Beyond lectures and practical courses: Teaching pharmacology using imaginative pedagogical tools.

Pharmacology has broadened its scope considerably in recent decades. Initially, it was of interest to chemists, doctors and pharmacists. In recent years, however, it has been incorporated into the teaching of biologists, molecular biologists, biotechnologists, chemical engineers and many health professionals, among others. Traditional teaching methods, such as lectures or laboratory work, have been superseded by the use of new pedagogical approaches to enable a better conceptualization and understanding of the discipline. In this article, we present several new methods that have been used in Spanish universities. Firstly, we describe a teaching network that has allowed the sharing of pedagogical innovations in Spanish universities. A European experience to improve prescribing safety is described in detail. The use of popular films and medical TV series in biomedical students shows how these audiovisual resources can be helpful in teaching pharmacology. The use of virtual worlds is detailed to introduce this new approach to teaching. The increasingly important area of the social aspects of pharmacology is also considered in two sections, one devoted to social pharmacology and the other to the use of learning based on social services to improve understanding of this important area. Finally, the use of Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation in pharmacology allows to know how this approach can help to better evaluate clinical pharmacology students. In conclusion, this article allows to know new pedagogical methods resources used in some Spanish universities that may help to improve the teaching of pharmacology.

Papel de la antitrombina III en cirugía cardiaca / Role of antithrombin III in cardiac surgery

La coagulación de la sangre suscita un interés multidisciplinar incrementado. La cirugía cardiaca produce cambios importantes en el delicado equilibrio entre los factores séricos pro- y anticoagulantes. El papel de la antitrombina iii se ha analizado después de conocer evidencias que relacionan bajos niveles de actividad de la proteína con la morbimortalidad postoperatoria. El aporte exógeno de antitrombina se considera con objeto de optimizar los resultados posquirúrgicos. Sus propiedades anticoagulante y antiinflamatoria intrínsecas despiertan un creciente interés y sugieren nuevas líneas de investigación (AU)

Coagulation of blood is of multidisciplinary interest. Cardiac surgery produces major changes in the delicate balance between pro-and anti-coagulant serum factors. The role of antithrombin iii has been analysed after finding evidence that associated decreased levels of protein activity to postoperative morbidity and mortality. Supplementing exogenous antithrombin is considered with the aim of optimising outcomes. Its intrinsic anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties have stimulated a growing interest, and suggests new lines of research (AU)

Abordaje del problema de la hipertensión desde una oficina de farmacia: detección, educación sanitaria o seguimiento farmacoterapéutico. ¿Qué actuación muestra mayor eficiencia? / Approaching the problem of hypertension from a pharmacy: detection, health education and monitoring. Which activity shows more efficiency?

Introducción: La prevalencia de la hipertensión arterial en España aumenta con los años. Nos proponemos evaluar la función del farmacéutico desde la farmacia comunitaria como instrumento muy útil para mejorar el control y el manejo del paciente hipertenso, evaluando y comparando la eficiencia de las diferentes intervenciones que puede realizar para beneficiar al paciente hipertenso: detección de cifras altas de presión arterial (PA), educación sanitaria y seguimiento farmacoterapéutico. Método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y de intervención, llevado a cabo en una farmacia de Valencia. Se ofertaba la toma de la PA a los participantes y se les pasaba una encuesta. Los pacientes eran asignados de forma aleatoria a un tipo de intervención: consejo farmacéutico, educación sanitaria o seguimiento farmacoterapéutico. A los 6 meses se evaluó la intervención. Resultados: Se propone la inclusión en el estudio a 220 pacientes, y aceptan participar 207, que se clasifican en 65 normotensos (31,4%), 64 prehipertensos (30,9%) y 78 hipertensos (37,7%). De los hipertensos, el 40% desconocía sus cifras elevadas de PA, y remitimos a los pacientes al médico. Se realizó un seguimiento farmacoterapéutico durante 6 meses en el grupo de pacientes con cifras de PA >140/90 mmHg, observándose diferencias en función de la actuación farmacéutica realizada. Conclusiones: El farmacéutico comunitario puede ser un elemento clave para conseguir mejorar la salud cardiovascular. Los programas de cribado de pacientes hipertensos parecen ser más coste-efectivos que el seguimiento semanal del paciente hipertenso(AU)

Introduction: The prevalence of hypertension in Spain is increasing over the years. In this study we evaluated the role of the community pharmacist as useful tool to improve the control and management of hypertensive patients. We evaluated and compared the effectiveness of three different interventions which could be developed in the community pharmacy to benefit hypertensive patients: detection of high blood pressure, health education and pharmaceutical care. Method: A prospective observational and intervention study was carried out in a community pharmacy from Valencia (Spain). Blood pressure determination was offered to adult people entering to the pharmacy. They answered a survey and the pharmacist acted differently depending on the day of the week: counseling, sanitary education and pharmaceuthical care, at 6 months, the pharmacist intervention were evaluated. Results: The study was proposed to 220 patients and 207 accepted. They are classified as normotensive (31.4%), prehypertensive (30.9%) and hypertensive (37.7%) depending on their arterial pressure. 40% of hypertensive patients, ignore their high levels blood pressure. In these cases, patients were referred to the doctor. In the group of patients with blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg, patients were followed for 6 months. Differences observed depending on the pharmacist actuation. Conclusions: The community pharmacist can be a key element in achieving better results in cardiovascular health. The implementation of screening programs in hypertensive patients appears to be more cost/effective than weekly monitoring of hypertensive patients(AU)