A systematic approach to educating elderly patients about their medications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a pharmacist-initiated, total package, patient education program based on the concepts described in the PRECEDE model. This program was directed towards 94 therapeutically complex elderly patients and consisted of a medication history, therapeutic evaluation, patient education needs assessment, patient education session, and a patient feedback/ satisfaction telephone interview. Pharmacists identified on average 5.6 medication-related problems and provided an average of 6.2 recommendations. Problems commonly identified involved inadequate drug knowledge (25.5%), noncompliance (22.7%), and inappropriate drug use (17.4%). Typical recommendations included altering drug use (35.9%), improving compliance behavior (18.1%), and improving communication with health professionals (18.1%). Patient satisfaction with the education session was overwhelmingly positive. Based on the findings of this study, it is apparent that a patient education program based on the PRECEDE model can be used successfully by pharmacists to prepare education plans that would benefit the therapeutically complex elderly patient.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30215/1/0000606.pd

Statistical Mechanics of Glass Formation in Molecular Liquids with OTP as an Example

We extend our statistical mechanical theory of the glass transition from examples consisting of point particles to molecular liquids with internal degrees of freedom. As before, the fundamental assertion is that super-cooled liquids are ergodic, although becoming very viscous at lower temperatures, and are therefore describable in principle by statistical mechanics. The theory is based on analyzing the local neighborhoods of each molecule, and a statistical mechanical weight is assigned to every possible local organization. This results in an approximate theory that is in very good agreement with simulations regarding both thermodynamical and dynamical properties

Polymer-membrane pH electrodes as internal elements for potentiometric gas-sensing systems

The use of polymer-membrane pH electrodes as internal sensing elements for the fabrication of inexpensive ammonia and carbon dioxide gas sensing systems is reported. The pH-responsive polymer membranes are prepared by incorporating tridodecylamine as the neutral carrier in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes. Both static and continuous-flow gas-sensing arrangements are described. For miniature static gas sensors, the internal polymer pH electrode can be made with or without an internal reference solution. In the latter case, the polymeric membrane is coated directly onto a graphite substrate. The polymer pH electrode can also be prepaerd in tubular form and used in conjunction with a gas dialysis chamber for automated continuous-flow determinations of carbon dioxide and ammonia. Slopes, response times, and reproducibility of these new gas-sensing systems are evaluated using optimized internal electrodes, flow rates, and gas-permeable membrane materials. When appropriate reagents and materials ar used, the static sensors exhibit slopes in the range 48-62 mV/decace with potentials reproducible to less than +/-1.5 mV at gas concentrations greater than 10-3 M.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25336/1/0000782.pd