Nontraditional Doctor Research Articles

The Effectiveness of Pharmacokinetic Review in Student Success in a Nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy Program

The Effectiveness of Pharmacokinetic Review in Student Success in a Nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy Program

Predictors of Academic Success in a Nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program at a Historically Black College and University

Objective. Rapid changes in the current US health care system, especially in the fields of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, require practicing pharmacists to acquire new knowledge and skills. Despite the growth of opportunities for pharmacists within new spaces such as nanotechnology, informatics, and pharmacogenomics, those without a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree could be eliminated from consideration by employers who seek new graduates with more contemporary training and skills. The purpose of this study was to determine what associations exist between student success within a nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy (NTDP) program and certain demographic factors.Methods. This quantitative longitudinal study was designed to determine which factors predict academic success among NTDP students entering the College of Pharmacy at Howard University. Academic success was measured by cumulative graduating grade point average (GPA). Data from four cohorts of students were used to develop multivariate linear regression models with several predictors including age, region of residence, citizenship status, previous pharmacy work background, and ethnicity.Results. The study sample included 81 students whose mean cumulative GPA was 3.44. A foreign-born African heritage was predictive of a GPA that was significantly higher in comparison to African Americans after adjusting for other factors.Conclusion. Findings showed that international students had a higher cumulative GPA in comparison to African American students in the NTDP program.

Comparison of admission rates to a non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy programme using internet-based multiple-mini interviews versus on-site

Objective: To evaluate if applicants selecting internet-based interviews (iMMI) have the same probability for admission as traditional on-site interviews (MMI). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all applicants between 2014 and 2017 using routinely collected data. Logistic regression was used to compare the odds of admission and models were adjusted for potential confounders. Confounders which were significant in the univariate analysis were selected for the multivariate model. Analysis was performed using XLSTAT. Results: There were 238 applicants. Admission rate was not different between iMMI and MMI applicants. Eight-four percent (84%) of applicants in iMMI and 80% in MMI were admitted leading to a crude odds ratio (OR) of 1.4 (95% CI 0.7 - 2.7) and an adjusted OR of 1.2 (95% CI 0.5 - 2.8). Conclusions: This study demonstrated similar admission rates suggesting that iMMI may be a viable option for wider use. This process may improve admission procedures for hard-to-reach applicants in pharmacy programmes.

Country of origin versus success in a non-traditional pharmacy programme at Howard University, Washington, DC, USA

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) created the Non-Traditional Doctor of Pharmacy (NTDP) Programme in order to give pharmacists who previously earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in pharmacy the opportunity to pursue a Pharm. D. The NTDP programmes in US universities offer education similar to those offered to full-time students. It is believed that several factors, including an individual’s country of origin, can affect their success in an NTDP programme in a US university. We divided 250 Howard University NTDP students into groups by country of origin, and found that those students originally from Ethiopia, followed by Nigeria, showed significantly higher Grade Point Average (GPA) outcomes than the countries compared.Keywords: pharmacy, education, Howard, Ethiopia, Nigeria

Pharmacists Preferences and Utilization of Drug Information Resources

Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the level of drug information skills for pharmaicst in the Non-to identify the participants’ preferences for drug information resources. Background: The ability of utilizing proper information is one of the essential clinical skills required by pharmacists to fulfill pharmacist’s role as the primary source of drug knowledge. However, pharmacists are facing with the imminent challenge of utilizing proper information as to the increasing number of information. Howard University provides a drug information session to the Non-Traditional Doctor of Pharmacy students to enhance the student’s drug information skills. A survey consisting of 18-questionnaires has been distributed to the participants (n=18) to assess the participant’s utilization skill and the preference on each resource. Descriptive statistics and chisquare analysis was done using IBM SPSS 23. Results: General search engines (55.6%) was the most preferred tool for their drug information search activities, and among the search engines 72% of the group frequently used Google for drug information inquiries. However, only 17% of the participants responded always cross-checked with other resources, and 22% always verified the authenticity of the website. On contrary to the findings, the level of confidence was notably high on their drug information skill (72%), and on the accuracy of obtained information (100%). Conclusion: The observation from the study suggests that pharmacists should be more aware of the possibilities of risking the client’s safety while using Google or other search engines whose information may often not most current and accurate.

Preferences and Utilization of Drug Information Resources by Practicing Pharmacists

Objective: This study was designed to identify preferences and utilization of drug information (DI) resources, and to assess perceived level of drug information skill for pharmacists enrolled in a Non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy (NTDP) program. Background: The ability to search for, utilize and apply drug information is an essential skill for pharmacists to fulfill their role as the primary source of drug knowledge. However, with exponential growth in the abundance of information, the increasing availability of an array DI resources and as a advocacy measures for provider status and MTM reimbursement intensify, knowing appropriate DI skills has become a challenge for pharmacists. Therefore, understanding the baseline knowledge of practicing pharmacists, such as those in NTDP programs, is crucial for determining how to design effective training measures. Methods: An 18-question survey was distributed to the participants (n=18) to assess their drug resource preferences and perceived skill level. Descriptive statistics were used and Chi-square analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 23. Results: General search engines (55.6%)was the most preferred tool for respondents’ drug information search activities, while 72% of respondents frequently used Google for drug information inquiries. However, only 17%of the respondents always cross-checked preliminary search results with other resources, and only 22 percent always verified the authenticity of the websites used. The level of confidence in drug information skills and in the accuracy of information obtained was notably high amongst NTDP students with 72% and 100%, respectively, selecting confident or very confident. Conclusion: Observation from the study suggests that pharmacists should be more aware of the possible risks to patient safety inherent in using Google or other search engines, and should be steered toward utilization of more reputable, evidence-based DI resources.

Practice Settings, Job Responsibilities, and Job Satisfaction of Nontraditional PharmD and BS Pharmacy Graduates

To assess differences in the practice of pharmacy and in job satisfaction between graduates of a nontraditional doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program and a bachelor of science (BS) in pharmacy program. Two separate survey instruments were mailed to 293 PharmD graduates and 293 BS graduates. Two hundred fourteen (73.0%) of the 293 nontraditional PharmD graduates and 189 (64.5%) of the 293 BS graduates completed the survey instruments. Nontraditional PharmD graduates expressed greater satisfaction, both in their current position and with pharmacy as a career, compared to BS graduates. Nontraditional PharmD graduates were more likely than BS graduates to practice in a hospital and have more clinical responsibilities. Nontraditional PharmD graduates are more likely to have greater satisfaction with their job and with pharmacy as a career compared to BS-trained pharmacists.

Service Scripts: A Tool for Teaching Pharmacy Students How to Handle Common Practice Situations

This paper describes the use of service scripts to teach pharmacy students how to manage specific practice situations by learning and following scripted behaviors. Based upon role theory, service scripts require specific behaviors for a broad range of practice problems and communicate consistent messages about the responsibilities of all people involved. Service scripts are developed by (1) identifying scenarios for the script, (2) eliciting the script's structure and content, and (3) documenting the reasoning behind the steps in the script. Students in a nontraditional doctor of pharmacy program developed scripts for their practice settings. They concluded that scripts were useful for quickly learning new, routine tasks, but expressed concern that scripts could be misused by pharmacists and managers. The process of script development itself was useful in gaining feedback about common practice problems. By mastering managerial, clinical, and communication scripts, students can develop capabilities to provide professional services.

Development and Implementation of a Web-Based Advanced Teaching Experience

Objective. A distance-education teaching skills elective was developed to provide an advanced-level teaching experience for students in our Nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy (NTPD) program. Methods. This 16-week experience had 2 required components: (1) a Web-based teaching skills curriculum that provided core knowledge on educational pedagogy and teaching principles; and (2) structured teaching activities, including responsibilities in junior courses in the NTPD program. Assessment. Student teachers' progress was monitored through a Web-based teaching portfolio and specialized grading rubrics (eg, for evaluating presentation skills). Formative feedback on teaching performance, emphasizing self-assessment, was provided via collaboration with the Office of Faculty and Teaching Assistant Development. Between September 2003 and August 2004, 6 students completed the program and 3 more enrolled. Anticipated enrollment is 3 students per semester. Implications. This rotation models scholarly and reflective metho...

The First Non-Traditional Doctor of Pharmacy Graduates

In June 2004, fourteen students graduated from the first completely online degree program at The Ohio State Universitythe Non-Traditional PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) program. The program was implemented as a response to the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education requiring this degree for entry into pharmacy practice. This article reports on the development of the program, and it includes information gleaned from interviews with six of the graduates. Topics included the services that graduates used most, how they applied their new information seeking skills, the difficulties they had in using the library, and their suggestions for improvement. Importantly, the students were comfortable using the digital resources and felt they could not have completed the degree without online access to library resources.

A Selection of New Plays From Playwrights Canada Press

Linda Griffiths’ Chronic is the story of Petra, a Web designer in her thirties, suffering from what appear to be the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Defined as chronic, rather than a hypochondriac or one who is suffering from a critical illness, Petra’s disease is never given an exact name. What the play explores are the possible causes of her condition – repression, guilt, stress – and how it affects her relationships with others: her boyfriend Chris, who wavers between faithful and unfaithfulness, her competitive female co-worker Amber, her high-strung workaholic boss Oscar, her non-traditional doctor Diane, and even the Virus itself. Though the Virus seduces Petra, she knows that the Virus is unpredictable, an unknown that cannot be trusted. As an infection that frequently plagues both people and computers and can have a lasting impact, the Virus is a vehicle that Griffiths uses to explore the repercussions of “the wave of new connectivity” in contemporary society (13).

Impact of an Internet-based Smoking Cessation Educational Module on Pharmacists' Knowledge and Practice

Objective. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the knowledge acquired by the end of an Internet-based tobacco use cessation educational intervention (2) determine the knowledge retained one year after the intervention, and (3) estimate the degree to which pharmacists' practice related to tobacco use cessation changed in the year following the intervention. Methods. Thirty-eight nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy students enrolled in respiratory pharmacotherapy completed a pretest, an Internet-based tobacco use cessation educational module, an end-of-module posttest, and a 1-year posttest, as well as surveys at each testing time. Results. The mean pretest, end-of-module posttest, and 1-year posttest scores (percent correct answers) were 36.3%, 84.5%, and 51.6%, respectively. Compared to the pretest, the improvement in both posttest results was significant. Both at the end of the course and at the 1-year follow-up, all survey respondents reported that they felt their knowledge and familiarity with...

The Reliability of Non-Cognitive Admissions Measures in Predicting Non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy Student Performance Outcomes

Objectives. This study evaluated the potential of non-cognitive admissions indicators as predictors of academic success for distance educated, non-traditional doctor of pharmacy students. The objective of this study is to determine whether non-cognitive admission indicators are predictive of academic success. Methods. Preadmission candidate interview scores, essay scores, and total non-cognitive evaluation scores were compared via simple correlation with composite practice portfolio scores and grade point average (GPA) with (overall GPA) and without (didactic GPA) inclusion of portfolio scores. Results. Portfolio scores and GPA scores were significantly correlated with preadmission candidate interview scores, essay scores, and total non-cognitive evaluation scores. In addition, portfolio scores were significantly correlated with didactic GPA. Conclusions. All of the non-cognitive admissions parameters significantly correlated with the outcome measures; composite portfolio score, didactic GPA, and overall ...

A Non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy Program Based on an Integrated Andragogical Model

Objectives. With the movement of academic pharmacy toward a single entry-level degree program, many working pharmacists who hold bachelor's degrees have sought advanced educational opportunities. The nontraditional PharmD program at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) was designed using a collaborative learning approach and an integrated model of didactic and experiential education to meet the needs of adult learners. Methods. The pathway was developed and implemented in 1996 at MCPHS. The program consisted of 34 credit hours of integrated didactic and experiential education. In 1999, an exit survey was designed to assess the student's experience and level of satisfaction with the NTPD. Results. Survey results from graduates revealed general satisfaction with the delivery of the program and high levels of confidence in providing pharmaceutical care. As of May 2002, 134 pharmacists have graduated and 92 students remain in the pathway. Conclusion. The program's emphasis on coll...

Going Virtual

In 2001 Ohio State University admitted its first class of non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy students. The impetus for offering a complete distance education program in Pharmacy came from the decision of the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education that by 2004 all practicing pharmacists would need the PharmD degree for entry into practice. The first class consisted of 30 students all who already had a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and were licensed practicing pharmacists. The paper describes the steps the library took to assure that off-campus students would have access to the same sources and services as traditional students, describes what services the students used and how satisfied they were with what the library offered. Tips are given for librarians who may be involved in setting up their institution's distance education program.

Integration of Web-Based Computer-Aided Instruction into a Nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy Program

The rapid change in technology in recent years has provided the impetus for many instructors to revisit their ideas about learning and student-teacher interactions. Computers offer an easy exchange of text-based and graphic material and increasingly, the ability to observe and hear others in real-time interactions. The use of technology as an instructional delivery tool has, in many cases, changed the way faculty teach. Teaching online can be challenging and it helps to start slowly and work up to the more complicated and involved pedagogical models. This paper discusses studies evaluating the effectiveness of computer-aided instruction (CAI), offers suggestions for developing a web-based CAI program, relates the experiences of one college of pharmacy with CAI, and offers teaching tips for the digital age.

Ethics in Christianity and health care: can "character" be defined in this interdisciplinary course?

To describe a unique interdisciplinary ethics course that incorporates elements of character into a decision-making model. The Ethics in Christianity and Health Care course is divided into two sections: ethics in Christianity and ethics in health care. The first section comprises the initial 30% of the course, and the second portion spans the latter 70%. Character traits of ethical persons are described in the second section of the course and are then used in an adapted decision-making model. A scenario from a nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy student is included to illustrate this decision-making process. Texts, assignments, and assessments are also discussed briefly. This course provides a framework within which ethical relationships are described and discussed. The character traits delineated in the article offer a logical approach when solving ethical dilemmas.

Curricular Considerations of a Nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program: Implications of a Bi-State Pharmacist Survey

Curricular Considerations of a Nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program: Implications of a Bi-State Pharmacist Survey

Comparison of Learning Styles Between Traditional and Nontraditional Pharmacy Students in a Doctor of Pharmacy Program

ABSTRACTThis paper reports an evaluation of learning styles among traditional and nontraditional Doctor of Pharmacy students. The results are based on a 12-item validated questionnaire, the Kolb Learning Style Inventory. Fifty-six traditional students were surveyed during their third professional year, prior to beginning senior clerkship experiences. Seventy-six nontraditional students completed the inventory in a similar fashion just prior to entering clerkship experiences. The results were similar, with the majority of both groups exhibiting learning styles of an assimilator. The traits of four learning styles are discussed, as are teaching and study strategies which may improve learning by the pharmacy student.

Nontraditional doctor of pharmacy program: One graduate's experience

Nontraditional doctor of pharmacy program: One graduate's experience