Thesis--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-64).

Class of 2016 Abstract / Objectives: To describe the patterns of benzodiazepine use at a community health center in adults and to identify common demographic factors and chronic conditions that are associated with an increased usage rate. Subjects: Patients 18 years and older who had been treated at El Rio Community Health Center with an active benzodiazepine prescription on file. Methods: Data were collected from patient charts using a data collection form. Assessment included current benzodiazepine patients were taking, concurrent use of opiates and/or antispasmotics, indication for benzodiazepine use, concurrent medications for anxiety, depression, or insomnia, and prescriber type. Demographic data on age, gender, race, ethnicity, insurance type, and use of tobacco or alcohol were also collected. Results: Data were collected on 102 patients currently taking a benzodiazepine; 60 patients (mean age = 61.2, SD = 13.6) had concurrent first-line therapy for anxiety, depression, or insomnia and 42 patients (mean = 61.1, SD = 13.6) did not. There were a significantly higher proportion of women taking a benzodiazepine with first-line therapy than without first-line therapy (88.3% vs. 71.4%; p = 0.031). Additionally, higher proportion of benzodiazepine was prescribed with first-line therapy for depression than other indications (p = 0.002). Conclusions: More patients were prescribed benzodiazepines with concurrent first-line therapy for depression than other indications such as anxiety, insomnia, or other panic disorders. For this reason, health care professionals should be aware of the patterns of benzodiazepine use and comply with current recommended practice guidelines.

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / Medication labels are often the only information available to patients after obtaining medication 3 from the pharmacy or other healthcare practitioners. Inappropriately designed medicine labelling 4 contributes to poor interpretation and improper use, which could adversely affect patient health 5 outcomes. In developing countries, pictograms (pictures representing words or phrases), on 6 medicine labels tend to support patients’ ability to read, understand and recall information. 7 8 Objective 9 This comparative study examined low-literate participants’ interpretation of ‘text-and-pictogram’ 10 instructions versus ‘routine text-only’ instructions relative to the intended medicine use 11 instructions on an oral rehydration (OR) dry mixture sachet in public sector Community Health 12 Centres (CHCs) in Cape Town

Class of 2010 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe practical incentives and barriers for community health center pharmacists in adopting a practice based research network (PBRN) that facilitates sustainable collaboration. METHODS: Directors of pharmacy at Community health centers listed as members of Arizona Association of Community Health Centers (AACHC), with on-site pharmacies, were contacted via telephone. During initial contact an IRB approved script was used to recruit the pharmacy director’s participation, at which time the subject’s disclaimer form was read and an appointment for a future phone interview was scheduled. Phone Interviews were conducted using a standardized questionnaire, and all results were manually recorded on a standardized data collection form. Data collected included, site specific information including the: educational background of the pharmacy director, and his or her perceived inducements and barriers to participating in a pharmacy based PBRN with the University of Arizona. RESULTS: Phone interviews were completed by 8 directors of pharmacy, 4 women (50%) and 4 men (50%). A total of 5 participants (62.5%) had a BS degree, 2 (25%) had PharmD degrees and 1 (12.5%) had both as BS and a PharmD degree. The mean length of time in current position was 5.56 yrs (SD= 4 yrs.). 75% of the participants indicated that they considered working with the University of Arizona (UofA) as an inducement, the same number of participants felt that their staff and practice as a whole would also consider it an inducement. Overall participants indicated that both their personal (75%) and staff‘s (87.5%) motivation to improve the pharmacy profession was considered an inducement, as well as their opportunity for professional growth (75%). All of the participants (100%) indicated they did not have adequate staffing to support research at this time and therefore felt it was a barrier to participation. When asked about resources as a whole, including staff, time and technology 87.5% of the participants felt this was a barrier. Other common barriers were; anticipated time requirements (75%), current schedule/time allowances (75%), staff’s outside commitments (75%). Out of the 8 participants only 2 (25%) are currently participating in PBRNS at this time, 3(37.5%) have research ideas that they are interested in working on, and 3(37.5%) indicated that they were not currently participating nor did they have any current interests. The major themes identified as inducements to participation were patient benefit, time/staffing involvement, and professional growth. CONCLUSIONS: The most common barriers to participating in a PBRN were: working with the UofA, motivation to improve the profession of pharmacy and the opportunity for professional growth. The most common inducements were staffing, current resources, anticipated time requirements, current schedules and outside commitments.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1973.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1972.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1973.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1972.

Class of 2011 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcomes of care for patients enrolled in a pharmacist-run anticoagulation clinic. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who received warfarin anticoagulation therapy management at the pharmacist-managed clinic at a community health center. To be eligible for the study patients had to be between the ages of 18-80 and have at least 6 recorded INRs during the first 6 months of treatment in the clinic. The patient data were reviewed for a time period of 24 weeks from the initial visit. The primary dependent variable was whether or not a patient’s INR is within range. Secondary outcomes included frequency of adverse events (blood in urine or stool). A data extraction form was used to collect patient demographics and initial INR values from the patient charts. An odds ratio was used to compare the proportion of INRs in range upon entry into the clinic and after 6 months of care in the clinic. In addition, outcomes were evaluated for differences by gender and age. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included in the study; 50% (33) were men and the average age was 55.9 years old (SD = 12.9 years). At baseline, 24 patients had INRs within the therapeutic range. Patients were 5 times more likely to have INRs in range (N = 49; OR = 5.04; p < 0.001) after 6 months of treatment in the pharmacist-managed clinic than at baseline. About 59% of men and 54% of women had INRs in range during 6 months of therapy in the clinic (p=0.326). Patients under 55 were in range about 55% of the time over 6 months, while patients over 55 were in range about 59% of the time (p=0.366). CONCLUSION: Patients enrolled in the pharmacist-run anticoagulation clinic were more likely to have therapeutic INRs after 6 months of care in the clinic compared to baseline.

Using a logistic regression model, this dissertation employed a macro level Gateway Provider Model to explore eight factors that may influence community health center HIV testing approach. The logistic regression model indicated that three variables related to community health center HIV testing approach. First, all else equal, the odds of offering routine HIV testing for community health centers that perceived their patients and community to be at average risk for HIV were 3.676 times the odds for those centers that perceived their patients and community to be at low or no risk for HIV. Further, the odds of offering routine HIV testing for community health centers that perceived their patients and community to be at high risk for HIV were 4.693 times the odds for those centers that perceived the community to be at low or no HIV risk. Second, all else equal, the odds of offering routine HIV testing for community health centers in which an HIV testing policy exists were 2.202 times the odds for those centers in which an HIV testing policy does not exist. Third, all else equal, the odds of offering routine HIV testing for community health centers that received funding specifically for HIV testing were 2.938 times the odds for those centers that did not receive such funding. No other individual predictor variables in the model were related to community health center HIV testing approach.