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Background: Medication synchronization (MS) improves adherence by allowing patients to pick up all medications at the same time. Pharmacy staff need training to utilize a MS program effectively. Objective: Evaluate the impact of a video tutorial with decreased extraneous and intrinsic load on pharmacists' and pharmacy technicians' knowledge and understanding of a MS program. Study Method: Participants completed a prequestionnaire to assess knowledge and understanding of the MS process. They then watched a step-by-step video tutorial and were reassessed by a postquestionnaire 2 weeks later. Study participants included pharmacists and pharmacy technicians employed at 1 of 2 pharmacies in 1 regional division of a large community-based chain pharmacy. Participants were eligible if they were registered and in good standing with the Kansas Board of Pharmacy and employed for greater than 30 days since July 1, 2018. Results: Twenty participants were included in the final analysis. The median age was 36 years, 14 (70%) were female, 13 (65%) were pharmacy technicians, and each study site had equal representation. Most participants, 15 (75%), had previously completed the standard MS training. There was a significant improvement in number of correct responses after the intervention with a prequestionnaire score of 61.3% to postquestionnaire score of 70% (P =.002). Significant improvement in knowledge was seen in participants who completed the previous training as well as first-time learners of the MS process. Conclusion: Optimizing training on MS processes by decreasing extraneous and intrinsic load improved the pharmacy team's knowledge and understanding of the MS process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased rates of international travel have led to a higher demand for healthcare professionals to provide travel health services. Community-based pharmacists are capable of meeting this need. Objective: This study evaluates the impact of pharmacists providing travel health services in a community-based pharmacy on participant understanding and satisfaction of travel education and preparation. Method: A trained pharmacist met with participants to review their medical history, travel itinerary, and provide education. Indicated immunizations were administered and the participant's primary care provider was contacted if prescription medications were warranted. A questionnaire was administered before and after the travel health consultation assessing participants perceived understanding of travel health information, satisfaction, and perceived monetary value of the service. Data were collected by 5-point Likert-scale responses, with 5 equivalent to strongly agree. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and descriptive statistics were used for evaluation. Participants were included if they had international travel planned within 12 weeks of the consultation. Results: A total of 12 participants were included. Participant understanding significantly increased for all 5 survey items relating to travel health information with a p value < 0.05 for each item. The largest change was for how to find medical help during international travel (medians and IQR were 3(2-3), and 5(5-5) for pre-and post-consultation, respectively, p = 0.003). Participant satisfaction questions received a median response of 5. Participants' perceived monetary value of the service was a median of $50 (IQR $50-50). Conclusion: Pharmacist-led travel health consultations improved participant understanding of travel health information and was of perceived value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prescription abandonment impacts patients' quality of life and disease progression. In addition, prescription abandonment can increase total healthcare costs. Objective: This study compared effects of automated telephone calls (ATC), automated text messages (ATM), and control on prescription abandonment rates with Medicare defined Star Rated medications. The secondary objective compared prescription abandonment rates between age groups (18-64 versus ≥ 65 years) within each arm. Methods: This was a retrospective observational analysis from a regional division of a large community-based pharmacy chain. Star Rated medication prescriptions consisting of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, renin-angiotensin system antagonists, and non-insulin type 2 diabetes mellitus medications were included. Prescriptions for patients who activated or deactivated automated notification enrollment during the study period were excluded. Results: A total of 31,056, 33,278, and 20,299 prescriptions were included in the analysis of ATC, ATM, and control arms, respectively. Prescription abandonment occurred on 726 (2.3%) prescriptions within ATC arm, 864 (2.6%) prescriptions within ATM arm, and 513 (2.5%) prescriptions within control arm (p = 0.099). Prescription abandonment occurred on 390 (2.6%) prescriptions for 18-64 and 336 (2.1%) prescriptions for 65 years or older within the ATC arm (p = 0.002). Prescription abandonment occurred on 251 (2.9%) prescriptions for 18-64 and 262 (2.3%) prescriptions for 65 years or older within the control arm (p = 0.006). Conclusion: No difference in rates of prescription abandonment existed between each automated notification arm on Star Rated medications. ATC notifications decreased rates of prescription abandonment when utilized by patients 65 years or older. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]