Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Led Methicillin-Resistant Nasal PCR Testing Protocol.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) can cause cases of community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and ventilator-associated pneumonia, and nasal colonization with this pathogen increases the risk of infection. Due to its high negative predictive value, multiple studies support using the MRSA nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to discontinue antimicrobials that target MRSA in the setting of a negative test result. The purpose of this project was to assess the utility of a protocol to allow pharmacists the ability to order MRSA nasal PCR screenings in hospitalized patients with pneumonia.

Uptake of rituximab biosimilars in Medicare and Medicaid in 2019-2022.

Objectives: This study evaluated the uptake and costs of 3 biosimilars among Medicare and Medicaid populations for 2019 to 2022: rituximab-abbs (Truxima), rituximab-pvvr (Ruxience), and rituximab-arrx (Riabni).

Study Design: A retrospective, descriptive study.

Methods: Using the annually aggregated, product-level utilization and cost data of biologic and biosimilar rituximab products from CMS drug spending data, total claims and costs (reimbursement and out of pocket) for all rituximab products were identified and extracted from Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid.

Breaking the bamboo ceiling: Empowering Asian pharmacy students for leadership.

Despite representing over 20 % of pharmacy students, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) remain underrepresented in leadership positions in the United States. This article examines barriers API pharmacy students face in pursuing leadership roles and offers strategies to navigate these challenges. Stereotypical assumptions that API students are "quiet and passive" may hinder their advancement to leadership and create a bamboo ceiling that limits their progress.

A Pan-RAS Inhibitor with a Unique Mechanism of Action Blocks Tumor Growth and Induces Antitumor Immunity in Gastrointestinal Cancer.

RAS is a common driver of cancer that was considered undruggable for decades. Recent advances have enabled the development of RAS inhibitors, but the efficacy of these inhibitors remains limited by resistance. Here, we developed a pan-RAS inhibitor, ADT-007, that binds nucleotide-free RAS to block GTP activation of effector interactions and MAPK/AKT signaling, resulting in mitotic arrest and apoptosis.

COEPA ready: Innovative pedagogy for integrating social determinants of health in PharmD curricula.

Background: The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities (COEPA) recognize the need for social determinants of health (SDH) education for pharmacy learners. However, there is a dearth of published strategies for incorporating comprehensive SDH education in Doctor of Pharmacy curricula. The objectives of this study were to: 1) highlight unpublished exemplars of SDH teaching models and 2) propose strategies for teaching SDH.

Value of Innovative Multiple Myeloma Treatments from Patient and Healthcare Provider Perspectives: Evidence from a Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background: Although innovation generally provides measurable improvements in disease characteristics and patient survival, some benefits can remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate patient and healthcare provider (HCP) preferences for the innovative attributes of multiple myeloma (MM) treatments.

Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based, discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey was conducted among 200 patients with MM and 30 HCPs of patients with MM in the USA.

Availability of and attitudes towards harm reduction services: a rural pharmacy perspective.

Background: There's limited information available about the range of harm reduction (HR) services provided by rural pharmacies.

Objective: This study's objectives are to describe the types of HR services offered by rural pharmacies and examine pharmacists' attitudes and willingness to offer those services.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was sent to pharmacists who are members of a practice-based research network for rural community pharmacies.

Enhancing learner abilities to address health disparities during ambulatory care Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE).

Background: Pharmacists are often the most accessible health care provider, particularly in medically underserved areas, and experience addressing health disparities is important. While the importance of integrating health disparities throughout the pharmacy curriculum is clear from Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards, there is a paucity of data within experiential settings. This study describes how focused, health disparities learning activities were incorporated into a 40-h clinical introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) and describes learner outcomes from these learning activities.

The risks and benefits of managing obesity in older adults.

Disclaimer: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

A cross-sectional survey exploring organizational readiness to implement community pharmacy-based opioid counseling and naloxone services in rural versus urban settings in Alabama.

Background: Rural US regions experience lower naloxone dispensing rates compared to urban counterparts, particularly in Alabama. In light of this, strategies to enhance opioid counseling and naloxone services (OCN) in rural community pharmacies are critical. However, organizational readiness to implement OCN in rural versus urban contexts where resource networks may differ is not well understood.

Initiation of Oral Endocrine Therapy and Survival Benefit Among Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Endocrine therapy (ET) is the cornerstone of systemic treatment for patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, but its uptake and adherence need further improvement. This observational study assessed ET initiation and 1-year adherence and its survival benefit among female Medicare beneficiaries with early-stage breast cancer. This retrospective cohort study analyzed the linked 2011-2019 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data.

Death and dying in pharmacy learners: A critical review.

Purpose: This review article is the first comprehensive evaluation of the available literature surrounding the education of death and dying in pharmacy schools. The purpose of this review was to describe the available literature and methods utilized regarding the emotional preparation for patient death in pharmacy education.

Procedures: Searches were performed in three pharmacy databases to identify articles that contained descriptions of activities related to death and dying education in pharmacy curriculums.

Consensus recommendations for the use of novel antiretrovirals in persons with HIV who are heavily treatment-experienced and/or have multidrug-resistant HIV-1: Endorsed by the American Academy of HIV Medicine, American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Treatment options are currently limited for persons with HIV-1 (PWH) who are heavily treatment-experienced and/or have multidrug-resistant HIV-1. Three agents have been approved by the U.S.

Evaluating the Need for Competency-Based Pharmacy Education (CBPE): The Report of the 2023-2024 Academic Affairs Standing Committee.

The 2023-2024 Academic Affairs Committee was charged to create a sense of urgency around the concept of Competency-Based Pharmacy Education and develop a "readiness for change" instrument that is based on the 5 essential elements that make up the definition of Competency-Based Pharmacy Education. This report describes the process undertaken by the committee to determine the societal needs of pharmacists and current state of pharmacy practice and pharmacy education. The practice gaps in pharmacy education and the key drivers needed to close these gaps are evaluated.

Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Cancer: A Target Trial Emulation from SEER-Medicare Database.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred over warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). However, their safety and effectiveness in patients with AFib and cancer are inconclusive.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by emulating a target trial.

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.

Safety and Efficacy of Direct Oral Anticoagulants vs Warfarin in Patients With Obesity and Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Current venous thromboembolism guidelines recommend using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin regardless of obesity status; however, evidence remains limited for the safety and efficacy of DOAC use in patients with obesity. This retrospective analysis sought to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of DOACs compared with warfarin in a diverse population of patients with obesity in light of current prescribing practices.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a large academic health system between July 2014 and September 2019.

Safety of marketed biosimilar monoclonal antibody cancer treatments in the US: a disproportionality analysis using the food and drug administration adverse event reporting system (FAERS) database.

Background: By 31 December 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 12 biosimilar monoclonal antibody cancer treatments. This study detected disproportionate adverse event (AE) reporting signals and compared safety profile of individual biosimilars to their originator biologics and between each pair of biosimilars.

Research Design And Methods: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System data (6/1/2018-12/31/2022) were used to identify AE reports for rituximab, bevacizumab, trastuzumab, and their marketed biosimilars.

The association between polypharmacy and health-related quality of life among older adults with prostate cancer.

Introduction: Older adults with prostate cancer (PC) are at risk of polypharmacy, which further complicates disease management and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study evaluated the association between polypharmacy and HRQoL among Medicare beneficiaries with PC.

Materials And Methods: This observational, retrospective study analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) data resource.

Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD in the Pediatric Population.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood with approximately 6 million children (age 3 to 17 years) ever diagnosed based on data from 2016-2019. ADHD is characterized by a constant pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms that interferes with development or functioning. Specific criteria from the assist with the diagnosis with multiple guidelines available providing non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic recommendations for the treatment of ADHD in the pediatric population.

Evaluation of the creation of podcasts for instructional delivery in a post-graduate training elective course.

Objectives: To describe the creation of podcasts for instructional delivery and evaluate strengths and areas for improvement in a post-graduate training (PGT) elective course.

Methods: After creating a podcast series, students in the PGT elective from Spring 2021 to Fall 2022 listened to the series then completed a reflection based on five open-ended questions that provoked their thoughts and feelings about use of podcasts as a method of delivering information and teaching. Responses were downloaded and a content analysis was performed.