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Biomedical subjects

Erin M Timpe

Publications and source records attributed to Erin M Timpe.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Evaluating the accuracy of health news publications in a drug literature evaluation course.

OBJECTIVES: To design an assignment for second-professional year pharmacy students to assess the accuracy and quality of health information published in the news. DESIGN: Students in a literature evaluation course were assigned a health-related news publication to review and find the original published research article. They then critically evaluated the quality and accuracy of the news publication based on the original research. All students wrote a critique focusing on the quality and accuracy of the news article and potential responses the lay public might have. ASSESSMENT: Eighty-four percent of students agreed the writing assignment reinforced critical literature evaluation skills, while 90% agreed the assignment contributed to completion of course objectives. CONCLUSIONS: A writing assignment requiring comparison of a news publication to the original research reinforces critical literature evaluation and communication skills, as well as stimulates thought about the accuracy, quality, and public responses to health information published in the news.

Education, Pharmacy↗
PubMed2006

Weekly active-learning activities in a drug information and literature evaluation course.

OBJECTIVES: To incorporate learning activities into the weekly 2-hour Drug Information and Literature Evaluation class sessions to improve student ability and confidence in performing course objectives, as well as to assess student perception of the value of these activities. METHODS: In-class activities that emphasized content and skills taught within class periods were created and implemented. Three different surveys assessing student ability and confidence in completing drug information and literature retrieval and evaluation tasks were administered prior to and following the appropriate class sessions. At the completion of the course, an additional evaluation was administered to assess the students' impressions of the value of the learning activities. RESULTS: Students reported increased ability and confidence in all course objectives. The teaching activities were also stated to be useful in students' learning of the material. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of weekly learning activities resulted in an improvement in student ability and confidence to perform course objectives. Students considered these activities to be beneficial and to contribute to the completion of course objectives.

Curriculum↗
PubMed2004

Respiratory stimulant use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of respiratory stimulants in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (1966-July 2003) and EMBASE (1980-3rd quarter 2003) were searched using the search terms medroxyprogesterone acetate, acetazolamide, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic obstructive lung disease. DATA SYNTHESIS: Trials are reviewed evaluating ventilatory parameters with acetazolamide and/or medroxyprogesterone in patients with COPD. All studies found improvements in ventilatory parameters, but failed to demonstrate improvements in survival or quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement in arterial blood gas and ventilatory parameters was reported in COPD patients after acetazolamide and medroxyprogesterone treatment; however, with no improvement in survival or quality of life, the place of these drugs in therapy remains unknown.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use in patients with type 2 diabetes in a state managed care plan.

OBJECTIVE: To compare angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use in patients with type 2 diabetes at 1 year and 3 years after guidelines were published. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database review. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The drug utilization review database of a state managed care plan was accessed to retrieve 2 random samples of 500 patients each. These patients had an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code for diabetes mellitus (250) and a National Drug Code for an oral hypoglycemic agent in both 1998 and 2000. Specific clinical modification codes, prescription claims, and diagnostic codes were obtained from patient profiles. Use of ACE inhibitors in 1998 and 2000 then was evaluated by using Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with diabetes and hypertension who were taking an ACE inhibitor increased by 10 percentage points over the 2 years; however, ACE inhibitors were only used in 46% of those patients in 2000. A few of the patients receiving an ACE inhibitor had a contraindication to use of the agent. Microalbuminuria screening and glycosylated hemoglobin screening were found to have been conducted in only 4.6% and 54.6%, respectively, of the 496 patients in 2000. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that although ACE inhibitor use improved, fewer than 50% of patients received appropriate therapy. Awareness of and adherence to the recommendations in the guidelines need to be improved. Larger studies may be beneficial to determine more clearly the extent of this problem.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed2003

Urinary-based ovulation and pregnancy: point-of-care testing.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature concerning ovulation prediction devices and pregnancy detection tests for home use. DATA SOURCES: Articles were identified through searches of the MEDLINE (1966-May 2003), EMBASE (1980-May 2003), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-May 2003) databases using the key words ovulation, ovulation detection, pregnancy test, diagnostic reagent kit, and diagnostic test. Additional references were located through review of the bibliographies of the articles found in the literature search. Searches were not limited by time restriction, language, or use of human or animal subjects. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Review articles, textbook chapters, and experimental and observational studies on home use ovulation and pregnancy tests were selected. DATA SYNTHESIS: Luteinizing hormone (LH)-based ovulation tests have demonstrated accurate and superior ovulation detection when compared to basal body temperature charting, calendar calculation, salivary ferning, or observation of vaginal or cervical discharge changes. Systems using LH and estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G) have also demonstrated accurate detection of the fertile period. Literature evaluating home use of pregnancy tests has demonstrated accurate use by lay persons. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary-based ovulation prediction and pregnancy detection tests available for use by nonprofessionals enable women and couples to take an active role in the family planning process. Numerous products are available at reasonable costs to the consumer.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Comparing therapies for postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature concerning the efficacy of calcium, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and calcitonin in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. DATA SOURCES: Articles were identified through searches of the MEDLINE (1966-July 2002), EMBASE (1980-July 2002), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-July 2002) databases using the key words osteoporosis, postmenopausal, fracture, calcium, vitamin D, hormone replacement therapy, bisphosphonates, alendronate, risedronate, raloxifene, and calcitonin. Additional references were located through review of the bibliographies of the articles cited. Searches were not limited by time restriction, language, or human subject. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Experimental and observational studies of the use of calcium and antiresorptive therapies for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis were selected. Articles evaluating bone mineral density (BMD) or fracture efficacy were included in this review. DATA SYNTHESIS: HRT, bisphosphonates, raloxifene, and calcitonin have demonstrated stabilization of and improvement in BMD. Randomized clinical trials have shown fracture risk reduction with bisphosphonates, raloxifene, HRT, calcium, and calcitonin. The largest risk reductions have been reported with use of bisphosphonates in several trials. CONCLUSIONS: Several therapeutic options with well-documented improvements in BMD and reductions in fracture risk are available to women for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Calcitonin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of accuracy of health studies reported in mass media.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate communication of clinical research in the written media for completeness and accuracy. DESIGN: Observational assessment. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable. INTERVENTIONS: Content of media articles discussing randomized controlled trials was assessed by three reviewers on the basis of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) criteria modified for the mass media. Reports from October 1 through December 31, 2002, published in the top two U.S. daily newspapers (USA Today and Wall Street Journal), weekly news magazines (Time and Newsweek), and daily news Web sources (CNN.com and MSNBC.com) and the corresponding published RCTs were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total score and score in 10 specific content areas, leading to classification of coverage as poor, fair, or excellent. RESULTS: A total of 60 media reports discussing results of 25 RCTs appeared in these media during the study period. All reports were categorized as fair, and no content area was rated excellent. Several content areas received poor rankings in all and/or most media, including reporting of adverse effects, outcomes data, and statistical tests used. Media reports written by newswire services were rated more highly than were those prepared by nonnewswire services, but only 1 of 10 criteria had statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Mass media reports of RCTs are often incomplete. This type of reporting may misinform the lay public and may lead to questions about the applicability of the results to individual patients.

Health Services Research↗