Current and Future Opportunities and Challenges in Continuing Pharmacy Education: A 2024 Update.

Following a 2015 conference on the future of continuing pharmacy education (CPE), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education's Board of Directors ratified recommendations to address two key questions: (1) "What next steps should the profession take to ensure practitioner competence based on marketplace and regulatory changes in the next 10 to 15 years?" and (2) "How can the value of CPE be optimized over the next 10 to 15 years?" In this article, we describe how these recommendations have been addressed since the 2015 conference, highlighting advancements in technology and the adoption of continuing professional development, and describe future directions and additional opportunities to optimize CPE.

A Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) Program Assessing Cannabidiol (CBD) Knowledge and Confidence Among Practicing Pharmacists.

Increased patient utilization of cannabidiol (CBD) leads to potential drug interactions with various medications and questions posed to pharmacists. To quantify the knowledge gap of pharmacists on CBD and CBD-containing products and assess the degree a continuing pharmacy education (CPE) program alters pharmacist confidence and competency on CBD knowledge. A 1-h CPE activity was offered as a home study from May 9, 2022, through September 30, 2022.

Principles for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programs: A Statement by the ACPE CPD Advisory Committee.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has received increased attention within the pharmacy profession in the United States and is recognized as a potential pathway for ongoing professional development and practice transformation. Despite potential benefits of CPD, adoption in the United States has remained limited. A CPD program accreditation pathway, including principles, guidance, and a credit system for CPD programs, has recently been approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Board of Directors.

Evaluating the Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention at Discharge in a Community, Nonteaching Hospital.

Introduction: Approximately 30% to 50% of hospital discharge antimicrobials are inappropriate. Limited data exist on approaches to improve antimicrobial prescribing practices at the time of discharge from a community hospital. : To assess the impact of a comprehensive pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship intervention at discharge.

Audiology, Medicine, and Pharmacy Interprofessional Preliminary Interviews and Discussions: Improving Hearing Health Care in Rural Alabama.

Purpose: Access and affordability of hearing health care varies depending on residency and individual financial means. Those living in rural areas have limited health care resources and experience higher levels of poverty compared to those living in urban regions. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of interprofessional collaboration among physicians and audiologists and pharmacists and audiologists to improve access and affordability of hearing health care in rural communities.

A Continuing Education Activity Durably Addressed Knowledge Gaps Related to Penicillin Allergies Among Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians.

Penicillin allergy is one of the most frequent self-reported allergies; however, only about 10% of reported allergies are accurate. Through the creation of a continuing pharmacy education (CPE) activity, we sought to assess knowledge gaps and comfort levels in the management of penicillin allergies. A 1-hour enduring-content CPE activity was offered as an interactive course from September 20, 2019, to September 20, 2020.

2022 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.

Purpose: The National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) provide guidance and evidence-based, quality practice for all DSMES services. Due to the dynamic nature of health care and diabetes research, the National Standards are reviewed and revised approximately every 5 years by key stakeholders and experts within the diabetes care and education community. For each revision, the Task Force is charged with reviewing the current National Standards for appropriateness, relevance, and scientific basis and making updates based on current evidence and expert consensus.

Use of a CPD Plan Template with SMART Goals as Part of a Diabetes Pharmacotherapy Module.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plan template used in Fall of 2017 on quality of SMART goal development and student quiz scores.

Innovation: The gap in time from when pharmacology is taught and when it is applied has contributed to poor student retention and performance in the diabetes pharmacotherapy course. To address this gap, the diabetes pharmacotherapy learning sequence was redesigned and included a self-assessment (pre-test), and the completion of a "CPD plan template", which involved writing 1-3 SMART goals for each question missed on the pre-test.

An examination of opioid prescription for Medicare Part D patients among family practice prescribers.

Background: In the USA, opioid overdose accounted for more than 60% of drug overdose deaths in 2015. Of these deaths, 40% were due to use of prescription opioids.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to (i) study family medicine physician opioid-prescribing rate and duration of prescription, (ii) study the distribution of prescription by medication potency, (iii) study opioid-prescribing trends in health care shortage areas and (iv) study the association between extreme high prescribing rates and medical board discipline.

Simulation as a Central Feature of an Elective Course: Does Simulated Bedside Care Impact Learning?

A three-credit, simulation-based, emergency medicine elective course was designed and offered to doctor of pharmacy students for two years. The primary objective was to determine if there was a difference in exam performance stratified by student simulation experience, namely either as an active observer or as part of bedside clinical care. The secondary objective was to report student satisfaction.

Operative Versus Non-operative Treatment of Grade III Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocations and the Use of SurgiLig: a Retrospective Review.

Background: Acromioclavicular joint dislocations are common shoulder girdle injuries. The treatment of grade III acromioclavicular joint dislocations is controversial. Furthermore, the literature on the use of the Sur-giligTM synthetic ligament for reconstruction of dislocations is sparse.

Student perceptions of and performance in a blended foundational drug information course.

Objectives: Assess and trend student opinions of online educational components utilized in a redesigned 5-week foundational drug information course. Comparison of performance on the final examination, course grade, and changes in standardized university course evaluations between 2012 and 2013 were the secondary objectives.

Methods: This course used narrated video instruction coupled with the use of a face-to-face weekly laboratory session.

Adverse events associated with metal contamination of traditional chinese medicines in Korea: a clinical review.

This study was performed to review studies carried out in Korea reporting toxic reactions to traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) as a result of heavy metal contamination. PubMed (1966-August 2013) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1965-August 2013) were searched using the medical subject heading terms of "Medicine, Chinese Traditional," "Medicine, Korean Traditional," "Medicine, Traditional," "Metals, Heavy," and "Drug Contamination". For Korean literature, Korea Med (http://www.

Pharmacy journal abstracts published in PubMed that abide by the CONsolidated Standards Of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines.

The purpose of this research was to determine the proportion of abstracts in pharmacy journals that are prepared according to the CONsolidated Standards Of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) criteria for abstracts. Certain abstracts for randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) indexed in PubMed were eligible for inclusion, with the primary endpoint being median overall compliance to CONSORT recommendations for abstracts. A total of 63 RCT abstracts were included in the analysis, with only 56% of the recommended CONSORT items represented in the sample.

Preapproval and postapproval availability of published comparative efficacy research on biological agents.

Purpose: Preapproval and postapproval availability of published comparative efficacy studies on biological agents approved between 2000 and 2010 was investigated.

Methods: Approval packages published on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website were examined for all biological agents approved between 2000 and 2010 to determine if comparative efficacy studies were available at the time of FDA approval. The availability of comparative efficacy studies published subsequent to approval was determined by searching PubMed for randomized, active-controlled experimental or observational study designs that measured efficacy as the primary endpoint and were relevant to the original FDA-approved indication.

Value of pharmacy services to the healthcare system: an interdisciplinary assessment.

Objectives: The purpose of this project was to determine how pharmacists and physicians view the extending role of the hospital pharmacist in Tennessee, USA.

Methods: An 18-question survey was sent via e-mail to five selected hospitals in Tennessee. The survey was comprised of questions related to the interaction of the pharmacist with other healthcare professionals and their role in the healthcare team.

Dabigatran for the prevention of thromboembolic complications in the elderly: a RE-LY-able alternative to warfarin?

On October 19, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration approved dabigatran (Pradaxa) for reducing the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The use of warfarin sodium has been considered a mainstay therapy for the prevention of thromboembolic complications secondary to AF. Despite its efficacy among oral antithrombotic agents for the prevention of thromboembolic complications secondary to AF, only about 67% of candidates for warfarin receive appropriate antithrombotic therapy.

Dronedarone: an alternative to amiodarone?

Objective: To review the safety and efficacy of the newly approved, mixed-activity antiarrhythmic dronedarone (classes I-IV) versus its parent compound comparator, amiodarone (class III, with mixed activity).

Data Sources: A MEDLINE/PUBMED (January 1966 to March 2010) and International Pharmaceutical Abstract (January 1975 to March 2010) search of English language papers in addition to a bibliographic search of retrieved papers.

Study Selection: All human studies of dronedarone, alone or in combination with amiodarone, were reviewed.

The behaviour of knots and sutures during the first 12 hours following a Bankart repair.

It has been reported that the effectiveness of arthroscopic procedures in terms of preventing recurrent dislocation has not matched that from open techniques. Also little is known about how these knots behave when exposed to physiological loading following repair. This study presents the development of a practical tool to allow surgeons to test the quality of their arthroscopic knots and allow them to make choices with regard to knot configuration and suture material.

Heat treatment of arthroscopic knots and its effect on knot security.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate heat application to arthroscopic knots as a method of improving knot security.

Methods: Heat treatment was assessed on 4 suture materials--Ethibond (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ), PDS (Ethicon), Orthocord (DePuy Mitek, Raynham, MA), and FiberWire (Arthrex, Naples, FL)--tied by use of the Duncan loop, compared with untreated controls. A hand-tied surgeon's knot with Ethibond was included as the gold standard.