The Influence of Spirituality on Medication Adherence And Blood Pressure Among Older Adults With Hypertension

Despite the effectiveness of pharmacological therapies, medication nonadherence is prevalent among older adults with chronic disease. Established correlates of adherence (e.g., access, race/ethnicity, education) do not fully explain the differences in adherence. This study examines whether spirituality contributes to older adults' medication adherence and blood pressure, as well as the indirect pathways by which spirituality may be linked to self-reported adherence behavior, with social support and active coping as putative mediators. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on data from surveys on spirituality, social support, active coping, and adherence behavior administered to a convenience sample of Black and White hypertensive, older adults (≥ 65 years) visiting senior community centers in North Carolina, along with demographic characteristics and blood pressure measurements. Multivariate logistic and linear regressions were used to examine the relationship between spirituality and self-reported medication adherence and blood pressure, respectively, after adjusting for the psychosocial and demographic characteristics. Results revealed that perceived spiritual intensity and active spiritual health locus of control (SHLC) were significantly and positively associated with medication adherence. The psychosocial variables were significantly related to both perceived spirituality and medication adherence but were not significant mediators. High spirituality and active SHLC beliefs were also significantly related to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures after controlling for adherence and the psychosocial and demographic variables. These findings highlight the importance of spirituality in adherence behavior and health outcomes for some older adults with chronic disease. Better understanding of the mechanisms and role of spirituality in medication-taking behavior and health outcomes will aid researchers and health professionals in the development of culturally sensitive and patient-centered interventions to improve medication adherence and cardiovascular outcomes.Doctor of Philosoph

Institutional Strategies to Achieve Diversity and Inclusion in Pharmacy Education

Objective. To evaluate the impact of institutional initiatives to enhance recruitment of minority students as a strategy to increase diversity and inclusion

Institutional Strategies to Achieve Diversity and Inclusion in Pharmacy Education

Objective. To evaluate the impact of institutional initiatives to enhance recruitment of minority students as a strategy to increase diversity and inclusion. Methods. The Office of Recruitment, Development, and Diversity Initiatives (ORDDI) was established and several initiatives were developed within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy to promote student diversity and engagement. Applicant demographics and admission data were tracked from 2007-2012 to assess program performance and effectiveness. Results. Over the 6-year period, 812 recruitment events were facilitated. Twenty-nine percent of the students admitted from 2007-2012 participated in 1 or more ORDDI recruitment programs prior to admission. Forty-two percent of this cohort were minorities. The overall average minority profile of students increased from 19% to 25% after establishing the ORDDI. Conclusions. To achieve student diversity and inclusion, a multifaceted effort is required, involving a continuum of institutional strategies, including innovative practice models and high impact programs

A distinct electrophysiological signature for synaesthesia that is independent of individual differences in sensory sensitivity

People with synaesthesia have been reported to show atypical electrophysiological responses to certain simple sensory stimuli, even if these stimuli are not inducers of synaesthesia. However, it is unclear whether this constitutes a neural marker that is relatively specific to synaesthesia or whether it reflects some other trait that co-occurs with synaesthesia, but is not specific to it. One candidate is atypical sensory sensitivity (e.g. strong aversion to certain lights and sounds, ‘sensory overload’) which is a feature of both synaesthesia and autism and that varies greatly in the neurotypical population. Using visual evoked-potentials (to stimuli varying in spatial frequency) and auditory-evoked potentials (to stimuli varying in auditory frequency), we found that synaesthetes had a modulated visual evoked-potential around P1/N1 (emanating from fusiform cortex), a greater auditory N1, as well as differences in the time-frequency domain (increased alpha and beta induced power for visual stimuli). This was distinct from that found in non-synaesthetes. By contrast, no significant electrophysiological differences were found that were linked to neurotypical variation in sensory sensitivity

Consumers and Carers Versus Pharmacy Staff: Do Their Priorities for Australian Pharmacy Services Align?

Background Health professionals, including pharmacists, are encouraged to meet the needs of their consumers in an efficient and patient-centred manner. Yet, there is limited information as to what consumers with chronic conditions need from pharmacy as a healthcare destination or how well pharmacy staff understand these needs. Objective The aim of this study was to identify service user priorities for ideal community pharmacy services for consumers with chronic conditions and their carers, and compare these priorities with what pharmacy staff think these groups want. Methods The nominal group technique was undertaken with pharmacist, pharmacy support staff, consumer and carer groups in four Australian regions between December 2012 and April 2013. Participant ideas and priorities for ideal services or care were identified, and contextual insight was obtained by thematic analysis. Results Twenty-one nominal group sessions are accepted, including 15 consumer and carer, four pharmacist and two pharmacy support staff groups. Pharmacy staff views generally aligned with consumer priorities, such as access, affordability, patient-centred care and continuity and coordinated care, yet diverged with respect to consumer information or education on medication and services. Fundamentally, consumers and carers sought streamlined access to information and medication, in a coordinated, patient-centred approach. Alleviating financial burden was a key consumer priority, with a call for the continuation and extension of medication subsidies. Conclusion Overall, pharmacy staff had a reasonable understanding of what consumers would prioritise, but further emphasis on the importance, delivery, or both, of consumer information is needed. Greater consideration is needed from policy makers regarding the financial barriers to accessing medication for consumers with chronic conditions