Drivers of citations in social pharmacy and practice research articles.

BACKGROUND: Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy has been expanding in the last decade. The recently published Granada Statements offer key recommendations to improve the quality of research in this field. OBJECTIVES: To identify the factors associated with the citations of articles in the field of social, administrative, clinical pharmacy and practice research. METHODS: This study was a retrospective, observational analysis of articles published in three leading journals. Per article Google Scholar citations was the dependent variable. Predictor variables were extracted from all articles published from 2013 to 2015. The dependent variable was dichotomized using sample's median Google Scholar citations. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of citations ≥ median. RESULTS: The median number of citations per article was 17 (range 0-341), with a mean of 24.2 (SD 27.6). The number of references included in the articles (OR 1.03, CI 1.02-1.04), the year of publication (OR 0.31 CI 0.21-0.46 for articles published 2015), article social media mentions (OR = 1.01, CI 1.01-1.03 and OR 1.10 CI 1.04-1.18 for Facebook and X, respectively), the topic area of research namely pharmacy services (OR 1.65, CI 1.06-2.57) and medication adherence (OR 2.22 CI 1.13-4.33) were independently associated with article having citations ≥ median. CONCLUSIONS: The number of references, the year of publication, social media mentions and the topic area of research, namely pharmacy services and medication adherence, were associated with citations above median in the leading journals of social and administrative pharmacy research. Authors may consider providing a thorough literature review in their articles, while researchers, editors, and publishers are advised to use social media to promote newly published work. This article complements the Granada Statements and may contribute to fostering wider dissemination of the discipline's outputs.

Part-Time and Cofunded Pharmacy Faculty and Their Perceptions of Professional and Organizational Identity Formation.

OBJECTIVE: To gain a better understanding of professional and organizational identity formation and workplace climate issues among part-time and cofunded pharmacy faculty. METHODS: This study had a cross-sectional, prospective design using a semistructured interview guide developed by the researchers of this study. The interview guide drew themes from motivating language theory, social provisions, and previous research on professional identity. Pharmacy faculty with varying part-time and cofunded appointments, representing a cross section of demographic characteristics, and working in different types of practice sites and institutions, were invited to participate. RESULTS: Data saturation was reached at 14 participants. Participants had a variety of professional roles, namely teaching and precepting, as well as clinical, research, service, and administrative responsibilities. Three general themes emerged: (1) the struggle with having multiple aspects of professional identity, (2) facing the perception that academia is a "lifestyle" that not all faculty can fully participate, and (3) the need for properly constructed and tailored communication from peers and supervisors. CONCLUSION: A key component to mitigating the struggle with multiple aspects of professional identity and the feeling that part-time and cofunded faculty cannot fully participate in the academic lifestyle seemed to be informed, empathetic, inclusive, and tailored communication from supervisors.

Exploring the frontline experiences of pharmacy technicians during the opioid epidemic in community pharmacies.

BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic continues to have a significant negative impact on public health in the United States. Community pharmacies represent an important care setting in confronting the opioid epidemic. However, they continue to be an underutilized care access point. Pharmacy technicians are often the first and most frequent pharmacy personnel to interact with people receiving a prescription for opioid medications. There is a paucity of studies conducted with pharmacy technicians as it pertains to interactions with these patients. OBJECTIVES: To explore community pharmacy technicians' roles and their personal experiences when interacting with patients who are receiving a prescription for opioid medications. METHODS: A qualitative design was employed in use of focus groups (FGs) conducted virtually across several regions of the United States. Audio recordings of U.S. FGs were transcribed verbatim and imported via Dedoose (v2.0, Dedoose, Manhattan Beach, CA,) for further data assessment using thematic analysis. The researchers used the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. RESULTS: In total, 46 pharmacy technicians participated in 8 FGs. The average length of time for FG was 56 minutes. The mean for the work experience was 7 years, with a range of 1 to 44. Of 46 subjects, 34 were working in a community setting, and the rest were in a hospital setting. Most of the subjects practiced in Tennessee and California at the time of the study. Two themes emerged from the data: "Interactions between pharmacy technicians and patients who are using opioid prescriptions," and "Interactions between pharmacy technicians and the pharmacy team while dispensing opioid prescriptions." CONCLUSION: Pharmacy technicians serve as a key health care system touchpoint in the community pharmacy. Although pharmacy technicians are exposed to people receiving a prescription for opioid medications, they feel under-resourced and ill-quipped to adequately serve this patient population.

Reflections of mentors and mentees on a national mentoring programme for pharmacists in the United Kingdom: An examination into organisational culture and systems.

BACKGROUND: There is no accepted or consistent model for delivering mentoring programmes, manifesting in some debate surrounding the ideal conducive system. Mentorship structures and culture within pharmacy can be advanced by researching experiences of mentors and mentees. OBJECTIVE: To explore lived experiences of participants in a nationwide mentoring programme in relation to motivations and barriers associated with engaging with mentoring, and what system changes and organisational culture shift could further support mentoring for pharmacy professionals. METHODS: This study adopted a constructivist research paradigm, with a qualitative design to focus on how participants interpreted the world and their experiences. Verbatim transcripts of recordings were examined using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants in twenty one-to-one interviews appreciated the programme's allowance for organic relationships to occur, its contribution towards advancing the profession forward, its flexibility, and available resources. They discussed training needs and a more formal onboarding process into the programme that facilitated greater awareness of resources, as well as the need to evaluate and tweak it. System changes were highlighted so that mentoring can be part of the organisational culture, such as incorporating mentoring in job descriptions to increase capacity, senior members of the profession acting as role models, and linking mentoring to existing education and development structures. CONCLUSION: Data demonstrated the need for formal structure but that which allowed for informal and organic relationships to develop. It is paramount for sponsoring organisations to provide resources and continuously monitor the program. The rich information gathered on administrative support and structure of a mentoring programme, along with its organisational facets, should help organisations when implementing similar initiatives. An organisation sponsoring or administering a mentoring programme must take actions that help codify its mentoring culture and its advocacy of mentoring as key to advancement for its profession's members.

Reflections of mentors and mentees on a national mentoring programme for pharmacists: An examination into relationships, personal and professional development.

BACKGROUND: While mentorship programmes for professionals are growing in number, the lived experiences of mentor and mentee participants could be captured so as to better inform best practices and considerations for thriving relationships. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the lived experiences of mentors and mentees in a nationwide programme for pharmacists administered by a professional organisation in the United Kingdom, specifically examining the nature of relationships comprising those experiences. METHODS: A phenomenological approach was adopted, with semi-structured interviews conducted remotely between November 2019 and June 2020. Potential participants approached via a gatekeeper, employing purposive and convenience sampling. Transcribed data were examined using a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis and codes were assigned independently by two researchers, to increase rigour in analysis. RESULTS: A total of 20 participants described their perceived role in their respective mentoring partnerships, gave their own account of the definition of mentoring and discussed the crucial role of trust and understanding in developing a successful mentoring relationship. Mentors' beliefs on their perceived role in the relationship largely guided their approach to the structure of the interactions. The concepts of personal growth and development of peers were often discussed by the participants, along with the acknowledgment that mentoring is a relationship that ideally lasts potentially a lifetime, should the relationship be successful. Mentors felt a sense of pride in giving back to the profession. An unintentional unbalanced power dynamic was often reported and both mentors and mentees acknowledged frustrations when they perceived their partner was not showing the same level of engagement and commitment. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists participating in a nationwide mentoring programme expressed considerable enthusiasm with their contribution, underscoring the programme's flexibility, its emphasis of mentoring versus merely advising, and its responsibility for enhancing or reconnecting with their professional identity as well as fostering more positivity and liveliness in their professional roles. . The programme might consider additional training to mentors to promote their own self-efficacy in mentoring, which among other things could curtail perceived potential power imbalances within mentor-mentee dyads and lead to a more dynamic and contextualised mentoring experience.

Pharmacy Technicians, Stigma, and Compassion Fatigue: Front-Line Perspectives of Pharmacy and the US Opioid Epidemic.

The opioid epidemic in the United States has led to a quadrupling of opioid overdoses since the 1990s. Stigmas exist among healthcare professionals, and it is essential to educate the next generation of pharmacy technicians regarding opioid use disorder. The main objective of this study was to characterize the phenomenon of stigma through the pharmacy technician lens when taking care of patients who are using opioid medications. Grounded in Van Manen's phenomenological approach and the Link and Phelan stigmatization model, a qualitative study was conducted from February to June 2020 to understand pharmacy technicians' perceptions and attitudes towards patients using opioid medications. Focus groups (n = 46) with pharmacy technicians were conducted in-person and online over five months in 2020. Thematic analysis identified three themes that characterize the stigma and the relationship between pharmacy technicians and patients taking opioid medications: (1) pharmacy technician perspectives on stigma and patients with addictive opioid-use behavior; (2) current approaches of pharmacy technicians towards patients with addictive opioid-use behavior; (3) future approaches of pharmacy technicians towards patients with addictive opioid-use behavior. The findings highlight an "ever-present" negative connotation associated with the stigma that is formed from patient interaction. It is necessary to develop proper resources and educational materials to manage the stigma that exists in pharmacies throughout the nation. These resources will facilitate how to address and prevent the stigma among pharmacy technicians in the U.S.

Design fundamentals of mentoring programs for pharmacy professionals (Part 1): Considerations for organizations.

Mentoring programs have been offered by organizations within and outside of healthcare for years. This commentary examines the literature under the prism of design fundamentals for these programs, drawing particular considerations for schemes aimed at pharmacy professionals. The central argument presented is that mentoring can be used as a vehicle to support pharmacists to learn from others and each other, to reinforce and own their professional identity so that the uniqueness of the pharmacy profession is established within a global health landscape of constant change. In this Part 1 of a series of papers, a wealth of literature, theories, and evidence are presented aiming to inform the general structure and logistical considerations for both in-person and distance mentoring programs.

Effects of chronic marijuana use on driving performance.

OBJECTIVES: The effects of marijuana on driving pose a significant public health concern. More studies on chronic marijuana use in driving are needed. The study objectives were to (1) assess differences in the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and driving performance outcomes between chronic medical marijuana users and nonusers and (2) identify a cutoff tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration above which chronic medical marijuana users demonstrate driving impairment. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study assessed 31 chronic marijuana users and 41 nonusers. Rapid Detect Saliva Drug Screen 10-panel was administered to all participants. Participants were given a simple visual reaction time test (SVRT) and SFST consisting of the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN), the one leg stand (OLS), and the walk and turn (WAT) tests. The STISIM Drive M100 driving simulator assessed driving performance. Driving parameters included standard deviation of speed (SDS), deviation of mean lane position, off-road accidents, collisions, pedestrians hit, and car-following modulus, delay, and coherence. Cannabinoid blood plasma was obtained from marijuana users. RESULTS: Marijuana users and nonusers did not differ in age (40.06 ± 13.92 vs. 41.53 ± 15.49, P = .6782). Marijuana users were more likely to fail the SFST (P = .005) and the WAT (P = .012) and HGN (P = .001) components. Marijuana users had slower SVRT (P = .031), less SDS (P = .039), and lower modulus (P = .003). Participants with THC >2 ng/mL (P = .017) and TCH >5 ng/mL (P = .008) had lower SDS. Participants with THC >2 ng/mL (P = .021) and THC >5 ng/mL (P = .044) had decreased modulus. CONCLUSION: Chronic marijuana users had slower reaction times, deviated less in speed, and had difficulty matching a lead vehicle's speed compared to nonusers. The effects on SDS and modulus were present at cutoffs of 2 and 5 ng/mL.

Driving performance comparing older versus younger drivers.

OBJECTIVES: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Touro University California campus to compare differences in reaction times and driving performance of younger adult drivers (18-40 years) and older adult drivers (60 years and older). Each test group consisted of 38 participants. METHODS: A Simple Visual Reaction Test (SVRT) tool was used to measure reaction times. The STISIM Drive M100 driving simulator was used to assess driving parameters. Driving performance parameters included mean lane position, standard deviation of mean lane position measured, mean speed, standard deviation of mean speed, car-following delay, car-following modulus, car-following coherence, off-road accidents, collisions, pedestrians hit, and traffic light tickets. RESULTS: Compared to younger participants, older drivers experienced significantly slower reaction times (510.0 ± 208.8 vs. 372.4 ± 96.1 ms, P =.0004), had more collisions (0.18 ± 0.39 vs. none, P =.0044), drove slower (44.6 ± 6.6 vs. 54.9 ± 11.7 mph, P <.0001), deviated less in speed (12.6 ± 4.3 vs. 16.8 ± 6.3, P =.0011), and were less able to maintain a constant distance behind a pace car (0.42 ± 0.23 vs. 0.59 ± 0.24; P =.0025). CONCLUSIONS: Differences exist in driving patterns of older and younger drivers as measured by reaction times and driving simulator outcomes. These results are the first to compare these 2 specific adult age groups' driving performance as measured by a standardized driving simulator scenario. Identifying these differences is essential in addressing them and preventing future traffic injuries.

Effects of valerian on subjective sedation, field sobriety testing and driving simulator performance.

INTRODUCTION: The availability of herbal medicines over-the-counter (OTC) has increased the use of natural products for self-treatment. Valerian has been used to effectively treat generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia. Studies suggest that valerenic acid may increase gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) modulation in the brain. Benzodiazepines have a similar mechanism of action and have been linked to an increased risk of hospitalizations due to traffic accidents. Despite the risk of somnolence, the safety of driving while under the influence of valerian remains unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a one-time valerian 1600mg dose on subjective sedation effects, standardized field sobriety testing (SFST) and driving simulator performance parameters. METHODS: The study design was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial. For each session, participants received either a dose of valerian or placebo. The outcome measures included a simple visual reaction test (SVRT), subjective sleepiness scales, SFST performance scores, and driving simulator performance parameters. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the SVRT or sleepiness scales between placebo and valerian exposures, but the study may have been underpowered. SFST total and individual test failure rates were not significantly different between the two exposures. The driving simulator performance parameters were equivalent between the two exposure conditions. CONCLUSIONS: A one-time valerian 1600mg dose, often used to treat insomnia, does not appear to impair driving simulator performance after acute ingestion.