Outcomes Assessment of a Pharmacist-Directed Seamless Care Program in an Ambulatory Oncology Clinic
This article focuses on the intervention group, particularly the identification of drug-related problems (DRPs) and utilization of health care services as well the satisfaction of 3 types of health professionals with the services provided by the pharmacist-directed seamless care program. Overall, the seamless care pharmacist (SCP) identified an average of 3.7 DRPs per intervention patient; the most common DRP reported was a patient not receiving or taking a drug therapy for which there is an indication. The SCP identified more DRPs in patients receiving adjuvant treatment compared to those receiving palliative treatment. O...
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - January 16, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Edwards, S. J., Abbott, R., Edwards, J., LeBlanc, M., Dranitsaris, G., Donnan, J., Laing, K., Whelan, M. A., MacKinnon, N. J. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Impact of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor Treatment on the Rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center Patient Population
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated that the use of a PDE5 inhibitor in this VAMC patient population was not associated with an increase in the incidence of STDs. Individuals who contracted a new STD tended to be younger, not married, and African American. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - January 16, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Corbo, J. M., Brown, J. N., Bryan, W. E., Townsend, M. L. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Management of Comorbidities in Diabetics With Renal Cell Carcinoma: Past Utilization and Current Outcomes
Conclusion:
Reinforcing guidelines compliance for hyperlipidemia management in patients with DM may provide a considerable cancer benefit if diagnosed with RCC. Studies evaluating the need for cholesterol-lowering pharmacotherapy in guidelines-noncompliant DM cases upon RCC diagnosis are currently needed. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - January 16, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Rabey, J. L., Yin, J., Kublas, T. M., Mashtare, T., Ceacareanu, A. C. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Impact of the Fracture Risk Assessment on Patient and Physician Behavior in Osteoporosis Prevention
Conclusion:
Physician behavior was not influenced by FRAX results in the intervention group; however, positive patient behavior changes occurred in both groups. Primary prevention efforts conducted through heel ultrasound screening and pharmacist consultation led women to follow-up; however, awareness still needs to be raised of the value of FRAX in osteoporosis prevention. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - January 16, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: McConaha, J. L., Berdine, H. J., Skomo, M. L., Laux, R. V., Higginbotham, S. K., O'Neil, C. K. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Role of Illness Perceptions and Medication Beliefs on Medication Compliance of Elderly Hypertensive Cohorts
Conclusion:
The findings provide practical basis for designing interventions and programs aimed at compliance building in elderly populations having hypertension by incorporating the value and importance of patient perceptions of illness and medications in order to achieve desired patient outcomes. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - January 16, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Rajpura, J. R., Nayak, R. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Risks of Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 in Cardiac Surgery
(Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - January 16, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Haynes, G. R. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Benzodiazepines: A Major Component in Unintentional Prescription Drug Overdoses With Opioid Analgesics
The misuse and abuse of prescription medications in the United States continues to increase despite interventions by health care professionals, regulatory, and law enforcement agencies. Opioid analgesics are the leading class of prescription drugs that have caused unintentional overdose deaths. Benzodiazepines when taken alone are relatively safe agents in overdose. However, a 5-fold increase in deaths attributed to benzodiazepines occurred from 1999 to 2009. Emergency department visits related to opioid analgesics increased by 111% followed by benzodiazepines 89%. During 2003 to 2009, the 2 prescriptions drugs with the hi...
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - January 16, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Jann, M., Kennedy, W. K., Lopez, G. Tags: Continuing Education Article Source Type: research
Outside the Lines and Across the Border
(Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - November 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Pinto, J. Tags: New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists Section Source Type: research
Impact of Pharmacy Student and Resident-Led Discharge Counseling on Heart Failure Patients
Conclusions:
There was no statistically significant difference in readmission rates; however, several medication errors were prevented, and a large percentage of patients expressed an improved understanding of their medications. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - November 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Szkiladz, A., Carey, K., Ackerbauer, K., Heelon, M., Friderici, J., Kopcza, K. Tags: Pharmacy Education Source Type: research
Evaluating the Economic Impact of a Targeted Medication Intervention Program
Conclusion: This 6-month study resulted in an ROI to the pharmacy chain of negative 3%. Under the current reimbursement model, for this program to break even, the average time to complete one targeted medication intervention must equal 21.85 minutes or less. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - November 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Rhodes, S. A., Reynolds, A. E., Marciniak, M. W., Ferreri, S. P. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Measuring North Carolina Pharmacists' Support for Expanded Authority to Administer Human Papillomavirus Vaccines
Conclusion:
A large proportion of pharmacists were supportive of an expanded role in providing HPV vaccines. Exploring alternate delivery mechanisms like this one is advantageous. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - November 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Richman, A. R., Swanson, R. S., Branham, A. R., Partridge, B. N. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Compliance With Inpatient Drug Use Process Steps: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Conclusions:
This cross-sectional observational study revealed a significant difference in the drug use process compliance in terms of drug preparation and drug administration for inpatients at the bedside, between 2007 and 2011. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - November 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Barthelemy, I., Huet, E., Guilbeault, M., Bussieres, J.-F. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Methadone Maintenance Treatment Versus Methadone Maintenance Treatment Plus Auricular Acupuncture: Impacts on Patient Satisfaction and Coping Mechanism
This study intended to (1) describe the baseline patient satisfaction level and preferred coping strategies and (2) assess patient satisfaction and coping mechanisms pre- and postintervention. Patients on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in Terengganu, Malaysia, were randomized into either MMT or MMT plus auricular acupuncture (MMT + AA) groups. All received the standard MMT, while participants on MMT + AA underwent concurrent AA session thrice weekly for 2 months (each session = 30 minutes). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 16.0, employing descriptive and nonparametric statistics. Participations were received...
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - November 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Lua, P. L., Talib, N. S., Ismail, Z. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
New Therapeutic Alternatives for the Management of Dyslipidemia
Hypercholesterolemia affects over 34 million adults in the United States and is a major cause of coronary heart disease (CHD). Conventional therapies, such as statins, have demonstrated their ability to improve clinical end points and decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with CHD. Lomitapide (Juxtapid®), mipomersen (Kynamro®), and icosapent (Vascepa®) are 3 novel agents approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past 2 years, which offer new lipid-lowering treatment options with unique pharmacology. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - November 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cassagnol, M., Ezzo, D., Patel, P. N. Tags: Continuing Education Article Source Type: research
A Review of Warfarin Dosing With Concurrent Acetaminophen Therapy
Warfarin is frequently used for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolism, yet it is associated with numerous drug interactions. Regarding over-the-counter pain medications, the preferred analgesic for those patients who are taking warfarin is acetaminophen. There are, however, reports of elevation in the international normalized ratio (INR) in those patients taking concurrent warfarin and acetaminophen. For those practitioners who manage warfarin therapy, there is little guidance regarding management of the drug–drug interaction between warfarin and acetaminophen. This review seeks to evaluate the drug interac...
Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice - September 24, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Pinson, G. M., Beall, J. W., Kyle, J. A. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
