An evaluation of antimicrobial stewardship in community pharmacy

This study investigated several aspects of antimicrobial stewardship by gathering information from community pharmacists and members of the public. The aim was to identify how community pharmacists implement antimicrobial stewardship guidelines and influence patients on the use of antibiotics. This study required and received approval from the University of Huddersfield Ethics Committee. Information and opinions of community pharmacists in the Kirklees and Calderdale areas, and surrounding local areas, and of members of the public in Huddersfield town centre, were gathered using two different questionnaires. These focused on initiatives regarding antibiotic resistance, development of the competencies required for medicines optimisation and antimicrobial stewardship, patient education by pharmacists, monitoring of antibiotic prescribing and pharmacy access to records. The results obtained were then analysed. The study consisted of 50 participating pharmacists and 100 participating members of the public. It was identified that eight pharmacists had undertaken recent professional development regarding antimicrobial stewardship, 11 had made an Antibiotic Guardian pledge and eight monitored antibiotic prescribing. It was also discovered that, when handing out a prescription for antibiotics, five pharmacists (all of whom work in an independent pharmacy) always questioned the indication and seven always provided extra self-care information. Finally, 92 members of the public selected that they would be comfortable allowing their indication (the condition that the antibiotic is being used to treat) to be provided on prescriptions for antibiotics, and 83 selected that they would be comfortable with pharmacies having access to medical records. This study suggests that increased awareness is necessary of the resources that are available to pharmacists regarding antibiotic resistance initiatives and monitoring of antimicrobial prescribing. In addition, an improvement is required concerning patient education by community pharmacists. Finally, the public should be appropriately educated regarding patient confidentiality and the benefits of pharmacies having access to patient information

Student Perceptions of Team-Based Learning in an Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Course

Team-based learning (TBL) has been gaining increasing attention in chemistry teaching, although it remains relatively under-exploited, especially compared to management and medical sciences. This study explores student perceptions of team-based learning as an active learning technique in an advanced inorganic chemistry topic. It focuses on qualitative research methods using thematic analysis of data collected through questionnaires and a focus group. Students were found to strongly associate TBL with being an effective active learning experience, where interaction with the pre-class preparatory materials is incentivized by the accountability they feel to their team members. The highly structured nature of TBL, where learning, assessment, and clarification of the core concepts takes place before more challenging problem solving, was highlighted, alongside the importance of the instructor in the TBL process. The importance of interactivity in the pre-class materials and alignment of the TBL materials with the end of course assessment was also emphasized. Students are hugely positive about TBL as being effective for the learning of challenging problem-solving topics, but are reticent to acknowledge that the flipped classroom model can be more effective than lectures

Experiencing God: Engaging Elementary-Aged Children in Corporate Worship

The engagement of children in meaningful worship has been neglected, despite the investment of modern churches in essential safety protocols and digital media in children’s ministry. The twenty-first-century consumerist mindset is driving worship design, essentially undermining the worship leader’s role as the shepherd of a child-centered and Christ-focused approach. Many churches are neglecting the biblical instruction to cast vision and express value for children’s corporate worship. A sense of awe and wonder is notably absent in many corporate services designed for children. Drawing upon biblical principles, educational theory, and corporate worship practices throughout history, this qualitative historical study seeks to recover the perspective of the church body portrayed in Acts 2:42–47. The ultimate goal of worship is to glorify God and seek His presence. Engaging elementary-aged children in worship with this goal in mind requires a vision and a value for their spiritual formation. Overcoming the challenges to worship engagement will significantly impact the design of children’s ministry by inspiring a renewed commitment to children’s spiritual formation. Identifying strategies for worship engagement highlighted through this project will add vitality to the life of our worship communities

Processing speed and working memory training in multiple sclerosis: a blinded randomized controlled trial

Title from PDF of title page, viewed on July 2, 2013Dissertation advisor: Jared BruceVitaIncludes bibliographic references (pages 66-83)Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dept. of Psychology. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2013Between 40-65% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience cognitive deficits associated with the disease. The two most common areas affected are information processing speed and working memory. Information processing speed has been posited as a core cognitive deficit in MS, and working memory has been shown to impact performance on a wide variety of domains for MS patients. Currently, clinicians have few reliable options for addressing cognitive deficits in MS. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of computerized, home-based cognitive training focused specifically on improving information processing speed and working memory for MS patients. Participants were recruited and randomized into either the Active Training or Sham Training group, tested with a neurocognitive battery at baseline, completed six weeks of training, and then were again tested with a neurocognitive battery at follow-up. After correcting for multiple comparisons, results indicated that the Active Training group scored higher on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (a test of information processing speed and attention) following cognitive training, and data trended toward significance on the Controlled Oral Word Associations Task (a test of executive functioning), Letter Number Sequencing (a test of working memory), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (a test of visual memory), and the Conners' Continuous Performance Test (a test of attention). Results provide preliminary evidence that cognitive training with MS patients may produce moderate improvement in select areas of cognitive functioning. Follow-up studies with larger samples should be conducted to determine whether these results can be replicated, and also to determine the functional outcome of improvements on neurocognitive tests.Introduction -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion -- Illustrations -- Appendix A. List of neuropsychological measures administered -- Appendix B. List of questionnaires administered -- Appendix C. Jacobson-Truax formul

Tunability of the optical absorption in small silver cluster-polymer hybrid systems

We have calculated the absorption characteristics of different hybrid systems consisting of Ag, Ag2 or Ag3 atomic clusters and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) using the time-dependent density-functional theory. The polymer is found to have an extensive structural-dependency on the spectral patterns of the hybrid systems relative to the bare clusters. The absorption spectrum can be `tuned' to the visible range for hybrid systems with an odd number of electrons per silver cluster, whereas for hybrid systems comprising an even number of electrons, the leading absorption edge can be shifted up to about 4.5 eV. The results give theoretical support to the experimental observations on the absorption in the visible range in metal cluster-polymer hybrid structures.Comment: Updated layout and minor changes in versions 2 and

Taking research to members of the public

In 2006, with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (£30k), we built a themed exhibit with the Sensation Science Centre in Dundee. In the main part of the exhibit, which was kitted out as a ‘police station’, a visitor would see a video of a man pretending to commit a crime and construct a composite of his face using a simplified version of our EvoFIT facial-composite system. Visitors were asked, using written and spoken prompts, to select faces from an array of alternatives, with selected items being ‘bred’ together, to allow a composite to be ‘evolved’. The exhibit then presented a picture of the man’s face alongside the evolved composite, example composites created by previous visitors and an average (‘morphed’) composite from the last four visitors. The exhibit took about five minutes for a user to complete and was accompanied by a ‘Research Lab’, a station which explained more of the underlying science: themes around evolution, computer-based generation of faces, forensic use of composites, etc. We expected the exhibit to last five years but, partly due to the robustness of the hardware, it remains today and is still popular

Career Breakthroughs of Women in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration: What is the Role of Mentoring?

Participation in mentoring is integral for advancement within sport organizations, particularly for women (Bower, 2009; Shaw, 2006). However, it is unclear how mentoring contributes to opportunities for career advancement or breakthroughs (e.g., opportunities for new functional roles, project oversight) (Mainiero, 1994). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the role of mentoring as it pertains to career breakthroughs for women in intercollegiate athletic administration. This qualitative study included 51 focus group participants in athletic administration at NCAA-member institutions (divisions, I, II, and III). Results suggested mentoring as a critical factor in career advancement. Participants indicated having a mentor was highly desired. Mentoring relationships with someone internal and external to their respective athletic departments was important. However, there was little consensus on the benefits or drawbacks of having a mentor of the same or opposite sex. Implications and strategies for developing mentoring relationships are also discussed