Effect of pharmacist care on medication adherence and cardiovascular outcomes among patients post-acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review

Background

The impact of collaborative and multidisciplinary health care on the outcomes of care in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is well-established in the literature. However, there is lack of high quality evidence on the role of pharmacist care in this setting.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and recent advances in its therapy

OBJECTIVES: To highlight therapeutic controversies, and present a critical review of the most recent evidence on the management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search from October 1996 until October 2006 was carried out. Pertinent literature was identified and other references identified from the bibliographic citations of the articles identified on MEDLINE. STUDY SELECTION: Articles related to the treatment of HIT including meta-analyses, systematic reviews, critical reviews, randomized and non-randomized trials, as well as case-reports, were reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas associated with HIT can be overwhelming and call for an evidence-based approach in the management of this frequently fatal event. HIT is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The evidence suggests when heparin is stopped, alternative anticoagulant therapy with one of the newer agents such as lepirudin and argatroban is of benefit in avoiding deaths and morbidity.     

Perspectives of heart failure patients in Malaysia towards medications and disease state management: findings from a qualitative study

Aim  

This study aimed to explore the experiences of readmitted heart failure (HF) patients towards managing their medical problems and to identify factors influencing their adherence to medications.     

Shared-Learning Experience During a Clinical Pharmacy Practice Experience

Objective

To implement a shared learning approach through fourth-year students’ mentorship of third-year students and to assess the perceptions of the mentored students on the value of their shared learning experience.

Design

We introduced the shared learning experience in clinical pharmacy and pharmacotherapeutic practice experiences involving 87 third-year and 51 fourth-year students. Both student groups undertook the practice experiences together, with third-year students working in smaller groups mentored by fourth-year students.

Assessment

A majority of the students (> 75%) believed that they learned to work as a team during their practice experiences and that the shared learning approach provided an opportunity to practice their communication skills. Similarly, most respondents (> 70%) agreed that the new approach would help them become effective members of the healthcare team and would facilitate their professional relationships in future practice. Almost two-thirds of the students believed that the shared learning enhanced their ability to understand clinical problems. However, about 31% of the pharmacy students felt that they could have learned clinical problem-solving skills equally well working only with peers from their own student group.

Conclusions

The pharmacy students in the current study generally believed that the shared-learning approach enhanced their ability to understand clinical problems and improved their communication and teamwork skills. Both groups of students were positive that they had acquired some skills through the shared-learning approach.