Class of 2014 Abstract / Specific Aims: To assess the prevalence of mothers asking pharmacists for pediatric dosing and mothers’ knowledge of pediatric OTC use. Subjects: Mothers with ≥ one child under 6 years old in a local mothers’ support group in Tucson. Methods: Questionnaires were sent out weekly for a month by the group’s listserv and social media website to determine the prevalence of mothers that ask pharmacists questions and assess their knowledge of OTC medications and what medical sources they use. Data on ages, ages of children, number of children, race/ethnicity, pharmacy visited, education, insurance coverage, and children’s chronic diseases were collected. Main Results: Twenty-six people responded. About 46% of the participants were 30 - 34 years old. Forty-six percent of mothers had 2 children; 42% had 1 child. About 54% of mothers have asked a pharmacist for pediatric OTC dosing. The reasons mothers gave for not asking pharmacists dosing information were that they hadn’t needed to ask (25%), they asked a doctor (16%), they used an online resource (8%), and they didn’t think about asking (8%). Three questions assessed OTC knowledge; 50% of participants got all questions correct, 38.5% got two questions correct, and 11.5% got one question correct. There wasn’t a difference in OTC knowledge and whether they asked a pharmacist questions (p=0.373). Conclusion: More than half of mothers asked pharmacists dosing information, but this percentage could still be higher. Fifty percent got all three questions right, 38.5% got two questions correct, and 11.5% of mothers got only 1 question correct.

Class of 2016 Abstract / Objectives: To describe the prices of brand versus generic OTC drug products in a variety of pharmacies and to compare the differences in lower income areas. Subjects: Over-the-counter products available in both brand and house generic forms in all pharmacies. House generic was defined as a line of products sold strictly by a company and its affiliates. Methods: Prices were collected across one week from all stores and locations, in each identical product. Once all the data was collected for the brand and generic medications, the data was evaluated using t tests. Results: The house generic brands (mean = $6.21) were significantly cheaper (p=2.14 x 10^-23) than the brand products (mean = $10.84 ). Also, generic drug prices are significantly cheaper at grocery stores (p=2.19 x 10^-11). Lastly, The price differences in all four areas were not significantly different in each of the brand and generic calculations (p=0.837 and p=0.910, respectively). Conclusions: House generic brands are significantly cheaper than brand products in all pharmacies in Arizona. In addition, all four areas of Arizona had similar brand and generic OTC prices.

Class of 2011 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to create, implement, and evaluate an interactive educational program for older adults on the safe use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. METHODS: This was a prospective, interventional study in which all subjects received a 40-minute session covering 12 OTC topics tailored to older adults and delivered by pharmacy students. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from five independent senior living communities in Arizona. Following the program, participants completed a questionnaire to address the helpfulness and share their intentions of behavior change. RESULTS: Of 88 older adults who attended the program, 64 met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily completed the anonymous survey. 91.8% of the participants indicated the intervention was either “very helpful” or “moderately helpful”. Upon score conversion, the average score for helpfulness among men and women were 2.35 and 2.37, respectively (p=0.922). 95.2% of the participants agreed they have better understanding about OTCs, and 98.3% reported they would recommend this program to a friend. The majority of the subjects stated they will make changes to the way they use OTCs (79.3%), talk with their pharmacist before purchasing OTCs (86.8%), and discuss OTC use with their providers (88.3%). The three most beneficial topics identified included vitamins/minerals, reading a drug label, and sleep medications. CONCLUSION: An interactive educational program on the safe use of OTC medications, tailored to older adults and delivered by pharmacy students, was helpful and generated positive intentions regarding behavior change in OTC use among participants.

Este trabalho visa a discutir aspectos centrais dos instrumentos derivativos, que têm ganhado importância crescente desde os anos 70, principalmente depois da crise do subprime em 2008. No Capítulo I, procura-se resgatar o debate sobre a natureza jurídica dos derivativos, tendo em vista sua função econômica. A partir deste ponto de partida, extraem-se conclusões práticas, como a não aplicabilidade das normas relativas à evicção, vícios redibitórios e teoria da imprevisão ou resolução por onerosidade excessiva. Ao fim, é proposta uma classificação dos derivativos. O objetivo do Capítulo II é destacar os principais aspectos da regulação dos derivativos. A partir da função econômica, legisladores e reguladores do mundo todo têm encontrado a necessidade de limitar a esfera de autonomia contratual, determinando o que pode ser negociado, de que forma e o modo como se deve dar a liquidação das obrigações. O Capítulo III visa a discutir os resultados da pesquisa de jurisprudência não enquadrados nos temas dos Capítulos I e II. Com isso, há maior transparência quanto aos resultados da pesquisa de jurisprudência e, ao mesmo tempo, discute-se possíveis pontos de atenção para a regulação. Por fim, o Apêndice descreve a metodologia utilizada na pesquisa de jurisprudência. / This paper aims to discuss key aspects of derivative instruments. Their importance has been increasing since the 70s, especially after the subprime crisis in 2008. Chapter I seeks to present the debate on the legal nature of the derivatives, highlighting its economic function. From this discussion, we found some practical conclusions, such as non-applicability of eviction, latent defects and rebus sic stantibus clause. In the end, we present a classification of derivatives. Chapter II highlights the main aspects of derivatives regulation. Due to their importance, legislators and regulators have been limiting contractual autonomy, determining what and in which way people can contract and settlement of obligations by clearinghouses or CCPs. Chapter III aims to discuss derivatives case law that have not fit the themes of Chapters I and II. It is a way of, at the same time, disclosing case law research findings and discussing possible improvements in regulation. Finally, the Appendix describes the methodology used in the case law research.

Este trabalho visa a discutir aspectos centrais dos instrumentos derivativos, que têm ganhado importância crescente desde os anos 70, principalmente depois da crise do subprime em 2008. No Capítulo I, procura-se resgatar o debate sobre a natureza jurídica dos derivativos, tendo em vista sua função econômica. A partir deste ponto de partida, extraem-se conclusões práticas, como a não aplicabilidade das normas relativas à evicção, vícios redibitórios e teoria da imprevisão ou resolução por onerosidade excessiva. Ao fim, é proposta uma classificação dos derivativos. O objetivo do Capítulo II é destacar os principais aspectos da regulação dos derivativos. A partir da função econômica, legisladores e reguladores do mundo todo têm encontrado a necessidade de limitar a esfera de autonomia contratual, determinando o que pode ser negociado, de que forma e o modo como se deve dar a liquidação das obrigações. O Capítulo III visa a discutir os resultados da pesquisa de jurisprudência não enquadrados nos temas dos Capítulos I e II. Com isso, há maior transparência quanto aos resultados da pesquisa de jurisprudência e, ao mesmo tempo, discute-se possíveis pontos de atenção para a regulação. Por fim, o Apêndice descreve a metodologia utilizada na pesquisa de jurisprudência. / This paper aims to discuss key aspects of derivative instruments. Their importance has been increasing since the 70s, especially after the subprime crisis in 2008. Chapter I seeks to present the debate on the legal nature of the derivatives, highlighting its economic function. From this discussion, we found some practical conclusions, such as non-applicability of eviction, latent defects and rebus sic stantibus clause. In the end, we present a classification of derivatives. Chapter II highlights the main aspects of derivatives regulation. Due to their importance, legislators and regulators have been limiting contractual autonomy, determining what and in which way people can contract and settlement of obligations by clearinghouses or CCPs. Chapter III aims to discuss derivatives case law that have not fit the themes of Chapters I and II. It is a way of, at the same time, disclosing case law research findings and discussing possible improvements in regulation. Finally, the Appendix describes the methodology used in the case law research.

Contexte : les règlements distinguent habituellement les médicaments prescrits uniquement (prescription only medicines POM) et les médicaments en vente libre (over-the-counter OTC). Les premiers nécessitent une prescription médicale et les derniers sont disponibles pour l'automédication sans ordonnance. Au Liban comme dans les autres pays de l’Est de la Méditerranée, les médicaments théoriquement prescrits peuvent facilement être achetés sans ordonnance. Les antibiotiques sont parmi les classes de médicaments les plus fréquemment vendus sans ordonnance. L'utilisation inappropriée d'antibiotiques augmente le taux de résistance bactérienne et la fréquence de l'échec du traitement. Cette étude est menée pour déterminer le mode d'emploi des antibiotiques disponibles en tant qu'automédication au Liban, en comparaison avec leur utilisation comme médicaments uniquement prescrits en France. Méthode : Tout d'abord, une revue approfondie de la littérature publiée (1990-2015) a été menée en utilisant les bases de données : Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane et Google Scholar, pour abus de médicamentsdisponibles sans ordonnance au Moyen-Orient ;les antibiotiques étaient parmi les médicaments les plus mal utilisés. Une étude prospective a ensuite été menée au Liban. Les données ont été collectées auprès de patients qui achetaient des antibiotiques avec ou sans ordonnance dans les officines sur une période d’un an (septembre 2015 à septembre 2016). En France, les données ont été extraites de la base de données Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires (EGB), contenant un échantillon représentatif permanent 1/97 du système d'assurance-maladie national français, qui contient toutes les prescriptions dispensées en France. Nous y avons mené des recherchespour identifier les modes d'utilisation des 5 antibiotiques les plus utilisés au Liban. Résultats : La distribution moyenne de ces antibiotiques était plus élevée en France (18,6 DDD) qu'au Liban (10.6DDD). Cependant, le nombre moyen de dérogations au Liban était de 3,39 par an, plus élevé qu'en France (2 par an). Ce n'était pas différent entre les participants avec ou sans ordonnance. Le coamoxiclav a été largement consommé au Liban à la fois sous ordonnance et par automédication, alors que l'amoxicilline était le principal antibiotique consommé en France.62,4% des patients ont utilisé le bon antibiotique et 80,1% l'ont utilisé dans le dosage correct. Dans la suivi, la durée du traitement était inappropriée dans la majorité des cas (68,6%). Lorsque tous ces trois facteurs ont été additionnés, il s'avère que 83,6% des antibiotiques ont été utilisés de manière inappropriée. La pertinence de l'utilisation a été observée chez 27,6% et 16,4% des antibiotiques prescrits et non prescrits, respectivement. Conclusion : Il est certain que l'automédication observée ou l'utilisation médicalement non surveillée d'antibiotiques est un risque majeur. Les premières mesures à prendre pour réduire celles-ci sont éducatives, pour les patients, les pharmaciens, les prescripteurs, l'industrie pharmaceutique et les autorités réglementaires. / Background: Regulations usually distinguish between prescription-only (POM) and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. The former requires medical prescription; the latter are available for self-medication (SM) without a prescription. In Lebanon as in other Eastern Mediterranean countries, theoretically prescription medicines can easily be purchased without a prescription. Antibiotics are among the most commonly sold drug classes without prescription. The inappropriate use of antibiotics increases the rate of bacterial resistance and the frequency of treatment failure. This study is conducted to determine the usage pattern of antibiotics available as self-medication in Lebanon, compared with their use as prescription only drugs in France. Method: First, an extensive review of the published literature (1990–2015) was conducted using Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases, for OTC medicine misuse and abuse in the Middle East. Antibiotics were among the most commonly misused medications. A cross sectional prospective field study was then conducted in Lebanon. Data was collected from patients seeking antibiotics with or without prescription in community pharmacies over a 1-year period (September 2015 to September 2016). In France, data was extracted from the EchantillonGénéraliste de Bénéficiaires (EGB) database, the permanent 1/97 representative sample from the French national healthcare insurance system which contains all dispensed prescriptions in France. It was searched in 2013 to identify usage patterns of antibiotics, of 5 antibiotics most commonly used in Lebanon. Results: The average dispensing for these antibiotics was higher in France (18.6 DDD) than that in Lebanon (10.6DDD). However, the average number of dispensings in Lebanon was 3.39 per year, higher than that in France (2 per year). It was not different between participants with or without prescription. Coamoxiclav was widely consumed in Lebanon as both prescription and self-medication, whereas amoxicillin was the main antibiotic in France. 62.4% of patients used the right antibiotic and 80.1% used it in correct dosage. The duration of treatment in the follow up was inappropriate in the majority of cases (68.6%). When all of these three factors were summed together, it turned out that 83.6% of antibiotics were utilized inappropriately. Appropriateness in use was seen in 27.6% and 16.4% of the prescribed and non-prescribed antibiotics respectively. Conclusion: Misuse of antibiotics is a major driver in the development of antibiotic resistance, an issue for individuals and for public health. Obviously the observed self-medication or medically unsupervised utilization of antibiotics is a major risk. The first measures to take to reduce this are educational, for patients, pharmacists, prescribers, the pharmaceutical industry and the regulatory authorities.

Diplomová práce se zabývá regulací trhů OTC derivátů, které hrály zásadní roli ve vzniku a šíření světové finanční krize. Cílem této regulace bylo zmírnit následky krize a preventivně bránit opakování podobnýćh událostí v budoucnosti. Hlavní důraz je kladen na regulaci EMIR a Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform v Evropě a USA.

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.

Bakgrund: Kinesiska bolag på den amerikanska OTC-listan är idag ofta associerade med bluffar och dålig kommunikation gentemot aktieägarna. Detta gör att den amerikanska marknaden inte har ett förtroende för dessa bolag. Denna opålitlighet från marknadens sida har resulterat i att många av de kinesiska bolagen blivit felvärderade. För de legitima bolagen leder det till att de blir undervärderade. Frågan som uppstår här är: Kan ett bolag få en mer rättvis värdering genom att noteras på en marknadsplats utanför USA exempelvis i Sverige? Syfte: Denna studie har till syfte att undersöka hur en övergång för ett kinesiskt bolag från en OTC-lista i USA till en senior lista på den reglerade börsmarknaden i Sverige påverkar värderingen av bolaget. Genomförande: Studien är utformad till en kvantitativ undersökning. Uträkningar görs i Excel utifrån den insamlade datan. De uträkningarna som görs är främst matematiska och statistiska tester/metoder där de uträknade resultaten ska ligga till grund för analyserna som ska göras utifrån de finansiella teorierna; behavioural finance och effektiva marknadshypotesen. Slutsats: Studien visar att det finns fördelar för de kinesiska bolagen med att noteras på den svenska marknaden då den inte har samma erfarenheter som den amerikanska marknaden, dock kommer det att kräva en förbättrad kommunikation och en högre kontroll av de kinesiska bolagen. Denna anpassning kan bli ett problem för bolagen då det skulle kräva ett helt nytt arbetssätt som de inte är vana vid. Om bolagen tar sig ann utmaningen så kan det leda till en positiv tillväxt samt flera investerare och en mer rättvis värdering. / Background: Chinese companies on the U.S. OTC market are today often associated with fraud and bad communication against the investor. This means that the U.S. market does not have confidence in these companies. This unreliability is making these companies mispriced in the majority of cases, for the legitimate companies this will lead them to becoming underpriced. The question that arises here is: Can a company get a more fair valuation by getting listed on a marketplace outside of the U.S. e.g. in Sweden? Purpose: This study aims to investigate how a transition for a Chinese company from an OTC list in the U.S. to a senior listing on the regulated stock market in Sweden will affect the valuation of the company. Method: The study is designed to a quantitative survey. Calculations are made in Excel from the data collected. The calculations made ​​are mathematical and statistical tests where the calculated results will form the analysis that will be made on the basis of the financial theories; behavioral finance and the efficient market hypothesis. Findings: The study shows that there are advantages for Chinese companies to be listed on the Swedish market since it does not have the same experience as the U.S. market, however, it will require a new type of communication and greater control of the Chinese companies. This adaptation can be a problem for companies as it would require an entirely new work approach that they are not used to. If companies are able to make these changes it could lead to positive growth, additional investors and a more fair valuation.

In this paper, we model price dispersion effects in over-the-counter (OTC) markets to show that, in the presence of inventory risk for dealers and search costs for investors, traded prices may deviate from the expected market valuation of an asset. We interpret this devia- tion as a liquidity effect and develop a new liquidity measure quantifying the price dispersion in the context of the US corporate bond market. This market offers a unique opportunity tofstudy liquidity effects since, from October 2004 onwards, all OTC transactions in this marketfhave to be reported to a common database known as the Trade Reporting and CompliancefEngine (TRACE). Furthermore, market-wide average price quotes are available from MarkitGroup Limited, a financial information provider. Thus, it is possible, for the first time, to directly observe deviations between transaction prices and the expected market valuation of securities. We quantify and analyze our new liquidity measure for this market and find significant price dispersion effects that cannot be simply captured by bid-ask spreads. Wefshow that our new measure is indeed related to liquidity by regressing it on commonly-usedfliquidity proxies and find a strong relation between our proposed liquidity measure and bond characteristics, as well as trading activity variables. Furthermore, we evaluate the reliability of end-of-day marks that traders use to value their positions. Our evidence suggests that the price deviations from expected market valuations are significantly larger and more volatile than previously assumed. Overall, the results presented here improve our understanding of the drivers of liquidity and are important for many applications in OTC markets, in general. (authors' abstract)