Student knowledge, confidence, and perceptions prior to and following an inhaler and tobacco cessation simulation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess knowledge, perceptions, and confidence of second-year pharmacy students regarding implementation of an innovative inhaler and tobacco cessation simulation. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: A simulation was created that required students to counsel a standardized patient concomitantly on an inhaler prescription and tobacco cessation. To assess the primary outcome of student perceptions and confidence, a survey was administered pre- and post-simulation. Survey results were compared using chi-square analysis. To assess the secondary outcome of knowledge-based improvement, students were assessed on tobacco cessation content utilizing six consistent examination questions; students also completed a tobacco cessation objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) case, with comparison to the previous student cohort. FINDINGS: Fifty-seven students (93%) completed the pre-survey, and 49 students (80%) completed the post-survey. Improvements in confidence concerning use of motivational interviewing and ability to establish a quit date via motivational interviewing were found. Examination score comparisons revealed improvements in two of the six questions but were not statistically significant. Tobacco cessation OSCE data indicated an improvement in overall student score (72%) compared to the control group (69%). A larger proportion of students achieved the tobacco cessation case cut score (97% vs. 87%). Lastly, intervention vs. control group averages improved in gathering patient information (57% vs. 45%) and developing management strategies (71% vs. 65%). SUMMARY: This integrated simulation was an effective learning tool that reinforced tobacco cessation concepts and increased confidence and knowledge. Simulations that require students to integrate knowledge and skills are valuable additions to pharmacy curricula.

SCAN! A pharmacy-based, sun safety feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and individuals from the medically underserved Appalachian region are at elevated risks for cancer morbidity and mortality. Skin cancer can be prevented by decreasing ultraviolet light exposure (sunscreen sun protection factor 30, shade, clothing, sunglasses, hats) and can be caught at an early treatable stage through a routine skin examination. The Skin Cancer Awareness Now! (SCAN!) pilot project promoted skin cancer prevention and screening in community pharmacies, using a dynamic communication model. The objectives of the study were to understand (1) the feasibility of the SCAN! and (2) the preliminary impact of the SCAN! METHODS: We conducted pre- and postintervention surveys of the SCAN!, a student pharmacist-led or pharmacy resident-led intervention in community pharmacies (n = 3). RESULTS: Participants (n = 90) had a mean age of 43.8 (SD= 18.4) years, were predominantly white (92.1%), without a college degree (65.6%), and had an average family income in the range of $25,000-$49,999, with approximately 16% falling below the poverty level. To begin, the SCAN! scored highly in attention (mean = 5.8), liking (mean = 6.1), comprehension (mean = 6.7), and intentions to be sun safe (mean = 6.0). Most improved in their knowledge of the amount of sunscreen needed per application for sun safety (66%, P < 0.01) and of melanoma features from pre- and postintervention (39%, P < 0.01). A multivariate analysis of variance indicated that knowledge and intentions improved (all P's < 0.01). Interaction effects indicated that improvements in knowledge were greater for those in the rural pharmacy (P = 0.03), and improvements in perceived importance were greater for those in urban pharmacies (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The SCAN! intervention was well received by the population. Our study provides evidence that community pharmacy is a novel venue for skin cancer prevention interventions, particularly for rural, medically underserved populations.

Study protocol: mobile improvement of self-management ability through rural technology (mI SMART).

BACKGROUND: There are 62 million Americans currently residing in rural areas who are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions and be economically disadvantaged, and in poor health, receive less recommended preventive services and attend fewer visits to health care providers. Recent advances in mobile healthcare (mHealth) offer a promising new approach to solving health disparities and improving chronic illness care. It is now possible and affordable to transmit health information, including values from glucometers, automated blood pressure monitors, and scales, through Bluetooth-enabled devices. Additionally, audio and video communications technologies can allow healthcare providers to conduct many parts of a physical exam remotely from varied settings. These technologies could remove geographical distance as a barrier to care and diminish the access to care issues faced by patients who live rurally. However, currently there is lack of studies that provide evidence of feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of mHealth initiatives on improved outcomes of care, a needed step to make the translation to implementation studies in healthcare systems. The purpose of this paper is to present the protocol for the first study of mI SMART (mobile Improvement of Self-Management Ability through Rural Technology), a new integrated mHealth intervention. METHODS: Our objective is to provide evidence of feasibility and acceptability for the use of mI SMART in an underserved population and establish evidence for the refinement of mI SMART. The proposed study will take place at Milan Puskar Health Right, a free primary care clinic in the state of West Virginia. The clinic provides health care at no cost to uninsured, low income; adults aged 18-64 living in West Virginia. We will enroll 30 participants into this feasibility study with plans of implementing a longitudinal randomized, comparative effectiveness design in the future. Data collection will include tracking of barriers and facilitators to using mI SMART on patient and provider feedback surveys, tracking of patient-provider communications, self-reports from patients on quality of life, adherence, and self-management ability, and capture of health record data on chronic illness measures. DISCUSSION: We expect that the mI SMART intervention, refined from participant and provider feedback, will be acceptable and feasible. We anticipate high patient-provider satisfaction, enhanced patient-provider communication, and improved health related quality of life, adherence to treatment, and self-management ability. In addition, we hypothesize that patients who use mI SMART will demonstrate improved physical outcomes such as blood glucose, blood pressure, and weight.

Examining Dose of Diabetes Group Medical Visits and Characteristics of the Uninsured.

Type 2 diabetes is a significant problem for the uninsured. Diabetes Group Medical Visits (DGMVs) have been reported to improve outcomes. However, it is not known if the increased workload of the health care team to treat and educate patients at multiple visits has an impact on patient functioning and well-being. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of dose of DGMVs on biophysical outcomes of care in uninsured persons with diabetes. No significant correlations were found between number of DGMVs attended and biophysical outcomes of care. However, the majority of patients attended two or less DGMVs in 1 year. Dose of DGMVs did not impact outcomes and may not be enough to assure attendance. Involving patients to construct patient-centered interventions may decrease the treatment burden faced by both patients and providers. In addition, such interventions should be aimed at understanding reasons for low attendance, particularly in rural impoverished adults.

Free Care Is Not Enough: Barriers to Attending Free Clinic Visits in a Sample of Uninsured Individuals with Diabetes.

Free care does not always lead to improved outcomes. Attendance at free clinic appointments is unpredictable. Understanding barriers to care could identify innovative interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine patient characteristics, biophysical outcomes, and health care utilization in uninsured persons with diabetes at a free clinic. A sample of 3139 patients with at least one chronic condition was identified and comparisons were made between two groups: those who attended all scheduled appointments and those who did not. Geographic distance to clinic and multiple chronic conditions were identified as barriers to attendance. After one year, missing more than one visit had a positive correlation with increased weight, A1C, and lipids. Additionally, patients who missed visits had higher blood pressure, depression scores, and numbers of medications. Future research should further enhance understanding of barriers to care, build knowledge of how social and behavioral determinants contribute to negative outcomes in the context of rurality. Innovative methods to deliver more frequent and intensive interventions will not be successful if they are not accessible to patients.

Using mHealth Tools to Improve Rural Diabetes Care Guided by the Chronic Care Model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Used as an integrated tool, mHealth may improve the ability of healthcare providers in rural areas to provide care, improve access to care for underserved populations, and improve biophysical outcomes of care for persons with diabetes in rural, underserved populations. Our objective in this paper is to present an integrated review of the impact of mHealth interventions for community dwelling individuals with type two diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed using keywords in PubMed to identify research studies which mHealth technology was used as the intervention. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Interventions using mHealth have been found to improve outcomes, be cost effective, and culturally relevant. mHealth technology that has been used to improve outcomes include: seeking out health information via the web, access to appointment scheduling and medication refills, secure messaging, computerized interventions to manage a chronic condition, use of a personal health record, use of remote monitoring devices, and seeking support from others with similar health concerns through social networks. CONCLUSION: Using the validated Chronic Care Model to translate what is known about mHealth technology to clinical practice has the potential to improve the ability of healthcare providers in rural areas to provide care, improve access to care for underserved populations, and improve biophysical outcomes of care for persons with diabetes in rural underserved populations. While these approaches were effective in improving some outcomes, they have not resulted in the establishment of the necessary electronic infrastructure for a sustainable mobile healthcare delivery model.

Diabetes group medical visits and outcomes of care in low-income, rural, uninsured persons.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of Diabetes Group Medical Visits (DGMVs) verses usual care in a sample of low-income patients with diabetes receiving care at a rural free clinic. METHODS: Data were collected through chart review, using direct data entry into Microsoft Access. Participants were included if they met the inclusion criteria: 1) age ≥ 18 years; 2) diagnosis of diabetes; 3) uninsured and received care between May 2007 and August 2009. Fifty-three participants attended DGMVs and were compared to 58 participants who received usual care. RESULTS: The personal characteristics and biophysical measures of this population differed from previously studied Group Visit populations. The majority of patients were female (73.9%), white (95.5%), younger than 50 (53.2%), driving long distances to receive care (mean miles = 21, SD 20.4) and had a high school education or less (95.4%). Participants were severely obese (mean BMI = 37.6, SD 28.48) and had 5 co-morbid conditions other than diabetes (mean = 5.5, SD 2.1). Those attending DGMVs had higher baseline A1C, depression scores, BMIs, and more pain than usual care. There was a statistically significant decrease in systolic pressure from time one to time two in patients who attended DGMVs t(52) = 2.18, (p = 0.03). There was no significant impact on outcomes of patients who received usual care. However, it is important to note that the majority of patients attended three or fewer DGMVs visits in one year. CONCLUSION: Group visits may not be enough to improve outcomes in this population. Previous studies suggest that improvements are seen in those who attend more frequently. Hence, the lack of improvement in biophysical outcomes may be due to low attendance. The limited impact of this traditional style intervention in relation to low attendance argues the need to test alternative interventions to reach this population.

Interventions for being active among individuals with diabetes: a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess and summarize evidence and gaps in the literature regarding the intervention for being active (exercise) among individuals with diabetes. METHODS: Twelve electronic databases were searched. Publications eligible for inclusion specifically studied learning, behavioral, clinical, and humanistic outcomes for exercise interventions in adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Seven reviews (2 systematic reviews, 3 meta-analyses, 2 technical reviews) and 34 individual, nonreview studies (18 randomized controlled trials, 16 nonrandomized trials) met inclusion criteria. For type 2 diabetes, findings suggested that exercise had a positive effect on glycemic control and decreased cardiovascular risk, but the impact of exercise on behavioral and humanistic outcomes was unclear; long-term outcomes and adherence to exercise interventions is unknown because most studies were of short duration. The overall impact of varied types of exercise in type 1 diabetes was unclear, especially regarding glycemic control. Potential benefits of exercise in type 1 may include improved cardiovascular health. CONCLUSION: The review did not identify specific successful intervention details because of the heterogeneity of studies, subjects, and research gaps. General findings suggest that physical activity is better than no exercise at all; intensive regimens, if tolerated by patients, achieved better clinical outcomes than less intensive regimens. Reviewed studies using structured exercise regimens exhibited a more significant impact on outcomes. Substantial gaps in the literature include studies measuring direct effects of exercise in the US minority populations most affected by type 2 diabetes and economic evaluations of exercise interventions. Interventions must be tailored to individual patient needs to succeed.

Teaching self-care as a junior faculty member: perspectives and lessons learned.

Self-care is an important component of the doctor of pharmacy curriculum due to the expanding nonprescription medication market and the high percentage of pharmacists practicing in community pharmacy. It can be incorporated as a freestanding course or integrated throughout the curriculum. This article presents the experiences of 2 junior faculty members at 2 different pharmacy schools who were charged with coordinating self-care instruction at their institutions. It discusses the "lessons learned" regarding teaching self-care effectively in an integrated curriculum and in a freestanding course.