A Critical Appraisal of Educational Theory to Examine HBCU and Black Students' Professional Identity Formation.

OBJECTIVES: This article explores educational theories and existing literature that describe the impact of Historically Black College or University (HBCU) educational environments on Black students' personal and professional development. Literature on professional identity formation (PIF) in pharmacy education is also examined to describe the influence of HBCU pharmacy education on Black pharmacy students' PIF. FINDINGS: Tinto's theory of student retention, Arroyo and Gasman's HBCU educational framework, and Bank's theory of multicultural education are described, as key elements of HBCU education that foster PIF in minoritized student populations. Each of the 3 models addresses professional identity traits associated with pharmacists and pharmacy students, and this review examines the role of HBCU education in Black Doctor of Pharmacy students' development of academic competence, leadership, professional communication, and advocacy. SUMMARY: Existing educational frameworks and models of student retention can be applied to promote student growth, psychological safety, and feelings of belonging in minoritized student populations. By engaging these models, pharmacy training environments can support Black students and other minoritized student populations as they develop their own professional identities in the pursuit of fulfilling careers.

Lessons from a cross-institutional online professional development pilot.

PURPOSE: To reflect on a collaborative approach used by a group of faculty and administrators from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) and predominantly Black institution (PBI) pharmacy programs to provide high quality, multiple institution, faculty development programming in online environments. DESCRIPTION: A pilot for a shared online professional development initiative between pharmacy programs at five HBCUs and one PBI was implemented as a two-hour combined video conference and webinar, with structured networking, instructional programming, and breakout group sessions. Learning outcomes focused on increasing knowledge and awareness of mindsets in faculty and students with additional project goals of beta-testing interactive web conference formats, developing cross-institutional networking, and identifying avenues for sharing resources and expertise. ANALYSIS/INTERPRETATION: Kolb's Cycle of Experiential Learning (Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation) was used to guide reflection on the joint workshop. The instructional design, delivery, and learning experiences of the program itself were analyzed using Garrison's Community of Inquiry Framework. CONCLUSIONS: Action research approaches can be applied to facilitate the continuous quality improvement cycle in multi-institution initiatives, such as joint faculty development programming. IMPLICATIONS: Lessons related to cross-institutional collaboration, communities of practice development, networking, and communication can be used for future joint faculty development sessions and other shared initiatives for institutions serving minoritized students as well as other multiple institution consortiums.

Examining Black and Hispanic physicians and other healthcare providers' attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

OBJECTIVES: Recognizing that the voice delivering the message is as important as the information being shared, we examined vaccine perceptions and willingness to encourage patients to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations among Black and Hispanic healthcare providers. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, online survey of Black and Hispanic healthcare providers who were members of the National Medical Association (NMA), National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), and National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA) between January 11 - March 3, 2021, shortly after emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Three multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with the willingness to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: The analytic sample consisted of 542 fully completed surveys. Pharmacists reported intent to take the vaccine (75.0% "as soon as you can" vs 91.4% for MD/DOs; p<0.001) and encouraged patients to get vaccinated (78.6% vs 91.0% for MD/DOs; p = 0.01). Providers in a suburban practice location were less likely to recommend vaccines to patients (OR=0.43, 95%CI: 0.22-0.87) and personal family (OR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.22-0.92) compared to those practicing in urban areas. Providers over age 45 were also more likely to report intent to take the vaccine themselves as soon as it was available (OR=3.72, 95%CI: 1.30-10.64). CONCLUSIONS: This is likely the first cross-sectional study in the United States demonstrating the substantial vaccine confidence among Black and Hispanic healthcare providers who serve minoritized communities that have borne the greatest risk of adverse COVID-related outcomes.

The Evolving Role of Historically Black Pharmacy Schools in a Changing Environment.

Objective. To provide a comprehensive review of the contributions of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to creating a diverse pharmacist workforce and identify opportunities for future contributions. This was accomplished by comparing enrollment at HBCUs to overall US enrollment of African American pharmacy students and then comparing those numbers to national enrollment of pharmacy students, analyzing contributions of HBCUs to underrepresented pharmacy student enrollment, evaluating overall changes to pharmacy school enrollment and impact on enrollment at HBCUs, and identifying areas of opportunity to enhance the future contributions of HBCUs.Findings. There are six HBCU pharmacy schools in the United States. Although HBCU pharmacy schools made up only 4% of the total number of US pharmacy schools, they accounted for an average of 22.8% of the total African American student enrollment in pharmacy schools over a five-year period (2015-2019). An average of 13.8% of the total population of underrepresented people of color (UPOC) enrolled in US pharmacy schools from 2015-2019 attended an HBCU pharmacy school.Summary. Historically Black colleges and universities have consistently made significant contributions to the total pharmacy school population of African Americans, as well as that of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders and American Indian and Alaska Natives. These institutions have an opportunity to enhance their impact and serve in graduating the diverse pharmacy workforce needed in the future. Historically Black colleges and universities can achieve this goal by making significant efforts to recruit LatinX pharmacy students and by increasing their recruitment of African Americans, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, and American Indian and Alaska Natives.

Implementation of a medication adherence program in senior public housing facilities utilizing pharmacists and health educators.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and diabetes disproportionately impact people of color when compared to majority populations. Medication adherence among seniors with chronic diseases has been suboptimal with the estimation that only half of those taking antihypertensives are adherent. Therefore, the purpose of The Managing Your Medications (MY Rx) program was to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based practices used to improve rates of medication adherence through information dissemination among diabetic and hypertensive African American, Asian American, and Hispanic residents housed in senior public housing facilities in the Greater Houston Area. The program comprised an 8-week intervention with individual and group components with small incentives provided throughout the program. Individual components included one home visit and telephone consultations conducted by pharmacists. Health educators provided two group education sessions on lifestyle modifications. RESULT: Qualitative analysis of focus group discussions revealed participant satisfaction with the MY Rx program and willingness to change after participation in the program. CONCLUSION: The Rx program showed the potential effectiveness of an innovative strategy in medication counseling using interdisciplinary pharmacists and health educators to promote health. It demonstrated the importance of using the patient-centered care framework in designing a community intervention program.

Provision of Medication Therapy Management by Pharmacists to Patients With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Federally Qualified Health Center.

BACKGROUND: Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a complex condition for which pharmacists are well suited to improve patient outcomes by delivering medication therapy management (MTM) services. When diabetes is well controlled, patients can avoid its long-term complications, such as cardiovascular and renal diseases. This article describes an MTM pilot program that was implemented at a federally qualified health center (FQHC). METHODS: This program was implemented at three clinics involving patients with uncontrolled diabetes, defined as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) greater than 8%. The primary endpoint assessed was HbA1c. Secondary endpoints included knowledge scores, medication adherence, and patient satisfaction. Outcomes were compared with a group of patients from the same clinics who did not receive MTM. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients met the established criteria and were enrolled in the six-month program. Thirty-seven patients completed the program and had an average 15% reduction in HbA1c (P < 0.05). Their average knowledge scores and medication adherence scores also increased from baseline. CONCLUSION: MTM provided by pharmacists as part of a health care team at an FQHC led to significant reductions in HbA1c.

Debating the Effectiveness and Necessity of Tenure in Pharmacy Education.

Academic tenure is a controversial and highly debated topic. Is tenure truly outdated or does it simply need to be reformed? On one hand, the tenure system has shortcomings including deincentivizing productive faculty members, inconsistent application of tenure policies and procedures, and the potential for discrimination during tenure decisions. On the other hand, the tenure system is a long held tradition in the academy, essential in higher education to ensure academic standards and values are upheld in the best interest of students. It provides faculty members with the academic freedom to try innovative teaching strategies and conduct research and assists with faculty retention and recruitment. Regardless of one's opinion, the tenure debate is not going away and warrants further discussion. This paper represents the work of a group of academic leaders participating in the 2014-2015 AACP Academic Leadership Fellowship Program. This work was presented as a debate at the 2015 AACP Interim Meeting in Austin, TX in February 2015.

Managing Medication Adherence in Elderly Hypertensive Patients Through Pharmacist Home Visits.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the Managing Your Blood Pressure program was to reduce health disparities in blood pressure (BP) control by improving medication adherence in a cohort of geriatric African-Americans with hypertension (HTN). DESIGN: The program was implemented using a quasi-experimental pre- and postintervention study design that utilized a pharmacist home-based model and follow-up educational phone calls to impact BP over a six-month period. SETTING: Home visits occurred in participants' residences, and phone calls occurred at program headquarters at Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was BP control rate, and secondary outcome measures were knowledge of HTN, medication adherence, and use of a BP monitor. RESULTS: At six months, 306 of the 431 patients recruited completed all phases of the program (two in-home consultations and biweekly telephone consultations). At the end of the six-month intervention period, the reduction in mean systolic BP was statistically significant (baseline 140 mmHg vs. six months 137 mmHg; P < 0.049). No difference in mean diastolic BP pre- and postintervention was found. The percent of patients with controlled BP improved from 46.7% to 49.5%; P = 0.34. Medication adherence, self-monitoring of BP, and knowledge of HTN were significantly improved from baseline to postintervention. CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-led interventions in the home were effective in improving BP control and medication adherence. Further programs are needed to address uncontrolled HTN in this vulnerable population.

A mass merchandiser's role in enhancing pharmacy students' business plan development skills for medication therapy management services.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a relationship between a pharmacy management course and a mass merchandiser and to determine whether involving pharmacy managers from the mass merchandiser in the course would enhance student skills in developing a business plan for medication therapy management services. DESIGN: The pharmacy managers from the mass merchandiser participated in lectures, provided panel discussions, and conducted a business plan competition. Learning was assessed by means of 4 examinations and 1 project (ie, the business plan). At the conclusion of the semester, surveys were administered to solicit student input and gain insight from pharmacy managers on the perceived value of this portion of the course. ASSESSMENT: Students' average grade on the business plan assignment, which included the oral presentation, the peer assessment, and the written proposal, was 92.2%. Approximately 60% (n=53) of surveyed students agreed or strongly agreed that their management skills had improved because of the participation of pharmacy managers from the mass merchandiser. All of the managers enjoyed participating in the experience. CONCLUSIONS: The involvement of pharmacy managers from a mass merchandiser enhanced student learning in the classroom, and managers felt that their participation was an important contribution to the development of future pharmacists.

Smoking cessation counseling practices of Texas pharmacists.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine pharmacists' awareness and education about smoking cessation and their communication with patients about smoking cessation. A survey was mailed to East Texas pharmacists practicing in the areas of hospital or clinical, retail or community, managed care, consultant, or academic pharmacy. Outcome measurements included: measures of the awareness of the 5 A's and 5 R's of smoking cessation, training received in smoking cessation, and communication practices regarding smoking cessation. There were 320 respondents. Approximately 10% of the respondents indicated they had received tobacco cessation counseling education during their formal educational training, 36% during continuing education programs, and 9% during both formal training and continuing education. About 44% reported they had received no tobacco cessation counseling training. Among pharmacists surveyed, 5% responded that they usually or always ask their patients if they smoke cigarettes, pipe, or cigars, 43% reported they sometimes or half of the time ask, and 45% said they never ask. There is a clear relationship between pharmacists awareness and education of smoking cessation techniques and their communication with patients about them. Pharmacy education leaders must continue their movement to include public health in the pharmacy curricula to produce pharmacists who are prepared to better serve the community.

Perceived value of a home-based medication therapy management program for the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a model for a home-based medication therapy management (MTM) program provided by a pharmacist and to determine the perceived value of the service by program participants. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Houston (Harris County), Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty MTM participants 60 years of age or older identified between June 2006 and June 2007 by the Harris County Area Agency on Aging as candidates in need of medication management services. INTERVENTION: Hand-delivered survey provided to participants following individual MTM and emergency-preparedness counseling by a pharmacist in their homes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures of participants' program satisfaction, opinion of knowledge level gained, and the impact participants' felt the program would have on their physician visits. RESULTS: Ninety-six percent of the participants in the MTM program felt knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about their medications after the pharmacist visit. Approximately 73% felt the home visit would reduce their visits to the doctor, 72% were very satisfied, and 22% somewhat satisfied with the program. All participants would strongly recommend the program to others. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of literature on home-based medication management programs performed by pharmacists. This report describes a unique program, which was perceived as positive and valuable by participants. This was demonstrated by the high rates received in the areas of satisfaction with the program and a willingness to recommend the program to others.