Dual antiplatelet Tx for stroke prevention: Worth the risk?

Here's what the evidence tells us about the use of 2 regimens-clopidogrel + aspirin and ER dipyridamole + aspirin-to prevent secondary ischemic stroke.

Up for Debate: Re-Envisioning the Journal Club with an Article-Centric Student Debate.

Unlabelled: Effective utilization of evidence-based medicine requires skillful development of a critical literature evaluation process. Although traditional journal club activities are a common modality to teach and refine these skills, they may limit a learner's motivation to perform a well-rounded critique of primary literature.

Innovation: In response to the challenges with these traditional formats, we describe a novel approach to refining critical literature evaluation skills in an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) setting utilizing a focused, article-centric journal club debate.

A Pilot Study to Assess Patient Adherence to New Chronic Medications Following the Use of a Novel Adherence Tool and Individualized Counseling.

Medication nonadherence leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality. In the United States, it results in an annual estimated cost of $290 billion in patients with chronic diseases. Several adherence screening tools are available for use, but none have been adopted for widespread use.

Perceptions of the incorporation of health literacy in pharmacy training programs.

Objectives: To assess pharmacy residents' perceptions regarding the incorporation of health literacy in pharmacy school and pharmacy residency training and to assess confidence while interacting with patients of limited health literacy.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: United States from March to May 2012.

Clinical utility of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease knowledge questionnaire.

Background And Objectives: Although typically symptomatic, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is undertreated as compared to many asymptomatic conditions such as hypertension. Unfortunately, many patients lack basic information about their major disease states, including COPD. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical utility of the valid and reliable COPD Questionnaire (COPD-Q) in a sample of underserved patients carrying a diagnosis of COPD.

Indacaterol: a novel long-acting β(2) -agonist.

Bronchodilator drugs are the foundation for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The principal inhaled bronchodilator treatments used are β(2) -agonists and anticholinergics, either alone or in combination. Currently available β(2) -agonists are of either short duration and used multiple times/day, or of long duration, which requires twice-daily administration.