Prospective healthcare students' perspectives and attitudes on pharmacy as a chosen career path.

Background: With the national increase in the number of colleges and schools of pharmacy as well as the decreased pharmacy school applicant pool in recent years, pharmacy school enrollment challenges are at the forefront of issues facing pharmacy programs today. Factors that can influence a candidate's likelihood to pursue pharmacy school are important to evaluate. Recent studies assessing factors that motivate potential pre-health candidates to pursue pharmacy school or other healthcare careers are limited.

Toxicology and Pharmacological Interactions of Classic Psychedelics.

As psychedelics are being investigated for more medical indications, it has become important to characterize the adverse effects and pharmacological interactions with these medications. This chapter will summarize what is known about the toxicology and drug-drug interactions for classic psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, mescaline, 2C-B, Bromo-DragonFLY, and 25X-NBOMe.

Leverage points for establishing clinical decision-maker as a vital component of pharmacists' professional identity.

This commentary explores how a change in the professional identity of pharmacists from medicines supplier to clinical decision-maker might take place. Three leverage points are identified that support this change. The first leverage point involves workplace culture.

The Role of Consumerism in Pharmacy Education.

The notion of consumerism and that students are customers of pharmacy colleges was explored by proponents and opponents of the idea. First, a working definition of a "customer" in pharmacy education is pondered with respect to the roles and responsibilities of students and schools/colleges of pharmacy. Second, the pros and cons of "student-centered" education are considered in the light of students and their families being consumers of the educational experience.

Barriers and motivational factors for engaging in novel opioid and medication disposal-related services in community pharmacies.

Objective: This study aimed to explore and identify motivational factors and barriers for pharmacy personnel participation in specific opioid mitigation programs, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as an investigational framework.

Methods: A naturalistic inquiry method was employed involving semi-structured interviews with pharmacy personnel to assess their intentions, attitudes, normative beliefs, and behaviors towards participating in naloxone dispensing and provision of at-home drug disposal solutions. Purposive sampling was utilized to recruit participants, with saturation achieved after 12 interviews.

Could pharmacy technicians play a role in supporting the appropriate and safe use of traditional and complementary medicines?

Across the world traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) product use is prevalent with some countries reporting greater than 50% of the population using these products. T&CM products are primarily self-selected through retail outlets including pharmacies. Pharmacists across the world generally agree they should play a role in ensuring the appropriate and safe use of T&CM products but report being time and resource poor to do so.

Pharmacists' perceptions of pharmacy technician occupational values.

Background: Pharmacy technician scope of practice has expanded in recent years to attempt to alleviate the responsibility burden placed on pharmacists in some states. However, little research has examined the ways in which pharmacists attempt to persuade technicians to take on additional roles. Management literature has identified the importance of understanding employee values in crafting persuasive role expansion messaging.

Defining and supporting a professional role for pharmacists associated with traditional and complementary medicines: a cross-country survey of pharmacists.

An estimated 80% of the world's population use traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) products as part of their healthcare, with many accessed through pharmacy. This cross-cultural study posed a set of professional practice responsibilities and actions to pharmacists related to T&CM products, with a view toward developing consensus, safeguarding, and promoting the health of the public. : Data were collected from 2,810 pharmacists across nine countries during 2022 via a cross-sectional online survey reported in accordance with the guidelines of STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) and the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES).

Diabulimia: A Risky Trend Among Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: Poor adherence leads to worse glycemic control and increased complications in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Diabulimia characterizes patients with T1DM who skip or use less insulin for weight loss purposes. The study objectives were to determine: (1) the prevalence of diabulimia among adult patients with T1DM, (2) compare patients with and without diabulimia, and (3) identify factors that may place individuals at higher risk of diabulimia.

Comparison of Risk Stratification Approaches to Identify Patients with Clostridioides difficile Infection at Risk for Multidrug-Resistant Organism Gut Microbiota Colonization.

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) commonly colonize the gut microbiota of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). This increases the likelihood of systemic infections with these MDROs. To help guide MDRO screening and/or empiric antibiotic therapy, we derived and compared predictive indices for MDRO gut colonization in patients with CDI.

Part-Time and Cofunded Pharmacy Faculty and Their Perceptions of Professional and Organizational Identity Formation.

Objective: To gain a better understanding of professional and organizational identity formation and workplace climate issues among part-time and cofunded pharmacy faculty.

Methods: This study had a cross-sectional, prospective design using a semistructured interview guide developed by the researchers of this study. The interview guide drew themes from motivating language theory, social provisions, and previous research on professional identity.

Motivating Language and Social Provisions in the Inculcation of Pharmacy Students' Professional Identity.

Professional identity formation in pharmacy students is a multifaceted, dynamic process stimulated through a variety of experiences, including those in structured classrooms, laboratories, experiential settings, and during interprofessional education. Meaningful faculty communications with students are a critical element in the development process.This commentary situates research findings from studies on communication practices within the frameworks of motivating language theory and social provisions theory to demonstrate how specific language from instructors can impact the formation of students' professional identity.

A Student's Nontraditional Path to Pharmacy School.

Although professional pharmacy programs tend to require and focus heavily on applicants' grade point averages and pre-admission test scores, there is noted value in the matriculation of students exhibiting strong leadership and soft skills. Such attributes are advantageous to a pharmacist, particularly when considering the current need to develop trailblazers prepared to adapt to the ever-changing demands of our healthcare system. Pharmacy school applications and enrollments have been declining across the nation for the past decade.

Revising the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) Educational Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs): The Report of the 2021-2022 Academic Affairs Standing Committee.

The 2021-22 Academic Affairs Committee was charged to 1) Update the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) Outcomes and Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) statements for new pharmacy graduates; 2) Nominate at least one person for an elected AACP or Council Office; and 3) Consider ways that AACP can improve its financial health. This report primarily focuses on the process undertaken by the committee to revise the CAPE Educational Outcomes and EPAs. Proposed changes to the current outcomes are discussed and the reasoning behind these revisions are described.

Assessing Student Perceptions of Blended and Online Learning Courses in Pharmacoeconomics, Management, and Leadership.

Blended learning combines traditional face-to-face education with online instruction. This learner-centered approach has been shown to improve student engagement, critical thinking, and performance outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess and trend student pharmacist perceptions of blended and online learning used to teach pharmacy management, leadership, and economics within a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum.

International Validation of a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Risk Assessment Tool for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Introduction: To promote judicious prescribing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-active therapy for skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), we previously developed an MRSA risk assessment tool. The objective of this study was to validate this risk assessment tool internationally.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective cohort study of adults with purulent SSTI was performed at seven international sites from July 2016 to March 2018.

Cultures of support and resilience are associated with certified pharmacy technicians embracing new roles.

Background: Various technological, economic, and regulatory factors are creating opportunities for pharmacy technicians to take on additional responsibilities. Technicians in the broader sense have indicated a preference for expanded scope of duties; however, it is not known what drives technicians' greater inclinations to accept these new roles.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the association of various work-related factors, such as co-worker support, pharmacist-leadership style, future uncertainty, their own organizational commitment, and personal characteristics of technicians, including their resilience, on pharmacy technicians' willingness to take on emerging responsibilities in pharmacy.

Technicians' perception of pharmacist leadership behaviors on their own commitment and turnover intention.

Purpose: To evaluate technicians' perceptions of how they are supported and supervised by pharmacists through assessment of various components of pharmacists' leadership behaviors in developing the technician workforce. Additional objectives included evaluating levels of pharmacy technician uncertainty about their future, job commitment, and turnover intention in relation to perceived pharmacist leadership behaviors.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design involving administration of an online questionnaire survey.

Evaluation of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy and dosing strategies used for complicated pleural effusions.

Objectives: Compare the use of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (t-PA) and t-PA + Dornase (DNase) for the management of complicated pleural effusions, and to determine if a dose-response relationship exists for t-PA.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study that examined all adult patients at a large academic medical center who received intrapleural t-PA or t-PA + DNase for the management of a complicated pleural effusions. Outcomes were success of therapy [defined as avoidance of secondary interventions (i.