INNOVATIONS in pharmacy (Iip - E-Journal)
Not a member yet
600 research outputs found
Sort by
Information or Evidence? Abandoning Imaginary Worlds for Blockchains in Health Technology Assessment
Get PDFCommentaries published in INNOVATIONS in Pharmacy over the past 2 years have made the case that, as a basis for formulary decision making, the construction of imaginary modeled worlds fails to meet the standards of normal science. As such, they should be rejected as a basis for decision-making. While their proponents argue that imaginary constructs are key sources of information for formulary decisions, the fact is that the claims made from those models are impossible to validate. Indeed, they were never intended to be validated. Claims for product performance should be presented in evidentiary terms. That is, they should be credible, evaluable and replicable. If the commitment to imaginary worlds in technology assessment is to be abandoned a key requirement is for platforms that allow claims to be assessed in real time and in a timeframe that is meaningful to decision makers. Recent developments in blockchain technology offer the prospects for platforms that meet criteria for claims assessment.
Article Type: Commentar
Outcomes, Registries and Medical Marijuana: Towards Establishing Dispensary Monitoring and Reporting Standards
Get PDFThe acceptance by a large number of state governments of medical marijuana dispensaries and the regulatory framework to support their licensing has put to one side the issue of monitoring and reporting outcomes. This is a major oversight. It is an untenable situation given the limited evidence base for the clinical benefits and risks associated with dispensed botanical marijuana. The purpose of this commentary is to propose that, as a condition of licensing, marijuana dispensaries should be required to establish a registry to support ongoing monitoring of patient response associated with botanical cannabis formulations. Patients should be monitored over the course of their treatment to assess, in the case of severe non-cancer pain as an example, pain intensity and functional status by pain location. The dispensary, in meeting required audit standards, should be in a position to report on patient response over baseline to the provider who has recommended botanical cannabis. As well, registries should be in a position to report to state licensing agencies response to therapy by target patient groups. Establishing site-specific registries should go some way to meeting the present evidence deficit for botanical marijuana, reducing barriers to its acceptance by providers, patients and health agencies.
Article Type: Commentar
Perceived Value of Health Insurance and Enrollment Decision among Low-Income Population
Get PDFThe individual mandate is one of the key features of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has contributed to a substantial decrease in the overall uninsured rate. We examined the relationship between the individual’s insurance status and his/her attitude towards risk and uncertainty among the nonelderly adults, without employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) sources and who are most likely to benefit from the ACA. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2014 full-year consolidated data file from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component (MEPS-HC). This study included 4,848 individuals, aged 18–64 years, with incomes between 138–400 % of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and without access to public coverage or ESI. We examined the factors associated with the likelihood of being uninsured using a logit model. We found that the proportion of the uninsured among the low-income nonelderly adults without ESI (31.1%) was much higher than the one among the nonelderly adults (14.3%). The uninsured adults were likely to have lower demand for insurance and perceived value of insurance and were less likely to visit a doctor or to fill prescription drugs. More rigorous outreach efforts focusing on increasing perceived value of health insurance could contribute to an increased insurance coverage among low-income populations.
Type: Original Researc
Analysis of a First Professional Year Student Wellness Program
Get PDFObjective: To identify wellness-related needs and assess the impact of wellness-related offerings among first professional year pharmacy students.
Innovation: A survey tool was developed and offered to P1 students at the beginning and end of their fall and spring semesters. Additional biometric data was also collected to help identify wellness needs. Data from the first academic year (AY1) was used to develop targeted wellness interventions offered to P1 students during the subsequent academic year (AY2). Assessment strategies from AY1 were repeated with minor modifications in AY2 to identify changes in baseline needs and changes in markers across the academic year.
Critical Analysis: AY1 survey response rates varied from 20.1% to 47.4% across the semester. Frequent dissatisfaction was reported with diet, weight, and exercise. AY2 survey response rates varied from 15.8% to 58.3% across the semester. The AY2 cohort demonstrated similar dissatisfaction data; however, also demonstrated lower baseline stress scores as compared to the AY1 cohort, higher baseline BMI, and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Individual interventions offered to AY2 students were attended by as many as 16.5% of the academic cohort. Nutrition classes exhibited stronger attendance than fitness classes.
Next Steps: The process used in this study was easily implemented and provided understanding of wellness gaps, which helped to identify interventions that were implemented and assessed. The process also demonstrated that wellness needs can vary from one population to another, reinforcing the value of periodic assessment to identify changing needs.
Type: Not
Finding the Right Article Type for Your Scholarly Work in Pharmacy Education
Get PDFAbstract
Over the last eight years, a number of new article types have been made available to support scholarship in pharmacy education. This commentary aims to describe the evolution of the article types and a process for matching the phase of educational scholarship with available types. Success in publishing requires knowledge of the journals publishing education-related manuscripts, as well as the article types and their specifications. In order to determine the best fit for your manuscript, authors are encouraged to review each journal’s guidelines for the various article types.
Creative Commons License: CC BY-NC
Disclosures: The author is Executive Associate Editor for Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning and Editor for Innovations in Pharmacy with responsibility for the Education Section.
Acknowledgements: The author thanks the Education Team of Innovations in Pharmacy including, Andrea Franks, Pharm.D., Katherine Kelley, Ph.D., Lara Kerwin, Pharm.D. , Claire Kolar, Pharm.D., Ph.D., and Michael Nelson, Ph.D., for their comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.
Type: Commentary
 
Utilizing a Multi-Step Consensus-Building Process to Create a Shared Departmental Definition of Community Engagement
Get PDFA multidisciplinary department at a College of Pharmacy utilized a multi-step consensus-building process to create a shared departmental definition of community engagement that was consistent with the department’s mission and vision. Throughout the consensus building and engaged department process, faculty and staff were given opportunities to participate in community-engaged work and departmental activities, including updates in regular scheduled department meetings. This allowed faculty to have a reference and common understanding of the concept of community engagement when striving towards outlined promotion objectives. A shared understanding of what constitutes community engagement was necessary to ensure that all members of the interdisciplinary department are working toward a common goal and shared vision.
Article Type: Original Researc
Midwest SAPh Conference Introduction
No full textAbstracts from the 18th Biennial Midwest Social and Administrative Pharmacy Conference
Wednesday August 15 – Friday August 17, 201
Education
Get PDFArticle 1: ‘Hope’ing to Become a Pharmacist: Exploring Hope in First Year Pharmacy Students Bethany A. Von Hoff, PharmD; Benjamin D. Aronson, PharmD, PhD; Kristin K. Janke, PhD; Robert A. Bechtol, MS Article 2: Impact of Simulations on Health Professional Students’ Empathy: A Systematic Review Natalie R Gadbois, PharmD, MPA; Norman E Fenn III, PharmD, BCPS; Bethany McGowan, MLIS, MS; Kimberly S Plake, PhD, FAPhA Article 3: Effect of Incorporating a Cultural Awareness Digital Badge on Pharmacy Students’ Cultural Empathy Jenny Beal, PharmD; Casey Wright; Katherine Yngve; Jason Fish; Craig Zywicki; Taylor Brodner; Sue Wilder; Dan Whiteley; Kevin O’Shea; Brandon Karcher; Kimberly Plake, PhD Article 4: Evaluating the Long-term Benefits of Pharmacy Professionals’ Engagement in International/Global Health Programs Prosperity Eneh, PharmD; Olihe Okoro, Ph.D, MPH; Melanie Nicol, PharmD, PhD Article 5: Faculty Perceptions of a Tobacco Cessation Train-the-Trainer Program: A Qualitative Follow-up Study Nervana Elkhadragy, PharmD, BCPS; Robin Corelli, PharmD; Alissa Russ, PhD; Margie Snyder, PharmD, MPH, FCCP; Mercedes Clabaugh; Karen Hudmon, DrPH, MS, RPh Article 6: Predictors of Academic Performance in Pharmacy School Based on Pre Admission Characteristics Dao Tran; Zachary Rivers; Ann Philbrick; Olivia Buncher; Peter Haeg; David Stenehje
Implementation of a Hepatitis C Collaborative Drug Therapy Management Service in an HIV Ambulatory Care Clinic
Get PDF Purpose: Being the leading cause of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a growing public health threat within the United States. Of those individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), approximately 25% are co- infected with HCV. Establishment of a hepatitis C collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) service can expand the role of pharmacists in an interdisciplinary team improving health outcomes for an underserved HIV/HCV co-infected patient population.
Summary: In 2016, physicians and pharmacists identified a need to establish Hepatitis C pharmacy services in an HIV clinic. Through the recent establishment of CDTM and implementation of pharmacy services, pharmacists are now given the autonomy to manage patients co-infected with HIV/HCV. It is believed that the addition of a clinical pharmacist to an interdisciplinary team will lead to improved SVR rates, adherence, and clinic revenue, as well as decreased ADRs and drug-drug interactions among co-infected patients.
Conclusion: Implementation of HCV pharmacy services directed towards HIV/HCV co- infection is an essential patient-centered strategy addressing complex medication-related problems in an attempt to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. A single-centered, prospective study to evaluate HCV pharmacy services at the Treatment for Life Center clinic is currently ongoing.
Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties
Type: Clinical Experienc
Navigating and Supporting Marginalized Identities in Dominant Pharmacy Spaces
Get PDFImplicit or unconscious bias is one the significant contributors to inequalities. Implicit bias is a common occurrence in our society that leads to discrimination in many different institutions at various levels. If we do not mitigate our bias, we risk perpetuating inequalities in our organizations. This self-reflection reviews, in a 3-part manuscript, some of the most important issues and challenges in navigating and supporting marginalized identities in dominant spaces.
Part I of the manuscript focuses on the implicit bias manifestations and the importance of self-awareness in promoting inclusivity. One of the ways in which we can create, promote, and sustain interpersonal inclusivity in our organizations is to prepare for microaggressions before they arise. Microaggressions are the common, persistent slights that non-dominant groups in our society face on a daily basis. Another way to promote inclusivity is to explore our identities to promote self-awareness and find common-ground to mitigate microaggressive behavior.
This manuscript is written for three reasons. One, to provide guidance on how to navigate our marginalized identities. Two, this manuscript provides guidance on how to navigate our dominant identities. Three, this manuscript fills a gap in the field related to the experiences of those among us with marginalized identities. This autoethnography or self-reflection will help to empower not only myself but others, especially those of us at the margins (e.g., people of color, women, non-Christians, the LGBTQ community).
Article Type: Commentar