graduated from the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program in spring of 2012 and spring of 2013 (n=289). Pearson correlation was used to examine relationships between variables, and independent t test was used to compare mean scores between groups.

An evaluation of pharmacogenomic information provided by five common drug information resources.

Introduction: This study evaluated whether pharmacogenomic information contained in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved package inserts of sixty-five drugs was present in five drug information resources.

Methods: The study searched for biomarkers from the FDA package inserts in 5 drug information sources: American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information (AHFS), Facts & Comparisons 4.0 (Facts), ePocrates Online Free (ePocrates Free), Lexicomp Online (Lexicomp), and Micromedex 2.

Institutional strategies to achieve diversity and inclusion in pharmacy education.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of institutional initiatives to enhance recruitment of minority students as a strategy to increase diversity and inclusion.

Methods: The Office of Recruitment, Development, and Diversity Initiatives (ORDDI) was established and several initiatives were developed within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy to promote student diversity and engagement. Applicant demographics and admission data were tracked from 2007-2012 to assess program performance and effectiveness.

Assessment and recommendations of compounding education in AACP member institutions.

In August 2009, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Council of Sections established a Task Force to assess the current status of compounding education at its member institutions and to provide recommendations for future direction. The Task Force conducted a survey in late June 2010 of faculty members enrolled in the AACP Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice sections to gain qualitative information of the current state of compounding education. The survey results were then organized around eight curricular topics for which the Task Force members provided interpretations and recommendations.

A Spanish language module in a first-year pharmaceutical care laboratory course.

Objective: To assess the impact of incorporating Spanish language lectures and activities in a required Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory course on first-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students' perceptions of and comfort level with Spanish-speaking patients and basic knowledge of Spanish pharmacy terms.

Design: The 6-week module consisted of attendance at a 1-hour lecture on medical Spanish and Hispanic culture, and completion of 4 small-group activities: drug and product information, patient information, counseling and side effects, and a written scenario that involved filling a prescription for and counseling a Spanish-speaking patient.

Assessment: All students enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory course in fall 2008 (153) and fall 2009 (152) completed a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire (100% response rate).

Medication management in North Carolina elementary schools: Are pharmacists involved?

Objective: To determine the extent of pharmacist use in medication management, roles of school nurses, and use of other health care providers at elementary schools in North Carolina.

Methods: Prospective survey of 153 (130 public and 23 private) elementary schools in four counties of North Carolina. A 21-question survey was e-mailed to the head administrator of each school (e.

Devices for home evaluation of women's health concerns.

Purpose: Devices used for home evaluation of fertility, pregnancy, menopause, colon cancer, breast cancer, and urinary-tract and vaginal yeast infections are discussed.

Summary: Ovulation-prediction devices monitor natural changes in a woman's body during the menstrual cycle, including changes in basal body temperature, urinary luteinizing hormone, and urinary estrone-3-glucuronide concentrations. Also available are devices that identify changes in the content of sodium chloride and other electrolytes in saliva and cervical-vaginal mucus.

Devices for ambulatory and home monitoring of blood pressure, lipids, coagulation, and weight management, part 2.

Purpose: The equipment and methods used for ambulatory and home monitoring of blood pressure, lipids, coagulation, and weight management are discussed.

Summary: Over 100 million people in the United States have one or more chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. With the goal to improve health while reducing costs and the overall health care burden, ambulatory and home monitoring by pharmacists and patients are receiving more attention.

Devices for ambulatory and home monitoring of blood pressure, lipids, coagulation, and weight management, part 1.

Purpose: The equipment and methods used for ambulatory and home monitoring of blood pressure, lipids, coagulation, and weight management are discussed.

Summary: Over 100 million people in the United States have one or more chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. With the goal to improve health while reducing costs and the overall health care burden, ambulatory and home monitoring by pharmacists and patients are receiving more attention.