What is commitment?

Commitment is an important part of professionalism in pharmacy; however, we have no standardized definition. Commitment, like any other relationship between two parties, must be perceived strongly by both parties involved. In the setting of pharmacy residency training, commitment seems relatively easy to define.

The approach of Norm Balance in predicting pharmacists' intention to collaborate with physicians to improve medication therapy.

Objective: Norm Balance is an approach under the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) where subjective norm is weighted by the relative importance of others and self-identity is weighted by the relative importance of self. The relative importance was measured previously by a trade-off measure. In this study, we developed separate measures for the relative importance.

Selective Dissolution of Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystals Using a Pyrophosphate Specific Receptor.

Pseudo-gout is caused by the deposition of highly insoluble calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in the joints of sufferers. This leads to inflammation and ultimately joint damage. The insolubility of CPPD is driven by the strong attraction of di-cationic calcium ions with tetra-anionic pyrophosphate ions.

Antibiotic Diversity Index: A novel metric to assess antibiotic variation among hospitalized children.

Background: Despite nationally endorsed treatment guidelines and stewardship programs, variation and deviation from evidence-based antibiotic prescribing occur, contributing to inappropriate use and medication-related adverse events. Measures of antibiotic prescribing variability can aid in quantifying this problem but are not adequate.

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop a standardized metric to quantify antibiotic prescribing variability (diversity) within and across children's hospitals, and to examine its association with outcomes.

Report of the 2023-2024 AACP Research and Graduate Affairs Committee.

The 2023-2024 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Research and Graduate Affairs Committee ("the Committee") was charged with developing programs focused on career and professional development for researchers, new faculty, and graduate students in colleges and schools of pharmacy. After reviewing exiting resources available to pharmacy faculty for grant writing, the Committee recognized a need for more comprehensive, diverse, and tailored resources for pharmacy faculty. The Committee, therefore, focused its effort on creating an intensive grant writing course intended for independent pharmacy researchers without previous major grant awards that would support writing for career development and research grant applications and cater to faculty in translational, clinical sciences, and pharmacy practice, along with fellows and residents.

Envisioning the Near Future of Community Pharmacy Patient Care Practice: Report of the 2023-2024 AACP Professional Affairs Standing Committee.

The 2023-2024 Professional Affairs Committee was charged to (1) Create an action plan in response to the clear urgent need for transformation of community pharmacy practice; and (2) Develop "readiness for change" instrument that addresses multiple pharmacy stakeholder groups that are based on the ACT "community pharmacy enhanced services" definition. Due to the continuous and rapid-paced changes occurring in community pharmacy practice, the committee developed a document that provides the baseline elements that should be considered for community pharmacy practice currently and into the future. This document, Envisioning the Near Future of Community Pharmacy Patient Care Practice: Key Elements of Practice Redesign in Community Pharmacies, contains 8 sections and is recommended to be socialized within the pharmacy profession to ensure that it resonates with current and future community pharmacy practice.

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.

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.

Working environment for historically marginalized faculty, administrators, and librarians in pharmacy education.

Introduction: Promoting diversity among faculty, administrators, and librarians in schools and colleges of pharmacy (SCOP) would be beneficial for the recruitment and retention of students from diverse backgrounds. Graduating such diverse pharmacists could assist in reducing healthcare disparities. Promoting diversity requires a climate that is inclusive of people from all backgrounds.

Head-to-head comparison of multi-dose oritavancin and dalbavancin for complicated infections: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Oritavancin and dalbavancin are long-acting lipoglycopeptide antibiotics approved for the treatment of skin and skin structure infections. Recently, they have been used for outpatient antimicrobial therapy for complicated infections. No head-to-head studies exist for this purpose.

Comparison of Cefazolin and Ceftriaxone Enterobacterales Susceptibilities for Inpatient Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections and Risk of Hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the second most common indication for antibiotic therapy among inpatients in the United States. Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin, is habitually chosen to treat inpatient UTIs due to familiarity, cost, and perceived safety. However, third-generation cephalosporins increase the risk of health care facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HOCDI) more than any other antibiotic group, while no statistical risk exists for first-generation cephalosporins.

Review of Objective Structured Clinical Examination Practices Within Pharmacy Programs Throughout the United States.

Objective: To update the description of current objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) practices within pharmacy schools in the United States and identify barriers to OSCE implementation and expansion.

Methods: A survey was deployed to all accredited Doctor of Pharmacy programs within the United States. The survey was designed to collect information regarding the curricular mapping of OSCEs, OSCE design, OSCE delivery, assessment of OSCE performance, and barriers to OSCE implementation and expansion.

A Pilot Study to Explore the Effect of Long Acting Injectable Antipsychotics on Aggression.

Objectives: To explore the effect of switching from an oral antipsychotic to a long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic on aggression, in terms of the changes of verbal and physical aggression, interventions required, self-injurious behavior, use of seclusion or restraint, antipsychotic medication refusal, and use of antipsychotics as needed (PRN).

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review at a long-term state forensic psychiatric facility. Patients treated with an oral antipsychotic for at least 6 months and then switched to a LAI antipsychotic for an additional 6 months during an 80-month period were included.

Impact of COVID-19 quarantines on clozapine-induced constipation: Experience of utilizing a clozapine-induced constipation protocol at a state forensic psychiatric facility.

Objective: Since 2017, Fulton State Hospital (FSH) has implemented a clozapine-induced constipation protocol. In March 2020, FSH initiated unit quarantines to minimize the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of these quarantines on medical referrals for constipation, the Bristol Stool Chart ratings, utilization of as-needed (PRN) laxatives, and adherence rates with scheduled constipation medication regimens.

Collaborative inpatient and ambulatory care topic discussions in experiential education: An approach to assessing the Pharmacists' patient care process and transitions of care.

Introduction: The Pharmacists' Patient Care Process (PPCP) is woven throughout the doctor of pharmacy program; however, advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) are not structured in a specific order allowing students to apply the PPCP across the care continuum. Two faculty preceptors from two practice sites, inpatient family medicine and ambulatory care, joined to provide twice weekly, preceptor-led collaborative topic discussions to bridge this gap. This paper describes an approach to improve students' knowledge by incorporating progressive cases and assessments highlighting care across the continuum aligned with the PPCP.

Barriers to access to psychiatric medications in Missouri county jails.

Introduction: Objectives of this study were to characterize barriers to receiving psychiatric medications for people who are incarcerated, to compare barriers before competency restoration to those after competency restoration, and to characterize psychiatric medication formularies.

Methods: A survey of county jails in Missouri was completed between October 2021 and February 2022. Survey questions were answered by medical department personnel, nurses, or a person responsible for medication oversight.

Impact of updated hypertension guideline on eligibility for an employee wellness program.

Background: Pharmacists reduce overall healthcare spending in employee wellness programs (EWP). Employers implementing disease state management in an EWP must define the eligibility criteria. Clinical practice guidelines establish diagnostic criteria; therefore, updated guidelines have the potential to change the number of eligible beneficiaries in an EWP.

Diltiazem for clozapine-induced generalized hyperhidrosis.

Background: Clozapine can be associated with significant side effects and tolerability issues. Hyperhidrosis occurs less commonly and is unanticipated by clinicians because of clozapine's significant anticholinergic activity.

Case Report: A 34-year-old female developed clozapine-induced nocturnal, generalized hyperhidrosis following initial titration to 400 mg/day.

Future leaders in pharmacy (FLIP): Student perceptions of leadership development within pharmacy school.

Introduction: This study evaluated the perceptions of student pharmacists in their final year regarding leadership development and feelings of preparedness to assume their first leadership role after graduation.

Methods: This research was conducted using an anonymous, researcher developed, online instrument distributed to 21 institutions across the United States for students in their final semester. Data collected included demographics, the availability/benefit of leadership development activities, and perceptions of leadership skills a pharmacist needs.

Evaluating the implementation of a pharmacy hackathon pilot.

Background And Purpose: The need for disruptive innovation within the pharmacy profession is well documented in the literature. However, there is a lack of proper training on innovation and creative thinking for student pharmacists and limited time or incentive for health care practitioners to be innovative. Hosting an innovation event, such as a hackathon, can teach innovative strategies and incentivize innovation by student pharmacists.

Piloting Gain and Loss-Framed PrEP and Childbearing Messaging to Promote HIV Testing in Uganda: Perspectives from Couples and Providers.

Fears of relationship dissolution and the inability to bear healthy children remain barriers to HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) carries both clinical and symbolic benefits that counter these fears. We conducted a pilot messaging intervention through Uganda's assisted partner notification (APN) program, where providers assist HIV-positive index clients in notifying sexual partners and encourage testing.

Evaluation of a Diabetes Coaching Program on Clinical Outcomes in a Self-Insured Grocery Chain.

Diabetes is among the most prevalent and costly disease states to treat. Many self-insured employers offer employee wellness programs to decrease healthcare expenditures for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes. Existing literature demonstrates that pharmacists can positively impact treatment of patients with diabetes and assist in lowering costs of care, but no current literature examines pharmacist intervention within an employee wellness program over a prolonged period of time.

Direct-acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C and Implication for Community Pharmacy Practice.

The treatment options for hepatitis C have undergone noteworthy advancements since direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were introduced. The selection of a DAA therapy depends on the patient's genotype, treatment history, concomitant comorbidities, and concurrent medications. Pharmacists have a pivotal role in providing clarification and recommendations in selecting appropriate, individualized DAAs for patients.