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Biomedical subjects

M A Mergener

Publications and source records attributed to M A Mergener.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Work patterns of male and female pharmacists. A longitudinal analysis 1959-1989.

A demand for better data about pharmacists as working health professionals led the authors to study the work patterns of 1,146 pharmacists over a 30-year period from 1959 to 1989. Work history data were used to determine gender-specific participation rates as a function of age, years in the work force, and date. Percent full-time (as opposed to part-time) work as a gender-specific function of age was also determined. Participation rates for males and females, widely disparate in the 1960s, have converged and are not significantly different. Graduates of the 1980s, both male and female, are remaining with pharmacy as an occupation at a significantly higher rate than earlier graduates. Percent full-time rates for women pharmacists are significantly lower than those for male pharmacists, although women have registered significant increases in percent full-time work in each decade from the 1960s to the 1980s. An unexpected finding was the overall reduced participation by graduates of the years 1970 to 1979. The findings of the study are helpful in explaining recent controversies about the adequacy of the supply of pharmacists. The form of the data bases constructed for this study could be used as a model for the study of other health professionals.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pharmacokinetics of the digoxin-quinidine interaction via mixed-effect modelling.

It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the effect of quinidine administration on the population estimates of the volume of distribution (Vdpop) and clearance (CLpop) of digoxin. The data collected on 94 patients included 230 measured serum digoxin concentrations, height, age, sex, weight (wt), serum creatinine, history of digoxin and quinidine administration and the presence or absence of congestive heart failure (CHF). Using the NONMEM software program, estimates were obtained for CLpop and Vdpop. Variables tested for inclusion in the CLpop model were creatinine clearance (CLCR), CHF, wt, ideal bodyweight, quinidine (QUIN) [both as a discrete variable and in a dose-dependent manner], and body surface area. Variables tested for inclusion in the Vdpop model were CLCR, wt, ideal bodyweight, body surface area and quinidine. During model building a p-value of 0.05 was chosen for variable inclusion. The final model was as follows: CLpop (L/h) = (3.1 + 0.0516 x CLCR) x QUIN Vdpop (L) = (4.03 + 0.0832 x CLCR) x wt F = 0.82 where F is bioavailability. In the above, QUIN is 0.567 if quinidine is being concurrently administered and 1.0 if it is not. The coefficient of variation (CV) of CLpop was 44% while that of Vdpop was 48%. The residual intrasubject CV was 26%. These results compare favourably with previously derived methods of estimating digoxin CLpop and Vdpop but may improve on those methods due to the inclusion of quinidine in the model. These better estimates should result in improved initial dosage of digoxin.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Outcome of cholesterol screening in a community pharmacy.

The purpose of our study was to determine if a community pharmacist could affect total blood cholesterol (TBC) of ambulatory patients by a program of education, consultation, and cholesterol screening. Of 241 initially screened individuals, 57 patients with TBC greater than 5.17 mmol/L (greater than 200 mg/dL) met the inclusion criteria of this six-month study. Of these, 51 completed the study. Outcome was determined by changes in TBC measured during the initial screening and after two follow-up visits. Pharmacist intervention included obtaining TBC concentrations and reporting the results to patients, teaching patients about the role of cholesterol in illness and health, explaining risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, and providing follow-up communication with patients. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, and chi-square. The mean TBC was 5.84 mmol/L (225.7 mg/dL) for the study group and 4.23 mmol/L (163.8 mg/dL) for participants with TBC less than 5.17 mmol/L (less than 200 mg/dL (p less than 0.0001). There was a significant difference (p = 0.0124) in mean age for the study group (36.4 years) versus other participants (30.0 years) but no difference in distribution by gender (p = 0.18). ANOVA showed significant differences in TBC during the three visits (p less than 0.0001). There was a significant decrease in mean TBC concentrations between visits 1 and 2 and between visits 1 and 3 (p less than 0.0001), but no difference between visits 2 and 3 (p = 0.48). Compared with mean baseline values, 81.4 and 72.6 percent of the patients had a decline in TBC at visits 2 and 3, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Therapeutic outcome of elderly and nonelderly patients receiving home intravenous antimicrobial therapy.

The therapeutic outcomes of elderly patients receiving home i.v. antimicrobial therapy were compared with those of younger patients receiving the same therapy. Using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 150 consecutively referred patients were accepted into the study. These patients were receiving home i.v. antimicrobial therapy from three home-health-care pharmacies (HHCPs). Referred patients were classified as elderly (greater than or equal to 62 years old) or nonelderly. Data for these patients were compiled retrospectively using interviews and chart reviews. Outcome of the i.v. antimicrobial therapy was rated as either adequate or inadequate based on predetermined criteria. Outcomes were analyzed for each HHCP and for the pooled data. The mean age of the pooled nonelderly group was 38 +/- 14 years, and the mean age of the pooled elderly group was 71 +/- 6 years. Adequate outcomes were noted in 70% of the pooled samples of elderly patients and 76% of the pooled samples of nonelderly patients. The difference between the outcomes of patients in the two age groups was not significant. In this carefully selected population, elderly and nonelderly patients receiving home i.v. antimicrobial therapy had similar therapeutic outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cancer detection and the community pharmacist.

A questionnaire was prepared to asses community pharmacists' perceptions of their abilities to recognize the common signs and symptoms of cancer and their preferred methods for obtaining further education. Of 5,539 questionnaires mailed, 1,187 were returned and analyzed. Seventy percent of the pharmacists reported that at least one patient per month sought advice about possible cancer signs and symptoms. Almost half estimated that between 1% and 25% of the patients who had sought advice for these cancer signs and symptoms had attempted to purchase a medication to treat these symptoms. The vast majority of the pharmacists perceived that they could recognize common signs and symptoms of skin, breast, and colorectal cancers. However, the majority felt they could not identify the symptomatology for six other common cancers. Essentially all pharmacists rated education in cancer symptomatology to be important. There was no consensus as to the type of provider, format, or times for this continuing education. These data suggest that pharmacists can play an important role in the early detection and prevention of cancer. The rate of interaction by pharmacists in this study translates to more than 60,000 patients counseled about cancer symptoms per 1,000 pharmacists per year. Further education of the pharmacist in cancer detection is warranted, and appraisal of the outcome of such educational interventions on patient-referral patterns and cancer-related diagnoses is imperative.

California↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of three manual drug information retrieval systems for investigational antineoplastic drugs.

The manual drug information retrieval systems, de Haen's Drugs in Use, Iowa Drug Information Service (IDIS), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), were evaluated to determine their usefulness as sources of drug information for investigational antineoplastic drugs during the years 1980-81. During both years, de Haen's provided the greatest number of antineoplastic drug citations, IPA the least. Concerning qualitative analysis, (the ability of the information systems to provide citations in seven subject areas for the five drugs), IDIS was found to have the greatest overall utility and was statistically different from IPA in many subject areas. IPA provided few citations in the seven subject areas for the five drugs. On pairwise analysis, no differences emerged between IDIS and de Haen's. Commonly available manual drug information retrieval systems such as IDIS and de Haen's appear to be useful sources of information for investigational antineoplastic drugs.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1985

Using DRG data to justify additional clinical pharmacy staff.

The administrative process used to justify additional clinical pharmacy staff is described. A combination of Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) financial data and clinical information was used to justify adding a full-time DRG clinical pharmacist to the 22.6 full-time pharmacy staff in a 316-bed, nonprofit community hospital. A seven-step process was used successfully to gain approval for the new position. A novel strategy was incorporated into the proposal that used a justification based on cost-containment and quality-of-care issues rather than on increased revenues. Also included in the proposal was an evaluation of the DRG clinical pharmacist position at 6 months and after 1 year, based on reducing costs as well as improving patient care. The position was described as an investment by the hospital that would provide a return at least equal to the cost of providing the position.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMed1982

Institutional support of continuing education as a fringe benefit for hospital pharmacists.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which hospital pharmacists in Wisconsin received compensation for continuing education (CE) from their institutions and to compare this with their participation in CE activities. The study was conducted by a mail questionnaire sent to all pharmacists practicing in a hospital setting in Wisconsin. The usable response rate was greater than 45%. Persons in administrative positions received greater support for CE activities than staff in the areas of registration fees (P less than 0.005), travel expenses (P less than 0.0005), dues for professional organizations (P less than 0.0005), and compensatory time (P less than 0.0005). Pharmacists in the sample participated in an average of 123.8 hours of CE yearly, including 77.2 hours of journal reading. Staff size influenced the method of obtaining CE, with smaller staffs relying more heavily on journals and larger staffs on in-house programs. The amount of compensation did not influence total CE participation, suggesting that other factors might influence CE participation.

Education, Pharmacy, Continuing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Drug utilization review.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Drug Utilization Review↗