Rethinking the Pace of Productivity in Pharmacy Academia.

In response to rising levels of burnout and stress among pharmacy faculty, there is a growing call to reassess traditional approaches to productivity and well-being within the Academy. We introduce a "slower" approach to faculty work, one that advocates for a deliberate focus on quality over quantity and promoting sustainable practices that prioritize meaningful contributions and personal well-being. The aim of this commentary is to encourage pharmacy faculty to embrace a slow mindset while maintaining the ability to contribute meaningfully to the lives of their students, patients, colleagues, and the profession of pharmacy.

A Bundle of the "Top 10" Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Publications in 2023.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has become more common in infectious diseases practice settings. Similarly, OPAT-related publications have also increased. The objective of this article was to summarize clinically important OPAT-related publications from 2023.

The OPAT opportunity for beta-lactam individualization.

Beta-lactam therapeutic drug monitoring has been growing in prevalence in the acute care hospital setting. Expansion of its use to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy requires careful consideration of potential logistical and therapeutic barriers.

Impact of frequency of spaced retrieval using repeat testing on asthma pharmacotherapy knowledge retention.

Objective: "Test-enhanced learning" is a strategy utilized to impact knowledge retention. This study aimed to assess the effect of the frequency of spaced retrieval using repeat testing on knowledge depreciation in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Program.

Methods: The study randomly assigned second-year pharmacy students to one of three retrieval practice groups: (1) two retrieval practice assessments (2 and 4 months after the course), (2) one retrieval practice assessment (4 months after the course), or (3) no retrieval practice.

Learning Through Experience: Analyzing the Impact of Short Study Abroad Programs from the Students' Own Words.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine what students participating in short study abroad program (SSAP) elective courses learned during their experiences and if they satisfied the course learning objectives.

Methods: University of Florida College of Pharmacy students who participated in an SSAP to Scandinavia in the years 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 wrote digital journals describing their experiences. This study used inductive and deductive thematic analysis to analyze the journals and identify codes and themes.

A review of evidence, antimicrobial stability, and feasibility considerations for OPAT continuous infusion.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has been widely used in clinical practice for many decades because of its associated cost savings, reductions in inpatient hospital days, and decreases in hospital-associated infections. Despite this long history, evolving practice patterns and new drug delivery devices continue to present challenges as well as opportunities for clinicians when designing appropriate outpatient antimicrobial regimens. One such change is the increasing use of extended and continuous infusion (CI) of antimicrobials to optimize the achievement of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic targets.

Guidance for Qualitative Research Manuscripts in Pharmacy Education.

The goal of this Best Practice Review is to support researchers in successfully preparing and publishing qualitative research in pharmacy education. Standard practice from the literature and journals' guidance from related fields were reviewed, and recommendations and resources applicable to qualitative research in pharmacy education were compiled for researchers planning to conduct and publish qualitative research. This review provides recommendations, not requirements, for publication in the Journal and is intended to be a guide, especially for authors and reviewers relatively new to the field of qualitative research.

A Bundle of the Top 10 OPAT Publications in 2022.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has become more common in clinical settings. Correspondingly, OPAT-related publications have also increased; the objective of this article was to summarize clinically meaningful OPAT-related publications in 2022. Seventy-five articles were initially identified, with 54 being scored.

Academic Activism: An Avenue to Action.

Until now, the term "advocacy" in pharmacy education and practice has focused on advocating for the advancement of the pharmacy profession or patient advocacy. With the 2022 Curricular Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities publication, the focus of advocacy has broadened to include advocacy for other causes that impact the health of patients. This commentary will highlight 3 pharmacy-focused organizations advocating for social issues impacting the health of patients as well as encourage members of the Academy to continue to expand personal social advocacy efforts.

Contemporary Pharmacotherapies for Nontuberculosis Mycobacterial Infections: A Narrative Review.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a group of atypical bacteria that may cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations, including pulmonary, musculoskeletal, skin and soft tissue, and cardiac infections. Antimycobacterial medication regimens for NTM infections require multiple agents with prolonged treatment courses and are often associated with poor tolerance in patients and suboptimal clinical outcomes. This review summarizes NTM pharmacotherapy, including treatment concepts, preferred medication regimens according to NTM species and site of infection, and emerging treatment methods for difficult-to-treat species.

A Bundle of the Top 10 OPAT Publications in 2021.

As outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) becomes more common, it may be difficult to stay current with recent related publications. A group of multidisciplinary OPAT clinicians reviewed and ranked all OPAT publications published in 2021. This article provides a high-level summary of the OPAT manuscripts that were voted the "top 10" publications of 2021.

Brighter horizons: The necessity of concentrated sponsorship targeted toward minoritized student pharmacists.

Due to the effects of structural racism, disproportionately lower numbers of Black, Hispanic or LatinX, American Indian, and Alaska Native students pursue a career in pharmacy and successfully matriculate into the profession. Despite these disparities being present for many years, little progress has been achieved in diversifying the pharmacy profession, resulting in a persistent lack of diversity within pharmacy leadership across employers and pharmacy organizations. Consistent with recent recommendations for improving diversity in pharmacy, the PharmGradWishlist (PGWL) initiative was created as a way for practicing pharmacists and organizations to provide direct financial sponsorship to racially and ethnically minoritized trainees to offset costs incurred during training and during the transition from student to practicing pharmacist.

Pharmacy student self-assessment of strength of residency candidacy compared to clinical faculty.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare student and faculty perceptions of strength of residency candidacy and to identify student preferences and perceptions that influence the process of being selected by a residency program beyond standard application materials.

Methods: A 31-item questionnaire was administered to third-year and fourth-year pharmacy students to collect information regarding factors deemed important for successful residency program candidacy. Global assessment of strength of residency candidacy was self-rated by students and a group of clinical faculty blinded to student responses.

Does the Academy Have Trust Issues?

The increasing levels of workplace stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some members of the Academy to leave their jobs, in part due to levels of distrust between employees and their supervisors. In order to rebuild trust in the Academy, we must first know what the elements of trust are: boundaries, reliability, accountability, vault, integrity, nonjudgement, and generosity. Focusing on generosity, believing that everyone is doing the best that they can, is a first step toward rebuilding trust with students, staff members, faculty members, and members of administration.

Recent Updates in Antimicrobial Stewardship in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy.

Purpose Of Review: Antimicrobial stewardship within acute care is common and has been expanding to outpatient areas. Some inpatient antimicrobial stewardship tactics apply to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and complex outpatient antimicrobial therapy (COpAT) management, but differences do exist.

Recent Findings: OPAT/COpAT is a growing area of practice and research with its own unique considerations for antimicrobial stewardship.

Impact of Supplemental Material Use on Student Metacognitive Monitoring and Calibration.

To determine whether third year Doctor of Pharmacy students' self-reported use of optional supplemental material impacted their ability to accurately predict their performance on a low-stakes assessment. An instructor created optional supplemental material in the form of an online quiz. Students were asked to report whether they used the supplemental material and to predict and postdict their performance on an in-class assessment.

The use of all-oral direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C virus-infected patients with substance use disorders.

There is evidence that barriers exist for the initiation of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) for those with substance use disorders (SUDs). However, real world clinical evidence of DAA treatment initiation following receipt of a prescription and continuation among those with SUDs and HCV is lacking. To (1) compare HCV treatment initiation (prescription fill) rates and early discontinuation rates between HCV-infected patients with and without SUDs in the DAA era, and (2) identify patient-level factors associated with HCV treatment initiation and early discontinuation in patients with SUDs.

Stop tempting your students to cheat.

Introduction: Maintaining academic integrity is paramount for educators, and even more so for health science educators, where the health of patients is potentially at stake. However, as more content and assessments are pushed into an online forum, more hurdles are being placed in the path of keeping everyone honest without requiring significant financial resources for online proctoring of every assessment. This commentary explores the suggestion of re-evaluating the need for graded course assessments as a way to uphold academic integrity.

The Impact of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy on End-Stage Liver Disease Among Individuals with Chronic Hepatitis C and Substance Use Disorders.

Background And Aims: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on decompensated cirrhosis (DCC) and HCC in patients with chronic HCV and substance use disorder (SUD) compared with those without an SUD.

Approach And Results: This retrospective cohort study used the MarketScan database (2013-2018) to identify 29,228 patients with chronic HCV, where 22% (n = 6,385) had ≥1 SUD diagnosis. The inverse probability of treatment weighted multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the risk of developing DCC and HCC.

Use of Personality Frameworks in Health Science Education.

To review the use of personality frameworks by educators as a tool to increase self-awareness in health professions students. After screening titles, abstracts, and/or the full text of the 415 articles identified in an initial search, 71 articles involving personality frameworks were included in the study. Several different personality frameworks, including the Five-Factor Model, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Rational Experiential Inventory, and the CliftonStrengths assessment, were used in various health science education disciplines, including medicine, nursing, and pharmacy.

Use of Learning Style Frameworks in Health Science Education.

To review the literature regarding the use of learning style frameworks in health science education, with particular attention to learning outcomes and use for self-awareness. Of the 415 articles identified in an initial search of the literature, 31 articles involving learning style frameworks were included after screening titles, abstracts, and full texts. Multiple learning style frameworks, including VARK, Kolb Learning Style Inventory, Honey and Mumford Learning Style Questionnaire, and Pharmacist Inventory of Learning Styles, have been used in various health science education disciplines, including medicine, nursing, and pharmacy.

Modification of the self-regulated strategy inventory-self report for blended and team-based learning.

Introduction: One of the primary missions of pharmacy education is to produce graduates with the foundations to develop into expert practitioners through continuous learning and reflection upon traditional and clinical experiences. This reflection process and the use of effective strategies to meet specific learning goals can be considered a form of self-regulated learning (SRL). The following study validates an inventory to assess SRL strategies in blended and team-based learning (TBL) environments.

The alteration of the gut microbiome by immunosuppressive agents used in solid organ transplantation.

Introduction: Studies have suggested that in addition to antimicrobials, some non-antibiotics may alter the gut microbiome. This systematic review sought to determine if there is an association between immunosuppressive agents used in recipients of solid organ transplants (SOT) and alterations in the gut microbiome.

Methods: English language PubMed and Scopus searches were conducted to identify relevant articles.

Doing More With Less: Review of Dolutegravir-Lamivudine, a Novel Single-Tablet Regimen for Antiretroviral-Naïve Adults With HIV-1 Infection.

Objective: To review data on efficacy and safety of dolutegravir (DTG) and lamivudine (3TC) in treatment-naïve adults with HIV-1 infection.

Data Sources: Phase III clinical trials and review articles were identified through PubMed (1996 to March 2020) and ClinicalTrials.gov (2000 to May 2020) using the keywords , and .

Relationship Between Pharmacy Students' Use of Self-Regulated Learning Strategies and Course Outcomes.

To determine the relationship between student-reported, self-regulated learning (SRL) with use of supplementary material, and overall performance in an advanced therapeutics course in a Doctor of Pharmacy program. A modified version of the Self-Regulated Strategy Inventory (SRSI-SI) was used to measure three distinct SRL factors: managing study behaviors, managing environment, and maladaptive regulatory behaviors. An instructor created a supplemental 36-question practice quiz and flashcard activity.