{"title":"Rejecting False Claims from Markov Simulations in Alzheimer's Disease","authors":"Paul Langley","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i3.5701","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5701","url":null,"abstract":"There is no abstract as this is a letter","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135867078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Taehwan Park, Deion Awah, Nancy Doshi, Chimene Castor, Joseph Ravenell, Yolene Gousse
{"title":"Uptake and Utilization of the COVID-19 Alert App within a University Community in New York","authors":"Taehwan Park, Deion Awah, Nancy Doshi, Chimene Castor, Joseph Ravenell, Yolene Gousse","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i3.5488","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5488","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic elicited a swift response to control the virus ubiquitous within the United States. Expanded telehealth and health informatics became critical components of the pandemic response. The aim of this study was to assess the utilization of the COVID-19 New York (NY) Alert App and identify the perceived benefits and limitations of the App. A cross-sectional design was employed to collect data by using questionnaires with closed-ended questions. The survey was developed and administered during March through April 2021. The study found that the highest rated benefit from using the COVID-19 NY Alert App was receiving alerts about being in close proximity to individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Results showed that ineffective (insufficient and inappropriate) usage was the highest rated potential challenge for using the App. Study subjects were likely to download this Alert App when they perceived more benefits and less barriers to using the App. Findings from this study can help improve utilization of the App and inform development of similar tele-education tools. The study illuminated considerations for health information applications in scaling-up traditional COVID-19 tracing efforts and may facilitate the design of similar emergency preparedness health technology.","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135867077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing a Medication Safety and Disposal Educational Program using the Health Belief Model","authors":"Oliver Frenzel, Jayme Steig, Alyssa Hodges","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i3.5546","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5546","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Self-medication practices continue to grow due to reclassification of prescription to OTC status and self-care information on the internet, however unintended injuries and inappropriate use of medications continue to challenge healthcare providers during the provision of patient care. Pharmacists have an integral role in pharmacovigilance and patient education activities to ensure safe medication use, storage, and disposal practices.
 Objectives: The objective of this medication safety and disposal educational program was to provide comprehensive informational support to the community coupled with an assessment using the Health Belief Model (HBM) to gauge participants’ perceived behavior change.
 Methods: The HBM was selected to assess the understanding of the community members' benefits and barriers to safe medication practices. The HBM posits that health behaviors are influenced by perceptions of a diseases’ severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers to health practices, perceived benefits of health practices, self-efficacy, and cues to action. An 8 item pre/post survey following the HBM constructs was developed which used a 5 point Likert scale.
 Results: A total of 25 senior participants attended the educational program. Twenty-three pre/post surveys were completed (RR=92%). Five items revealed a statistically significant change from pre to post-educational content including understanding risk of herbal/OTC products (p=0.021), improved awareness of medication disposal methods (p=0.044), comprehension of OTC ‘Drug Facts’ information (p=0.004), understanding OTC label information to prevent medication interactions and side effects (p=0.008), and routinely reviewing expiration dates on medications and disposing of these properly (p=0.019).
 Conclusion: This study suggests a comprehensive approach which covers a wide range of medication safety topics and disposal practices can successfully improve the knowledge and skill of community participants and potentially improve medication harm reduction practices.","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135867263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cost-Effectiveness of a Hypothetical Gene Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A Markov Simulation Analysis","authors":"Thuy Chinh Kieu, Kevin Look","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i3.5500","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5500","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Alzheimer’s disease is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition causing significant health and economic burden. With limited therapeutic options, clinical trials have been investigating Alzheimer’s disease treatment using more novel approaches, including gene therapy. However, there is limited evidence on the cost-effectiveness of such treatments.
 Objectives: This research aims to explore the cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical gene therapy for patients with Alzheimer’s disease at varying degrees of severity.
 Methods: A Markov model with a 20-year time horizon was constructed for simulated cohorts with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease, assigned to receive either standard of care or a one-time gene therapy administration. Varying costs of care due to disease severity and treatment efficacy were utilized to determine the effect of those variables at different willingness-to-pay thresholds. 
 Results: Under the initial assumption that the hypothetical gene therapy grants a 30% risk reduction in disease progression and entry into institutional care, the maximum cost-effective price for gene therapy is $141,126 per treatment using the threshold of $150,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). By increasing the treatment effectiveness to 50%, cost-effective price nearly doubled at each willingness-to-pay threshold (e.g., $260,902 at the $150,000/QALY threshold).
 Conclusion: Despite being cost-effective at a very high price, the hypothetical gene therapy for AD would still need to be priced considerably lower than other approved gene therapies on the market. Thus, a comprehensive pharmacoeconomic assessment remains critical in pricing innovative therapy and determining coverage for patients in need.","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"106 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135787462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maduabuchi Romanus Ihekoronye, Oore-Ofe Deborah Akande, Kanayo Patrick Osemene
{"title":"Management of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) Services by Community Pharmacists in Osun State Nigeria","authors":"Maduabuchi Romanus Ihekoronye, Oore-Ofe Deborah Akande, Kanayo Patrick Osemene","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i3.5576","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5576","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Point-of-care testing (POCT) provides important opportunity for community pharmacists to participate in oriented primary patient care. Effective management of these services is required to deliver their currently- underexploited benefits. Objectives: Assessed attitudes and practice, examined management functions deployed and identified factors affecting provision of POCTs by community pharmacists. Methods: A questionnaire-guided cross-sectional survey of 146 randomly-selected community pharmacists was conducted in Osun State Southwestern Nigeria. Study variables were measured on 5-point Likert scales with weighted averages, median scores and ranks used to present item performances. Interquartile ranges were computed to categorize practice scores. Chi square statistic was used to examine association of variables. ANOVA and 2-sample t-test were used to compare means. Results: A response rate of 94.5% was achieved. Respondents had a positive attitude (MWA 3.75) towards provision of POCTs as core component of their practice (MWA 4.58) with potential to contribute significantly to profitability (MWA 4.31). Respondents’ median practice score was 3.01(moderate practice) with blood pressure screening (4.77), weight measurement (4.45), and blood glucose screening (4.18) as leading POCTs, while cervical cancer screening (1.09) was least practiced. Management of POCTs was fair (MWA 3.33) with organisation of work as pre-eminent domain (MWA 3.66). Management practices were significantly associated with almost all demographic variables (p< .05). Positive public perception of pharmacists’ roles (MWA 4.31) and their improving clinical skills (MWA 4.01) were the leading enablers while the lack of enabling policy framework (MWA 3.80) and poor health information backbone (MWA 3.78) were major challenges to routine adoption of POCTs by respondents. Conclusion: The community pharmacists had positive attitude and moderate practice of POCTs. Management of these services was fair. Improving public perception of pharmacists should be exploited while enabling legal and health information systems should be provided to drive routine adoption of POCTs.","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"362 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135787461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Courtney Schenkelberg, Arwa A. Al-Khatib, Brianne K. Bakken, Vibhuti A. Arya, C. Gaither, D. Kreling, David Mott, Jon Schommer, Matthew J. Witry, William Doucette
{"title":"Identifying Services Provided in Community Pharmacy Practice Settings","authors":"Courtney Schenkelberg, Arwa A. Al-Khatib, Brianne K. Bakken, Vibhuti A. Arya, C. Gaither, D. Kreling, David Mott, Jon Schommer, Matthew J. Witry, William Doucette","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i3.5543","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5543","url":null,"abstract":"Background: To better address their patients’ needs, community pharmacists are expanding from their traditional role of dispensing to managing medications and providing other care. Objective: This study characterized services reported by pharmacists practicing in community pharmacy settings in the 2019 National Pharmacist Workforce Study (NPWS). Methods: The 2019 NPWS was conducted via an online survey. E-mails containing survey links were sent to a systematic random sample of 96,110 U.S. pharmacists. The survey allowed tailoring of questions related to specific practice settings and for respondents in community pharmacies included reporting on delivery of twelve services. Other descriptive characteristic questions included pharmacy type, staffing, monitoring activities, self-reported workload, and respondent demographics. An index was created by summing the number of yes responses for the service questions. This index served as the dependent variable in an ordinary least squares regression examining the association of work setting chacateristics with the index. Results: Usable responses were received from 2,150 community pharmacists. The top four services were: administer vaccines (91.1%), patient medication assistance program (83.7%), naloxone dispensing (72.8%) and medication synchronization (67.2%). The regression model was significant, with supermarket pharmacies having a higher service index than large chains. Elevated service index scores were associated with more technicians on duty, CPESN participation, direct communication with primary care providers, practicing under a CPA and monitoring activities. Conclusions: Pharmacy operational characteristics were important influences on the delivery of services in community pharmacies. These findings can help inform the continuing transformation of community pharmacy practice.","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"101 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139341883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence and Impact of Workplace Bullying among Pharmacy Practice Faculty in the United States","authors":"Kristin Klein, Emma Dittmar, Sarah Vordenberg","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i3.5450","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i3.5450","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: To identify the prevalence and impact of workplace bullying among pharmacy practice faculty in the United States. Methods: Members of the Pharmacy Practice section of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy were invited to complete an online survey about the frequency with which they experienced negative workplace behaviors in the communication, humiliation, manipulation, discrimination, and violence domains as well as workplace bullying in the previous 12 months. Independent t-tests and chi-squared tests were used to investigate associations between workplace bullying and pharmacy practice faculty demographic and employment characteristics. Results: Participants (n=256) reported a median of 6 negative behaviors in the workplace, most often in the communication and humiliation domains. A total of 50 (19.5%) reported experiencing workplace bullying. The most common impacts of workplace bullying included increasing their stress level (n=44/49, 89.8%), negative effects on their emotional health (n=42/49, 85.7%), and job dissatisfaction (n=40/49, 81.6%). Female participants more frequently reported workplace bullying (n=43/196, 21.9%) compared to male participants (n=4/56, 7.1%; p=0.012). Individuals who identified as white were less likely to report workplace bullying (n=40/233, 17.2%) compared to individuals of all other races (n=8/19, 42.1%; p=0.008). Conclusion: Most pharmacy practice faculty reported experiencing some degree of negative workplace behaviors during the past 12 months. Additional strategies are needed to create inclusive work environments with transparent, actionable policies when workplace bullying occurs. Treatment of human subjects: IRB exemption granted","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135134741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laura Palombi, Lucas Kosobuski, Jungeun Lee, Sarah Westberg, Nathan Chen, Sherry Le, Amy Van Loon
{"title":"Qualitative Assessment of a Human Trafficking Module Intervention in Pharmacy Education","authors":"Laura Palombi, Lucas Kosobuski, Jungeun Lee, Sarah Westberg, Nathan Chen, Sherry Le, Amy Van Loon","doi":"10.24926/iip.v14i2.5067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i2.5067","url":null,"abstract":"Description of the Problem: Human trafficking is a critical public health threat in the United States, yet education on human trafficking for pharmacy students has not been evaluated despite pharmacists being the most accessible health care professionals. Description of the Innovation: To evaluate the most valuable aspects of an introductory module on human trafficking, pharmacy students participated in a human trafficking module, and their perception of human trafficking was evaluated after the module. Content on human trafficking was delivered through an asynchronous online presentation followed by a synchronous Zoom class discussion. Fifty-three third-year pharmacy students from the Women’s Health elective in the fall semester of 2020 at the University of Minnesota - College of Pharmacy were included. Consensual Qualitative Research methodology was used for qualitative data analysis. Critical Analysis: Students’ perceptions of the value of this learning module was evaluated through consensual qualitative research. The findings suggest the module held significant value for students to better understand human trafficking and the role of pharmacists. Implications: A hybrid model on human trafficking involving discussions, case examples, and questions posed by students was found to have a positive impact on their knowledge on human trafficking. The results of this study will provide direction for future modules, classes, or adaptations to the curriculum on human trafficking for pharmacy students and may prove beneficial for other health care professionals.","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135315329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Innovations in PharmacyPub Date : 2022-12-26eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.24926/iip.v13i4.5018
Akua A Appiah-Num Safo, Olihe N Okoro, Joseph Attakorah
{"title":"Perceptions of Healthcare Providers about Pharmacists' Clinical Roles in Patient Care in Ghana.","authors":"Akua A Appiah-Num Safo, Olihe N Okoro, Joseph Attakorah","doi":"10.24926/iip.v13i4.5018","DOIUrl":"10.24926/iip.v13i4.5018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Clinical pharmacy practice is distinguishable from the dispensing model by its focus on direct patient care. To function effectively in this role, pharmacists need to have clinical competencies, hence the establishment of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. In Ghana, the PharmD program is in its early stages; graduating its first set of pharmacists in 2018. There is therefore need to understand how these recent PharmD graduates are engaging in clinical roles and the perceptions of other health professionals they need to work collaboratively with. <b>Methods:</b> Four different focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with physicians, nurses and pharmacists in separate sessions. Questions explored perceptions of the clinical roles of pharmacists. The FGDs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis of the transcripts was conducted. <b>Results:</b> Perceptions around the roles of clinical pharmacists were in two categories - (1.) Roles associated with the provision of direct patient care [(i.) assurance of appropriateness, and (ii.) optimization of pharmacotherapy; and (2.) Roles involving participation in inter-professional collaborative care with other healthcare professionals through their (i.) contribution of pharmacotherapy expertise, and (ii.) input in interprofessional education and practice. <b>Conclusion:</b> Findings from the study highlight perceived contributions of pharmacists, and potential for more relevance to clinical care, while also drawing attention to the emergence of clinical roles of pharmacists in healthcare systems in a global context. There is continuing need for advocacy for the pharmacy profession and policy changes in healthcare delivery models to maximize potential benefits of clinical pharmacists to health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10256284/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9993546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Innovations in PharmacyPub Date : 2022-12-12eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.24926/iip.v13i2.4861
Paul C Langley
{"title":"Concerns with Patient Reported Outcome Measurement and Value Claims for Therapy Response: The Case of Mavacamten and Symptomatic Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (SHCM).","authors":"Paul C Langley","doi":"10.24926/iip.v13i2.4861","DOIUrl":"10.24926/iip.v13i2.4861","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fundamental measurement is the basis for a rational assessment of patient reported outcome (PRO) value claims; both as response to therapy and the submission of credible and evaluable value claims to formulary committees and other health system decision makers. It is important to emphasize the importance of creating interval and ratio scales as opposed to nominal and ordinal scales to support value claims; a recognition that follows from acceptance of conjoint simultaneous measurement and the contribution of Rasch or modern measurement theory (RMT). Failure to appreciate the role of RMT has led thousands of researchers simply to apply numerals to events, inappropriately applying the techniques of classical statistical analysis, with the result that all that is produced are ordinal PRO scores. Instead, we should be aiming for interval and ratio scores based on a comprehensible latent trait and the application of the Rasch model. The purpose of this brief commentary is to review the measurement properties of PRO value claims for mavacamten (Camzyos; Bristol Myers Squibb) in symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (SHCM) and to judge whether they have any validity when judged against the requirements of modern measurement theory. The assessment includes both the recent evidence report by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) for mavacamten as well as pivotal randomized trial (RCT) value claims that combine clinical endpoints with PROs that fail the standards of fundamental evidence. These include the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification and the EuroQuol EQ-5D-5L multiattribute health related quality of life (HRQoL) preference instrument. The review concludes that apart from purely clinical claims based on the various pivotal trials, there are no PRO claims for mavacamten in SHCM that meet the required measurement standards.</p>","PeriodicalId":13646,"journal":{"name":"Innovations in Pharmacy","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/09/d1/21550417-13-02-4861.PMC9836750.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10604162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}