23 research outputs found
Use of Clinical Practice Guidelines and Quality Metrics to Assess Primary Care Management of Osteoporosis
No full textBackground: Clinical practice guidelines and quality measures provide recommendations for physicians addressing osteoporosis management. This study explored the alignment of osteoporosis clinical practice in a primary care geriatric clinic with recommended guidelines. Methods: This retrospective chart review included 388 patients 65 or older from a primary care geriatric clinic diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis, with or without a fragility fracture. Data included history of falls and use of DXA scans, FRAX(R) fracture risk assessment tool, osteoporosis medication, and fall risk mitigation plans. Results: For age-related primary fracture prevention, 68% of women and 87% of men had documented DXA scans, and 45% of patients diagnosed with osteoporosis and 42% determined at high risk were prescribed osteoporosis medication. For secondary fracture prevention, 72% of women aged 67 to 85 had DXA scans and 21% were prescribed osteoporosis medication. Only 10% of patients with a history of falls had documented fall risk management plans. Conclusion: Although showing higher rates of primary and secondary prevention outcomes than did research results from general primary care, gaps were identified for high fracture risk patients and fall risk management documentation. Medical record review may not provide sufficient data to capture factors influencing decision-making for fracture prevention.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Participation in this publication was made possible for author, Kathlene Camp, by Grant Number K01HP33457 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resource and Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Impact of a Feedback Processing Framework on Feedback Orientation in First Year Pharmacy Students
No full textPurpose: Despite the widely accepted value of feedback within pharmacy school curricula and clinical practice, there are limited tools and resources to help students effectively process feedback they receive. The 6 Ps of processing feedback (poise, process, positionality, percolate, proceed, and perspective) may be a useful method for teaching pharmacy students how to best evaluate and utilize feedback. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the impact of this stepwise feedback processing framework on feedback orientation in first year pharmacy students. Methods: First-year pharmacy students enrolled at the University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy (COP) beginning August 2024 were included in this quasi-experimental pre-post study. Students were introduced to the 6 Ps of Processing Feedback framework via didactic lecture in Fall 2024 and were required to complete the validated Feedback Orientation Scale (FOS) via Qualtrics at baseline and immediately following the didactic lecture. The FOS is a 20-item assessment, broken into four dimensions of feedback orientation, 1) Utility, 2) Accountability, 3) Social Awareness, and 4) Feedback Self-efficacy. Each dimension contains five items which are ranked on a five-point Likert Scale. Higher FOS scores indicate stronger positive orientation towards feedback. Differences in overall pre- and post-FOS scores as well as scores on individual items, were evaluated via Sign tests. Students who did not complete both pre- and post-FOS due to tardiness or absences were excluded from data analysis. Results: Seventy-seven first-year students were enrolled in the COP at the time of this study. Sixty-six students completed both assessments and were included in the study analysis. The median overall FOS score increased from 86.5 points pre-intervention to 97 points post-intervention (p = 0.006). Analyzing individual items, three of five significantly increased in the Utility dimension, two of five significantly increased in the Accountability dimension, and all five items significantly increased in the Social Awareness and Feedback Self-efficacy dimensions when comparing pre-post intervention scores. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that implementation of a stepwise feedback processing framework into the pharmacy school curriculum improves feedback orientation in first year pharmacy students. Future research is planned to focus on whether this improvement is sustained once students receive substantial feedback during experiential rotations
The significance of anti-plagiarism in modern day authorship
No full textPlagiarism is the act of appropriating the exact wording of another author without attribution. Plagiarism takes place in four forms – Direct, Mosaic, unintentional and self-plagiarism. The internet has drastically changed the face of plagiarism. It has made all the steps of the plagiarism process – locating material, copying it and presenting it to audience- easier as well as its detection. The factors that contribute to plagiarism include the Publish or Perish' syndrome, Personal ambition, Vanity and Financial pressure. All of these breed Intellectual dishonesty, falsification of the obtained data, fabrication of data, fragmented publication and self-publishing. In order to promote anti-plagiarism institutions should have units for monitoring research and development for their quality. Institutions should set policies and take responsibility for integrity of research reporting. This is particularly important for boosting potentials of novice researchers. This in turn ensures the quality of education most especially in developing countriesKeywords: Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, plagiarism process, research integrity, intellectual dishonest
Development of a Stress Scale for Faculty: Preliminary Findings & Next Steps
No full textPurpose: Faculty face multiple stressors balancing numerous responsibilities. Although validated instruments (e.g. Perceived Stress Scale) exist, there is none specifically for pharmacy faculty. The objective was to develop and validate a stress scale for pharmacy faculty. Methods: As prompted from discussions during faculty meetings and independent focus groups, a stress scale was developed to support faculty wellness initiatives. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, 2007-2017, key search terms: 'faculty stress and burnout', 'faculty job satisfaction', 'pharmacy faculty stress', and 'stress survey'. Over 40 articles including 20 stress scales were reviewed. Themes and 150 scale items were categorized. The survey was then administered via Qualtrics to select faculty across various institutions to evaluate the instrument's psychometric properties. Results: Respondents representing a wide range of backgrounds (e.g. age, rank, position) provided feedback on question wording, format, and preference (one year or month reference). Content and face validity were confirmed. Four constructs characterized faculty stress: Support systems (spirituality, social support, coping strategies), Mental health (emotional reactivity/health, personality traits), Physical health (energy, wellness activities), and Satisfaction (compensation, work-life balance). The final survey was refined to consist of 10 items. Conclusions: Results of this study demonstrate the reliability and validity of a new scale for evaluating faculty stress. Next steps include survey administration to faculty at multiple pharmacy schools allowing for comparisons of rankings based on demographics. Future research will include developing a modified version for other health disciplines to create strategies to reduce stress as indicators of targeted wellness initiatives
Implementation of a New Clinic-Based, Pharmacist-Managed PCSK9 Inhibitor Consultation Service
No full textW.E.B. Du Bois Writes The Black Flame: Tracing His Political Aesthetic and Its Relation to Current Aesthetic Movements
No full textThis thesis investigates the political aesthetic project of W.E.B. Du Bois by examining seminal essays in his oeuvre and with a dedicated focus on his last work of fiction, The Black Flame. In his political aesthetics, Du Bois brings aesthetic theory into direct conversation with the social and political circumstances of his time, particularly the state of race relations in nineteenth- and twentieth-century America. Art becomes a medium for African-American expression, and consequently, a means to challenge racist propaganda and encourage social freedom and uplift. The Black Flame trilogy, published in the last years of Du Bois���s life, remains an understudied, yet monumental, work of history and fiction. The trilogy stands as the culmination of Du Bois���s thought and research, and as such, is an indispensable resource to understand the evolution and final formulation of his politico-aesthetic theory.
This thesis traces the development of Du Bois���s political aesthetics through early works such as The Souls of Black Folk, and Du Bois���s mid-period in works such as Darkwater and ���The Criteria of Negro Art.��� Importantly, I connect the author���s political aesthetic project to the contemporary transformative aesthetics movement. Briefly, transformative aesthetics can be defined as both a cultivating sensibility and a creative practice aimed at self-transformation, as well as social and political transformation. I argue that Du Bois���s work in political aesthetics demonstrates that the author is an unrecognized, but important, precursor to the transformative aesthetics movement. The interconnectedness of art and politics, and of the aesthetic and the ethical, finds its fullest and most thorough development in The Black Flame trilogy. A close reading of the novels also reveals changes and tensions within Du Bois���s political aesthetics project as the author uses the space of the novels for both an introspective and retrospective journey into the social, political, and philosophical issues and insights that occupied his life and career
The relationship between selected independent variables and the level of job satisfaction of school counselors: implications for administors and policy makers, 2010
No full textMany school counselors have not utilized their leadership opportunities because of role ambiguity in their position which leads to job dissatisfaction. The researcher believes that until school counselors can become more satisfied in their positions they will not operate as educational leaders. The primary purpose of the study was to identify if there was significant relationship between selected independent variables (school counselor demographics, school demographics, school counselor leadership attributes, principal leadership style. teacher-school counselor relationship, parent-school counselor relationship, school counselor recognition, and school counselor role responsibilities) and the level of job satisfaction of school counselors in a metropolitan Atlanta school district and to further reveal how administrators and policy makers can guide school counselors in contributing to and improving the legitimacy of the profession. The statistical test that was used to test the relationships as expressed in the research questions is the correlation analysis. The results of the study were analyzed to explain which independent variables have the greatest impact on school counselors job satisfaction. Findings from this study suggest that there is a statistically signification relationship between selected independent variables (school counselor leadership attributes, principal leadership style, teacher school counselor relationship, parent-school counselor relationship, school counselor recognition, and school counselor role responsibilities) and job satisfaction
Assessment of the Regenerative Potential of Organic Waste Streams in Lagos Mega-City
No full textabstract: There is never a better time for this study than now when Nigeria as a country is going through the worst time in power supply. In Lagos city about 12,000 tons of waste is generated daily, and is expected to increase as the city adds more population. The management of these waste has generated great concern among professionals, academia and government agencies. This study examined the regenerative management of organic waste, which accounts for about 45% of the total waste generated in Lagos. To do this, two management scenarios were developed: landfill methane to electricity and compost; and analyzed using data collected during field work and from government reports. While it is understood that landfilling waste is the least sustainable option, this study argued that it could be a viable method for developing countries.
Using U.S EPA LandGEM and the IPCC model, estimates of capturable landfill methane gas was derived for three landfills studied. Furthermore, a 35-year projection of waste and landfill methane was done for three newly proposed landfills. Assumptions were made that these new landfills will be sanitary. It was established that an average of 919,480,928m3 methane gas could be captured to generate an average of 9,687,176 MW of electricity annually. This makes it a significant source of power supply to a city that suffers from incessant power outages.
Analysis of composting organics in Lagos was also done using descriptive method. Although, it could be argued that composting is the most regenerative way of managing organics, but it has some problems associated with it. Earthcare Compost Company processes an average of 600 tons of organics on a daily basis. The fraction of waste processed is infinitesimal compared to the rate of waste generated. One major issue identified in this study as an obstacle to extensive use of this method is the marketability of compost.
The study therefore suggests that government should focus on getting the best out of the landfill option, since it is the most feasible for now and could be a major source of energy.Dissertation/ThesisMasters Thesis Urban and Environmental Planning 201
ROLE CONFLICTS, SOCIAL SUPPORTS, AND MATERNAL HEALTH CONDITION IN LAGOS
No full textThe study adopted the use of questionnaire, and in-depth interview research approaches to examine the maternal role conflicts and the access to social support that can cushion or prevent the incidence of ill-health during pregnancy among 1362 women that were in their reproductive age (15-49). Data analysis employed univariate and multivariate (binary logistic regression) and two models were formulated. The result shows where women were exclusively doing all the household chores were 0.803 times less likely to be in good health condition. It also indicated that lack of spouse or relatives’ support were negatively related to maternal good health. These factors would 0.583 and 0.927 less likely to enhance good maternal health. The authors conclude that woman double roles have negative influence on maternal health. The author recommends better enlightenment and education of men on exigent maternal health complications issues, to secure their support for current mothers and potential mother
Use of Clinical Practice Guidelines and Quality Metrics to Assess Primary Care Management of Osteoporosis
No full textBackground: Clinical practice guidelines and quality measures provide recommendations for physicians addressing osteoporosis management. This study explored the alignment of osteoporosis clinical practice in a primary care geriatric clinic with recommended guidelines. Methods : This retrospective chart review included 388 patients 65 or older from a primary care geriatric clinic diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis, with or without a fragility fracture. Data included history of falls and use of DXA scans, FRAX® fracture risk assessment tool, osteoporosis medication, and fall risk mitigation plans. Results : For age-related primary fracture prevention, 68% of women and 87% of men had documented DXA scans, and 45% of patients diagnosed with osteoporosis and 42% determined at high risk were prescribed osteoporosis medication. For secondary fracture prevention, 72% of women aged 67 to 85 had DXA scans and 21% were prescribed osteoporosis medication. Only 10% of patients with a history of falls had documented fall risk management plans. Conclusion : Although showing higher rates of primary and secondary prevention outcomes than did research results from general primary care, gaps were identified for high fracture risk patients and fall risk management documentation. Medical record review may not provide sufficient data to capture factors influencing decision-making for fracture prevention
