Preferred Educational Programming Among Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows at Pharmacy Schools: A Pilot Survey.

Objective: To inform program development, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Graduate Education Special Interest Group Colleagues in Training Committee (CITC) investigated the professional development needs of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at schools/colleges of pharmacy.

Methods: A cross-sectional pilot survey examined preferred programming topics, mentoring needs, and career goals. A survey invitation was posted on AACP Connect and emailed to Graduate Program Officers and Assistant/Associate Deans for Research at US pharmacy schools/colleges for distribution to trainees.

Enteral tube administration of extemporaneously compounded suspensions of venetoclax according to an institutional medication use process.

Introduction: Venetoclax is a potent oral oncology drug (OOD) frequently used to treat hematologic cancers due to its convenience and high efficacy. However, some patients cannot tolerate solid oral formulations, requiring a reformulated version of venetoclax for effective administration. Currently, there is limited information in the literature regarding the extemporaneous compounding of venetoclax.

Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-associated infection.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of changes in the size and characteristics of the hospitalized patient population during the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of hospital-associated infection (HA-CDI).

Design: Interrupted time-series analysis.

Setting: A 576-bed academic medical center in Portland, Oregon.

Validation of electronic health record data to identify hospital-associated infections for retrospective research.

infection (CDI) research relies upon accurate identification of cases when using electronic health record (EHR) data. We developed and validated a multi-component algorithm to identify hospital-associated CDI using EHR data and determined that the tandem of CDI-specific treatment and laboratory testing has 97% accuracy in identifying HA-CDI cases.

Policies, adaptations, and ongoing challenges to naloxone, buprenorphine and nonprescription syringe access across four-states: Findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews.

Background: As the US opioid-involved morbidity and mortality increase, uptake and implementation of evidence-based interventions remain key policy responses. Respond to Prevent was a multi-component, randomized trial implemented in four states and two large pharmacy chains with the aim of improving the pharmacy's capacity to provide naloxone, dispense buprenorphine, and sell nonprescription syringes (NPS). We sought to provide context and assess how policies and organizational practices affect communities and pharmacies across the study states.

Influence of Antibiotic Exposure Intensity on the Risk of Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Background: Antibiotics are a strong risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), and CDI incidence is often measured as an important outcome metric for antimicrobial stewardship interventions aiming to reduce antibiotic use. However, risk of CDI from antibiotics varies by agent and dependent on the intensity (ie, spectrum and duration) of antibiotic therapy. Thus, the impact of stewardship interventions on CDI incidence is variable, and understanding this risk requires a more granular measure of intensity of therapy than traditionally used measures like days of therapy (DOT).

Assessing provider knowledge of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program in a federally qualified health center.

Purpose: The 340B Drug Pricing Program is important to healthcare organizations that serve vulnerable communities. However, it is unknown whether healthcare providers in these organizations understand the 340B program and how it supports enhanced patient services. This study aims to characterize the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of healthcare providers toward the 340B program in a multisite federally qualified health center (FQHC).

Prevalence and characteristics of patients prescribed opioids and central nervous system depression agents on discharge to hospice care.

Background: Hospice patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) have an increased risk of adverse drug events due to physiological changes and changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of medications; however, the use of opioid and central nervous system (CNS) depressant prescribing among patients with ESLD is prevalent. This study quantified the frequency and distribution of opioid and concomitant respiratory and CNS depressant prescribing among hospice patients with ESLD compared to other common hospice diagnoses of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), heart failure, and end-stage renal disease.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of adult (age 18 years or older) decedents of a large hospice chain.

"I go out of my way to give them an extra smile now:" A study of pharmacists who participated in Respond to Prevent, a community pharmacy intervention to accelerate provision of harm reduction materials.

Background: Community pharmacies are well-positioned to improve the health of people with opioid use disorder and who use drugs by providing naloxone and other essential public health supplies. Respond to Prevent (R2P) is a clinical trial which sought to accelerate provision of harm reduction materials through a multicomponent intervention that included in-store materials, online training, and academic detailing.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore pharmacists' attitudes, knowledge, and experiences in providing naloxone, dispensing buprenorphine, and selling nonprescription syringes following participation in the R2P program.

Risk factors for oral infection and dry socket post-tooth extraction in medically complex patients in the absence of antibiotic prophylaxis: A case-control study.

Introduction: Dry socket and infection are complications of tooth extractions. The objective was to determine risk factors for post-extraction complications in patients without antibiotic prophylaxis stratified by early- and late-complications and complication type (oral infection and dry socket).

Methods: Retrospective, case (with complications)-control (without complications) study of patients (n = 708) who had ≥1 extraction performed at any Veterans Health Administration facility between 2015-2019 and were not prescribed an antibiotic 30 days pre-extraction.

Use of electronic health record data to identify hospital-associated infections: a validation study.

Background: Clinical research focused on the burden and impact of infection (CDI) often relies upon accurate identification of cases using existing health record data. Use of diagnosis codes alone can lead to misclassification of cases. Our goal was to develop and validate a multi-component algorithm to identify hospital-associated CDI (HA-CDI) cases using electronic health record (EHR) data.

An Exploration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism in Standardized Patient Simulations.

A trending topic in pharmacy education is the importance of educating and exposing student pharmacists to topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism (DEIA). Incorporation of diverse patient populations is one emerging learning opportunity for students in the DEIA space. This commentary presents the findings of seven pharmacy programs reporting similarities and differences in standardized patient (SP) recruitment and training, and their use in DEIA simulation learning activities.

Survey of colleges and schools of pharmacy to determine restrictions for teaching, research, and advocacy related to contraception.

Introduction: The pharmacist's role in reproductive health is evolving. Since 46 states allow providers to refuse to provide reproductive health services, it is important to consider whether learning is impacted by institution restrictions on contraception teaching, advocacy, and research.

Methods: An electronic survey was emailed to deans of all pharmacy schools on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Institutional Membership list with a request to share with faculty teaching women's health content within their curriculum.

General Perceptions and Knowledge of Antibiotic Resistance and Antibiotic Use Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Survey of US Adults.

This study aimed to assess understanding of antibiotic resistance and evaluate antibiotic use themes among the general public. In March 2018, respondents that were ≥21 years old and residing in the United States were recruited from ResearchMatch.org and surveyed to collect data on respondent expectations, knowledge, and opinions regarding prescribing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.

Perspectives on deprescribing in palliative care.

Introduction: Pharmacotherapy plays a critical role in the delivery of high-quality palliative care, but the intersection of palliative care and deprescribing has received little attention.

Areas Covered: We conducted a scoping review of English language articles using PubMed to identify relevant publications between 1 January 2000 to 31 July 2022 using search terms of deprescribing, palliative care, end of life, and hospice. We summarize current definitions and developments in palliative care and deprescribing from both clinical and research perspectives.

Adherence to Hepatitis C Treatment Among Underserved Patients With Substance Use Disorder in a Pharmacist-led Treatment Model.

BackgroundTreatment with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) may improve hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment outcomes by providing additional contact with health care professionals to support patient engagement. We describe a pharmacist-led HCV treatment model and assessed the effect of MOUD on adherence to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in an underserved patient population. This was a retrospective cohort study of adults (age≥18 years) treated for HCV infection with DAAs at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Portland, Oregon, between March 1, 2019, and March 16, 2020.

A Virtual "Think Tank" to Establish Collaborative Leadership Initiative Plans ("CLIPs").

The AACP Leadership Development Special Interest Group (LD SIG) held a one-hour Virtual Networking Session during the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) 2020 Annual Meeting. The purpose of the session was to connect attendees with colleagues from other institutions sharing similar interests related to leadership development through an engaging "Virtual Think Tank" (VTT). The VTT included facilitated collaboration which enabled small groups to develop "Collaborative Leadership Initiative Plans" (CLIPs) based on shared leadership interest areas.

Gabapentinoids for Pain: A Review of Published Comparative Effectiveness Trials and Data Submitted to the FDA for Approval.

Use of the gabapentinoids for pain continues to increase. In 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strengthened the warnings for both gabapentin and pregabalin to emphasize the central nervous system side effects and the risk of respiratory depression, especially when combined with other centrally acting drugs. We reviewed the published comparative effectiveness literature for gabapentinoids for pain as well as all trials (published and unpublished) used by the FDA for the approval of the five pain indications for these agents (one for gabapentin, four for pregabalin).

Frequency and clinical outcomes of pharmacist-driven switching from warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants in an underserved patient population: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) medications have improved safety, efficacy, and laboratory monitoring requirements compared to warfarin. However, available data are limited on the frequency and clinical outcomes of pharmacist-driven warfarin-to-DOAC switches. We aimed to quantify the frequencies and rationale of warfarin-to-DOAC switches in an underserved population.

Association of Patient-Centered Elements of Care and Palliative Care Among Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer.

Context: Palliative care (PC) is associated with improved quality of life, survival, and decreased healthcare use at the end of life among lung cancer patients. However, the specific elements of palliative care that may contribute to these benefits are unclear.

Objectives: To evaluate the associations of PC and its setting of delivery with prescriptions of symptom management medications, advance care planning (ACP), hospice enrollment, and home health care (HHC) receipt.

Association between treatment setting and outcomes among oregon medicaid patients with opioid use disorder: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Residential treatment is a common approach for treating opioid use disorder (OUD), however, few studies have directly compared it to outpatient treatment. The objective of this study was to compare OUD outcomes among individuals receiving residential and outpatient treatment.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study used linked data from a state Medicaid program, vital statistics, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Episodes Dataset (TEDS) to compare OUD-related health outcomes among individuals treated in a residential or outpatient setting between 2014 and 2017.

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to assess community pharmacists' intention to prescribe using the Formulary and Protocol Compendia.

Background: Oregon pharmacists can autonomously prescribe hormonal contraception, naloxone, and various medications and devices from a Formulary and Protocol Compendia (FPC). Prescribing using the FPC has seen limited uptake.

Objectives: (1) Assess Oregon community pharmacists' intention to prescribe using the FPC; (2) Determine the impact that attitudes, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), perceived obligation, and past prescribing behavior have on pharmacists' intention to prescribe; (3) Examine the relationship between beliefs and pharmacists' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.