Pharmacy Sciences Research Articles

Gender Equity Perceptions Among Social and Administrative Sciences Pharmacy Faculty: An AACP-APhA Task Force Report

ObjectiveThe American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Social and Administrative Sciences Section and the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science’s Economic, Social and Administrative Sciences Section formed a Gender Equity Task Force to determine if there is evidence to suggest that there is gender disparity in pay; responsibilities; treatment by peers/colleagues, students, and administration; leadership opportunities; and rank, tenure status, and career advancement for Section members; and to develop recommendations to address existing disparities. MethodsA Qualtrics survey was emailed in December 2020 to all American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Social and Administrative Sciences and American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science’s Economic, Social and Administrative Sciences Section members. The questionnaire included items regarding favorability toward men or women in various academic domains (research, teaching, service, recruitment, mentoring, and advancement). Participants were asked if they had experienced gender inequity, and if so, at what type of institution and academic rank. The χ2 tests of independence and post hoc comparisons were used to assess item responses according to gender. ResultsOf the respondents, 72% indicated that they had experienced gender inequity. Women and persons of color were more likely to do so. Women commonly reported that men received more favorable treatment in nearly all academic domains, whereas men reported that women and men were treated equally. ConclusionPharmacy faculty specializing in social and administrative sciences reported experiences of gender inequity and perceptions of gender inequity. Perception gaps existed between male and female faculty in numerous academic domains. Colleges and schools of pharmacy should increase awareness of, and strive to self-assess, gender inequity in their institutions.

The Efforts of Arab and Muslim Scientists in Pharmacy, Practically and Theoretically – Treating Poisons as an Example

Pharmacy is considered a science and a profession in all human civilizations. Toxic substances are considered health problems that many people face and require prevention and treatment. Arabs and Muslims, in general, have shown interest in pharmacy, and specifically in toxins, both practically and theoretically. This is the focus of this research, which aims to introduce the science of pharmacy, highlight the efforts of Arabs and Muslims in it, especially in combating toxins through prevention, treatment, classification, and definition. The research also aims to introduce some of the works they have written in this field and assess their usefulness, using a descriptive-analytical approach and a historical approach to trace the significant contributions of Arabs and Muslims in pharmacy and toxins over time. The research, with reference to specialized sources in each field, concludes with several key findings, including the significant contribution of Islamic civilization to pharmacy and toxins, benefiting many other nations from these efforts.

Effects of Blended Instruction on students’ paragraph writing performances: the case of first year Health science pharmacy students at Pharma College Hawassa Campus, Ethiopia

Effects of Blended Instruction on students’ paragraph writing performances: the case of first year Health science pharmacy students at Pharma College Hawassa Campus, Ethiopia

LINE-1 global DNA methylation, iron homeostasis genes, sex and age in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)

BackgroundSudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an abrupt loss of hearing, still idiopathic in most of cases. Several mechanisms have been proposed including genetic and epigenetic interrelationships also considering iron homeostasis genes, ferroptosis and cellular stressors such as iron excess and dysfunctional mitochondrial superoxide dismutase activity.ResultsWe investigated 206 SSNHL patients and 420 healthy controls for the following genetic variants in the iron pathway: SLC40A1 − 8CG (ferroportin; FPN1), HAMP − 582AG (hepcidin; HEPC), HFE C282Y and H63D (homeostatic iron regulator), TF P570S (transferrin) and SOD2 A16V in the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase-2 gene. Among patients, SLC40A1 − 8GG homozygotes were overrepresented (8.25% vs 2.62%; P = 0.0015) as well SOD2 16VV genotype (32.0% vs 24.3%; P = 0.037) accounting for increased SSNHL risk (OR = 3.34; 1.54–7.29 and OR = 1.47; 1.02–2.12, respectively). Moreover, LINE-1 methylation was inversely related (r2 = 0.042; P = 0.001) with hearing loss score assessed as pure tone average (PTA, dB HL), and the trend was maintained after SLC40A1 − 8CG and HAMP − 582AG genotype stratification (ΔSLC40A1 = + 8.99 dB HL and ΔHAMP = − 6.07 dB HL). In multivariate investigations, principal component analysis (PCA) yielded PC1 (PTA, age, LINE-1, HAMP, SLC40A1) and PC2 (sex, HFEC282Y, SOD2, HAMP) among the five generated PCs, and logistic regression analysis ascribed to PC1 an inverse association with moderate/severe/profound HL (OR = 0.60; 0.42–0.86; P = 0.0006) and with severe/profound HL (OR = 0.52; 0.35–0.76; P = 0.001).ConclusionRecognizing genetic and epigenetic biomarkers and their mutual interactions in SSNHL is of great value and can help pharmacy science to design by pharmacogenomic data classical or advanced molecules, such as epidrugs, to target new pathways for a better prognosis and treatment of SSNHL.

Instructions to authors

The International Journal of Medical Sciences [IJMS], ISSN 2522-7386, is a peer-reviewed, 3 issues published annually. Authors are invited to submit for publication articles with a wide spectrum of coverage reporting original work, in the fields of medicine, nursery, dentistry, and pharmacy sciences. Review articles are usually by invitation only. However, Review articles of current interest and high standard will be considered. Prospective work should not be back dated. There are also sections for Case Reports, Brief Communication, correspondence and medical news items. Authors should read the editorial policy and publication ethics before submitting their manuscripts. Authors should also use the appropriate reporting guidelines in preparing their manuscripts.

Young Women's Attitudes and Behaviors in Treatment and Prevention of UTIs: Are Biomedical Students at an Advantage?

We wanted to investigate whether students who study within biomedical fields (i.e., medicine, pharmacy science) differ from those whose studies are not connected to the biomedical field in terms of their attitudes and behaviors related to urinary tract infections (UTIs). This was a cross-sectional survey-based study conducted among 392 female students, of whom 243 attended a biomedical school and 149 (38.0%) attended a non-biomedical school, using a previously published tool. The survey was distributed as an online link via student representatives at different faculties. Only 22 (5.6%) of women felt that they could not recognize a UTI. A greater proportion of biomedical students wiped front to back, while significantly more non-biomedical students chose cotton underwear and avoided daily sanitary pads compared to biomedical students. As many as 215 (54.8%) women stated that they used cranberry preparations. Biomedical students showed greater awareness about possible resistance to repeated treatment (p = 0.002) and greater knowledge of possible interactions of antibiotics (p < 0.001). This study reveals that young women are confident in recognizing an UTIs, are open to alternative treatments, and would consider UTI management in a pharmacy setting. However, it reveals that there might be gaps in their knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance risks, possible interactions, and efficacy of available preparations, as participants from the group of biomedical students showed greater knowledge and different behaviors.

Assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practice of proper medication disposal of pharmacy students in Centro Escolar University - Manila

Several nations, including the Philippines, have neglected the proper disposal of medications. Since pharmacists are involved in every step of the drug process, they are the best people to ask for information on this subject. This study aims to evaluate the bachelor of science pharmacy students enrolled at Centro Escolar University-Manila (CEU-Manila) for the school year 2021–2022 in terms of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the correct disposal of unused and expired pharmaceuticals. A descriptive and correlational study utilizing mixed methodologies was done among 709 randomly selected pharmacy students from CEU-Manila. The data were gathered using a Google Forms survey. Frequency, percentage distribution, and multiple linear regression were the three statistical approaches utilized in this study. The study showed that most students generally had good knowledge and attitude but not good practice towards proper medication disposal, likely due to factors such as the respondents' demographic profiles. It is likely due to factors such as the respondents' demographic profiles. Not having taken dispensing subjects 1 and 2 and not having families with comorbidities have shown to influence the respondents' attitudes and practices as dispensing subjects played a role in their practices. Take-back programs should be implemented as law and promoted in each pharmacy to give knowledge to consumers about improper medication disposal. Continuing education and training for BS Pharmacy programs regarding proper ways of disposing of medication should be required to promote correct medication disposal and apply it in their continuing profession.

Isolation, purification, structural characterization, and hypoglycemic activity assessment of polysaccharides from Hovenia dulcis (Guai Zao)

Hovenia dulcis polysaccharides (HDPs) have a variety of important biological activities associated with potential applications in food engineering, pharmacy science, and health care. Herein, we isolated and purified polysaccharides from H. dulcis. Chemical composition analysis revealed that the purified polysaccharides (HDPs-2A) were composed of different molar ratios of mannose, Rha, GalA, GlcA, Glc, Gal, and Ara and had a molecular weight of 372.91 kDa. The structure of HDPs-2A was assessed by FT-IR, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis, and NMR, allowing us to determine that the backbone of HDPs-2A is composed primarily of →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, T-β-D-Galp, →3)-β-D-Galp-(1→, and T-α-D-Glcp. The results of atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that HDPs-2A present an irregular polymer particle morphology in water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that HDPs-2A have a single crystal structure. Finally, we demonstrated that HDPs-2A have a good therapeutic effect on a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

Using the E-Learning Gamification Tool Kahoot! to Learn Chemistry Principles in the Classroom

This study investigated the effectiveness of using the Kahoot! game in developing the cognitive achievement and direction of students of pharmacy at Alasmarya Islamic University, Libya. The study design is based on action research. Kahoot! was implemented once at the end of each of three units. The study sample consisted of 30 female students from the first year of university at the Pharmacy Science College in Libya. The students were selected randomly, and studied using Kahoot! technology. For the quantitative part of the study, data were collected through a 20-item questionnaire on 20 participants and 15 participants to gather information on students’ perceptions about this application by the interview. Results indicate that the students were able to engage actively in the chemistry lessons and learned the unit on molecular weights effectively, leading them to enjoy basic chemistry, and the surveys allow for anonymous classroom participation, which further engages all students. The results hold implications for the development of more efficient, effective in educational process.

"Concerns About Employment After Graduation: A Survey of First Professional Year Pharmacy Students"

Jennifer Obi1, Ewanna Brown1, Essence Bell1 and Bisrat Hailemeskel*2 Author Affiliations 1Doctor of Pharmacy student, Howard University, NW Washington, USA 2Professor & Vice chair, Department of Clinical & Administrative Pharmacy Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Howard University, NW Washington, USA Received: April 22, 2021 | Published: May 24, 2021 Corresponding author: Bisrat Hailemeskel, Professor & Vice chair, Department of Clinical & Administrative Pharmacy Sciences, College of Pharmacy,Howard University, NW Washington, DC, USA DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2021.36.005790

Impact of Virtual Learning in a Pharmacy Program

Michelle Brooks1, Oliver Nimoh1, Nathaniel Oppong1 and Bisrat Hailemeskel*2 Author Affiliations 1Doctor of Pharmacy Student, USA 2Professor of Clinical Pharmacy & Vice Chair, Department of Clinical & Administrative Pharmacy Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Howard University, NW Washington, USA Received: April 22, 2021 | Published: May 24, 2021 Corresponding author: Bisrat Hailemeskel, Professor of Clinical Pharmacy & Vice Chair, Clinical & Administrative Pharmacy Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Howard University, 2300 4th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2021.36.005792

Structural characterization and antioxidant activities of Bletilla striata polysaccharide extracted by different methods

Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSPs) are effective for anti-inflammatory, detumescence, and radicals scavenging, with important applications in the area of food chain, pharmacy science, and health care. In this study, we comprehensively studied the interplay between the polysaccharides' formation, physicochemical properties, rheological properties, and associated antioxidant activities of BSPs from different extraction methods. The crude polysaccharides obtained from Bletilla striata by using the hot water extraction (BSPs-H), alkali-assisted extraction (BSPs-A), boiling water extraction (BSPs-B), and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (BSPs-U) methods showed different molecular weights, monosaccharide compositions, glycosidic bond compositions, and zeta potentials, but with the same IR spectra characteristic and thermal stability. By the above-mentioned four kinds of extraction methods, the resultant BSPs exhibited various degrees of reticular and lamellar structure. All the BSPs solutions exhibited shear-thinning behavior with the increase of the shear rate. Among these BSPs, BSPs-A exhibited better DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power, whereas BSPs-H showed better hydroxyl radical scavenging activities.

Knowledge and Opinion of First-Year Pharmacy Students About Herbal/Dietary Supplements

Chioma Nwokochah1, Christina Robinson1 and Bisrat Hailemeskel2* Author Affiliations 1Doctor of Pharmacy Student 2Professor & Vice Chair, Howard University, College of Pharmacy, Washington DC, USA Received: January 25, 2021| Published: February 12, 2021 Corresponding author: Bisrat Hailemeskel, Professor & Vice Chair Clinical & Administrative Pharmacy Sciences College of Pharmacy Howard University, USA DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2021.33.005467

Tribute: Gerald Burton Green

Gerald Burton Green was born in London on 16 January 1935. He moved with his parents and younger sister Valerie to Sale, Cheshire, as a small child. After attending Manchester Grammar School, he received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Victoria University of Manchester. He then performed his national service in the Royal […]

Impact of Live Training on Medication Errors in a Community-Based Pharmacy Setting.

To compare community-based pharmacy medication errors before and after a one-hour live interactive training session for both pharmacists and technicians. A one group pre-post intervention design study was conducted in 20 community-based pharmacies in a district of a large national community pharmacy chain. A one-hour live, interactive session was developed based on incident reports and medication error trends including medication error definition, ways in which medication errors occur, strategies for mitigating errors, information about human error, and methods and habits to improve patient safety. At least 50% of full-time staff for each of the 20 pharmacies were required to attend a training session between December 1, 2017-January 15, 2018. Participants completed a demographics survey documenting gender, age, credentials, number of years of experience, and years of service with the company. Pharmacies were categorized as low, medium or high volume based on prescription count. Medication errors were compared six months pre- and post-live education session. Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.4. One hundred and thirty- five errors and 111 errors were reported pre-and post-live training (mean 6.85 and 5.55, p < 0.301), respectively. Nine pharmacies were low, eight medium, and three high volume with the mean number of medication errors reported pre- and post-live training; low 4.33 vs 4.11 p<0.478, medium 9.37 vs 6.87 p<0.443, and high 7.66 vs 6.33 p<0.593, respectively. Sixty pharmacy staff (34 pharmacists, 26 technicians) attended one of the live training sessions; 73% female; most frequently reported age range 35-50 years; 23 Doctor of Pharmacy, 11 Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, and 26 Certified Technician; and average number of years' experience was 13.6 and average service with the company was 8.6 years. A live training session for both pharmacists and technicians did not significantly decrease medication errors, but could be incorporated as an element of a medication safety program. It should be considered for implementation in other districts of this large national pharmacy chain as a part of an improved patient safety effort.

Evaluating prescribing competencies covered in a Canadian-accredited undergraduate pharmacy program in Qatar: a curriculum mapping process

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the existing Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy [BSc (Pharm)] curriculum at Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU CPH), for addressing international prescribing competencies.MethodsThe Australian National Prescribing Service (NPS MedicineWise) Competencies Required to Prescribe Medicines framework (the Prescribing Competencies Framework) was used in the BSc (Pharm) curriculum mapping process. The NPS MedicineWise Prescribing Competencies Framework outlines seven competency areas that are essential for pharmacist prescribing. The first mapping activity assessed the learning outcomes (LOs) of 62 courses within the BSc (Pharm) curriculum for covering and addressing the NPS MedicineWise competencies. The second mapping activity involved matching the LOs identified to address the NPS MedicineWise prescribing competencies, to the 2017 Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) educational outcomes, on which the QU CPH BSc (Pharm) program is based. The AFPC educational outcomes address seven key program-level learning outcomes.ResultsThe QU CPH BSc (Pharm) curriculum addresses most of the prescribing competencies listed in the NPS MedicineWise Prescribing Competencies Framework. However, gaps were identified in the curricular content and in the LOs that were related, but not restricted, to the following: electronic prescribing, physical examinations/preparing patients for investigations, and policies/procedures and quality assurace related to prescribing. Other gaps identified include legislative and workplace requirements for obtaining consent to access confidential patient's health information.ConclusionThe curriculum mapping exercise provided evidence that, for the most part, the existing BSc (Pharm) curriculum at QU CPH prepares pharmacy graduates for prescribing. However, there are areas that need better alignment between the taught curriculum and training on prescribing in practice. The results of this study are important to consider if pharmacist prescribing is to be implemented in Qatar.

Creating a pharmacy elective course in Indigenous health

Background and purposeThere is a critical need for greater Indigenous health education and cultural safety training for pharmacists. The objective of this paper is to describe the creation, development, and impact of Canada's first offering of an undergraduate elective course specific to pharmaceutical care in Indigenous health. Educational activity and settingA three-credit elective course was developed and offered to bachelor of science pharmacy students at the University of British Columbia. A variety of pedagogical approaches including reflection, educational trips, video conferencing with Indigenous communities, and Indigenous community-based projects were used. Evaluation of student learning impact included quantitative and qualitative post-course survey data, student enrollment, and student work. FindingsFrom course inception in 2012 to 2017, 101 students participated. Survey respondents rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 on the five core elements of the curriculum design and pedagogical practice (i.e. learning objectives, instructional methods, assessments, organization, and workload). Thematic analysis identified three themes: 1) the qualities of the course instructors, 2) the unique curriculum design and pedagogical practices, and 3) significant personal and professional impact on students. SummaryThis course is one of few opportunities for pharmacy students to learn about cultural safety as it relates to the pharmaceutical care of Indigenous peoples. Extensive engagement with stakeholders and utilization of various teaching and assessment techniques were beyond the expected requirements of course offerings. Students highly rated this course as having personal and professional impact. This course plays a critical role in the overall Indigenization of pharmacy curricula.

Mindfulness in Eating Is Inversely Related to Binge Eating and Mood Disturbances in University Students in Health-Related Disciplines.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between mindful eating, disordered eating and mood in university students in health-related disciplines. A total of 221 university students participated in the study; 102 students studied sport and exercise science (SS), 54 students pharmacy sciences (PS), and 65 students health sciences (HS). Participants completed the Binge Eating Scale (BES), the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Profile of Mood State questionnaire (POMS). 41% of the students were classified as binge eaters and 57% were above the POMS threshold of depression. Binge eaters were found to have significantly lower MEQ score and significantly higher total mood disturbance scores (TMD) compared to non-binge eaters (p < 0.01). Students with a high depression score exhibited no differences in the MEQ score but a significantly higher BES score compared to non-depressed students (p < 0.01). Gender differences were found in the MEQ with females exhibiting significantly higher scores in the MEQ score and in all MEQ subscales compared to males, with the exception of the emotional subscale that females were noted to have a lower score compared to males (p < 0.01). The MEQ score was inversely related to the BES score (r = −0.30, p < 0.01) and TMD (r = −0.21, p < 0.05). The MEQ score was a significant negative predictor of the variance of the binge eating behavior of the students (B = −3.17, p < 0.001). In conclusion, mindfulness in eating is inversely related to the binge eating behavior and mood state of university students studying health-related subjects and is a significant negative predictor of disordered eating behavior in this high risk population.

A brief history of pharmacy admissions in North America.

The move from a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, both in the United States and in Canada, has been accompanied by a general move towards increased prepharmacy admission requirements and longer pharmacy programs. Historically, the most thoroughly researched pharmacy admissions variables include grade point average (GPA), Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT), interviews and critical thinking tests. Most programs now require a combination of academic (GPA ± PCAT) and nonacademic characteristics (e.g., interviews, volunteering, critical thinking tests, essays). This review focuses on GPA and the PCAT as academic admissions measures and the interview (both traditional and the multiple mini-interview) and critical thinking tests as nonacademic measures. There is evidence that prepharmacy GPA, the PCAT and admissions interviews are correlated with academic success in a pharmacy program. Repeating a prepharmacy course is a negative predictor of academic success. The multiple mini-interview and various critical thinking tests have been studied in pharmacy admissions, but the evidence to date does not support their use for predicting success. Several areas require further research, including finding an effective measure of reasoning and critical thinking skills. The relationship between admission test scores and clinical performance also requires further study, as academic achievement in pharmacy programs has been the main measure of success to date.

Dental Students’ Tobacco Smoking Habits, Second-hand Smoke Exposure, and Training in Cessation Counselling at the University of Medicine Pharmacy Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mureș

Abstract Objectives: To describe tobacco smoking habits, attitudes, second-hand smoke exposure, and training in cessation counselling at the University of Medicine Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu-Mureș (UMPSTTM), as baseline data for the first Romanian university to implement a Smoke Free University Project. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered in 2014 among dental students at UMPSTTM to explore their smoking habits, attitudes toward smoking and tobacco control policies, exposure to second-hand smoke, interest in quitting, and their knowledge about cessation counselling. We used core questions of the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) and added specific items related to the Smoke Free University Project. Data were analysed by SPSS v22 software. We compared our results with those of the GHPSS Survey. Results: 581 dental students, 73.1% of the target population (n=795), completed the questionnaire. 38.7% were current smokers. Approximately 1 in 5 (22.6%) current smokers admitted smoking inside university buildings, although 80.7% were aware of the smoking ban. 44.2% of current smokers plan to quit smoking. Nearly half of the students (48.9%) were exposed to secondhand smoke in their current homes, 78.1% in public places and 33.3% inside the university buildings. Only 21.0% of all participants received any formal training on how to help future patients quit. Conclusions: Tobacco use prevalence was higher among future dentists than in the majority of respondents to the GHPSS. Changes in dental school education are needed to promote personal smoking cessation, as well as to educate dentists on how to support their future patients quitting.