Understanding the financial barriers to treatment among individuals with opioid use disorder: a focus group study.

Introduction: Despite the established effectiveness and relatively widespread availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, individuals seeking treatment frequently encounter various structural and social barriers, including costs of treatment. This study aimed to understand the financial barriers that affect treatment continuation in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Methods: In this qualitative study, seven semi-structured in-depth focus group interviews were conducted among 28 participants in treatment for OUD.

Peer Review as a Professional Obligation: Steps and Tips to Becoming a High-Quality Reviewer.

Peer review is an essential step in the publication process and dissemination for scientific information to improve patient care and future research in pediatric patients. It is a professional obligation to ensure high quality, reliable, and relevant information is published. Despite this, many journals face problems finding peer reviewers.

Insight into pharmacy students' perspectives on mandatory COVID-19 vaccines in schools and healthcare settings.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extreme global impact, transforming our daily lives, educational systems, and healthcare systems. Healthcare workers' views on mandatory vaccination and experience with vaccines may play a pivotal role in vaccination rates and public health policy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to uncover the perspectives of pharmacy students, at Xavier University of Louisiana, concerning COVID-19 vaccination mandates in educational institutions and healthcare environments, specifically the ethical, legal, and logistical dimensions.

Student pharmacist counseling performance after hands-on continuous glucose monitoring education: A multi-institutional pragmatic randomized study.

Objective: To assess the impact of wearing a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device on student pharmacist counseling ability (primary), knowledge, confidence, and empathy (secondary).

Methods: Students from two institutions were randomized to wear a CGM device (intervention) vs not (control). All received CGM education via lecture and live demonstration.

Rates of Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis Deprescribing in Children Receiving Usual versus High-Dose Corticosteroids in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with Status Asthmaticus.

To compare deprescribing rates of stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) between children receiving "usual-dose" (<4 mg/kg/day methylprednisolone equivalents) versus "high-dose" (≥4 mg/kg/day methylprednisolone equivalents) corticosteroids for status asthmaticus in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This retrospective, cohort study included children <18 years of age receiving corticosteroids for status asthmaticus and SUP from 1/1/2017 to 6/31/2022. The primary objective was to compare the number of children that were deprescribed SUP following transition from the PICU to the floor and at hospital discharge between groups.

Comparison of ketorolac intravenous versus acetaminophen intravenous in treating headache following head trauma: a semi-experimental study.

Background: Post-traumatic headache is a disabling secondary headache disorder often attributed to traumatic brain injury and affects millions of individuals worldwide. Few studies have been done on the treatment needs of these patients in emergency departments. The purpose was to compare the effectiveness of ketorolac intravenous versus acetaminophen intravenous in reducing headaches in patients following head trauma.

Vasopressin induced hyponatremia in infants <3 months of age in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objectives: Vasopressin is used for shock and acute pulmonary hypertension in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and is associated with hyponatremia. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, severity, contributing risk factors associated with vasopressin-induced hyponatremia in neonates and infants <3 months of age in the NICU. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of hyponatremia (<130 mEq/L) and severe hyponatremia (<125 mEq/L).

Gabapentin for Delirium in Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: A protocol was developed for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) delirium: Step 1, gabapentin for pain or melatonin for sleep; Step 2, add on other Step 1 agent; Step 3, antipsychotics. The purpose of this study was to describe the utility and dosing of gabapentin for NICU delirium.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of NICU patients from January 1, 2021-December 31, 2022 who received >1 dose of gabapentin based on the delirium protocol.

Incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding with hydrocortisone use in neonates and infants less than three months of age in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of hydrocortisone-associated gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in infants <3 months and compare rates with or without stress ulcer prophylaxis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of NICU patients <3 months who received hydrocortisone for hypotension. Three logistic regressions were conducted for adjusted associations between GIB, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), or infection and clinical characteristics.

Barriers to electronic prescribing of controlled substance, especially opioids.

Objective: Electronic prescriptions are now the standard of practice for all discharge and outpatient prescriptions. The intention is to increase patient safety, provide a more complete medication record for patients, lessen the burden on prescribers, and shorten the time it takes for medication orders to reach the pharmacy.

Design: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey study was conducted between January and August 2022 in three areas of a large urban safety net hospital.

A pharmacist's role in increasing access to menstrual products: an education and advocacy approach.

Individuals who menstruate grapple with diverse challenges in menstrual and reproductive health. This includes financial burdens, societal stigmas, and negative mental and physical health implications. Period poverty, marked by insufficient access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation, remains a prevalent and poorly addressed issue.

Diabetes and Hearing Impairment: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Providers and Patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among providers and patients regarding hearing impairment and screening referrals in people with diabetes.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey design among health care providers and patients at an academic medical center in Oklahoma was used to gather knowledge, attitudes, and practices data.

Results: Only 25.

Utilization of Romosozumab in Primary Care.

The objective of the study is to highlight the role and safety of romosozumab in patients at high risk of fractures in primary care. A systemic database search of PubMed/MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library was conducted for articles with keywords romosozumab, osteoporosis, and safety between inception and July 2022.

Commentary: Is Polyethylene Glycol Toxicity From Intravenous Methocarbamol Fact or Fiction?

Methocarbamol is an antispasmodic muscle relaxant and was the fourth most-prescribed muscle relaxant by volume in the United States in 2021. Intravenous (IV) methocarbamol contains the excipient, polyethylene glycol (PEG), which has been implicated in metabolic acidosis and nephrotoxicity. Intravenous methocarbamol was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1959 and at that time the IV methocarbamol prescribing information warned of PEG-associated adverse drug events in patients living with renal impairment; however, the manufacturer acknowledged data were lacking to objectively support this claim.

Fatigue in taxi drivers and its relationship with traffic accident history and experiences: a cross-sectional study in the north of Iran.

Background: The monotonous nature of work, long driving duration, and working overload hours cause frequent fatigue in taxi drivers. A high prevalence of fatigue is associated with traffic accidents. However, the risk factors associated with taxi driver fatigue are unclear.

Pharmacologic Management of Sialorrhea in Neonatal and Pediatric Patients.

Sialorrhea, defined as an excess flow of saliva or excessive secretions, is common in patients with cerebral palsy and other neurologic disorders and is associated with clinical complications such as increased risk of local skin reactions, infections, aspiration, pneumonia, and dehydration. Upon failure of non-pharmacologic measures, clinicians have several noninvasive pharmacologic options available to manage sialorrhea. This review of the literature provides detailed descriptions of medications used, efficacy, safety, and practical considerations for use of non-injectable pharmacologic agents.

Which patients with COPD need an inhaled corticosteroid?

Inhaled bronchodilators are recommended to treat patients with any category of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical practice guidelines conditionally recommend inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for patients with eosinophilic COPD phenotypes, patients who experience hospitalizations for or frequent severe exacerbations of COPD, and patients with comorbid asthma. This article outlines which patients with COPD may benefit from an ICS.

Impact of high-stakes exams, incentives, and preparation on student performance: Insights from the pharmacy curriculum outcomes assessment.

Introduction: Efforts to ensure success of pharmacy students in passing pharmacy standardized exams require substantial investments. Engaging students effectively can be a challenge when there are no consequences for non-participation or poor performance. This study examined how engagement reinforcement, including high-stake exam requirements, instructional strategies, and incentives, impacted student performance on the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA).

Effect of Phytonadione on Correction of Coagulopathy in Pediatric Patients With Septic Shock.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate phytonadione in children with septic shock with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). The primary objective was to identify the number of patients with an international normalized ratio (INR), defined as ≤1.2, following phytonadione.