Class of 2007 Abstract / Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine if there was a link between the amount of OTC medications consumed and the knowledge of these products. With approximately 100,000 OTC products are available to the consumer this study focused on the most common class sold over the counter, analgesics. This study also determined if there was a correlation between the elderly and their frequency and knowledge of these products. Specific demographic characteristics including gender and education level were also evaluated to determine if these factors had an impact. Methods: A 21 question survey on OTC analgesics was distributed to retail pharmacy customers. It consisted of questions on amount of OTC analgesics regularly consumed, general knowledge of these products, and basic demographic questions. The initial questions assessed the amount of OTC analgesic regularly consumed by the participant. The remaining questions were designed to determine the participant’s knowledge of these products. They were either multiple choice or true false questions covering basic information on OTC analgesics Results: It was found there was no correlation between the amount of OTC analgesics consumed and the knowledge of these products. A person who consumed analgesics on a regular basis was not significantly more knowledgable about these products then a person who had never taken them. There was also no link between age and amount of OTC analgesics taken or knowledge of these products. It was found that women have more knowledge of OTC analgesics then men. Females answered an average 63.6% of the survey questions correct, compared to males who answered 51.8% correct. This project also demonstrated there was a correlation between the amount of the participant’s education level and their knowledge of OTC analgesics. Participants who had a high school education or less, answered 53.6% of the questions correct, and those who had a college degree or post graduate answered 73.5% correct. Conclusions: Although OTC analgesics don’t require a prescription, it is still important to counsel patients taking these medications. This should be considered a necessary part of the job of a pharmacist to ensure the general population has adequate knowledge of these products and is taking them safely. These products can offer a significant benefit and improve a person’s quality of life when utilized correctly. Providing patient education can ensure this can be done.

Class of 2017 Abstract / Objectives: To assess the general public’s knowledge of the benefits and sources of calcium and vitamin D dietary and supplemental intake and to identify any pertinent demographic characteristics that influence such knowledge. Methods: Participants were convenience sampled from Walmart locations in Safford, Arizona and Tucson, Arizona. Each participant completed a brief survey assessing their knowledge about the benefits and sources of calcium and vitamin D and optional questions regarding demographics. Results: 51 participants in Safford and 51 participants in Tucson completed the questionnaire. Of the 51 responders in Safford, 18 were men and 24 were women with a mean age of 49.52 (SD = 14.53, 80.49% white). Of the 51 responders in Tucson, 22 were men and 17 were women with a mean age of 50.97 (SD = 17.32, 71.79% white). Baseline demographics were equivalent. Statistical significant was observed when the mean total scores from Tucson and Safford were compared. On average, the participants in Tucson scored higher when compared to participants in Safford with mean scores of 55.5% and 49.0% respectively (p= 0.0412). Conclusions: Tucson participants scored statistically significantly higher when compared to Safford participants. This may be due to the health disparity between urban and rural populations. Gender, ethnicity, supplement use, personal or family history of osteoporosis, and education level did not appear to affect response scores on the questionnaire.

Class of 2017 Abstract / Objectives: To assess older adults’ knowledge of prescription pain and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, to determine if age influences older adults’ choice of OTC pain agents, and to determine if education by a pharmacist about prescription and OTC pain medications impacts the score on a medication knowledge indicator. Methods: This is a descriptive survey study. Participants received a recruitment email with a consent link in order to participate in the secure, online Qualtrics survey. The survey consists of 10 knowledge-based items on pain medications and 12 demographic items. The primary outcome of this study is the knowledge about pain medications of adult 75 years and older. Knowledge scores were analyzed using a Chi square test to compare the proportion of respondents in each age group who score 50% or more. The secondary outcome is the purchase pattern of OTC pain medications based on age. OTC purchasing data was analyzed using a nonparametric regression test. The tertiary outcome is the effect of pharmacist counseling on patients knowledge of prescription and OTC medications. The knowledge indicator scores were compared in patients who reported as either being educated by a pharmacist or not using a one-way ANOVA test. Results: The questionnaire was completed by a total of 50 people, but three were excluded due to not meeting the age requirement of 50 years and older. Forty-seven participants were used in the analysis with mean age of 68.3 years (range 55 to 90) and 72% female. Of 44 participants who completed the entire survey those 75 years and older scored better on the knowledge indicator (71% scored ≥50%) compared with those 74 years and younger (54% scored ≥50%); however, no significant difference was found (p = 0.28). In addition, purchasing pattern based on percentage of both prescription and OTC medications between both groups appeared to be insignificantly different (p = 0.31 and 0.51 respectively). The mean number of OTC medications purchased equaled the mean number of OTC medications purchased for adults less than 75 years of age (Y = 1.2 vs. 1.2 medications per patient, p=0.51). Finally, all patients age 75 and older that reported being educated by a pharmacist scored 50% or greater on the knowledge indicator (100%) while 52% of participants 74 years and younger scored 50% or greater (p = 0.673). Conclusions: Adults ages 75 years and older possess the same basic knowledge of pain medications when compared to adults age 50 to 74. In addition, adults age 75 years and older purchase over-the-counter (OTC) at the same rate as adults age 50 to 74. Finally, adults age 75 years and older benefit most from pharmacist consultation compared to adults age 50 to 74.

Yes / Background Interventions to reduce medicines discontinuity at transitions during and reinforced after discharge are effective. However, few studies have linked hospital-based counseling with onward referral for community pharmacy-based follow-up to support patients' medicines use. Objective To determine the effects of targeted hospital pharmacist counseling on discharge or targeted community pharmacy medicines reviews post-discharge on patients' knowledge of newly started medication. Methods The study was a controlled trial of targeted medicines discharge counseling provided by hospital pharmacists or follow-up post-discharge medicines review provided by community pharmacists compared with usual care (nurse counseling). Outcomes measured using a structured telephone survey conducted at two and four weeks after patients were discharged from hospital. Results Patients who received hospital pharmacist counseling were significantly more likely to report being told the purpose of their new medicine and how to take it versus those receiving usual care. Fewer than half of the patients who were allocated to receive a community pharmacy medicines review received one. Conclusions Patient knowledge of medicines newly prescribed in the hospital was increased by targeted counseling of hospital pharmacists. The findings suggest the need to improve the consistency of the information covered when providing counseling, perhaps by the implementation of a counseling checklist for use by all disciplines of staff involved in patient counseling. The potential of community pharmacy follow-up medicines review is currently undermined by several barriers to uptake. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 14 May 2017.

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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Geography / Bimal K. Paul / Medical tourism comprises a phenomenon where over five million patients a year are traveling across international borders to obtain various forms of health care. Most of these patients travel from developed countries to developing countries, seeking highly invasive medical treatments to less invasive and recreational medical procedures. By the year 2012, the medical tourism industry generated over $100 billion with over 50 countries making it a priority in trade for their country. With active government promotions, India has become one of the leading destinations for medical tourism. The objective of this research was to answer the questions: 1) how do the attitudes and behaviors of patients towards the concept of medical tourism influence their decision to become a medical tourist; 2) why do medical tourists seek treatment in India; and 3) what are the issues and challenges they face before coming to India as well as while in India. Interviews of thirty-four foreign patients were conducted in six sites spread across the South-Indian cities of Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai which revealed useful information in addressing the research objectives. The three most important reasons that these medical tourists chose India for their treatments were: 1) the high quality of the doctors and medical facilities in India, 2) the affordable cost of treatments, and 3) the availability of specific treatments that might not have been available in their home countries. Patients also researched the topic thoroughly before they came to India. Knowledge was gained primarily from the Internet, print media, television shows and friends. Overall, the patients had very positive attitudes towards medical tourism. Most of them felt that they could get treatment because of their positive opinion on medical tourism, their ability to get treatment if they desired, and support from their families and loved ones.

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Submitted by Franciele Moreira (francielemoreyra@gmail.com) on 2017-09-29T18:21:30Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Brunella Mendonça Chinem - 2013.pdf: 1137216 bytes, checksum: 8a882914fd89ce5edb482ea3dff20945 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-10-02T14:05:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Brunella Mendonça Chinem - 2013.pdf: 1137216 bytes, checksum: 8a882914fd89ce5edb482ea3dff20945 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-02T14:05:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Brunella Mendonça Chinem - 2013.pdf: 1137216 bytes, checksum: 8a882914fd89ce5edb482ea3dff20945 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-11-08 / Introduction: hypertension is a major public health problem. Among the difficulties of health professionals regarding this issue highlights the lack of patient adherence to treatment. The treatment and control of hypertension remain as challenges for health professionals, because compliance rates are still low. The nurse helps the patient hypertensive plan actions making the patient an active being in their treatment. Objective: to evaluate whether interventions can influence patient adherence to treatment and their perception of the disease and consequently in blood pressure control. Methods: this is a randomized clinical trial, conducted in specialized service. We identified all those who were there more than a year without attending to any query and these were considered in situations of abandonment of service. It was also calculated the rate of blood pressure control. The study variables were: socio-demographic variables, blood pressure values, number of antihypertensive use, lifestyle, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, body mass index, time since diagnosis, treatment time, and treatment time the specialized service, pharmacological treatment and knowledge, beliefs and perceptions of patients about their treatment and their disease. To assess compliance, we applied the Morisky-Green Test for both groups. For the evaluation of the knowledge, beliefs and perceptions was applied Illness Perception Questionnaire. Two groups were randomly. The study group (SG) received interventions with weekly phone calls between queries and also consultations nursing after medical consultation. The control group (CG) remained in routine follow-up. Results: In 2011, the dropout rate in service was 6.4%, and in 2012 this rate was 11.0%. The rate of blood pressure control in 2011 was 73.9% and in 2012 was 61.7%. Those who had uncontrolled pressure had more patients in situations of low adherence (64.5%) than the group of controlled hypertensive (43.3%). After the intervention, a reduction in mean systolic blood pressure was higher in the SG than in the CG. In the end, there was no individual alcoholics in GE. The difference in the reduction of membership fees was 46.6% in the EG and 27.6% GC statistically significant (p < 0.05). Those who had a higher perception of personal control over the disease had greater adherence to pharmacological treatment. Conclusion: we found a low dropout service compared to other centers. This is reflected in the high rate of BP control. Non-adherence to treatment may explain the lack of BP control. The intervention performed by nursing altered rates of adherence to treatment and BP control, and also interfered in decreased intake of alcoholic beverages occasional. The group that participated in the intervention showed better understand about the chronicity of the disease and also about its consequences. / Introdução: a hipertensão arterial é um grande problema de saúde pública e a não adesão ao tratamento pelo paciente é um dos maiores desafios dos profissionais de saúde. A enfermagem tem importante papel em todas as fases do tratamento, seja no planejamento dos serviços de assistência, seja com ações educativas, estabelecendo vínculos com o paciente, e promovendo a adesão Objetivo: Avaliar os reflexos de intervenções de enfermagem sobre a adesão ao tratamento de pacientes hipertensos com pressão arterial (PA) não controlada. Metodologia: Trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado, realizado em serviço especializado, com pacientes hipertensos não controlados, com idade maior ou igual a 18 anos, e que tivessem acesso telefônico. As variáveis foram: sócio-demográficas, pressão arterial, anti-hipertensivos prescritos, hábitos de vida, fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares, índice de massa corpórea, tempo de diagnóstico, de tratamento e de tratamento no serviço adesão ao tratamento farmacológico e conhecimentos, crenças e percepções do paciente em relação ao seu tratamento e à sua doença. Para a avaliação da adesão, foi aplicado o Teste de Morisky-Green (TMG) para ambos os grupos. Para a avaliação dos conhecimentos, crenças e percepções foi aplicado o Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R). Foi calculada uma amostra de 110 indivíduos, sendo 55 para cada grupo, grupo estudo (GE) e grupo controle (GC). A participação nos grupos foi de modo aleatório. O GE recebeu as intervenções com telefonemas semanais entre as consultas e também a realização de consultas de enfermagem após a consulta médica. O GC permaneceu em seguimento de rotina, sem intervenção. A coleta de dados foi realizada no período de janeiro/2012 a março/2013. A análise estatística foi realizada com o auxílio SPSS/PC versão 20.0. Foram utilizados os testes Qui-quadrado ou Fisher, teste de Kolmogorov teste T-student, teste de Wilcoxon; nível de significância de 0,05 e intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: houve maior redução da pressão arterial sistólica média no GE. No final, não havia nenhum indivíduo alcoolista no GE. Houve redução das taxas de baixa adesão em ambos os grupos, sendo a diferença na redução no GE de 46,6% no GC de 27,6 % (p<0,05). Aqueles que tinham maior percepção do controle pessoal sobre a doença tiveram maior adesão ao tratamento farmacológico. Conclusão: A intervenção realizada pela enfermagem alterou as taxas de adesão ao tratamento e de controle da PA, e também interferiu na diminuição de ingestão de bebidas alcoólicas ocasionais. O GE mostrou entender melhor sobre a cronicidade da doença e também com relação as suas consequências.