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Biomedical subjects

K K Bucci

Publications and source records attributed to K K Bucci.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Drug samples and family practice residents.

OBJECTIVE: To describe residents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sample medications and to determine the education provided in residency training regarding sample use. METHODS: A 6-item survey was sent to directors of US family practice residency programs. Residents of a sample of these programs were sent an anonymous, self-administered, 21-item questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices relating to sample use. Both surveys consisted of initial and follow-up mailings. RESULTS: The residency directors' survey was returned by 232 of the 436 residency directors (53%). Although 66% of the programs had a policy regarding samples, only 15% of the policies completely incorporated recommendations of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. After two mailings, 248 resident responses were received from 43 of 47 residencies (92%). Only 21% of respondents thought that they received adequate training about sample use in medical school; this number increased to 49% for residency training. Agreement with the adequate training statement was highest among respondents from residencies that had both a sample distribution policy and a pharmacist (p = 0.044). Fifty-five percent thought that samples influenced their prescribing and 70% thought that samples helped them to learn more about the sampled medication. CONCLUSIONS: Family practice residents value and use samples, although they are often unaware of the rules governing the labeling of samples. While reported distribution of samples by residents often is appropriate, education about effective sample use could be improved. Drug samples play a significant role in residency training.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Factors motivating pharmacy students to pursue residency and fellowship training.

Factors that influence pharmacy students to pursue residency and fellowship training were studied. Directors of 514 residency or fellowship programs were asked to distribute to their residents or fellows a survey concerning factors that influenced their decision to enter a residency or fellowship. Deans of the 75 U.S. pharmacy schools were sent a related survey and asked to forward it to the faculty or staff member who was most involved in promoting residencies and fellowships to students. This survey asked about methods for promoting the programs and the faculty member's opinion on why students chose to become residents and fellows. Residents and fellows cited "to gain knowledge and experience," "recognition of new and challenging roles," and "desire for specialized training" as their leading reasons for entering their programs. The pharmacy school representatives also cited "to gain knowledge and experience" and "desire for specialized training" as leading reasons. The residents and fellows thought instruction on residencies and fellowships should occur earlier in the pharmacy degree programs than it was being provided. The pharmacy school respondents considered the largest barriers to entering such programs "financial" and "a job was available upon graduation from pharmacy school." The pharmacy school survey results were broken into two groups: the 9 schools that produced the most students who went on to residencies and fellowships, and the rest of the schools. The former group was more likely to offer the Pharm.D. degree and to involve preceptors, residents, and fellows in didactic and clerkship teaching. Two factors--"to gain knowledge and experience" and "desire for specialized training"--were cited most frequently by survey respondents as important factors in students' decisions to pursue residencies and fellowships, and schools that produce more residents and fellows tended to involve preceptors, residents, and fellows in didactic and clerkship training.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Dystonic-like reaction following cisapride therapy.

A 43-year-old woman with gastroesophageal reflux disease developed a dystonic-like reaction approximately 3 days after starting oral cisapride therapy. Office evaluation revealed a patient who moved her head rhythmically from side to side as she stared into space, generally unresponsive to external stimuli. She had increased tone of the sternocleidomastoid muscles bilaterally, with occasional tongue protrusion, and a slow shuffling gait. Following discontinuation of cisapride, the patient recovered completely.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Immunization requirements for pharmacy students.

OBJECTIVE: To identify current immunization requirements for pharmacy students throughout the US. DESIGN: Self-administered questionnaire. SETTING: Seventy-five colleges and schools of pharmacy in the US. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Immunization policies, immunologic requirements, timing of vaccination in relation to the beginning of clerkship experience, payment, mechanism to revise policies. DATA ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Overall, 57 programs (81 percent) have an immunization program in place, but 13 programs (19 percent) have no immunization program. More than 50 percent of the colleges or schools reported requiring that pharmacy students have measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) vaccinations upon entry of clerkship. Only 25 college or schools of pharmacy (44 percent) required students to have the hepatitis B vaccine and 8 (14 percent) to have a PPD evaluation upon completion of clerkship experience. Responsibility for the immunization program was shared evenly between the clerkship coordinator and the student health clinic. Approximately 65 percent of programs maintain an immunization record on file for each student. Completion of immunizations was required in 36 schools (64 percent) before entering clerkship activities, 15 (26 percent) before entrance to the professional program, and 3 (5 percent) in the first year of the program. Six schools (11 percent) had a program in place for less than one year, 27 (47 percent) between one and five years, and 24 (42 percent) for more than five years. At the majority of schools, students are responsible for the cost of immunization. CONCLUSIONS: Most schools of pharmacy do not adhere to the specific immunization recommendations described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for healthcare workers. Pharmacy schools need to reexamine their immunization policies and update them to reflect the most current standards. We suggest a policy for immunization of pharmacy students.

Clinical Clerkship↗
PubMed1992

Involvement of pharmacy faculty in the development of policies for pharmaceutical sales representatives.

BACKGROUND: Few studies evaluating the impact of the pharmaceutical industry on postgraduate medical education have been done. Recently, position statements and professional guidelines have emerged to ensure the integrity of physician-industry relationships in the areas of clinical judgement, research, and medical education. METHODS: The present study surveyed directors of family practice residency programs in the United States to define the level of pharmacotherapy curriculum development and the existence of policies for pharmaceutical sales representatives. RESULTS: Of the 383 directors, 325 (85%) responded to a mailed survey. Nearly one third (32%) of the responding programs had pharmacist faculty, the majority of whom held a doctor of pharmacy degree. Approximately 30% of programs reported that they had printed guidelines for pharmaceutical sales representatives. CONCLUSIONS: Programs with pharmacist faculty are more likely to have a well-developed pharmacotherapy curriculum and printed guidelines for pharmaceutical sales representatives.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1990

Quality of life considerations in the treatment of hypertension.

Only recently have practitioners recognized the potential effects of antihypertensive agents on quality of life. Unfortunately, few studies have been conducted to assess the effects of the newer antihypertensive agents. The introduction of four first-line antihypertensive agents permits further individualization in the selection of therapy, which will minimize adverse effects and increase the potential for prescribing a better tolerated drug regimen. Until large, well-controlled, randomized studies are conducted evaluating the effect of these antihypertensive agents on quality of life, practitioners must continue to rely on factors such as mechanism and duration of action, efficacy, side-effect profile, and cost to maximize antihypertensive efficacy and patient acceptance of therapy. A practitioner's heightened awareness for the side effects of antihypertensive agents, and the subtle quality-of-life changes that they may elicit will enable them to monitor more effectively and adjust therapy as necessary. This may increase the possibility of patients' compliance with their long-term treatment and ultimately improve patient outcome.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infertility in women: an update.

OBJECTIVE: To review pharmacologic therapy of infertility disorders in women. DATA SOURCES: Current clinical literature. STUDY SELECTION: Not applicable. DATA EXTRACTION: Not applicable. DATA SYNTHESIS: The complex interplay of hormones and cells is the focus of most pharmacotherapeutic interventions in women with infertility problems. Treatment remains more of an art than a science at this time. Since the cause of infertility cannot be identified in many cases, practitioners use medications to overcome potential problems with anovulation, secondary ovarian failures, hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, and hyperprolactinemia. This article reviews the use of clomiphene, human chorionic gonadotropin, menotropins such as human menopausal gonadotropin and urofollitropin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and dopamine agonists. CONCLUSION: Although few pharmacists are closely involved in the treatment of women with infertility, they can be sources of information, monitor families for signs and symptoms of psychologic stress associated with treatments, and help patients with practical instructions.

Anovulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A description of a pharmacotherapy curriculum in a university-based family medicine program.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the methods by which a family medicine residency program implements a pharmacotherapy curriculum. The goal of the curriculum is to teach family medicine residents the principles of rational drug therapy. SETTING: A university-based family medicine residency program. TEACHING STRATEGIES: Specific learning objectives are discussed and the following teaching strategies are expanded upon: (1) monthly noon conferences; (2) a printed formulary and pharmacotherapy handbook; (3) a pharmacy and therapeutics committee; (4) policy statements for drug representatives and use of samples; (5) an on-site pharmacy; (6) quarterly newsletter; and (7) inpatient consultation coverage. PHARMACIST ROLE: The role and responsibilities of the pharmacy faculty and pharmacist(s) who implement this curriculum and the methods used to evaluate its effectiveness are also described. The availability and funding of the pharmacy faculty member can sometimes be arranged with local schools of pharmacy seeking clerkship sites. Interaction with pharmacy students also serves to enhance the educational experience of the family medicine residents. CONCLUSIONS: The family medicine program implements a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach family medicine residents the principles of rational drug therapy. The curriculum may be expanded upon as necessary, or, if the entire program is not feasible, certain elements may be extracted and applied in other institutions.

Curriculum↗