A Multi-Site Qualitative Study Examining Pharmacy Student Perspectives on the Opioid Crisis.

To determine pharmacy students' perspectives regarding opioid use, the opioid crisis, and pharmacy education related to both topics. Students from each professional year at eight participating schools and colleges of pharmacy were invited to participate in focus groups and answer questions about their experiences with the opioid crisis. Faculty and/or staff moderated the focus groups and audio-recorded responses.

Prevalence and Impact of Pharmacy Students as Patient Care Extenders in Medically Underserved Community Pharmacies.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and describe the patient care impact of student pharmacists completing community pharmacy rotations in medically underserved areas (MUAs) in Nebraska.

Methods: A list of pharmacy student advanced pharmacy practice experience placements over a 3-year period were obtained from 2 pharmacy schools in Nebraska and then mapped in relation to MUAs in the state. A mixed-methods approach was used to compare and relate findings of a student-logged patient care activity database and semistructured interviews with pharmacy preceptors of participating students.

Long-Term Outcomes of a Cardiovascular and Diabetes Risk-Reduction Program Initiated by a Self-Insured Employer.

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in America and poses a significant challenge for self-insured employers attempting to improve employee health and well-being while controlling healthcare costs. Disease state management programs can be an effective means of achieving these outcomes, but the durability and long-term effects of such programs have limited evaluation.

Objective: To assess the 5-year health, economic, and quality-of-life patient outcomes of an employer-sponsored disease state management program.

Comparison of cardiovascular risk calculation tools in pharmacy practice.

Objective: To examine the use of various cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk estimation calculators in pharmacy practice.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Midwestern university worksite from August 2008 through May 2012.

Using employee experts to offer an interprofessional diabetes risk reduction program to fellow employees.

A recent increase in the incidence of diabetes and pre-diabetes is causing many employers to spend more of their healthcare benefit budgets to manage the conditions. A self-insured university in the USA has implemented an interprofessional diabetes mellitus risk reduction program using its own employee faculty and staff experts to help fellow employees manage their diabetes and pre-diabetes. The interprofessional team consists of five pharmacists, a dietitian, an exercise physiologist, a health educator and a licensed mental health practitioner.

Portfolio use and practices in US colleges and schools of pharmacy.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence of portfolio use in US pharmacy programs, common components of portfolios, and advantages of and limitations to using portfolios.

Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey instrument was sent to experiential coordinators at US colleges and schools of pharmacy to collect data on portfolio content, methods, training and resource requirements, and benefits and challenges of portfolio use.

Results: Most colleges and schools of pharmacy (61.

National Survey of Volunteer Pharmacy Preceptors: effects of region, practice setting, and population density on responses.

Objectives: To survey volunteer pharmacy preceptors regarding experiential education and determine whether differences in responses relate to such factors as geographic region, practice setting, and population density.

Methods: An online survey was sent to 4396 volunteer experiential preceptors. The survey consisted of 41 questions asking the preceptor to comment on the experiential education environment.

National survey of volunteer pharmacy preceptors.

Objectives: To survey pharmacy preceptors regarding experiential education and determine the implications of the findings on colleges and schools of pharmacy.

Methods: An online survey was sent to 4,396 experiential sites. The survey instrument consisted of 41 questions regarding the experiential education environment from the preceptor's perspective (eg, experiential load, time-quality issues, compensation, etc).

Effects of prednisone on the International Normalized Ratio.

Purpose: The effects of prednisone on the International Normalized Ratio (INR) values of a patient were examined.

Summary: A 66-year-old white man with a history of multiple myeloma was treated in an ambulatory care anticoagulation clinic for deep vein thrombosis. His INR values were normal during therapy with warfarin 14 mg weekly and thalidomide 300 mg daily.

Preceptors' perspectives on benefits of precepting student pharmacists to students, preceptors, and the profession.

Objectives: To educate pharmacists on the shortage of quality preceptors and the benefits received from precepting; present insights from successful preceptors and offer guidance to current and prospective preceptors; and encourage pharmacists to become preceptors and mentor aspiring pharmacy professionals.

Setting: Advanced experiential settings for Nova Southeastern, Ohio Northern, and Creighton Universities. PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS: Hospital, community, and outpatient clinic settings.

Rhabdomyolysis associated with simvastatin-nefazodone therapy.

Simvastatin is a hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor commonly used to treat patients with hyperlipidemia. It is a safe and effective medication in most patients when used appropriately. A serious side effect known as rhabdomyolysis may rarely occur in patients who take simvastatin, especially at higher doses and with agents that interact and increase the level of simvastatin in the blood.