bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Elective Course in Drug Discovery, Development, and Commercialization
Authors: Ettouati William S. , Hirsch Jan D. , Ma Joseph D. 
Published: January 2018

Objective: To describe the design and implementation of an elective course in drug discovery, development, and commercialization for pharmacy, medical, biomedical graduate, business, and law students.
Case Study: This course included didactic lectures, student group discussions, a longitudinal assignment, and a question and answer panel session. A 9-item instrument using a 5-point response scale was used for course evaluation. The longitudinal assignment was the creation and presentation of a product lifecycle strategic plan (PLSP). Respondents rated 'agree' and 'strongly agree' in the course providing useful information on drug discovery (39% and 53%), drug development (39% and 60%), and drug commercialization (33% and 60%). The majority of student-reported overall understanding of the drug discovery and drug development process was rated 'very good' (49% and 46%), while the drug commercialization process was rated 'good' (46%).
Conclusions: An elective course on drug discovery, development, and commercialization included enrollment of students with diverse educational training. The course provided useful information and improved overall student understanding.

Type: Case Study
The Healthcare Future for the iGeneration: Integrating the Patient and the Healthcare System
Authors: Wood Kristina D. , Greene Elisa M. , Franks Rachel B. , Poole Traci M. , Ficzere Cathy H. , Johnston Philip E. 
Published: January 2018

Objective: To propose a vision to integrate patients, their health-related data, and their wellness plans into the healthcare system using smartphone and tablet computer technology.
Setting: Ambulatory care and community practice
Practice Innovation: Utilization of smartphone and tablet computer technology to assess health care conditions, educate and involve patients, and facilitate seamless communication between the patient, electronic health record, pharmacy system, third-party payers, point-of-care testing, and all health-care providers.
Main Outcome Measures: By providing integrated and customized information at the point of use, medication adherence and access to care will be increased and patients will engage in healthy behaviors more often resulting in an improved level of care for patients.
Results: In the future, the authors believe if the vision is achieved, the health care system and patients will see improved health outcomes and more efficient utilization of the healthcare system.
Conclusions: Our proposed use of technology provides an opportunity to empower patients to positively improve their own health which could be a vital advancement in health care, especially in the areas of medication adherence, improving access to care, and health behavior support. As pharmacists, we may also embrace technology opportunities to expand our roles as health care professionals as we continue to partner with patients and the health care team to improve outcomes.

Type: Idea Paper
Accessibility to Essential Medicines in New York City by Zip Code Income Levels and Boroughs
Authors: Aronson Yan , Addo-Atuah Joyce 
Published: January 2018

Access to essential medicines is fundamental to medication adherence, continuity of care and hence population health outcomes and overall quality of life. Disparities in the availability and the cost of these medications in New York City, especially for low income neighborhoods, would compound the underlying health disparities in these neighborhoods. This study examined the physical and financial accessibility to 8 of the 150 Most Frequently Prescribed Drugs in New York, 2 each for Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hyperlipidemia, 4 conditions that are among the top 10 most costly conditions in the United States. The study did not find any significant differences in mean drug prices between the high, medium, and low income neighborhoods in the City. However, the significantly different income levels and uninsured rates across neighborhood income strata in the City (p<0.001 for both), coupled with the high disease burden and other underlying disparities in low income neighborhoods, would point to potential affordability challenges for needed medications in these neighborhoods. On the other hand, significant differences in mean prices between the 5 City boroughs were found for 3 of the study drugs: Advair™, p=0.009; Amlodipine 10mg, p<0.001; and Lisinopril 10mg, p=0.046. No such significant differences were observed for the mean prices of the other 5 study drugs-Proventil HFA,™ Metformin HCL 500mg, Glipizide ER 5mg, Simvastatin 20mg, and Atorvastatin 10mg. The study findings did not also suggest that drug prices are dictated by the number of pharmacies in a neighborhood. Further studies would be needed to better understand the complexities associated with the accessibility of essential medicines in New York City. These studies could include qualitative ones which would examine the perceptions and experiences of City residents with respect to the accessibility of prescribed medications as the basis for targeted interventions directed at promoting access to needed medications for all New Yorkers.

Type: Student Project
Team-based learning (TBL): An Argument for Faculty's Evaluation
Authors: Kebodeaux Clark D. , Vouri Scott Martin , Hurd Peter D. 
Published: January 2018

Team-based learning (TBL) is increasingly used for presenting educational information to students in colleges of pharmacy. Several studies have shown a positive impact on students both in terms of academic performance and comprehension. Current literature does not provide the full perspective of faculty, who are incorporating this methodology into the classroom. Cross-sectional surveys and commentary within manuscripts describe mixed findings regarding the faculty's perception of TBL. The aims of this paper are: 1) to describe why faculty evaluation of TBL is important, 2) to outline variables for consideration in faculty evaluations of TBL, and 3) to describe uses for the data from faculty evaluation of TBL.

Type: Idea Paper
Perceived Impact of a Longitudinal Leadership Program for All Pharmacy Students
Authors: Mort Jane R. , Strain Joe D. , Helgeland David L. , Seefeldt Teresa M. 
Published: January 2018

Objective: To describe a longitudinal leadership program involving all students and report the perceived impact.
Design: The program included a first year Leadership Interview, a third year Report of Leadership, and a fourth year Professional Business Meeting Attendance. Activities involved guided reflection.
Assessment: Students (n=138) indicated the activities helped them recognize the importance of leadership and their leadership potential (e.g., 72.5% and 62.3% of students due to meeting attendance, respectively). Students participated in leadership activities that they would not have pursued otherwise, either in response to the activity (27.7% due to interview) or as a requirement of the activity (51.1% for leadership report). Students reported developing specific leadership skills through the activities. Most students planned to be involved in a district/regional (72.5%), state (84.1%), and national (51.4%) meeting in the five years following graduation.
Conclusion: Students reported a positive impact on leadership perceptions and participation. The report is a preliminary step in the development and assessment of a longitudinal curricular initiative involving all pharmacy students.

Type: Case Study
Assessment of Asthma Inhaler Technique in Two Community Pharmacies
Authors: Farabaugh Nicole , McMillan Ashlee , Garofoli Gretchen 
Published: January 2018

Objectives: To 1) assess inhaler technique in patients with asthma who present to a community pharmacy and 2) determine if patients find it desirable to have further inhaler education from pharmacists.
Methods: Participants were recruited when picking up their inhalers at either one chain or one independent pharmacy from May 2012 to December 2012. Any person 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with asthma, and currently prescribed an inhaler was eligible for inclusion in the study. Those who voluntarily agreed to participate were provided a written survey to evaluate current inhaler usage and past education from pharmacists. Participants were then asked to demonstrate how they currently operate their inhalers and observations regarding technique were recorded. Participants were then educated on what improvements could be made in their technique, if applicable.
Results: A total of 31 surveys were completed for this study, of which only 3(9.6%) of the respondents were observed to be using their inhalers properly; however 18(58%) rated their technique as a 5 out of 5 on a Likert scale with 5 being the best. Almost all respondents (96.7%) classified their inhalers as "easy" or "very easy" to use, and 13 (41.9%) would prefer more education from pharmacists regarding their inhalers.
Conclusion: The results of this study identified a significant need for patients to be educated on proper inhaler technique. It also revealed a high patient preference for pharmacists to offer additional education to patients using asthma inhalers upon initiation of inhaler therapy and with inhaler refills.

Type: Student Project
Are We Treating The Patient or the Disease?
Authors: Vogt Eleanor , Shane Patricia , Kahn Henry 
Published: January 2018

The evidence abounds. A compelling body of research estimates that psychosocial stressors play a role in a significant number of patient complaints seen in primary care. In addition to the challenges faced by primary care clinicians who must consider their patients' psychosocial stressors, these factors can also affect pharmacists' care. Patient stress, through a number of mechanisms, can limit the efficacy of medicine as well as our efforts to achieve optimal medication management, and adds a poorly examined complexity to patient care practices. A landmark Institute of Medicine report calls for "whole patient "care, addressing psychosocial health needs, not as an embellishment, but as part of routine care. Whole patient care requires a fundamental shift, with patient needs at the center of healthcare delivery, and psychosocial-linked distress considered as integral to that model. These considerations place this topic squarely within the pharmacists' scope of practice and urgently call for an expanded approach to patient care and an opportunity for pharmacists to address that need. To parallel this discussion, the contributing role of practitioner stress is briefly reviewed.

Type: Idea Paper
A Student-Initiated, Integrated Pharmacotherapeutics Learner-Centered Course
Authors: Hopman Shawn , Popovich Nicholas G. 
Published: January 2018

Objective: To evaluate a learner-centered, elective course complementing pharmacotherapeutic instruction.
Design: A one credit-hour elective as developed. Enrolled students were responsible for article selection and to lead in-class discussions. A content-validated discussant rubric was use to peer review each discussant.
Assessment: Enrolled students kept current on the literature and nurtured an obligation to themselves and their peers to be prepared on a weekly basis to discuss the selected article. Discussion demonstrated varied opinions and provided ample opportunity for students to use technical/clinical language. Also, the course allowed for thinking at a higher level, discussing complex ideas/issues, and developing oral communication skills.
Conclusions: This learner-centered approach allowed the enrolled students to take ownership of their learning and complement their learning from the traditional mode of learning in two pharmacotherapeutic courses. It encouraged the students to investigate the clinical literature as a means to complement and enhance their knowledge.

Type: Note
Technology in the Pharmacy Learning Environment: Surveys of Use and Misuse
Authors: Begley Kimberley J. , Monaghan Michael S. , Clavier Cheri W. , Lugo Ralph A. , Crouch Michael A. 
Published: January 2018

The use of technology in the classroom may have positive and negative effects on learning. The purpose of this investigation was twofold: to identify the effect technology is having on the pharmacy learning environment; and, to assess students' use of technology during class time for non-academic purposes. This study included a national cross-sectional survey as well as a single, college-specific survey. The national survey had a faculty response rate of 71.2%. Of the responders, approximately 61% identified significant problems related to students' use of technology in the pharmacy learning environment. Cell phones were a recognized concern and more than 90% of programs have chosen to restrict cell phone use in the classroom. The single college survey examining technology use during class for non-academic purposes had a student response rate of 87% and faculty response rate of 100%. Students and faculty members disagreed regarding the negative effects of technology use during class for non-academic purposes. Notably, 16% of students acknowledged their in-class use of technology for non-academic purposes had been disruptive to their learning, as compared to 95.7% of faculty. According to students, common reasons for off-task technology use included checking e-mail/text messages (75.1%), lack of engagement (58.1%), multitasking (56.2%), and accessing social media sites (33%). Faculty and students were asked about enforcement of technology policy. More faculty than students supported policy enforcement by faculty (65.2% versus 22.8%, respectively; p<0.001) as well as policy enforcement by students (78.3% versus 31.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Overall, technology use during class for non-academic purposes was common. Many schools and colleges of pharmacy are developing approaches to address these evolving issues by revising their technology use policies.

Type: Original Research
Classifications of Controlled Substances: Insights from 23 Countries
Authors: Dragic Lisa , Lee Elease , Wertheimer Albert 
Published: January 2018

Controlled substances are among the most highly regulated and highly abused medications. The purpose of this study was to describe the classification systems for controlled substances in 23 countries and make comparisons. From this review, recommendations are provided for improving classification systems and their impact on medication use.

Type: Student Project
Assessing Unmet and Latent Demand for Pharmacists at the State Level
Authors: Arora Prachi , Mott David A. , Chui Michelle A. , Kreling David H. 
Published: January 2018

Background: Past reports suggest that a near balance has been reached in the supply and demand for pharmacists in the US. Although data on the level of supply of pharmacists is available, there is no continuous and systematic tracking of the level of demand (unmet and latent) for pharmacists at state level. Unmet demand, an established construct in pharmacy workforce, is important to measure the number of vacancies and assess pharmacist shortage consistently over time. Latent demand or potential demand is a novel construct and has never been measured in pharmacy workforce. With the increase in supply, it is important to measure the potential demand that could be budgeted in pharmacies in the near future.
Objective: The objective of this study was to measure the unmet and latent demand for pharmacists and explore the association between latent demand and workload characteristics in community and hospital pharmacies in Wisconsin in 2011-12.
Methods: The study used a cross-sectional, descriptive survey design. A sample of community pharmacies (n=1,064) and hospital pharmacies (n=126) licensed in Wisconsin in 2011-12 was identified. Key informants (managers/owners) of sampled pharmacies were sent a one-page cover letter explaining the purpose of the study and requesting participation and a three page survey form. The main outcome measures of the study were total number of FTE pharmacist positions vacant, presence of adequate staff size, additional number of FTE pharmacist positions needed to attain adequate staff size, prescription volume, daily census, hospital size and number of hours prescription department is open. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all the pharmacies collectively, then separately for community and hospital pharmacies. Pharmacy setting, vacancies and workload characteristics of pharmacies with and without latent demand were compared using chi-squared test of independence and/or t-test. Sample weights were calculated and used in all the analyses to weigh the estimates to all pharmacies in Wisconsin.
Results: Overall response rate to the survey was 50.1%. Of the total number of FTE pharmacist positions budgeted in Wisconsin, 54.3 FTE positions (1.5%) were reported vacant in 2011-12. Approximately 28.2% of the community and hospital pharmacies reported the presence of latent demand. Latent demand was significantly associated with higher workload in community pharmacies and larger bed size in hospital pharmacies.
Conclusion: There appeared to be a balance between the supply and demand for pharmacists in Wisconsin in 2011-12. There is a potential for additional FTE positions (latent demand) to be budgeted in pharmacies to attain adequate pharmacist staff size. It is important to consistently track the level of unmet and latent demand for pharmacists in Wisconsin and combine this information with other workforce characteristics to guide the decision making of pharmacy workforce planners and pharmacy managers.

Type: Original Research
Discharge Medication Counseling and its Correlation with Reducing Readmissions for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations
Authors: Laswell Emily M. , Svelund Elizabeth A. , Harzler Melody L. , Chambers Kasandra D. , Chen Aleda M.H. 
Published: January 2018

Objective: To determine the impact of pharmacist-provided discharge medication counseling on 30 and 90 day hospital readmissions and ED visits in patients admitted with COPD exacerbation.
Methods: A hospital-wide improvement was initiated, where COPD patients received discharge medication counseling and follow up phone call by a pharmacist. A pilot study was implemented, and data on readmission rates at 30- and 90-days were collected and compared to a hand-matched, retrospective control group that had not received discharge counseling by a pharmacist. Differences in readmission rates were analyzed using Chi-squared tests.
Results: A total of 28 patients received discharge counseling by the pharmacist and were compared to 28 retrospective patients. Differences in 30-day and 90-day readmission rates were not significant (p=1.000 and p=0.589, respectively). After thirty days, 7 (25%) intervention and 7 (25%) retrospective group patients had been readmitted. After ninety days, 11 (39.3%) intervention and 13 (46.4%) non-intervention patients had been readmitted. Since a small cohort of patients received discharge counseling, the study did not meet power.
Conclusions: Although not statistically significant, patients who received discharge medication counseling provided by a pharmacist had lower 90-day readmission rates post discharge. As regulations are implemented that penalize hospitals for readmissions that occur within 30 days of discharge, it is imperative that health care systems develop new strategies aimed at reducing readmission rates. Further studies that are adequately powered are needed to assess the impact pharmacists can have on readmission rates.

Type: Original Research
Faculty Mentor Perspectives of a Formal Mentoring Program for Student Pharmacists: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Witry Matthew J. , Nguyen Elaine , Patterson Brandon J. 
Published: January 2018

Objective: To describe pharmacy faculty perspectives on participating in a formal mentoring program for student pharmacists.
Methods: This qualitative study used ten, 45 to 60 minute semi-structured interviews conducted in November and December, 2012 with faculty mentors sampled randomly by strata of on-site off-site positions at a single public university college of pharmacy. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded using an inductively created consensus code list. The research team iteratively grouped codes into themes, developed summaries, and identified representative quotes.
Results: Analysis of interviews produced three main themes. Mentor interaction was described as having an investigative or responsive orientation, which influenced mentor actions and perspectives for the relationship with the student mentee. Program structure and concerns included a perceived absence of clear program objectives. Mentor response to feedback focused on 3 feedback sources: administrators, peers, and students.
Conclusions: Overall, faculty mentors in this program had different approaches to, expectations for, and experiences in their formal mentoring program participation. These differences are initial descriptions of mentor approaches toward mentoring interactions by faculty in a formal mentoring program. Colleges of pharmacy leaders and administrators may benefit from more clearly specifying and communicating program objectives in order to achieve results for mentees, mentors, and the organization.

Type: Original Research
Development of Critical Thinking in Pharmacy Education
Authors: Peeters Michael J , Zitko Kimberly L , Schmude Kimberly A 
Published: January 2018

The concept of development is ubiquitous throughout higher education. Development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and clinical reasoning are noted as important outcomes in higher education, including health professions education. In this era of widening scrutiny, demonstration of this outcome within programmatic assessment is becoming increasingly important. Programmatic assessment of critical thinking is complicated because of its multiple definitions, array of theoretical frameworks, and variety of measurement instruments. Additionally, recent guidelines and standards for pharmacy education have affirmed “habits of mind,” which are not new to education and encompass analytical critical thinking. In this paper, we sought to provide: 1) an overview of various critical thinking measurement instruments with their different associated critical thinking definitions, 2) a background and framework for thinking using the Dimensions of Learning model, 3) implications and applications for assessing cognitive development (critical and complex thinking) within the context of pharmacy education, and 4) specific suggestions for assessment in pharmacy education.

Type: Idea Paper