No description available.

No description available.

ABSTRACT Background: Pharmacists are a rapidly growing segment of certified diabetes educators (CDEs) in Canada; however, little is known about their practice experiences. Objective: This study aimed to describe the practice experiences of CDE pharmacists and the impact of the CDE designation. Methods: A qualitative research approach was used. A purposive sample of 14 CDE pharmacists in Saskatchewan was selected to obtain data by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and NVivo10 software. Findings: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) CDE pharmacists engage in a multitude of diabetes-related activities, (2) becoming a CDE has been beneficial, (3) certain challenges still exist when trying to provide diabetes-related education, and (4) strategies were proposed to try and overcome these challenges. CDE pharmacists are engaging in both broad and focused diabetes management, such as insulin starts and adjustments. Pharmacists are satisfied that the CDE designation has helped achieve some of their goals and have benefited from improved relationships with other health care professionals. Although some solutions were offered, CDE pharmacists still face challenges in putting their knowledge to full use with respect to devoting time to diabetes management and remuneration for providing diabetes services. Conclusions: CDE pharmacists in Saskatchewan report enhanced diabetes-related activities prior to becoming a CDE and that designation has had a positive impact on them and perhaps their patients. This information could prove useful to employers and payers as the number of CDE pharmacists continues to increase. However, more information is necessary to describe CDE pharmacist practice experiences across Canada.

No description available.

No description available.

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the overall satisfaction of Tucson area pharmacists in the community retail setting and to identify the facets of community practice that have the greatest contribution to job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Methods: Surveys were sent by facsimile to all community retail pharmacies in the Tucson area. All pharmacists working in these stores were encouraged to respond to the survey by faxing back the paper copy or by responding to the online version of the survey at surveymonkey.com. Respondents were asked to rate their job satisfaction and demographic data were also collected. Main Results: Questionnaires were completed and returned by 32 pharmacists, an estimated response rate of 10%. After reviewing the returned surveys, four questions were chosen from the satisfaction portion to determine their relationship to the job satisfaction ratings. Those four variables were “recognition one receives for good work”, “opportunity to use abilities”, “hours of work”, and “patient contact”. Those four satisfaction variables were then analyzed using the demographic grouping variables “other experience”, “store type” and “degree earned”. Following analysis, only hours of work was found to play a significant role with pharmacy job satisfaction when grouped by other experience. Conclusions: The area of community pharmacy practice that affects job satisfaction the most is hours of work, which is especially true when pharmacists have work experience outside of community practice.

University of Macau / Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: To assess the use of PDA/smartphone based electronic drug databases among pharmacists as it has changed over time. The working hypothesis is that the use of PDA/Smartphone based electronic drug databases has increased over time. Methods: A systematic review of the literature regarding the usage of PDA/smartphone based electronic drug databases among pharmacists using data that was obtained through literature searches. Main Results: Since 2006, the percentage of pharmacists that are using PDA/smartphone based electronic drug databases has increased. Conclusions: The usage of smartphones and PDA based electronic drug databases has increased among pharmacists since 2006 (p<0.05). Easier and cheaper access to the technology has likely led to the products being available to more pharmacists.

Class of 2015 Abstract / Objectives: Pharmacists’ level of training and experience in psychiatric pharmacy were compared for: 1) self-perceived preparedness to provide pharmacotherapy services; and 2) perceived barriers to providing services to individuals with psychiatric disorders. Methods: This study used data from an internet-based questionnaire. Respondents were divided into 2 groups: 1) completed the Arizona Pharmacy Association’s Psychiatric Certificate Program, and/or Board Certified in Psychiatric Pharmacy, and/or College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists member, and/or completed a PGY2 psychiatric pharmacy residency; and 2) no specialized training/experience in psychiatric pharmacy. A Mann-Whitney U analysis was used to compare the scaled responses for each group. A Bonferroni alpha correction was use in the case of multiple tests. Results: Compared to pharmacists without training/experience in psychiatry (N = 235), respondents with specialized training/experience in psychiatry pharmacy (N = 38) reported more frequent interactions with psychiatric patients and provided more counseling/drug information, monitoring for adverse drug reactions, recommending non-pharmacological treatments, screening for treatment issues, and making therapeutic recommendations (p < 0.05). Trained pharmacists in psychiatry reported being more prepared to provide all pharmacotherapy services (p = 0.003), except in addressing non-adherence, utilizing online resources, and providing pharmacotherapy services to patients with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. They reported fewer barriers (α = 0.005) except for time to provide services, having a private consultation area, and reimbursement for patient care activities. Conclusions: This study found that responding pharmacists without psychiatric training/experience may need additional education/training post-graduation and that they perceive more barriers in providing services to this population.

Class of 2015 Abstract / Objectives: To establish the impact pharmacists can have on adult immunization rates by having pharmacists available to provide, administer, and advocate for immunizations. Methods: The following databases were searched from inception to November 2014: NLM PubMed; Ovid/MEDLINE; and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were comparative studies reporting pharmacist intervention and their impact on immunization rates. Of 38 publications originally identified, 15 met inclusion criteria. Variables examined included study characteristics, pharmacist intervention, and immunization rates. Results: Of the 15 studies we identified, only ten studies could be analyzed in the meta-analysis. All studies showed increases in immunization rates with pharmacist involvement, but there was high variance. Pharmacist interventions at hospital sites had the greatest benefit for increasing immunization rates (average odds ratio [OR], 10.64, confidence interval [CI] 95%, 5.25-21.49). Pharmacist intervention at one or two community sites had the second highest impact (OR, 2.81; CI 95%, 2.31-3.41). Studies covering multiple sites (more than two) showed the lowest increase in immunization rates (OR 2.26; CI 95%, 1.81-2.81). Conclusions: Pharmacist’s involvement in advocating and administering immunizations directly increases immunization rates in some patient populations. The greatest increases in immunization rates can be seen when pharmacists advocate for immunizations in the hospital setting.