Assessing the utility of pre-course assessment and voluntary pre-work in two required integrated pharmacotherapy courses.

Background And Purpose: Self-assessment and self-learning are essential skills for student pharmacists. Data demonstrating the association between these skills in pharmacy courses are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of providing pre-course review and administering a pre-course assessment on performance in two required integrated pharmacotherapy (IP) courses - IP: Pulmonology and IP: Cardiology.

Use of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor for Diabetes Management in Patients Following Kidney Transplantation.

To evaluate data sources pertaining to the safety and efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor use for diabetes management in patients following kidney transplantation. A literature search was conducted through PubMed (1966-January 2023), EMBASE (1973-January 2023), and clinicaltrials.gov databases using the search terms kidney transplantation, diabetes mellitus, and SGLT2 inhibitor or empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and canagliflozin.

The Impact of a Clinical Pharmacist in an Interdisciplinary Weight Loss Service: A Follow-Up Study.

: At an Internal Medicine outpatient clinic, patients are referred to a weight loss service by their primary care physician to be managed by a clinical pharmacist and dietician. . : This was a retrospective, single-center, cohort study including adults ≥18 years of age with BMI ≥30 or BMI ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and referred to the clinic's weight loss service or managed by their primary care physician.

Examination of the Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Comparison to Warfarin in an Obese Population.

: While commonly prescribed today, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have historically been avoided in patients with class III obesity or a weight >120 kg due to limited literature regarding the efficacy and safety in this population. : The overall objective was to examine the effectiveness of DOACs compared to warfarin in a population with obesity. Patients with a diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) or atrial fibrillation and a body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m from August 1, 2015, to August 1, 2020, were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Impact of an electronic-based assessment on student pharmacist performance in a required therapeutics course.

Introduction: The use of technology in the classroom has continued to grow, and with the advancement of classroom management systems and online exam software, there are opportunities to administer exams electronically. This study assessed the impact of electronic-based assessments on examination scores in a required therapeutics course.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-centered, observational study including second professional year pharmacy students enrolled in a required, one semester therapeutics course.

Implementation of a Discharge Education Program to Improve Transitions of Care for Patients at High Risk of Medication Errors.

Transitions of care (TOC) points are those where patient outcomes can be affected, especially patients at high risk for medication errors. Pharmacist-led postdischarge telephone counseling positively affects patient outcomes, though challenges exist relating to successful patient contact. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a discharge education service bridging the inpatient and outpatient setting to increase successful patient contact points during the TOC process from hospital to home.

Diabetes Outcomes: Comparison of Patient Assistance Programs to 340B Drug Pricing.

Background: Patient assistance programs (PAPs) or obtaining 340B drug pricing offers a means of providing medications at low cost. The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary care patients who receive insulin from PAPs have an improved change in A1C, compared to 340B patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of primary care patients who obtained insulin therapy through a PAP or 340B between June 1, 2012, and June 1, 2013.

Impact of Point-of-Care Implementation in Pharmacist-Run Anticoagulation Clinics Within a Community-Owned Health System: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Point-of-care (POC) testing devices allow laboratory monitoring to be performed in various settings and accessed immediately.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of monitoring anticoagulation patients in pharmacistmanaged, multicenter clinics utilizing i-STAT POC machines.

Methods: This study was a retrospective, multicenter chart review of 150 patients before and after implementation of the POC intervention for anticoagulation monitoring.

Incorporating an internet-based voicemail drug information assessment in an introductory pharmacy practice course.

Objectives: To examine the implementation and student perceptions of an innovative verbal drug information assessment.

Design: The drug information assignment in an introductory pharmacy practice course was redesigned and an assessment of a verbal response to a drug information request was added with the use of an internet-based voicemail (IBVM) system.

Assessment: Students performed well on both the verbal vs.

Association between prescription drug benefit and hospital readmission rates.

Purpose: To determine whether primary care medicine clinic (PCMC) patients with a prescription drug benefit were associated with a lower rate of hospital readmissions.

Methods: This study was a retrospective, single-center, cohort study of PCMC patients who had at least 1 hospital readmission in 2011. Eligible patients were divided into 2 groups: patients without prescription drug benefits and patients with prescription drug benefits.