Residency application content and considerations based on residency director review of a fictitious CV: What really matters?

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to evaluate the influence of a pharmacy residency candidate's prior work or research experience on the potential for selection for an interview. Additionally, residency program directors (RPDs) were asked to evaluate the importance of letters of intent and recommendation, rank the importance of typical curriculum vitae (CV) items along with general preferences, and provide advice for a standout CV. METHODS: This cross-sectional, survey-based study recruited RPDs to review a work-focused or research-focused fictitious residency candidate CV and complete a 33-question survey regarding interest in interviewing the fictitious candidate and their general perceptions of significant factors in interview candidate selection. RESULTS: A total of 456 RPDs responded to the survey, with 229 respondents assigned to evaluate the work-focused CV and 227 assigned to review the research-focused CV. Among RPDs who provided CV evaluations, 81.2% (147/181) of those who reviewed the research-focused CV and 78.3% (137/175) of those who reviewed the work-focused CV gave a positive evaluation (P > 0.05). Work experience and extracurricular activities were considered the most important CV sections, and high-quality advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotations and pharmacy work experience were perceived to have the highest correlation with success in residency. CONCLUSION: This work supports the importance of candidates creating a well-rounded CV in preparing themselves for residency. Pharmacy-related work experience and high-quality APPE rotations seem to be key in an RPD's opinions of predicted success in a residency program. The CV remains a vital document in the residency candidate review process, and it deserves a high degree of effort in ensuring it adequately reflects professional experiences.

A multipreceptor approach to ambulatory care topic discussions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a multipreceptor approach to facilitating topic discussions on students' knowledge and confidence in clinical decision-making during an ambulatory care advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). DESIGN: Faculty members with relevant expertise and experience facilitated discussions with fourth-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students regarding 7 ambulatory care topics. A student self-assessment survey and knowledge-assessment instrument was administered before and after discussions. ASSESSMENT: Students' examination scores increased significantly from 59.1% ± 13.9% at baseline to 76.5% ± 12.6% at the end of the 5-week experience (p<0.001). The majority of participants were comfortable making therapeutic decisions regarding medication use as it related to all discussion topics except heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in topic discussions led by faculty members with expertise and experience for each ambulatory care topic was associated with a significant improvement in knowledge-assessment scores.

Effect of transdermal isopropyl alcohol on the international normalized ratio in five warfarin-treated patients.

Warfarin, an anticoagulant with a narrow therapeutic window, is largely metabolized by cytochrome P450 2C9. Isopropyl alcohol has been shown to inhibit the activity of this enzyme. Use of topical isopropyl alcohol as a rubefacient may place patients at risk for systemic exposure. Isopropyl alcohol's effect on the international normalized ratio (INR) has not been well characterized. We describe five patients who experienced INR elevations after topical application of isopropyl alcohol. Each patient's INR was therapeutic for at least seven visits prior to becoming supratherapeutic. All patients confirmed drug adherence and denied medication or dietary changes. Seventy percent isopropyl alcohol was used in all cases over a large body surface area of intact skin multiple times daily for several days. All patients experienced a 10% or greater increase in their INR compared to previous levels. On discontinuation of isopropyl alcohol, each patient's INR returned to and remained in therapeutic range for the next 2 months. Prediction of isopropyl alcohol's effect of the INR is confound by several factors, notably the BSA covered, concentration of alcohol in the product, contact time with the skin, and skin integrity. It is important that clinicians inquire about the use of isopropyl alcohol and educate patients about its potential risk in those receiving warfarin therapy.