Assessing student confidence in interprofessional communication during primary care advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

Background And Purpose: Students must have experience communicating and interacting with healthcare professionals throughout pharmacy school curricula to effectively develop interprofessional communication abilities and confidence. This study's purpose was to assess student confidence in interprofessional communication utilizing a rubric and checklist inspired by the situation-background-assessment-recommendation (SBAR) technique throughout five-week primary care advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

Educational Activity And Setting: A six-item rubric was created for student self-evaluation of interprofessional communication throughout their APPE.

Dual antiplatelet Tx for stroke prevention: Worth the risk?

Here's what the evidence tells us about the use of 2 regimens-clopidogrel + aspirin and ER dipyridamole + aspirin-to prevent secondary ischemic stroke.

Ibalizumab: The First Monoclonal Antibody for the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection.

Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of ibalizumab (IBA) in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Data Sources: A literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar (2010 to mid-June 2020) with the search terms , and . Other resources included abstracts presented at recent conferences and the manufacturer's website and prescribing information.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Metolazone Compared to Chlorothiazide for Treatment of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Treatment of volume overload in the setting of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is typically achieved through the use of loop diuretics. While they are highly effective, some patients may develop loop diuretic resistance. One strategy to overcome this scenario includes sequential nephron blockade with a thiazide-type diuretic; however, it is unknown which thiazide-type diuretic used in this setting is most effective.

Assessment of student performance on a mock new prescription counseling session and an objective structured clinical examination across five years.

Introduction: New prescription counseling (NPC) provides vital information to patients regarding newly prescribed medications to improve treatment outcomes. This evaluation's goals were to describe the implementation of teaching and assessment methods incorporated into an NPC module across two courses at Auburn University and evaluate student performance on assessments of NPC skills over five years.

Methods: Assessments included self and peer evaluations of a recorded mock NPC session, NPC objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), and overall course grade.

Safety of dietary supplements use among patients with cancer: A systematic review.

Dietary supplements (DS) are commonly taken by patients with cancer, but safety of DS use remains unclear. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and Alt HealthWatch databases from inception through October 12, 2018.

Evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus curricular content in schools of pharmacy in the United States.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an important educational topic for student pharmacists given extended patient life expectancy and expanding pharmacist roles in HIV treatment and prevention. Data are lacking in regard to curricular content and type of training received by faculty to provide didactic and experiential HIV training.

Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based survey of United States (US) pharmacy schools was conducted using a 15-item questionnaire.

Utilization and impact of a rapid Candida panel on antifungal stewardship program within a large community hospital.

Background: The T2 Candida Panel (T2CP) bodes high sensitivity and specificity to detect candidemia, enabling providers to make quick therapy decisions and possibly decrease mortality. However, utilization in practice and clinical application remains to be evaluated.

Objectives: To evaluate the overall provider-utilization of the T2CP at a large community hospital.

Interdisciplinary speed dating augments diabetes self-management education and support to improve health outcomes.

Objective: To determine if a novel interdisciplinary "speed-dating" clinic augments Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES).

Methods: Adult patients with diabetes attended a DSMES class. Two weeks later patients attended an interdisciplinary clinic utilizing a "speed-dating" format during which they progressed through 5 stations hosted by different healthcare disciplines at 30-minute increments: physician, pharmacist, nurse/dietitian, case manager, and psychologist.

Generic escitalopram initiation and substitution among Medicare beneficiaries: A new user cohort study.

Objectives: To examine patterns of generic escitalopram initiation and substitution among Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods: This retrospective new user cohort used a 5% random sample of 2013-2015 Medicare administrative claims data. Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries continuously enrolled in Parts A, B, and D during a 6-month washout period prior to their initial generic or brand oral escitalopram prescriptions were included (n = 12,351).

Comparing faculty evaluations of student journal club presentations with student self- and peer evaluations during advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

Background And Purpose: Self-evaluation is a critical step in professional development. Peer evaluation may enhance student learning and help peer evaluators recognize their own limitations. However, these evaluations may not accurately assess performance.

Identifying future pharmacists: Development and implementation of a pharmacy camp experience.

Introduction: Hands-on learning continues to serve as a positive mechanism for gaining interest and increasing recruitment in the health professions. This paper explores the Harrison School of Pharmacy's (HSOP) development and implementation of a week-long pharmacy camp designed to engage learners through active learning experiences to provide early exposure to the pharmacy profession.

Methods: The planning committee was formed in fall 2016, with the inaugural camp occurring summer 2017.

Exploring the Impact of Participating as Pharmacy Camp Counselors on Student Pharmacists' Professional Identity.

To explore how participation as a pharmacy camp counselor impacted pharmacy students' professional identity and views on professionalism. A pharmacy camp was developed to introduce rising high school juniors and seniors to the pharmacy profession. First- and second-year student pharmacists were invited to serve as counselors and, afterward, to participate in a focus group to share their experiences.

Generic levothyroxine initiation and substitution among Medicare and Medicaid populations: a new user cohort study.

Purpose: Generic levothyroxine has been approved and available since 2004 but its substitution remains controversial. Therefore, the objective was to examine patterns of and identify factors associated with initiation and substitution of generic levothyroxine treatment.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study, including new users of brand and generic levothyroxine in 2013-2015 Medicare (n = 15,877) or 2011-2012 Medicaid (n = 9390) administrative claim databases.

Did citizen petitions prolong the number of approval days of generic drugs?

Objectives: To compare the numbers of approval days of the generic drugs with and without citizen petitions.

Methods: Data from a previous study were obtained to create a data set containing Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) with and without citizen petitions, and their filing and approval dates. Descriptive analyses were conducted.

Healthcare provider opinions about a generic drug educational newsletter.

Background: Increasing the prescribing and dispensing of generic drugs, compared to branded drugs, may increase patient access to affordable drug treatments. Healthcare providers have information needs regarding generic drugs, but available, tailored education materials designed for provider use are lacking.

Objectives: To examine healthcare provider opinions and receptivity regarding generic drug educational materials in content, format and design, delivery channel, and level of satisfaction.

An Elective Course in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Practice Issues.

To design, implement and assess a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health and practice elective course for second- and third-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students. The course focused on health promotion, health care barriers, disease prevention, and treatment throughout an LGBT person's lifespan. The course included topic discussions, reading assignments, various active-learning activities, an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) with a transgender person, and guest speakers from the LGBT community.

Assessing student pharmacist communication skills: Development and implementation of a communication rubric.

Problem Description: Communication between healthcare providers and those they serve has become increasingly important as the need to prevent and manage chronic conditions has increased. To adequately learn these skills, future healthcare providers must be trained and assessed prior to entry into practice.

Quality Improvement Methods: With the implementation of an integrated curriculum, the Harrison School of Pharmacy developed a communication rubric to assess student pharmacists' patient communication skills.

How comfortable are primary care physicians and oncologists prescribing medications for comorbidities in patients with cancer?

Background: Treating cancer and existing chronic comorbidities requires a dynamic mix of primary care and specialist providers. However, little is known regarding primary care physicians' (PCPs) and oncologists' comfort level prescribing for comorbid conditions.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe oncologists' and PCPs': 1) comfort-level prescribing, 2) perceptions of providers' role in prescribing cardiometabolic and psychiatric medications in persons with cancer and comorbidity, and 3) provider factors associated with comfort-levels.

A Baker's Dozen of Top Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention Publications in 2018.

With an increasing number of antimicrobial stewardship-related articles published each year, attempting to stay current is challenging. The Southeastern Research Group Endeavor (SERGE-45) identified antimicrobial stewardship-related peer-reviewed literature that detailed an actionable intervention for 2018. The top 13 publications were selected using a modified Delphi technique.

Grit in pharmacy faculty: A pilot analysis focused on productivity measures.

Introduction: Grit, a "perseverance and passion for long-term goals," is an important characteristic that has been linked to success in academics and career endeavors. In pharmacy education, there have been mixed results on grit as a predictor of academic performance in pharmacy students. Furthermore, there have been no studies on the implications of grit in pharmacy faculty.

Assessing barriers and increasing use of immunization information systems in independent community pharmacies: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: As the number of providers administering vaccines increases, including pharmacists, there is a concern of fragmented immunization records in state and regional immunization information systems (IIS). In order for IIS to have complete records, it is critical that each provider administering vaccines, including pharmacists, participate and update the IIS each time a vaccine is administered to a patient. In Alabama, provider participation in the state IIS is not mandatory; as a result, less than 25% of adults over the age of 19 have immunization data recorded.

Professional Benefits of a Web-based Journal Club for Critical Care Residents and Their Mentors.

To identify the perceptions and benefits of participation in a web-based journal club by the critical care pharmacy residents who presented and their mentors. Former and current resident presenters and their mentors were invited to complete one of three electronic surveys created to assess their perceptions of their experiences with a web-based journal club sponsored by the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology (CPP) Section of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data gathered.

Primary Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial to Explore the Effects of a High Chlorophyll Dietary Intervention to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk in Adults: The Meat and Three Greens (M3G) Feasibility Trial.

Preclinical and observational research suggests green leafy vegetables (GLVs) may reduce the risk of red meat (RM)-induced colonic DNA damage and colon cancer (CC). We sought to determine the feasibility of a high GLV dietary intervention in adults with an increased risk of CC (NCT03582306) via a 12-week randomized controlled crossover trial. Participants were randomized to immediate or delayed (post-4-week washout) intervention groups.