Research Experiences and Research‐Related Coursework in the Education of Doctors of Pharmacy

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90119/1/phco.19.3.213.30931.pd

Efficacy and Safety of Low‐Dose Intravenous Versus Intramuscular Vitamin K in Parenteral Nutrition Patients

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141612/1/jpen0174.pd

Evaluation of a medication refill reminder system for a community pharmacy

The problem of maintaining compliance in patients taking chronic medications is well established. One recommended approach to reducing this problem is to develop a system which identifies non-compliers in order that interventions can be devised to improve that behavior. A medication refill reminder system is an example of this approach.The refill behavior was observed for 102 cardiovascular patients who were patrons of one community pharmacy in order to assess the effects of a postcard/telephone reminder system. Patients who failed to refill their prescriptions on time were sent a postcard reminding them to have them refilled. A telephone call would follow if the patient failed to visit the pharmacy after the postcard.The study results showed that the average days late for patients who failed to refill their prescription as expected decreased from 19.15 to 6.6 days after the reminder system was used (P < 0.005). In addition, the percent of late refills of these patients was 13% less than controls. These findings provide strong evidence that a refill reminder system can be used successfully in a community pharmacy as part of a program to identify non-compliant patients and improve their compliance with chronic medication therapy.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25647/1/0000199.pd

Consultative Total Parenteral Nutrition Teams: The Effect on the Incidence of Total Parenteral Nutrition‐Related Complications

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141387/1/jpen0146.pd

Detecting and preventing adverse drug interactions: The potential contribution of computers in pharmacies

For patients taking two or more medications concurrently, interactions among the drugs can cause undesirable effects or negate desired responses. In modern pharmacy practice, an important role of the pharmacist is to detect potentially harmful interactions and take appropriate action to prevent their occurrence. Pharmacy computer systems offer potential for improving pharmacists' effectiveness in the detection and followup of drug interactions.Based on a survey of southern Michigan pharmacists, relationships between computer use and pharmacists' attitudes and activities in drug interaction monitoring were investigated. Respondents included users of two major computer systems as well as pharmacists who do not use computers. Results suggest that general statements cannot be made about the effect of computer use on drug interaction detection. Users of one of the two computer systems detected and followed up on interactions more frequently and were more likely to report improved knowledge of drug interactions than non-users. Frequencies of drug interaction detection and other related measures reported by users of the second computer system were similar to those for pharmacists not using computers. Computer system characteristics which might lead to these differences are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26310/1/0000395.pd

Decision-making about the use of hormone therapy among perimenopausal women

Women reaching menopause must make a controversial decision about whether to use hormone therapy (HT). The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was the organizing framework. The objectives were to determine if (1) influence of different TPB constructs varied with stage of menopause and HT use, (2) women with diabetes were influenced in significantly different ways from women without, (3) the overall perceived behavioural control (PBC) and self-efficacy (SE) have independent effects on intention, and (4) physician influence was mediated by subjective norm (SN).Cross-sectional survey of women from a managed care organization.Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse 765 responses (230 from women with diabetes) and separately four main subgroups: (1) early menopause stage and never used HT, (2) late menopause stage and never used HT, (3) late menopause stage and previously used HT, and (4) late menopause stage currently using HT.For the entire sample, the model explains 68% of variance in intention, where SE, physicians' influence, self-identification with menopause as a natural part of ageing, self-identification as someone who wants to delay menopause, HT status, menopause status, and diabetes were added to the TPB. For the entire sample, SE added 2% to the explained variance and the physician determinant added 7%.An augmented TPB is useful for understanding women's HT use decisions. The theory explains more variance in intention before a behaviour is enacted than after, and decision structure changes over time. PBC and SE have independent effects on intention.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79377/1/135910709X457946.pd