Objectives Empirical literature on patient decision role preferences regarding treatment and screening was reviewed to summarize patients’ role preferences across measures, time and patient population. Methods Five databases were searched from January 1980-December 2007 (1980- 2007 Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsychInfo, Web of Science and PubMed (2005-2007). Eligible studies measured patient decision role preferences, described measures, presented findings as percentages or mean scores and were published in English from any country. Studies were compared by patient population, time of publication, and measure. Results 115 studies were eligible. The majority of patients preferred sharing decisions with physicians in 63% of the studies. A time trend appeared. The majority of respondents preferred sharing decision roles in 71% of the studies from 2000 and later, compared to 50% of studies before 2000. Measures themselves, in addition to patient population influenced the preferred decision roles reported. Conclusion Findings appear to vary with the measure of preferred decision making used, time of the publication and characteristics of the population. Practice implications The role preference measure itself must be considered when interpreting patient responses to a measure or question about a patient's preference for decision roles.

No abstract

Objectives. To assess students' perspectives on including education about herbal supplements in the curriculum. Methods. A 17-item questionnaire was distributed during regularly scheduled classes to third-, fourth-, and fifth-year pharmacy students. Results. A majority of the students perceived their knowledge of herbal supplements was inadequate. Almost all (95%) students reported a need to learn more about herbal supplements, primarily from pharmacy courses and books. Attitudes towards safety and efficacy of herbal supplements varied. Almost half agreed that herbal supplements should only be sold in pharmacies. Providing information on herbal supplements was viewed as the pharmacist's responsibility. Conclusions. Students perceive their knowledge about herbal supplements to be inadequate and desire more information through didactic courses. While pharmacy associations should establish guidelines for herbal education in pharmacy curricula, pharmacy schools should work towards developing a structured approach to teaching about herbal supplements.

This study serves as an assessment of the needs of New York City pharmacists with regard to provision of MTM services.

Educational program development in the format of continuing education or certificate is needed to improve pharmacists' education, confidence and training needs in PGx.

Objective. To determine pharmacy students' attitudes and academic performance related to journal club during 2 advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). Design. Fourth-year pharmacy students were required to complete 3 journal club assignments during drug information and internal medicine APPEs. Assessment. A majority (91.3%) of the 105 students who responded to a 21-item survey instrument indicated that journal club assignments during the drug-information APPE were valuable to their understanding of research design and statistics. Students who completed the drug-information APPE before the internal medicine APPE scored higher on their understanding of the strengths and weaknesses and the clinical relevance of studies and had a higher learning slope ( p 5 0.01) than did students who completed the internal medicine APPE first. Conclusion. Incorporating journal clubs into APPEs is an effective means of teaching literatureevaluation skills to pharmacy students.

Objective. To determine pharmacy students' attitudes towards a required public health course and developing a public health program. Method. Two hundred ten first-year pharmacy students enrolled in a public health course at a large private pharmacy school were surveyed. A 24-item adjective rating scale and a 10-item scale were used to measure students' attitudes towards the course and developing a public health program. Results. Of 198 respondents, two-thirds found the course to be extremely or very appealing, of practical value, and only slightly demanding and difficult. The majority of the students indicated that establishing a public health program would be an opportunity to help the community and make a difference. Few students indicated that it would be a poor use of time or an example of busy work. Conclusion. Pharmacy students had positive attitudes towards a required public health course and developing a public health program. Strategies to mold positive attitudes into actual behaviors of engaging in public health activities are needed.

No abstract