American Pharmacists Association Academy Research Articles

A comparison of medication counseling evaluation tools utilized in colleges of pharmacy to three recognized guidance documents

IntroductionA universal tool to assess proficiency in patient counseling has not been developed. The objectives of this project were to assess current practices in evaluating patient counseling at colleges of pharmacy and compare the results with three nationally recognized reference standards: the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists National Patient Counseling Competition Evaluation Form, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Guidelines on Pharmacist Conducted Patient Education and Counseling. MethodsA cover letter and questionnaire were sent to all members of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Laboratory Instructors Special Interest Group with an invitation to submit an evaluation tool. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the questionnaire items. An inductive approach was used to analyze the evaluation tools, which was completed independently by two members and then compared to build consensus to establish common content categories. ResultsFive major categories emerged with variability in content. More than 75% of tools included an introduction, almost 59% included collecting information, most included drug information (94%) and counseling points (88%), and most included verification of understanding (94%) and communication skills (94%). ConclusionAlthough there was variability, most evaluation tools incorporated aspects of all three guidance documents. A limitation of this study was that data may be subject to non-response bias, as the response rate was limited to 17.8%. Future work should focus on creating and validating a standardized evaluation tool to ultimately promote consistency among student pharmacists.

Profile Interview With Norman E. Fenn

Shannon L. Castek is a fourth-generation Boilermaker and fourth-professional-year student in the Purdue University College of Pharmacy. Throughout her time in pharmacy school, Shannon has enjoyed supplementing her curricular work with service-learning activities, participating in health screenings and immunization events with the Purdue chapter of the American Pharmacists Association–Academy of Student Pharmacists. She plans to pursue a pharmacy residency following graduation to achieve her dream of becoming an ambulatory care pharmacist. In this article, Shannon highlights the service-learning endeavors of Dr. Norman Fenn in the College of Pharmacy.

Evaluation of the leadership strengths of the officers serving within an APhA-ASP chapter: Implications for the profession

Background and purposeTo evaluate the strengths of the officers who recently served within an American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) chapter and to discuss the potential impacts of these strengths upon the pharmacy profession. Educational activity and settingThe chapter officers from the Classes of 2010–2016 (n = 67; 66% female) voluntarily participated in a variety of leadership development programs created by the chapter advisors. Each of these programs included activities based upon the book, Strengths Based Leadership, and the determination of each officer's top five strengths using the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment. For this study, all of the officer's top five strengths were compiled (n = 335) and evaluated based upon their individual frequencies and their association with each of the strengths based leadership domains (i.e. executing, influencing, relationship building, and strategic thinking). FindingsAll 67 officers completed the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment with the five most frequently identified strengths being achiever (n = 27), harmony (n = 27), learner (n = 26), input (n = 19), and individualization (n = 17). In addition, the officer's strengths most frequently corresponded to the leadership domain of relationship building (35%), followed by the domains of executing (28%), strategic thinking (26%), and influencing (11%). SummaryThese findings may help explain why the profession continues to succeed with respect to implementing collaborative patient-centered care, but continues to be challenged with respect to maximizing professional advocacy.

Report of the President, American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS)

The APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS) stimulates the discovery, dissemination, and application of research to improve patient health, and serves pharmacists and those APhA members who are involved in the pharmaceutical sciences. If you are a scientist, researcher, faculty member, administrative practitioner, or clinician dedicated to advancing the profession through the discovery, dissemination, and application of research to improve patient health outcomes, we want to be your professional home. Through uniting under the APhA-APRS umbrella, we can unify the voice of science in the profession and bring important expertise to many aspects of APhA: policy, the research agenda, political activism, programming, and dissemination of research. Melody Ryan, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, CGP, FCCP, FAPhA, 2014–2016 APhA-APRS President, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Professor

Report of the President, American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM)

APhA has been my home for almost 20 years. Looking back, I would have never imagined that attending the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies as a student pharmacist would lead me to one day become president of the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM) and a Trustee of the Association. The people I have met over the years, from my days as a student pharmacist through my first year serving on the Board of Trustees, have inspired me to keep living the mission of APhA. I am

Pharmacist engagement in medical home practices: Report of the APhA–APPM Medical Home Workgroup

ObjectivesTo identify factors that have led to successful involvement of pharmacists in patient-centered medical home (PCMH) practices, identify challenges and suggested solutions for pharmacists involved in medical home practices, and disseminate findings. Data sourcesIn July 2011, the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmacy Practice & Management convened a workgroup of pharmacists currently practicing or conducting research in National Committee for Quality Assurance–accredited PCMH practices. Data synthesisA set of guiding questions to explore the early engagement and important process steps of pharmacist engagement with PCMH practices was used to conduct a series of conference calls during an 8-month period. ConclusionBased on knowledge gained from early adopters of PCMH, the workgroup identified 10 key findings that it believes are essential to pharmacist integration into PCMH practices.

Role of the pharmacist in preventing distribution of counterfeit medications

To help combat the threat of counterfeit medications, an American Pharmacists Association taskforce recommends that pharmacists purchase medications from known, reliable sources, warn patients of the dangers of purchasing medications over the Internet, determine whether distributors purchased the product from the manufacturer or another reliable source, and monitor counterfeit product alerts. ObjectivesTo provide an overview of the counterfeit medication problem and recommendations of a joint American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science and APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management taskforce. Data sourcesSciFinder and PubMed were searched from 1980 to March 2011 using the following keywords: counterfeit drug product, counterfeit medications, drug product authentication, drug product verification, and track-and-trace. Publications, presentations, and websites of organizations that research the counterfeit medication problem in the United States and other countries were reviewed. A representative from the security division of a pharmaceutical manufacturer and a representative from a supplier of anticounterfeiting technologies gave presentations to the taskforce. SummaryThe taskforce recommends that pharmacists (1) purchase medications from known, reliable sources; (2) warn patients of the dangers of purchasing medications over the Internet; (3) confirm with distributors that products were purchased from manufacturers or other reliable sources; (4) monitor counterfeit product alerts; (5) examine products for suspicious appearance; (6) work with the pharmaceutical industry, distributors, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to close gaps in the supply chain, especially for drugs in short supply; (7) use scanning technology in the pharmacy as part of a prescription verification process; (8) educate themselves, coworkers, and patients about the risks of counterfeit medications; and (9) report suspicious medications to FDA, the distributor, and the manufacturer. ConclusionThe consequence of a patient receiving a counterfeit medication in the United States could be catastrophic, and pharmacists must play an active role in preventing such an event from occurring.

JAPhA gets new editor-in-chief

JAPhA gets new editor-in-chief

Vision 20/20: Expanding Pharmacy's Educational Horizons

Last year, President Yanchick challenged us to Think Off the Map. Like many of you, my career has largely focused on doing just that. In my case, it involved helping to define and improve pediatric pharmacotherapy practice and education and in addressing the issues of substance abuse education and assistance. I was part of what many considered a radical group of thought leaders who developed the entry-level PharmD program at the University of Nebraska in 1976. Along the way, I have found that questioning convention and challenging faculty members and students to become agents of change is vital to our ongoing growth and development. I am pleased and excited to lead AACP and use this national platform to continue the development and implementation of key priorities. Those of you who know me know that a passion I have is how we educate our students and practitioners about substance abuse and provide prevention services and assistance to those who are impaired. I recently attended a Citizen Advocacy Center conference in San Francisco, which reminded all participants that our core responsibility is protecting the public from harm caused by health professionals impaired by substance abuse. This is a challenging and complicated issue that local, state, and national organizations all struggle to address adequately. This year, I am appointing a Special Committee on Substance Abuse to be chaired by Dr. Paul Jungnickel. This Committee will be charged to examine and recommend how pharmacy colleges should prepare all pharmacy students to appropriately assist those who are addicted or affected by others' addiction and help support addiction recovery with an emphasis on public safety. The Committee is directed to include recommendations on core curricular content and delivery, both for pharmacy students and continuing education for pharmacists, and of prevention and assistance processes within our colleges. I believe the time is right for us to think boldly about the future of pharmacy. I have chosen as my presidential theme 20/20 Vision: Expanding Pharmacy's Educational Horizons. I will use Initiatives X, Y, and as a planning model for the Association in keeping with President Yanchick's very successful reintroduction of this model during the past year. To bring this vision and our priorities into proper focus, I will describe 3 major initiatives that we will pursue. In the coming year Issues will be faculty recruitment and retention and assessment services; Issue Y will be the maturation of globalization of pharmacy education; and Issue X will be maximizing pharmacists' contributions to primary care. Victor Yanchick reported on the excellent progress we have made in the areas of faculty development, assessment, and global alliance development. Initiatives Z were introduced by Past-President Cynthia Raehl. The faculty development component addresses our long-standing concern of the faculty shortage and from where the next generation of well-qualified faculty members will come. This is an issue that will continue to face us in the years ahead. To this end, in the coming year we will see American Pharmacy Educators Week come to fruition in this important area. I am directing the Association to continue the other important work, including the joint taskforce with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, and American Pharmacists Association's Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science. The Association will also continue our exhibit programs at key national meetings. Reports of the success of college career fair booths promoting pharmacy as a career, where materials supplied by AACP have been utilized as promotional materials, are encouraging. I direct AACP to continue to actively encourage such academic detailing by member colleges. Dr. Yanchick also described our efforts during the past year to champion the development of the Global Alliance for Pharmaceutical Education. …

Student pharmacist knowledge and attitudes regarding oral emergency contraception

ObjectivesTo describe student pharmacist knowledge and attitudes regarding oral emergency contraceptives (OECs) and identify factors affecting student pharmacists' knowledge of and attitudes toward OECs. DesignCross-sectional survey. SettingUnited States, May through June 2006. ParticipantsStudents enrolled in a U.S. school/college of pharmacy with an American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter. Intervention33-item electronic survey containing 9 questions evaluating knowledge, 16 questions assessing attitudes, and 8 questions requesting demographic information. Main outcome measuresOverall scores for the knowledge and attitudes sections were calculated for each student. Statistical analyses were then performed to determine the relationships between knowledge and attitude scores and the different demographic variables. Results752 students participated in the survey. On the knowledge portion of the survey, respondents correctly answered a mean of 5.9 of 9 items. Factors affecting total knowledge scores included the student's academic year (P < 0.0001), previous participation in a course that covered contraception (P < 0.0001), and having covered OECs specifically in that course (P = 0.039). The average attitude score was 56.5 (range 20-80). The attitude scores of students with higher knowledge scores were more favorable toward OECs (P = 0.05). Political beliefs and religious affiliation also had a significant effect on total attitude scores (P < 0.0001 for both). ConclusionPersonal factors such as religious affiliation and political viewpoints play a considerable role in student pharmacist attitudes toward OECs. However, students who have more knowledge of OECs are more supportive of them and have fewer concerns about their use. Based on these data, inclusion of this topic in pharmacy school curricula is important in helping students to develop fully informed opinions regarding OECs.

Pharmacists’Opinions Regarding Level of Involvement in Emergency Preparedness and Response

To assess opinions of pharmacist-members of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM) regarding the appropriate level of pharmacists' involvement in emergency preparedness and response activities and to determine whether opinions differed according to demographic characteristics. Cross-sectional, descriptive, Web-based survey. United States. Five hundred eighteen APhA-APPM member-pharmacists. Responses to survey questions. Respondents to our survey indicated that pharmacists should have a high level of involvement in emergency preparedness and response activities. Traditional pharmacy practice activities (such as medication preparation and dispensing) and patient education were the most highly supported roles for pharmacists. Newer activities such as surveillance, vaccine administration, and mobilization were also strongly supported. Demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, degree, state of residence, practice setting, and employment setting, did not influence respondents' opinions. The only characteristic that influenced pharmacist opinions was previous participation in local and/or state emergency preparedness and response activities. Compared with other respondents, pharmacists who participated in these activities gave higher ratings to these possible roles for pharmacists: surveillance, triage/evaluation, community planning and preparation, mobilization, and training of others. Pharmacist-members of APhA-APPM who responded to this survey believe that participating in public health activities related to emergency preparedness and response is important for members of the pharmacy profession.