The importance of coaching pharmacy students beyond their emotional intelligence assessment scores.

The teaching of emotional intelligence (EI) in pharmacy curriculums is an important part of a pharmacy learners' professional development and is crucial to improving interactions with health care providers and patients. However, the coaching of students to understand strengths and weaknesses related to their EI scores and how to facilitate these opportunities for personal growth is often the missing link from the teaching process. This commentary explores a college of pharmacy's experience with the incorporation of EI into the curriculum, with a focus on coaching students beyond the assessment numbers they receive.

Impact of automated alerts on discharge opioid overprescribing after general surgery.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to identify the most performed surgical procedures associated with the highest rates of discharge opioid overprescribing and to implement an electronic health record (EHR) alert to reduce discharge opioid overprescribing.

Methods: This quality improvement, before-and-after study included patients undergoing one of the identified target procedures-laparoscopic cholecystectomy, unilateral open inguinal hernia repair, and laparoscopic appendectomy-at an academic medical center. The alert notified providers when the prescribed opioid quantity exceeded guideline recommendations.

Student-led podcasts to enhance literature evaluation skills.

Background And Purpose: Critical evaluation and understanding of primary literature is essential to pharmacy practice. This project evaluated student confidence and learning outcomes in a critical care elective course where podcasts were used as an active learning assignment for literature evaluation.

Educational Activity And Setting: Third-year pharmacy students created a 15- to 20-min podcast episode that reviewed a landmark critical care trial.

Evaluation of student emotional intelligence at various points in a pharmacy curriculum.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate emotional intelligence in doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students at various points in the curriculum.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, single site, observational study that included first- through fourth-year PharmD students, conducted from December 2021 to April 2022. The study used the Emotional Quotient Inventory, version 2.

Academic Pharmacy Fellowship Programs are an Innovative Solution to Improve the Faculty Pipeline.

Academic pharmacy fellowship programs can offer an innovative training solution to help prepare pharmacists for successful careers as clinical faculty members. However, there is no well-defined program blueprint or recommendations for what a successful program should include. This commentary describes the program overview for the academic pharmacy fellowship at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and discusses the implications of incorporating a similar program at a college of pharmacy.

Evaluating the feasibility of implementing a prescription drug misuse prevention intervention in the community: a mixed methods study.

Background: This study is part of a state-wide effort to promote the safe disposal of prescription medications and mitigate prescription drug misuse. The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a two-component prevention intervention through Community Prevention Organizations (CPOs) in Texas. The first component involved the distribution of in-home disposal products (IHDP) and the second focused on providing education of the risks of prescription drug misuse.

Identifying predictors of generalized anxiety among student pharmacists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: To explore the prevalence of generalized anxiety (GA) among doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students at an academic institution during the COVID-19 pandemic and use Alderfer's existence, relatedness, and growth (ERG) theory to elucidate which unsatisfied needs are predictive of higher levels of GA symptoms.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, single-site survey administered to first- through fourth-year PharmD students from October 2020 to January 2021. The survey tool included demographic information, the validated Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms-62 tool, and nine additional questions developed to assess Alderfer's ERG theory of needs.

Review of Best Practices for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees Within Colleges of Pharmacy.

To provide a review of best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committees at United States colleges of pharmacy. In colleges of pharmacy, DEI committees can play a crucial role in promoting a culture change to ensure pharmacy graduates are equipped to provide equitable and representative care for the patients they serve. There is limited literature available on DEI committee composition, roles, and responsibilities, and their place within a college of pharmacy's organizational structure.

Optimization of Opioid Discharge Prescriptions Following Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a quality improvement bundle on opioid discharge prescribing following thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy.

Methods: This before-and-after study included patients undergoing thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy at an academic medical center. The quality improvement bundle included a patient education flyer, electronic health record order sets with multimodal analgesia regimens, and provider education.

Comparing Two Databases to Identify Access to Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the differences in buprenorphine prescribers from a county level in the state of Texas by comparing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Buprenorphine Practitioner Locator to the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Controlled Substance Act (CSA) database.

Methods: County-level counts of buprenorphine prescribers were calculated from both the publicly available SAMHSA buprenorphine practitioner locator list and the DEA CSA database. These were then used to estimate the number of providers per 100,000 residents in each county.

Evaluation of Discharge Opioid Prescribing in Coronary Artery Bypass Patients Following an Opioid Stewardship Intervention for Providers.

Opioid stewardship efforts can promote safe and effective use of opioids to optimize pain control and minimize unintended consequences. The purpose of this study is to assess the difference in post-operative opioid discharge prescribing in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery following implementation of a tripartite opioid stewardship intervention. This was a single-center, quality improvement study at a large, quaternary academic medical center.

Completing the Academic Leadership Fellows Program During the Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy to shift to a virtual format for Cohort 17. Major differences compared to previous years included changes in networking strategies among fellows, lack of in-person team-building activities, and adjustments to the preparation and delivery of the team debates. Adaptations in fellow peer interactions and the learning approach proved that strong relationships and collaborations can be formed in a virtual setting.

Updates in Hemodynamic Monitoring: A Review for Pharmacists.

Vital signs are regularly monitored in hospitalized patients. In the intensive care unit (ICU), traditional non-invasive blood pressure monitoring and telemetry may not provide enough information to determine the etiology of hemodynamic instability or guide intervention. Arterial catheters remain the gold-standard for continuous blood pressure monitoring and are commonly used in ICU patients.

Knowledge and self-perception comparisons between students with and without prior technician experience in community pharmacy lab courses.

Introduction: It is unknown if students with previous pharmacy technician experience benefit from a community pharmacy dispensing lab. Anecdotally, students with previous technician experience often do not feel a substantial benefit from the course. The purpose of this project was to evaluate pharmacy practice knowledge and perceptions of those with and without prior technician experience in a community lab course.

A survey to assess experiences and social support of underrepresented minority doctor of pharmacy students.

Introduction: There is little data regarding the experiences of underrepresented minorities in pharmacy school. The objectives of this project were to describe the perceived racial and social climate at a diverse college of pharmacy (COP) and to determine areas of opportunity to improve the experiences of underrepresented minority students.

Methods: An electronic survey was administered to students from all four professional years at a COP in Houston, Texas.

Does Social Desirability Influence Preceptors' Completion of Student Experiential Evaluations?

Many variables influence a preceptor's experiential evaluation of a pharmacy learner. However, the impact of social desirability bias, or the measure of an individual's need for social approval, and its impact on the truthfulness of an evaluation is not well understood. Social desirability may present a barrier to students receiving accurate and truthful evaluations.

Bempedoic Acid: A New Drug for an Old Problem.

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of bempedoic acid for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction.

Data Sources: A PubMed search was conducted from January 2000 to June 15, 2020, using the keyword for phase III clinical trials published in the English language.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Articles related to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of bempedoic acid and other trials relating to the safety and efficacy of this drug were included.

Is There Still a Role for Aspirin in Primary Prevention in Women in 2020?

Purpose Of Review: Aspirin's place in primary prevention for females has not been well delineated and has been under increased scrutiny in light of recent literature and guideline recommendations. The purpose of this review is to discuss current literature reviewing aspirin use for primary prevention in women and to discuss when use is appropriate.

Recent Findings: The Women's Health Study found no differences in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in women randomized to aspirin vs.

Incidence of Chronic Opioid Use in Previously Opioid-Naïve Patients Receiving Opioids for Analgesia in the Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: Inappropriate prescribing of opioids has contributed to misuse and a rise in accidental deaths. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of chronic opioid use in previously opioid-naïve patients who received opioids for analgesia while in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify potential risk factors in patients that transition to chronic opioid use.

Methods: A retrospective analysis included patients admitted to the medical, surgical, or cardiovascular ICU at the Michael E.

Prescription drug disposal: Products available for home use.

Objective: Unused medications in the home are often improperly stored and may lead to unintentional harm, misuse, and diversion. Single-use disposal systems products allow consumers to safely inactivate unused medication and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to flushing medication down the toilet or discarding in the trash. The objective of this commentary was to review current medication disposal options and inform pharmacists of new products that may be used by patients to dispose of medications in the home setting.

Warfarin vs. apixaban in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, and analysis by concomitant antiarrhythmic medication use: A national retrospective study.

Background: No real-world data exist on outcomes in patients on anticoagulants and concomitant antiarrhythmic medications. This study aims to compare the safety and effectiveness of apixaban and warfarin, first in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and then in patients on concurrent antiarrhythmic medications.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a large US electronic medical record database (2012-2016).

Health care practitioner counseling encourages disposal of unused opioid medications.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between health care practitioner counseling on medication disposal and disposal of unused opioid medications.

Design: A 41-item survey instrument was created and administered to a nationally representative panel of adult opioid users with chronic pain using a cross-sectional, internet survey design via Qualtrics®.

Participants: Four hundred adult opioid users with chronic pain were randomly selected from the Qualtrics® panel-base to participate.

Drug Enforcement Administration Rescheduling of Hydrocodone Combination Products Is Associated With Changes in Physician Pain Management Prescribing Preferences.

Due to rising misuse, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) moved hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) from DEA Schedule III to DEA Schedule II in October 2014. Aside from increasing regulatory scrutiny, rescheduling may have increased the administrative burden surrounding HCP prescribing. This study explored how HCP rescheduling and associated administrative barriers may have affected physician treatment of acute (aNCP) and chronic (cNCP) noncancer pain.