scholarly journals Pharmacists’ perceptions and attitudes toward drug importation into the State of Florida

Author(s):  
John B. Hertig ◽  
Jade M. Jochem ◽  
Allissa M. Long

Abstract Background The Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration released the Safe Importation Action Plan in July 2020 detailing methods to import medicines from Canada to combat increasing drug costs. In November 2020, Florida became the first state in the United States to create and propose an importation plan from Canada. This study examines the proposal submitted by Florida, Florida pharmacists’ perceptions of the program on patient safety, and Florida pharmacists’ thoughts on the pharmacy operational impact. Methods This was a cross-sectional study utilizing an electronic questionnaire sent to pharmacist members of the Florida Pharmacy Association. The survey incorporated closed-ended and open-ended questions. The results from the study were reported and analyzed through descriptive statistics, qualitative and quantitative data. Results Two-hundred and forty-four pharmacists responded to the survey. Of those respondents, 25% stated they had no knowledge about Florida’s drug importation plan. Less than 12% of respondents stated they would trust the safety and quality of imported medicines. Seventy percent of pharmacists expressed concerns regarding the changes required in pharmacy operations to increase medicine safety. About half of the respondents questioned whether this plan would promote cost-savings as intended. Conclusion Florida pharmacists believe the drug importation plan does not address all aspects of patient and medicine safety and expressed concerns regarding logistical operations of a pharmacy. This article highlights those concerns and acts as a summons to action.

Author(s):  
Charles O. Gonik ◽  
Alina M. Alonso ◽  
Bernard Gonik

Objective Estimating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence is an important part of the public health approach to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) understanding and containment. This is particularly relevant to an obstetric population because of implications in the management of the pregnant host, care of the newborn, and disease progression within the community. Study Design A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was performed in four Department of Health Palm Beach County clinics from June 29, 2020, to August 5, 2020. Samples were collected from asymptomatic antepartum and postpartum participants. A web-based surveillance system was used to identify subsequent antibody or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing encounters. Results A total of 163 of 618 subjects were seropositive (26.4%). Racial makeup was white 2.5%, black 19.0%, and Hispanic 78.5%. Positive serology was seen in 16.0, 35.6, and 30.1% of first, second, and third trimesters, respectively; 18.4% were positive postpartum. Only four patients voluntarily reported PCR positivity prior to antibody testing. Six home zip codes accounted for the majority (68.1%) of positive results. Thirty-two patients had repeat serology (65.6% positive and 34.4% negative). Of the 163 subjects, 65 underwent later PCR testing with 92% negative for SAR-CoV-2. Conclusion Almost one in four subjects had serologic evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. These very high seroprevalence rates have not been previously reported and highlight the concern for health disparities in the United States. Most were asymptomatic and without a history for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. There was a loss of seropositivity in a significant number of subjects, raising concern for risk of reinfection, inadequate transplacental antibody transfer, and subsequent limited passive protection to the newborn. These seroprevalence data will also allow for better newborn follow-up of unanticipated consequences of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy. Key Points


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 232596711774127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett D. Haislup ◽  
Matthew J. Kraeutler ◽  
Rishi Baweja ◽  
Eric C. McCarty ◽  
Mary K. Mulcahey

Background: Over the past few decades, there has been a trend toward an increasing subspecialization in orthopaedic surgery, with orthopaedic sports medicine being one of the most competitive subspecialties. Information regarding the application and interview process for sports medicine fellowships is currently lacking. Purpose: To survey orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship program directors (PDs) to better define the structure of the sports medicine fellowship interview and to highlight important factors that PDs consider in selecting fellows. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A complete list of accredited programs was obtained from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) website. An anonymous survey was distributed to fellowship PDs of all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–accredited orthopaedic sports medicine fellowships in the United States. The survey included 12 questions about the fellowship interview and selection process. Results: Of the 95 orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship PDs surveyed, 38 (40%) responded. Of these, 16 (42.1%) indicated that they interview between 21 and 30 applicants per year. Eleven of the 38 fellowship programs (28.9%) have only 1 fellow per year at their respective program. Most programs (27/37, 73%) reported that between 0 and 5 faculty members interview applicants, and 29 of the 38 programs (76.3%) arrange for applicants to have ≥4 interviews during their interview day. Large group interviews are conducted at 36 of 38 (94.7%) sports medicine fellowship programs, and most programs (24/38, 63.2%) hold individual interviews that last between 5 and 15 minutes. The most important applicant criterion taken into account by PDs was the quality of the interview, with an average score of 8.68 of 10. Conclusion: The most significant factor taken into account by PDs when deciding how to rank applicants was the quality of the interview. Many orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship programs interview between 21 and 30 applicants per year, with each applicant participating in an average of 2 to 4 individual interviews per interview day and interviews commonly lasting between 5 and 15 minutes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 1342-1350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan K LeBrasseur ◽  
Stephen P Sayers ◽  
Michelle M Ouellette ◽  
Roger A Fielding

Abstract Background and Purpose. Stroke remains the leading cause of disability in the United States. The purposes of this study were to examine whether quantitative measures of muscle strength and power in the involved lower extremity predict functional limitations and to evaluate the contributions of behavioral factors to mediating disability and quality of life in people who have survived a stroke. Subjects and Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used, and measurements of muscle impairment, lower-body function, disability, quality of life, and behavioral factors were obtained for 31 community-dwelling volunteers who had experienced a single ischemic stroke in the past 6 to 24 months. Results. Stepwise regression models including impairment and behavioral measures were strong predictors of function, disability, and quality of life. Involved-extremity muscle strength and power and self-efficacy were independently associated with function, whereas depression and self-efficacy were strong predictors of disability and quality of life. Discussion and Conclusion. The findings warrant future studies to determine whether interventions that address muscle strength and power, depressive symptoms, and low self-efficacy effectively improve function, reduce disability, and enhance quality of life in people who have survived a stroke.


Author(s):  
Nunuk Nugrohowati ◽  
Ria Maria Theresa ◽  
Melly Kristanti

The Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on the socio-economic conditions of the Indonesian people. Many of 1.2 million Indonesian employees had been laid off, informal workers were unemployed. The current socio-economic impact was an obstacle and burden on the families of Bidikmisi students. This study discuss the socioeconomic problems of UPN Veteran Jakarta’s Bidikmisi students who were affected by the covid-19 pandemic.Data collected by interviewing 114 respondents with a cross-sectional study, data analysis by descriptive qualitative and quantitative. The results showed Bidikmisi students of UPN Veteran Jakarta had a perception about their socio-economic problems (87.7%), of those were private as the main fathers’ occupation while mothers were not working. average total income of the parent less than  Rp. 2.000.000,-/month and as many as 105 (92.1 %) of students had less than  Rp 1.000.000/month in fulfilling their needs. The majority parents do not have chronic disease history (59.6%) while the students still had a large quota fee load problem during distance learning (57.9% in criteria 1). Required policy in assistance activities and counseling in order to maintain the quality of Bidikmisi students of UPN Veteran Jakarta.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz A. Díaz-Apodaca ◽  
Federico G. de Cosío ◽  
Jaume Canela-Soler ◽  
Rosalba Ruiz-Holguín ◽  
Maria Teresa Cerqueira

BMJ ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 335 (7629) ◽  
pp. 1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira B Wilson ◽  
Bruce E Landon ◽  
Peter V Marsden ◽  
Lisa R Hirschhorn ◽  
Keith McInnes ◽  
...  

Objective To determine whether a selected set of indicators can represent a single overall quality construct. Design Cross sectional study of data abstracted during an evaluation of an initiative to improve quality of care for people with HIV. Setting 69 sites in 30 states. Data sources Medical records of 9020 patients. Main outcome measures Adjusted performance rates at site level for eight measures of quality of care specific to HIV and a site level summary performance score (the number of measures for which the site was in the top quarter of the distribution). Results Of 28 site level correlations between measures, two were greater than 0.40, two were between 0.30 and 0.39, four were between 0.20 and 0.29, and the 20 remaining were all less than 0.20. One site was in the top quarter for seven measures, but no sites were in the top quarter for six or eight of the measures. Across the eight quality measures, sites were in the top quarter no more often than predicted by a chance (binomial) distribution. Conclusions The quality suggested by one measured indicator cannot necessarily be generalised to unmeasured indicators, even if this might be expected for clinical or other reasons.


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