UHSP Collections (University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy)
Not a member yet
1490 research outputs found
Sort by
Eyewash, Drenching Hose, and Shower Equipment Policy and Procedure
No full textThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29CFR 1910.151 requires that suitable means for flushing and quick drenching of the eyes and body must be provided in any area where corrosive materials are used.
Departments/offices that have areas where hazardous materials are used are responsible for ensuring that emergency eyewash stations and safety showers are installed and maintained before allowing work with hazardous materials to be performed.
In most cases, the initial first aid treatment for a hazardous materials exposure is to rinse the affected area with water for at least 15 minutes prior to seeking any other medical treatment. It is often critical that the eyes be flushed during the first few seconds following an exposure with contaminant free water if injury is to be minimized. That’s why it is important that eyewash stations and showers are kept in proper working order and inspected with a documented program.
In order to reduce exposure risks, proper personal protective equipment should always be worn when working with hazardous chemicals or engaged in hazardous activities. Emergency showers and eyewash stations are not a substitute for proper primary protective devices. Please refer to the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis policy on personal protective equipment for further guidance.
Applies to Office of Environmental Health & Safety, Office of Facilities Management, students, faculty, and staff, all offices with eyewash, drenching hoses, and shower equipment in laboratories
Smoking quit rates among patients receiving pharmacist-provided pharmacotherapy and telephonic smoking cessation counseling
No full textObjectives: Tobacco use is the nation\u27s leading cause of preventable illness and death, causing a significant burden on the health care system. Many cessation pharmacotherapy treatment options are available to help smokers quit, including nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) and prescription medications. Research indicates that pharmacists are able to provide a positive benefit to smokers who want to quit through pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. The aim of the present work was to examine the quit rates among participants who received smoking cessation pharmacotherapy and pharmacist-provided telephone-based quit counseling services. Design: Retrospective database review of enrolled participants. Setting: Telephone-based pharmacotherapy and medication counseling services offered from a medication management center. Participants: State employees who voluntarily contacted a medication management center for smoking cessation services after receiving promotional flyers. Main outcome measures: Long-term quit rates at 7 and 13 months were determined by means of patient self-report in response to questioning. Smoking cessation was considered to be a success if the patient reported not smoking for the past 30 days. Results: A total of 238 participants were included in the review. Thirty-nine participants completed the program after the first treatment, 12 participants after the second treatment, and 4 participants after the third treatment. Two patients completed the program more than once. Eighty-five participants (36%) reported results at 7-month follow-up; of these, 43 (51%) were smoking free. A total of 44 participants (18%) reported results at 13-month follow-up; of these, 24 participants (55%) reported being smoking free. There were no significant differences in the percentages of smoking-free participants at 7 or 13 months, regardless of their first treatment (P = 0.06 and 0.345, respectively). Conclusion: Successful quit rates were higher than previously demonstrated with other telephone-based smoking cessation programs. Therefore, pharmacist-provided telephonebased counseling may be beneficial in helping patients to quit smoking. Future research is warranted to examine the benefits of these types of programs
Comparative risk impact of edoxaban in the management of stroke and venous thromboembolism
No full textEdoxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2015 for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and treatment of venous thromboembolism. It is the fourth target-specific oral anticoagulant to be approved. Edoxaban is noninferior for efficacy compared to warfarin for both approved indications. Edoxaban is superior to warfarin for the first major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding event in venous thromboembolism and major bleeding in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Edoxaban is dosed once daily for both indications and requires dose adjustment for renal function. In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, use is not recommended in patients with a creatinine clearance greater than 95 mL/min due to reduced efficacy. Edoxaban offers a new therapeutic alternative to the currently available options in the market
Incorporating an internet-based voicemail drug information assessment in an introductory pharmacy practice course
No full textObjectives: To examine the implementation and student perceptions of an innovative verbal drug information assessment. Design: The drug information assignment in an introductory pharmacy practice course was redesigned and an assessment of a verbal response to a drug information request was added with the use of an internet-based voicemail (IBVM) system. Assessment: Students performed well on both the verbal vs. written assessments. Most students strongly agreed or agreed that completing both assignments was a valuable experience; however, more students agreed that the verbal assignment was useful (90% vs. 83%). More students agreed that the verbal assignment helped prepare them as a pharmacist (97% vs. 85%) and that the verbal assignment increased their confidence (82% vs. 78%). Student comments echoed these results; additionally, many indicated that the verbal assessment was realistic. Conclusion: The IBVM assessment was successful, user-friendly, and this mode of assessment may be useful in other courses
The use of edoxaban in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism: A pharmacist\u27s perspective
No full textUntil 2010, the vitamin K antagonist warfarin was the only available oral anticoagulant for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolic events (SEE) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the United States. Despite its proven efficacy, the use of warfarin is limited by numerous disadvantages, including a delayed onset of action and variable efficacy resulting from interactions with genetic and environmental factors. Consequently, optimal anticoagulation with warfarin requires dose adjustments based on frequent monitoring. In contrast to warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban have predictable pharmacokinetic profiles, few drug-drug interactions, no known interactions with food, and can be administered at fixed doses without the requirement for routine monitoring. All DOACs have received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the prevention of stroke or SEE in patients with NVAF and the treatment of VTE based on phase 3 trials demonstrating that they are at least as efficacious as warfarin. In addition, the incidence of clinically relevant bleeding associated with DOACs is comparable to or lower than with warfarin. In this article, the preclinical and clinical data that led to the FDA approval of once-daily edoxaban in January 2015 are presented. Furthermore, practical considerations for edoxaban use including dosing recommendations, transitions of care, reversal of anticoagulation, precautions, contraindications, and cost-effectiveness are discussed. Edoxaban is an important addition to oral anticoagulation options available for the therapeutic management of patients with NVAF or VTE
Enterprise Risk Management Policy
No full textThe Board of Trustees of University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis (“UHSP” or “University”) has adopted a Risk Appetite Statement to guide the University in making decisions regarding acceptable levels of risk in pursuit of achieving the University’s strategic direction and objectives under the umbrella of its overarching mission.
This Enterprise Risk Management Policy establishes the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (“ERMC”) and the procedures intended to identify, communicate, rate and prioritize material risks across the entire University. Together, the Risk Appetite Statement and the Enterprise Risk Management Policy create a framework to guide the University’s risk management activities.
This policy applies to all members of the University Leadership Team and employees assigned to or delegated responsibility for managing specific risks
PCSK9 Inhibitors: An Emerging Class of Medications
No full textObjective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 2 human monoclonal antibodies, alirocumab and evolocumab, on reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), cardiovascular benefits, and their place in current practice. Data Sources: A search of MEDLINE and Scopus databases (1966 to May 2016) with search terms alirocumab, evolocumab, LDL, and PCSK9. Study Selection and Data Extraction: The search identified phase 3 randomized control trials in English language in the past 10 years that studied LDL-C reduction of alirocumab or evolocumab. The studies were assessed for all efficacy and safety endpoints. Data Synthesis: Twelve total studies were identified evaluating alirocumab or evolocumab. These monoclonal antibodies have been shown to significantly decrease LDL-C as monotherapy and in combination with statins in phase 3 clinical trials in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia as well as familial hypercholesterolemia by inhibiting PCSK9. Alirocumab significantly reduced LDL-C by up to 61%, while evolocumab significantly reduced LDL-C by up to 66%. Adverse effects of these medications have been low and overall well tolerated. Conclusion: Although these monoclonal antibodies have shown to significantly reduce LDL-C, their effect on cardiovascular outcomes has not yet been determined. Further studies are being conducted to assess the cardiovascular benefit of both alirocumab and evolocumab. Until these studies demonstrate a reduction in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, statins should remain first-line therapy for most patients. However, alirocumab and evolocumab can be used as an effective adjunctive therapy option to lower LDL-C or in patients who are statin intolerant
Water quality in selected small drinking water systems of missouri rural communities
No full textSmall drinking water treatment systems (serving \u3c10,000 population) in rural communities frequently encounter multiple challenges in water quality and federal regulatory compliance, especially the disinfection byproduct (DBP) regulations, due to source water variations, limited resources, and aging infrastructures. Unlike most studies on the DBP control using synthetic water in laboratory settings, this research aimed to identify the major water quality issues confronting small systems in the state of Missouri (MO), the United States of America (USA). Three small systems were selected based on source water and geographic locations. Water samples were collected quarterly from each major treatment process during the period of May 2012 to March 2013 and analyzed to identify the treatment effectiveness and potential water quality issues in each small system. Results of water quality characterization showed that the major water quality issue in the selected small systems was the low efficiency of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal, especially the DOC species that are considered as the DBP precursors. Most collected water samples had a higher trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) maximum contaminant limit (MCL) (80 µg/L). Based on the analysis of the treatment efficiency in each system, several strategies for water quality improvement were recommended, and a few of which have been implemented in the small systems, leading to improved drinking water quality and compliance with the USEPA DBP regulations. This study would provide a valuable aid to small system operators and local water authority in context of water quality improvement and the regulatory compliance
Multiple paternity in three wild populations of Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)
No full textMultiple paternity is widespread among animals. Within snakes, multiple paternity has been well-documented with the exception of the family Elapidae. However, variation in the frequency of multiple paternity among populations is poorly documented and warrants further investigation. Here, we provide evidence for multiple paternity in three wild populations of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). We documented multiple paternity in six of 12 Pennsylvania litters, five of 12 Michigan litters, and two of two Illinois litters. Female body size did not influence the likelihood of multiple paternity. However, an increase in female size correlated with increased litter size. Including this study, multiple paternity is now documented in 21 snake species belonging to 15 genera and four families. These results have implications for the captive management and conservation of this endangered rattlesnake. Specifically, captive breeding programs, such as the Eastern Massasauga Species Survival Plan (SSP®), might consider providing opportunities for multiple paternity
Prescription medicine sharing: Exploring patients\u27 beliefs and experiences
No full textBackground: Prescription medicine sharing has been defined as the lending of medicines (giving prescription medicines to someone else) or borrowing of medicines (being given and using a medicine prescribed for another person). This qualitative study explored the views of patients, to elicit information regarding factors influencing medicine sharing behaviours, their experiences of the consequences of prescription medicine sharing, and their risk assessment strategies when deciding to share. Methods: One-on-one, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were carried out in Auckland, New Zealand between September 2013 and August 2014 with 17 patients, purposively sampled to provide information from different socio-demographic backgrounds. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a general inductive approach. The study received ethical approval, and all interviewees provided written informed consent. Results: Findings were captured within five overarching themes: types of shared medicines; perceived benefits of sharing medicines; negative experiences of sharing; factors influencing sharing behaviours; and risk assessment strategies. Participants reported that sharing helped them to avoid treatment costs and the inconvenience associated with medical visits such as booking appointments. Conversely, unanticipated side effects, allergies, and taking inappropriate medicines were the main adverse consequences of sharing. Altruism, limited access to medicines/health services, sociocultural factors, and having unused prescription medicines were factors influencing sharing behaviours. Participants reported assessing the safety of sharing a medicine primarily based on symptom matching, past illness experiences, and knowledge about the medicines. Conclusions: This study enriches previous survey findings, by providing insight into patients\u27 reasons for medicines sharing. Healthcare providers should consider asking their patients about any medicines they have shared and their future sharing intentions, in order to use the opportunity for discussing safer sharing practices, without promoting the behaviour. The findings are helpful for informing the development of potential interventions and targeted educational messages about safe medicine use for patients