Comparison of United States and Australian pharmacy student attitudes towards careers in geriatrics.

Introduction: The population of older adults is expanding globally, but there remains a lack of healthcare professionals trained to meet growing care needs. The primary objective of this study was to compare the top three to four factors driving interest vs. lack of interest in geriatrics among pharmacy students in the United States (US) vs.

Implementation of patient priorities-aligned care in a home-based primary care program.

Background: Older adults may be limited in their ability to access care that meets their health goals owing to disease burden, financial instability, and psychosocial barriers. A home-based primary care (HBPC) program established in 2020 within a large family medicine practice uses the Patient Priorities Care (PPC) approach to identify and address patients' health priorities. When incorporated as part of the HBPC model of care, the PPC approach has the potential to enhance person-centered care for older adults in a way that best supports their health goals.

Francisella tularensis Bone and Joint Infections: United States, 2004-2023.

Tularemia is caused by the highly infectious bacterium Francisella tularensis, which is recognized as a Tier 1 bioterrorism agent. Tularemia has a range of recognized clinical manifestations, but fewer than 20 bone or joint infections from 6 countries have been reported in the literature to date. This series includes 13 cases of F.

Survey of pharmacy students to assess attitudes toward a career in older adult care.

Introduction: In the United States, the older adult population is growing faster than the geriatrics-trained healthcare workforce. The primary objective of this study was to determine the top factors that increase or decrease pharmacy student interest in seeking a career in geriatrics.

Methods: A 23-item survey was disseminated to 611 first- through fourth-year pharmacy students.

Addressing Healthcare Utilization and Costs for Older Adults with Limited Mobility Through a Multidisciplinary Home-Based Primary Care Program.

Introduction: Home-based primary care (HBPC) has shown promise in the management of multiple chronic conditions for patients who are homebound or who have limited mobility. The objective of this study was to implement and evaluate an HBPC program that integrates the services of clinical pharmacists and community aging services providers in a community-based setting.

Methods: Mountain Area Health Education Center's (MAHEC) HBPC program brought together an interdisciplinary team including medical providers, pharmacists, and community aging services providers to conduct home visits with older adults (age 50+).

Pharmacist Identification of Older Patients' Priorities in a Home-Based Primary Care Program.

Patient Priorities Care (PPC) aims to identify and integrate patient goals and preferences into health care decision-making to provide more personalized care for multimorbid older individuals. Home-based primary care (HBPC) is a model of care delivery that supports aging in place. HBPC-integrated pharmacists can identify patient priorities and communicate with the team to ensure care is aligned with what matters most.

Pharmacy student attitudes towards a career in older adult care.

Introduction: The United States (US) health care workforce is significantly unprepared to meet the needs of the growing older adult population. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the reasons that current pharmacy students are interested or not interested in pursuing a career or postgraduate training in geriatrics and to evaluate factors that influence this choice.

Methods: This is a qualitative study utilizing focus groups of pharmacy students from the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum of one public school of pharmacy in the US.

The Social Bridging Project: Intergenerational Phone-Based Connections With Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Millions of Americans aged 65 are socially isolated and millions more report feeling lonely. Social isolation and loneliness in older adults were compounded by stay-at-home orders and other COVID-19 prevention measures. Although many Americans experienced no difficulties transitioning to the use of electronic devices as their primary means of communication and connection, some older adults were not similarly able to espouse this shift.

The current state of geriatric pharmacy education in the United States - A cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Concerns exist that the current health care workforce is underprepared to meet the needs of the aging American population. This study evaluated the current emphasis on geriatrics in doctor of pharmacy curricula.

Methods: A 61-item web-based survey was distributed to associate deans with oversight of pharmacy curricula at all United States (US) schools and colleges of pharmacy (S/COP).

Gender differences in the experience of psychotic-like experiences and their associated factors: A study of adolescents from the general population.

"Psychotic-Like Experiences" (PLEs) are common in the general population. While they are usually transient and resolve spontaneously, they can be distressing and signify increased risk for later psychosis or other psychopathology. It is important to investigate factors associated with PLEs which could be targeted to reduce their prevalence and impact.

Evaluation of the need for a fracture liaison service in a patient-centered medical home.

Objectives: To evaluate the need for a fracture liaison service (FLS) based on postfracture care in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH).

Methods: Patients in a PCMH who presented to a local 763-bed community teaching hospital with fragility fracture of the hip, spine, or forearm between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014, were identified using ICD-9 codes. A retrospective chart review of inpatient and outpatient medical records 2 years before the fracture and 1 year afterward was conducted.

The role of coping in the association between subclinical psychotic experiences and functioning: A within study replication in two independent adolescent samples.

An inverse association between psychosocial functioning and psychotic experiences is now established in both clinical and non-clinical populations, however the mechanisms which drive this are unclear. Adolescents with subclinical psychotic experiences (SPE) are more likely to use maladaptive coping strategies and less likely to use adaptive ones, and maladaptive coping has also been associated with poor functioning. A within study replication in two adolescent samples from the general populations of Melbourne, Australia (n = 723) and Birmingham, United Kingdom (n = 239), was conducted to determine whether the association between SPE and psychosocial functioning is mediated by coping style.

Physician perceptions of integrating advanced practice pharmacists into practice.

Objectives: Barriers have prevented full integration of advanced practice pharmacists (APPs) into collaborative practice in some areas despite evidence describing their value. APPs in North Carolina can be recognized as Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners (CPPs) under a collaborative practice agreement and provide comprehensive medication management under physician supervision. This study describes the perceptions of physicians regarding the barriers and benefits of integrating CPPs into interprofessional teams and compares physician and CPP perceptions.

Improved Utilization of Preventive Services Among Patients Following Team-Based Annual Wellness Visits.

The Annual Wellness Visit was designed to enhance preventive services utilization among Medicare beneficiaries; Annual Wellness Visits are underutilized with sparse documented effectiveness. Patients of 3 community-based and 2 retirement community outpatient clinics in western North Carolina had team-based Annual Wellness Visits over a 20-month program, with the goal of improving the uptake and delivery of the Annual Wellness Visit. A clinical pharmacist saw high-complexity patients (≥5 medications) and a licensed practical nurse saw low-complexity patients.

Provision of annual wellness visits with comprehensive medication management by a clinical pharmacist practitioner.

Purpose: The effectiveness and financial benefit of pharmacist-led annual wellness visits (AWVs) in conjunction with comprehensive medication management (CMM) for older, high-risk patients were examined.

Methods: Eligible patients were 65 years of age or older with three or more chronic medical conditions, taking five or more long-term prescription or nonprescription medications and receiving primary care in a retirement community clinic. The intervention involved two components, an AWV and CMM.

Interprofessional care for patients with osteoporosis in a continuing care retirement community.

Objectives: To assess the quality of care provided to patients with osteoporosis in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) after implementation of an interprofessional osteoporosis clinic (OPC). Specifically, quality measures were evaluated, including dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and prescription treatment of osteoporosis and low bone mass in an ambulatory independent living community.

Setting: Large family medicine teaching practice that provides primary care for residents in one main practice, 5 rural satellite practices, and 2 CCRCs.

Impact of the US Two-dose Varicella Vaccination Program on the Epidemiology of Varicella Outbreaks: Data from Nine States, 2005-2012.

Background: A routine 2-dose varicella vaccination program was adopted in 2007 in the US to help further decrease varicella disease and prevent varicella outbreaks. We describe trends and characteristics of varicella outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during 2005-2012 from 9 states.

Methods: Data on varicella outbreaks collected by 9 state health departments were submitted to CDC using the CDC outbreak reporting worksheet.

Effect of Trail Bifurcation Asymmetry and Pheromone Presence or Absence on Trail Choice by Ants.

During foraging, ant workers are known to make use of multiple information sources, such as private information (personal memory) and social information (trail pheromones). Environmental effects on foraging, and how these interact with other information sources, have, however, been little studied. One environmental effect is trail bifurcation asymmetry.

Spontaneous loss of hepatitis C virus RNA from serum is associated with genotype 1 and younger age at exposure.

A variety of factors have been associated with spontaneous loss of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA from serum, including infecting HCV type, although results are conflicting. This study aimed to investigate further whether infecting HCV type was linked to spontaneous loss of HCV-RNA. Serum samples from 321 untreated HCV antibody positive patients presenting at the Hepatology clinic at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge between 2004 and 2007 were tested.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection without cirrhosis.

Aim: To investigate and characterise patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presenting with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the absence of cirrhosis.

Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis C infection without cirrhosis presenting with HCC over a 2-year period were identified. The clinical case notes, blood test results and histological specimens were reviewed to identify whether additional risk factors for the development of HCC were present.

Histological changes in HCV antibody-positive, HCV RNA-negative subjects suggest persistent virus infection.

Unlabelled: It is unclear whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been eradicated or persists at a low level in HCV antibody-positive HCV RNA-negative individuals. The natural history and liver histology are not well characterized. One hundred seventy-two HCV antibody-positive, serum HCV RNA-negative patients underwent diagnostic liver biopsy between 1992 and 2000 and were followed a median 7 years (range, 5-12).

Bell's palsy associated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C virus infection.

First-line therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection comprises interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin for 6 or 12 months. Mild complications of therapy are common, but more serious complications are rare. Three patients with chronic HCV infection, acquired through injecting drug use, developed idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy) during therapy, with spontaneous resolution after withdrawal of treatment.