Investigating the use of a lecture capture system within pharmacy education: Lessons from an undergraduate pharmacy program at Qatar University

© 2020, The Author(s). Video lecture capture is one of the most attractive e-tools that has been introduced to support students learning and assist with grasping difficult concepts. A variety of benefits is offered through this system introduced at our institution nearly a decade ago. We evaluated lecture capture viewings for professional undergraduate pharmacy courses in the Fall and Spring semesters over three academic years and analyzed data for one cohort of students. Each course within the pharmacy program was analyzed and viewing figures downloaded through the Echo360 management system. The average number of views per lecture, per semester was summarized. We observed that junior students viewed lecture capture most frequently with the number of views highest at the beginning of the academic year (Fall semester). Analysis of 18 courses which occurred 48 times over the three academic years studied, showed that 21 course occurrences had an average number of views per lecture equal to or higher than the number of students enrolled in the course, indicating that only 44% of courses had on average, at least, one student viewing each lecture recording. Of particular note, year 1 students had the highest percentage of courses viewed by a number equal to or higher than students enrolled (9 occurrences out of 16 or 56%), followed by year 2 students (9 occurrences out of 21 or 43%), and finally year 3 students (3 occurrences out of 11 or 27%). This pattern of lecture recording viewing was further underscored by longitudinally following-up the class of 2020 (24 students) over three academic years. To ensure optimal use of the system by both students and faculty for a multitude of learning and teaching styles and methods, we propose to implement professional development sessions for faculty to showcase the advantages of the lecture capture system and maximize the benefits from its availability. Further quantitative and qualitative studies are warranted to fully grasp the motivations for use, attitudes and perceptions towards the system

Economic impact of clinical pharmacist interventions in a general tertiary hospital in Qatar

Background With an increasingly strained health system budgets, healthcare services need to continually demonstrate evidence of economic benefits. This study sought to evaluate the economic impact of interventions initiated by clinical pharmacists in an adult general tertiary hospital. Methods A retrospective review of clinical pharmacist interventions was carried out throughout followup durations in March 2018, July/August 2018, and January 2019 in Hamad General Hospital (HGH) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar. The study included clinical pharmacy interventions data of patients admitted to the internal medicine, critical care, and emergency wards. Included interventions were documented by clinical pharmacists or clinical pharmacy specialists, and approved by physicians. Interventions by non-clinical pharmacists or with missing data were excluded. Adopting the perspective of HMC, we calculated the total economic benefit, which is the sum of the cost savings and the cost avoidance associated with the interventions. Cost savings was defined as the reduced cost of therapy associated with therapy changes minus the cost of intervention and cost avoidance was the cost avoided by eliminating the occurrence of adverse drug events (ADEs). Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of results against uncertainties. Results A total of 852 interventions, based on 340 patients, were included. The analysis projected an annual total benefit of QAR 2,267,036 (USD 621,106) based on a negative cost-savings of QAR-175,139 (USD-47,983) and a positive cost avoidance of QAR741,898 (USD203,260) over the 3-month follow-up period. The uncertainty analysis demonstrated the robustness of outcomes, including a 100% probability of positive economic benefit. Conclusions The clinical pharmacist intervention was associated witScopu

Pharmaceutical care in management of type-2 diabetes and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with risk analysis of developing cardiovascular events

Strathclyde theses - ask staff. Thesis no. : T13466Aim: To identify the needs for improved levels of care provided to patients with type-2 diabetes in Qatar with a special focus on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Subjects and Settings: 305 patients attending the diabetes clinic in Hamad General Hospital, Qatar, from 2010-2011, all having type-2 diabetes and no history of CVD. Patients' medical records accessed from medical files manually and electronically. Methods: a) 38 criteria medication assessment tool (MAT) designed from recommendations on the management of type-2 diabetes and combined with recommendations relevant to primary prevention of CVD. The MAT was validated by a group of researchers and practitioners and field tested. Levels of applicability and adherence to each criterion and for each patient were calculated individually and the overall adherence determined. Areas needing improvement were identified and patients' clinical factors associated with prescribing adherence were studied b) Patients' 10 year risk estimates of developing any coronary heart disease (CHD), fatal CHD, any stroke and fatal stroke obtained using the type-2 specific CVD risk calculator from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS risk engine). Patients were defined to be at 'high' risk if estimates were 15%. The association between each risk factor within the risk calculator and being at a higher risk of developing CVD was studied and used to target patients for a designed pharmaceutical care plan. Levels of care provided to patients at higher risk of developing CVD were also assessed and used to address care issues to achieve effective CVD risk reduction in clinical practice. Results a)- The MAT was applied to the whole study sample (11590 assessed criteria in 305 patients). Application of the MAT identified 18/38 criteria with high levels of adherence (>̲80%), 10/38 criteria with intermediate levels of adherence (>̲50%; ̲80%), 10/38 criteria with intermediate levels of adherence (>̲50%; <80%) and 10/38 criteria with low levels of adherence (<50%). The overall adherence in 305 patients was 68.1% (95% CI: 67, 69; n= 6657 applicable criteria). Insufficient documentation to assess care was found in 1.1% (95% CI: 0.9, 1.4; n=74) of the applicable criteria.;Total non-adherences were found in 30.7% (95% CI: 30, 32; n=2049) of the applicable criteria in which only 5.8% (95% CI: 5, 7; n=118) had a documented justification. Consequently 94.2% (95% CI: 93, 95; n=1931) had unjustified non-adherence and indicated a need for inclusion in a treatment review through an appropriate pharmaceutical care plan. Adherence using the individual patient as the unit of analysis (MAT adherence per patient) revealed that prescribers adhered to < 70% of the applicable criteria in 50.5% (95% CI: 45, 56; n=154) of patients. Only blood pressure status and total cholesterol levels were found to be associated with prescribing adherence levels. ( b) Overall, in the following patient groups: any CHD (n= 282 eligible), fatal CHD (n=278 eligible), any stroke (n=274 eligible) and fatal stroke (n=305 eligible) there were 46.1% (95% CI: 40.3, 51.9, n=130), 29.5% (95% CI: 24.4, 35.1, n=82), 12.8% (95% CI: 9.3, 17.3, n=35) and 0% (95% CI: 0, 0) high risk patients identified respectively. A high risk of developing any CHD was significantly associated with increased means ± [standard deviation (SD)] of age (60.0±[8.7] vs 47.0±[9.7], p<0.0001), diabetes duration in years (13.6±[6.9] vs 7.5±[4.5], p<0.0001), systolic blood pressure, SBP (144±[16.9] vs 136±[17.5], p<0.0001), HbA1c level (9.0±[1.7] vs 8.1±[1.9], p<0.0001), and reduced high density lipoprotein (1.07±[0.3] vs 1.2±[0.42], p=0.002). Significantly more males than females were at high risk of developing CHD (64.6% vs. 35.4%, respectively, p<0.0001). In addition to total cholesterol (4.9±[1.1] vs 4.6±[1.0], p=0.04), similar associations and trends were also observed when these above variables were compared with the risk of developing fatal CHD. High risk of developing any stroke was significantly associated with increased means of age (69.4±[5.4] vs 49.5±[9.2], p<0.0001), diabetes duration in years (18.4±[7.2] vs 8.6±[5.0], p<0.0001) and SBP (145±[19.8] vs 138±[17.4], p=0.04). Targeted HbA1c and blood pressure values were not achieved in the majority of patients (84% and 75%, respectively) who are at higher risk of developing CVD. Conclusion: The study identified levels of adherence to guideline recommendations, the need for additional documentation and criteria with low adherence that might be a focus for a possible change at individual or organisational levels (changes in policies or structures) as well as educational interventions and a starting point for targeted pharmaceutical care. The risk of developing any CHD in patients with type-2 diabetes was significantly higher than the risk of developing fatal CHD, any stroke or fatal stroke. Risk calculators can be used to target patients for pharmaceutical care according to their CVD risk factors

Adherence to clinical guidelines in management of diabetes and prevention of cardiovascular disease in Qatar

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the UK increased in 2009 to 4 %, of which type-2 diabetes accounts for 85–95 % of all cases. In Qatar the prevalence of DM among the adult Qatari population in 2008 was 16.7 %; around four times higher than the prevalence in the UK. The aim of the study was to design and to apply a medication assessment tool (MAT) to determine the level of adherence to internationally recognised guideline recommendations in type-2 diabetes management and in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among type-2 diabetes patients, to quantify any gaps in guideline implementation. Materials and methods 305 patients were included in this study; all diagnosed with type-2 diabetes with no history of CVD. A 38 criteria MAT was designed from published guideline recommendations on the management of type-2 diabetes and combined with recommendations relevant to primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The MAT comprised 21 criteria assessing control of blood glucose, 5 criteria assessing management of diabetes complications and 12 criteria assessing preventive medication use in CVD. The MAT was validated by a group of practitioners and researchers and field tested in the diabetes outpatient clinic within Hamad General Hospital, Qatar, with electronic and manual access to patients’ medical records. Levels of applicability and adherence to each criterion were calculated individually and the overall adherence was determined. Results The MAT was applied to the whole study sample (11,590 assessed criteria in 305 patients). Application of the MAT identified 19/38 criteria with high levels of adherence (≥80 %), 9/38 criteria with intermediate levels of adherence (≥50 %; <80 %) and 10/38 criteria with low levels of adherence (<50 %). The overall adherence in 305 patients was 68.1 % (95 % CI: 67, 69) in 6,657 applicable criteria. Total non-adherences, both justified and unjustified, were found in 30.8 % (95 % CI: 30, 32) in 2,049 of the applicable criteria in which only 5.8 % (95 % CI: 5, 7) in 118 criteria had a documented justification. Consequently 94.2 % of all non-adherences (95 % CI: 93, 95) in 1,931 criteria had unjustified non-adherence and indicated a need for inclusion in treatment review through an appropriate pharmaceutical care plan. Discussion and conclusion The study identifies levels of adherence to guideline recommendations, the need for additional documentation and criteria with low adherence that might be a focus for an educational intervention and a starting point for targeted pharmaceutical care

Targeting diabetic patients in Qatar for pharmaceutical care, using cardiovascular risk analysis

This article looks at targeting diabetic patients in Qatar for pharmaceutical care, using cardiovascular risk analysis

Investigating the use of a lecture capture system within pharmacy education: Lessons from an internationally accredited undergraduate pharmacy program

Introduction: Video lecture capture has been introduced to support students learning and assist with grasping difficult concepts. A variety of benefits is offered through the Echo360 system introduced at our institution nearly a decade ago. Methods: We evaluated lecture capture viewings for professional undergraduate pharmacy courses in the Fall and Spring semesters over three academic years and analyzed data for one cohort of students. Each course within the pharmacy program was analyzed and viewing figures downloaded through the Echo360 management system. The average number of views per lecture, per semester was summarized. Results: Junior students viewed lecture capture most frequently with the number of views highest at the beginning of the academic year. Year 1 students had the highest percentage of courses viewed by a number equal to or higher than students enrolled (9 occurrences out of 16 or 56%), followed by year 2 students (9 occurrences out of 21 or 43%), and finally year 3 students (3 occurrences out of 11 or 27%). Longitudinal data was also gathered for the Class of 2020 over three academic years. Conclusions/Future Directions: Further quantitative and qualitative studies are warranted to fully grasp the motivations for use, attitudes and perceptions towards the system. To ensure optimal use of the system by both students and faculty for a multitude of learning and teaching styles and methods, professional development sessions for students and faculty can be implemented to showcase the advantages of the lecture capture system and maximize the benefits from its availability. *This study has now been published. Details of the full article publication: Hussain FN, Al-Mannai R, Diab MI, Agouni A. Investigating the use of a lecture capture system within pharmacy education: Lessons from an internationally accredited undergraduate pharmacy program. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. 2020;17:40. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-020-00214-1

Pharmaceutical care needs in patients on long-term corticosteroids: analysis of risks of diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular events

Conference abstract focusing on pharmaceutical care needs in patients on long-term corticosteroids with an analysis of risks of diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular events

Evaluating prescribing competencies covered in a Canadian-accredited undergraduate pharmacy program in Qatar: A curriculum mapping process

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the existing Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy [BSc (Pharm)] curriculum at Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU CPH), for addressing international prescribing competencies. Methods: The Australian National Prescribing Service (NPS MedicineWise) Competencies Required to Prescribe Medicines framework (the Prescribing Competencies Framework) was used in the BSc (Pharm) curriculum mapping process. The NPS MedicineWise Prescribing Competencies Framework outlines seven competency areas that are essential for pharmacist prescribing. The first mapping activity assessed the learning outcomes (LOs) of 62 courses within the BSc (Pharm) curriculum for covering and addressing the NPS MedicineWise competencies. The second mapping activity involved matching the LOs identified to address the NPS MedicineWise prescribing competencies, to the 2017 Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) educational outcomes, on which the QU CPH BSc (Pharm) program is based. The AFPC educational outcomes address seven key program-level learning outcomes. Results: The QU CPH BSc (Pharm) curriculum addresses most of the prescribing competencies listed in the NPS MedicineWise Prescribing Competencies Framework. However, gaps were identified in the curricular content and in the LOs that were related, but not restricted, to the following: electronic prescribing, physical examinations/preparing patients for investigations, and policies/procedures and quality assurace related to prescribing. Other gaps identified include legislative and workplace requirements for obtaining consent to access confidential patient's health information. Conclusion: The curriculum mapping exercise provided evidence that, for the most part, the existing BSc (Pharm) curriculum at QU CPH prepares pharmacy graduates for prescribing. However, there are areas that need better alignment between the taught curriculum and training on prescribing in practice. The results of this study are important to consider if pharmacist prescribing is to be implemented in Qatar. 2020 The Author(s).This research was funded by Qatar University under the National Capacity Building Research Grant (QUCP-CPH-2018/2019-2). Qatar University played no role in the conduct of the study or the content of this manuscript.Scopu

A qualitative exploration of barriers to medication adherence among patients with uncontrolled diabetes in Qatar: integrating perspectives of patients and health care providers.

To develop an in-depth understanding of the barriers to medication adherence among patients with uncontrolled diabetes attending primary health care (PHC) centers in Qatar by exploring and integrating patients' and health care providers' perspectives. A descriptive qualitative methodology was used in this study. A trained researcher conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews at two PHC centers. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes (with varied sociodemographic characteristics) and their respective health care providers (physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dieticians, and others) were purposively selected from the two PHC centers. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Thirty interviews (14 patients and 16 health care providers) were conducted. A number of barriers to medication adherence were identified and classified broadly under three main themes: 1) patient-related factors, which included patients' individual characteristics and patients' perception, attitude, and behavior; 2) patient-provider factors, which included communication and having multiple health care providers caring for the patient; and 3) societal and environmental factors, which included social pressure and traveling to visit friends and relatives. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes face multiple barriers to medication adherence. Similar themes emerged from both patients and their care providers. This research highlights the need for concerted multidimensional efforts and series of interventions to overcome these barriers. One vital intervention is expanding the scope of pharmacists' role within the PHC centers through providing medication reconciliation, patient-tailored medication counseling, and medicines use review, which may improve treatment outcomes among patients with diabetes

Perspectives of future pharmacists on the potential for development and implementation of pharmacist prescribing in Qatar

Background Pharmacists in many developed countries have been granted prescribing authorities under what is known as "non-medical prescribing" or "pharmacist prescribing". However, such prescribing privileges are not available in many developing countries. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the perspectives of future pharmacists (recent pharmacy graduates and pharmacy students) on pharmacist prescribing and its potential implementation in Qatar. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used: (1) a cross-sectional survey using a pre-tested questionnaire and; (2) focus group discussions to allow for an in-depth understanding of the issue, with a focus on pharmacists prescribing competencies as well as barriers for its implementation. Main outcome measures Future pharmacists' perspectives and attitudes towards pharmacist prescribing in Qatar. Results The majority of the respondents (94.4%) indicated awareness of the prescribing competency related to selecting treatment options. Furthermore, the majority (92.4%) believed that pharmacists should undergo prescribing training and accreditation before been legally allowed to prescribe, a point that was reiterated in the focus group discussions. Participants generally expressed support for collaborative and supplementary prescribing models when developing prescribing frameworks for Qatar. Four categories emerged under the theme barriers to implementation of pharmacist prescribing: lack of prescribing competency, pharmacist mindset, lack of accessibility to patient records and counseling rooms, and diversity of education and training background. Conclusion The majority of recent pharmacy graduates and students were in favor of pharmacist prescribing been implemented in Qatar. However, a special training program was deemed necessary to qualify pharmacists to prescribe safely and effectively. 2019, The Author(s).Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. This research was funded by QU under the National Capacity Building Research Grant (QUCP-CPH-2018/2019-2).Scopu