Importance of Understanding Minority-Serving Institutional Designations and Associated Abbreviations in Contemporary US Higher Education.

Prefixes and suffixes in pharmacy might suggest a drug class, generation, or mechanism of action. As pharmacy educators, we also use an alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations to describe board certifications or professional organizations and our affiliation to them. Although we may be experts in nomenclature and abbreviations related to health professions education, sometimes, we also have to remind ourselves to be humble and embrace a learning mindset relative to the abbreviations and naming conventions used more broadly in higher education and in other fields. This article discusses the use of abbreviations in minority-serving institutions as well as the financial, historical, and political implications surrounding their names and definitions. The need to appreciate institutional designations and what they represent is not unique to minority-serving institutions or solely the responsibility of personnel who lead diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. Appreciating what institution designations mean is a logical first step toward discovering and acting upon the possibilities to facilitate and support the success of all learners recruited into the pharmacy profession.

Improving Medical Students Learning Through an Interprofessional Pharmacotherapy Selective.

PURPOSE: Current trends in medical school education indicate an existing need for increasing medical student exposure to pharmacotherapy education. The objectives of this study are to describe the development of an interprofessional, application-based Pharmacotherapeutics in Primary Care selective for 3rd year medical students and to assess its influence on knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to pharmacotherapy of high-risk medications and patient populations. METHODS: The selective was implemented across fourteen cohorts of medical students that were evaluated over a 5-year academic period (n = 68). Our curriculum was unique in that it merged basic pharmacology and pharmacotherapy concepts with application-based medication management of high-risk patients in addition to the incorporation of an interprofessional home visit experience. RESULTS: Pre- and post-assessment analyses found statistically significant improvements in students' pharmacotherapeutic knowledge and skills. There was a significant increase in the knowledge post-test mean score (71.8; SD = 11.2) compared to the pre-test mean score (57.3; SD = 11.9; P < .001). A similar trend was observed for the skills mean score in which the post-test average (63; SD = 16.9) was significantly higher than the pretest average (23.3; SD = 14.4; P < 0.001). Students' attitudes also improved when rating their confidence in completing specific tasks such as recommending dosing regimens and utilizing drug information resources. CONCLUSION: This intervention provided 3rd-year medical students with opportunities to improve their knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to the pharmacotherapeutic management of high-risk medications and patient populations while exploring meaningful interprofessional interactions with faculty and learners from other disciplines.

Influenza and Intentions to Vaccinate in an Underserved Hispanic Population: The Role of Theoretically Derived Constructs.

BACKGROUND: Past research has focused on understanding influenza vaccine acceptance in non-Hispanic white populations; however, research on the social causes of influenza vaccine acceptance rates in Hispanic populations is slowly developing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess theoretically driven predictors (i.e. attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, etc.) on influenza and the intention to vaccinate. METHODS: A survey was administered to assess predictors of intentions to receive the influenza vaccine. The survey included items adapted from the National Flu Survey. RESULTS: Key constructs common in models of health behaviors emerged as predictors of behavioral intentions to receive the flu vaccine. Recent vaccination within the past year (P < 0.001), perceived effectiveness of the flu vaccine (P < 0.004), and perceived safety of the flu vaccine (P = 0.009) were predictors of intentions to vaccinate. Exploratory analyses revealed that government distrust was a statistically significant predictor of intentions to vaccinate (P = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The above results have important implications for health-care providers and public health educators. The better we understand the relationship between theoretically driven predictors and vaccine behaviors, the more educators and health-care providers can focus on meaningful, culturally sensitive, targeted-vaccine education.

Identifying opportunities for PharmD curricular reform by surveying oncology pharmacists about career preparedness and exposure.

INTRODUCTION: The primary objective of the study was to assess factors that predict pursuit of an oncology post-graduate year 2 (PGY-2) residency. Additional objectives included identifying the role of and exploring opportunities for PharmD curricula to increase student interest in the oncology field. METHODS: An anonymous 15-minute survey was developed and administered to oncology pharmacists and residents. Study participants were included if they were actively practicing as clinical pharmacists in an oncology setting in the US, maintained an active pharmacist license, and >18 years of age. Responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. All results are reported in aggregate, with the exception of quotes obtained from open-ended responses. RESULTS: Eighty participants were included in analyses. After controlling for variance due to age, sex, race, years of practice, the number of oncology advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) correlated with pursuit of a PGY-2 residency in oncology (p = 0.047). Additionally, participants' perceived level of preparedness from didactic oncology training predicted pursuit of an oncology PGY-2 residency (p = 0.002). Emerging themes in pursuing oncology from open-ended items revealed that inclusion of supportive care in the didactic curriculum and having a family member or friend diagnosed with cancer were important factors. Additionally, participants' responses regarding PharmD curricula included recommendations to inform didactic and experiential education. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the need for reevaluation of oncology education in PharmD curricula. Further studies could explore specific aspects of didactic curriculum that impact the level of student preparedness, and which elements encourage a student pharmacist to seek further training in the oncology field.

Understanding influenza immunization uptake rates among the Hispanic LGBTQIA community.

OBJECTIVES: Most national-level data regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and allies (LGBTQIA) immunizations are limited. The primary objective of this study was to identify factors that influence behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions toward the uptake of the influenza vaccine within the Hispanic LGBTQIA community. METHODS: This was a prospective survey that assessed vaccine acceptability and practices regarding the influenza vaccine within the LGBTQIA community. Collection of data occurred through the use of social media platforms from July 2016 to May 2018. A total of 126 participants (mean age 32.03 ± 11.68 years) completed a 15-minute, 26-item, English/Spanish survey. A number of outcome measures assessed perceptions of vaccine effectiveness and safety. In addition, perceived severity of influenza symptoms and perceived susceptibility to contract influenza was assessed. RESULTS: A logistic regression model assessed the impact of several factors on influenza vaccine uptake. Perceived susceptibility of contracting influenza from the vaccine (P = 0.015) and perceived ease of receiving the influenza vaccine (P = 0.005) were the strongest predictors of vaccine uptake. Results showed no association between disclosure of sexual orientation and influenza immunization uptake (χ2= 3.55; P = 0.17). Exploratory analyses revealed that non-Hispanic patients were more likely to perceive that their health care providers were aware of their sexual orientation compared with Hispanic patients (χ2= 8.66; P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Several factors emerged as predictors of influenza vaccine uptake in the LGBTQIA population. Further studies are needed to explore additional factors such as disclosure of sexual orientation and variation of uptake based on vaccine type (STD vs. non-STD vaccines).

Vision and falls: a multidisciplinary review of the contributions of visual impairment to falls among older adults.

Falls are a leading cause of mortality among older adults worldwide. With the increasing aging population, falls are rapidly becoming a public health concern. Numerous internal and external factors have been associated with an older adult's increased risk of falling. Most notably visual impairments are gaining recognition for their critical role in fall events, particularly related to trips, slips and falls due to environmental hazards. This review presents the issue of vision and falls from a multidisciplinary health professional perspective. Discussions include the influence of visual impairment on mobility and activities of daily living, the effects of medications on vision, visual cognitive factors on falls risk and visual training interventions. Finally, implications for multidisciplinary health professional practice and suggestions for future research are offered.

Medication use practices and perceptions among patients in a U.S.-Mexico border community.

OBJECTIVE: To identify themes surrounding medication use practices and perceptions among individuals from a U.S.-Mexico border community recruited to participate in focus groups. METHODS: This study was conducted in El Paso, TX. Adult participants considered to be at risk for medication therapy problems (i.e., older adults, pregnant or breast-feeding women, parents of young children) were recruited for participation. Focus groups and a survey were used to evaluate perceptions, concerns, and patterns of use of U.S. medications, Mexican medications, and herbal products. RESULTS: A sample of 73 adults, most of whom were Hispanic women (n = 60 [82%]), were recruited for participation in seven focus groups. Across groups, the majority participated in the older adult cohort (n = 42 [58%]), reported having an annual household income of less than $15,000 (n = 57 [78%]), and identified that they had less than a high school education (n = 40 [55%]). Four dominant themes emerged from the participants who completed both the survey and focus groups: (1) a "comfort" level for using a combination of U.S. medications, Mexican medications, and herbal products; (2) customary use of different drug information sources including physicians, Mexican pharmacy staff, U.S. pharmacists, and family members; (3) inconsistent levels of confidence in interpreting, measuring, and using medications; and (4) a sense of frustration regarding medication costs, which led participants to seek alternative options. CONCLUSION: These qualitative results provide an increased understanding of medication use practices and perceptions in this population. Findings such as these can provide guidance and insight into the development of interventions to improve safe and effective medication use.

Medication literacy in Spanish and English: psychometric evaluation of a new assessment tool.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of a newly developed Medication Literacy Assessment in Spanish and English (MedLitR xSE). DESIGN: Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study. SETTING: El Paso, TX, from December 2006 to June 2009. PARTICIPANTS: 181 English- or Spanish speaking adults. INTERVENTION: Survey administered in two phases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive statistics, internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and fit indices, and criterion-related validity. RESULTS: The 20-item MedLitR xSE tool showed adequate internal consistency and reliability, and CFA revealed overall good model fit. In phase 2, the shorter 14-item MedLitR xSE showed good total test reliability and correlated well with the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. Item response theory analyses showed no language bias and a one-dimensional (i.e., one factor) model of medication literacy. CONCLUSION: The initial and latest shorter version of the MedLitR xSE tool demonstrated good psychometric properties. This tool may provide a new option to assess "medication literacy" in English and Spanish.

Prevalence of polypharmacy, polyherbacy, nutritional supplement use and potential product interactions among older adults living on the United States-Mexico border: a descriptive, questionnaire-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of multiple medications, herbs or nutritional supplements can lead to adverse consequences, particularly in the elderly. A significant consequence resulting from polypharmacy, polyherbacy and nutritional supplement use is the potential for interactions to occur among the various products. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy, polyherbacy, nutritional supplement use and potential product interactions among older adults living on the US-Mexico border. METHODS: This was a descriptive study that involved the administration of a bilingual (English/Spanish) questionnaire to a convenience sample of adults aged >or=60 years recruited from senior centres located within the most populated US-Mexico border region from June 2005 to March 2006. Participant demographics were collected in addition to information about current use of prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, herbal products and nutritional supplements (i.e. nutraceuticals and vitamins or minerals). The outcomes measured were the number of prescription medications, OTC medications, herbal products, vitamins/minerals and nutraceuticals per participant. Furthermore, the number of potential interactions and major interactions between drugs, herbal products and nutritional supplements were identified for each participant. Additionally, product use patterns between men and women and among locations within the border region were compared. RESULTS: One-hundred-and-thirty participants (mean age 71.4 years) were recruited to complete the questionnaire. The prevalence of polypharmacy among all participants was 72.3% (n = 94), with 38.5% (n = 50) taking five or more concomitant medications (major polypharmacy). Twenty-one participants (16.2%) in the study sample reported taking two or more herbal products (polyherbacy). Thirty-four participants (26.2%) reported taking two or more vitamin/mineral supplements and nine (6.9%) reported using two or more nutraceuticals. Participants living on the US side of the border had higher rates of major polypharmacy, polyherbacy and use of nutritional supplements than those living on the Mexican side of the border. Overall, there were no significant differences in medication, herbal product and nutritional supplement use patterns between men and women. Evaluation of potential interactions revealed that 46.2% (n = 60) of participants were at risk of having at least one potential drug-drug interaction. Regarding drug and herbal product-supplement interactions, 31.5% (n = 41) of participants were at risk of having at least one possible interaction. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polypharmacy among older adults living on the US side of the border was similar to national trends (estimates suggest that one-quarter to one-half of US adults aged >or=65 years take five or more medications). However, polypharmacy was less common in older adults living on the Mexican side of the border. Additionally, herb use was higher in older adults living on the US-Mexico border than has been reported in national surveys of US adults, which indicate that less than one-quarter of adults have used a herbal product within the previous 12 months. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that older adults living on the US side of the border consumed more herbs and nutritional supplements than their Mexican counterparts. In addition to describing product use patterns on the border, these findings suggest that almost half of the older adult participants were at risk for a potential drug-drug interaction, with approximately one-third having a potential interaction between their medications, herbs or nutritional supplements.