Evaluation of Student Academic Performance After Curricular Content Reduction.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of curricular content reduction in an integrated course sequence spanning 3 years of a Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum on student examination scores and course grades.

Methods: This 2-year, prepost study compared student overall average and final examination scores and overall course grades after the transition from a 5-day to a 4-day week of an integrated learning experience (ILE) course sequence. In addition, an anonymous, optional 23-item survey was distributed to first to third year pharmacy students asking about the 4-day week change, how they utilized the non-ILE day, and additional demographic and social characteristics to identify factors influencing success on examination and course performance during the 4-day week.

E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) Continues: An Opportunity for Pharmacist Intervention.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) was first identified and reported in 2019, but media coverage and reporting of cases drastically decreased when the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020. The syndrome has continued to occur since that time and it is critical that pharmacists are aware of how EVALI presents, and when it should be considered as a potential diagnosis. Inpatient and outpatient pharmacists play a vital role in the treatment of EVALI, and should be knowledgeable of the utility of corticosteroids, even though data are extremely limited.

Teaching of the patient workup process improves students' perceptions of preparation for advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

Background And Purpose: One of the most common daily tasks on Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) is "working up" patients for inpatient rounds or outpatient visits. The purpose of this study was to assess a change in student pharmacist comfort level in performing a patient workup before and after the Pre-APPE Workshop by specifically teaching this process.

Educational Activity And Setting: The patient workup process was included in the Pre-APPE Workshop, a one-week APPE orientation course at the end of the third professional year.

Effect of Interprofessional Clinical Debates on Attitudes of Interprofessional Teams.

Introduction: Current evidence supports the notion of debates as a pedagogical method to teach literature evaluation skills in health care education; however, there are no reports of this method as an interprofessional approach and its potential benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of interprofessional clinical debates on attitudes toward interprofessional teamwork and perceived literature evaluation skills.

Methods: We invited third-year family medicine residents and fourth-year pharmacy students to complete a survey before and after participating in an interprofessional clinical debate.

Development of self-directed activities and a validated exam for primary care advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

Introduction: The impact of required self-directed activities (SDAs) measured by written exam on advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) has not been reported. The primary objective of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of a pre/post exam to measure knowledge when SDAs are incorporated into primary care APPEs. Secondary objectives included assessment of pre/post exam scores and students' perceptions of their learning through SDAs.

Nondihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers for the Treatment of Proteinuria: A Review of the Literature.

To review the use of nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (non-DHP CCBs) for the treatment of proteinuria in diabetic and nondiabetic kidney disease. A search using PubMed and MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar was performed from 1964 through February 2019 using the following search terms alone or in combination: . All prospective English-language trials examining one or more non-DHP CCB for the treatment of proteinuria were evaluated.

Development and Validation of a Rubric to Evaluate Diabetes SOAP Note Writing in APPE.

To develop and establish validity for a grading rubric to evaluate diabetes subjective, objective, assessment, plan (SOAP) note writing on primary care (PC) advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs), and to assess reliability and student perceptions of the rubric. Ten PC APPE faculty members collaborated to develop a rubric to provide formative and summative feedback on three written SOAP notes per APPE student over a 10-month period. Correlation analyses were conducted between rubric scores and three criterion variables to assess criterion-related validity: APPE grades, Pharmaceutical Care Ability Profile Scores, and Global Impression Scores.

Ambulatory care preceptors' perceptions on SOAP note writing in advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

Introduction: Descriptions of SOAP note requirements and assessment methods used during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) are limited in the literature. This study aimed to gather information from preceptors regarding SOAP note writing and assessment methods utilized during ambulatory care APPEs.

Methods: A survey was developed and distributed to ambulatory care preceptors with data collected via Qualtrics and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test to assess the significance for associations between dependent and independent variables, and the Gamma test to assess dependent variables in grading habits and feedback types.

A retrospective review of student pharmacist medication reconciliation activities in an outpatient family medicine center.

Background: Medication reconciliation in the outpatient setting is an important part of preventing medication errors, and is mandated by the Joint Commission.

Objective: To describe and quantify medication reconciliation efforts by student pharmacists in an outpatient family medicine center.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of medication reconciliation documentation forms completed by student pharmacists during an outpatient clinical rotation between May 2012 and April 2013.

Accuracy of pharmacy benefit manager medication formularies in an electronic health record system and the Epocrates mobile application.

Background: Physicians commonly use formulary medication coverage information generated by electronic heath records (EHRs) and the Epocrates mobile drug database application when making medication selection decisions. Nonformulary selections may lead to higher out-of-pocket patient costs and nonadherence with prescribed regimens. Nonformulary selections also contribute to higher overall health plan spending.

Student pharmacist initiated medication reconciliation in the outpatient setting.

Unlabelled: The Joint Commission continues to emphasize the importance of medication reconciliation in all practice settings. Pharmacists and student pharmacists are uniquely trained in this aspect of patient care, and can assist with keeping accurate and complete medication records through patient interview in the outpatient setting.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify and describe medication reconciliation efforts by student pharmacists in an outpatient family medicine center.

Implementation of a school-wide clinical intervention documentation system.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and impact of a customized Web-based software program implemented in 2006 for school-wide documentation of clinical interventions by pharmacy practice faculty members, pharmacy residents, and student pharmacists.

Methods: The implementation process, directed by a committee of faculty members and school administrators, included preparation and refinement of the software, user training, development of forms and reports, and integration of the documentation process within the curriculum.

Results: Use of the documentation tool consistently increased from May 2007 to December 2010.

Selecting a clinical intervention documentation system for an academic setting.

Pharmacists' clinical interventions have been the subject of a substantial body of literature that focuses on the process and outcomes of establishing an intervention documentation program within the acute care setting. Few reports describe intervention documentation as a component of doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs; none describe the process of selecting an intervention documentation application to support the complete array of pharmacy practice and experiential sites. The process that a school of pharmacy followed to select and implement a school-wide intervention system to document the clinical and financial impact of an experiential program is described.

Survey of physician knowledge and counseling practices regarding acetaminophen.

Objective: To assess physician knowledge regarding acetaminophen dosing, toxicity, and recognition of acetaminophen-containing products and counseling practices when prescribing acetaminophen-containing medications.

Methods: Resident and faculty physicians at 1 internal medicine and 2 family medicine residency programs in Alabama were asked to participate in a voluntary survey. Participants completed a 7-item self-administered questionnaire.

Treatment of civilian and combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder with topiramate.

Objective: To evaluate the use of topiramate for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Data Sources: Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to June week 4, 2010), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to May 2010), ISI Web of Science (1945 to July 3, 2010), and Iowa Drug Information Service (searched July 6, 2010) were searched using the terms posttraumatic stress disorder and topiramate. Guidelines and other sources were identified from bibliography searches.

Use of statins in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver failure and transplantation in the United States and a major public health issue. Studies have shown that patients with hepatitis C are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which make statins of particular benefit in this patient population. However, the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) lists active or chronic liver disease as an absolute contraindication to statin therapy.

Use of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular co-morbidity: safety issues.

The incidence of and mortality from both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) increase with age. In addition, the average age of patients with COPD and CVD is also increasing as a result of improvements in both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Coronary artery disease is a compelling indication for beta-adrenoceptor antagonist use in a population in whom beta-adrenoceptor antagonism is often viewed as contraindicated.

Provision of pharmacotherapy services in a rural nurse practitioner clinic.

Purpose: Clinical pharmacy interventions and services provided in collaboration with a nurse practitioner in a medically underserved rural health center are described.

Methods: Data were collected via retrospective chart review of clinical pharmacy notes for all patients referred to the clinical pharmacist from July 2001 through February 2004. Data collected included demographic information, reasons for referral, duration of follow-up, insurance status, use of medication assistance programs, educational interventions, clinical interventions, and clinical outcomes.

Drug interactions between linezolid and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: case report involving sertraline and review of the literature.

A 47-year-old woman developed confusion, incoordination, and hypertension after she was given linezolid in addition to sertraline for 5 days. Her symptoms resolved within 4 days of discontinuing linezolid. One and a half months later, she received a second course of linezolid; sertraline was discontinued on day 1 of linezolid therapy.

Outcomes from an outpatient smoking-cessation clinic.

Study Objectives: To determine the success of an outpatient smoking-cessation clinic by assessing smoking abstinence rates and factors associated with lower abstinence rates. We also sought to determine whether smoking abstinence rates differed among various smoking-cessation products.

Methods: Patients were referred by primary care providers to a pharmacist-managed smoking-cessation clinic.