Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic impacted both healthcare delivery and the education of healthcare students, with a shift to remote delivery of coursework and assessment alongside the expansion of the scope of practice of Alberta pharmacists. The objective of this research was to understand how the learning of pharmacy students at the University of Alberta was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 397 pharmacy students in years one through three. Students responded to three short-answer reflection questions: (1) how has the COVID-19 pandemic situation affected your learning; (2) from a pharmacy and pharmacy school perspective, what have you learned since the COVID-19 pandemic began; and (3) from a personal perspective, what have you learned about yourself since the COVID-19 pandemic began? A thematic analysis was undertaken of students' responses to these reflection questions. Results A total of 53 students responded to the survey (response rate 13%). Two major themes were identified across all three reflection questions, with several subthemes: remote learning (learning environment, knowledge transfer, knowledge retention, assessment) and mental health (appreciation, stress, extroversion, motivation). Adaptability, routine, professional identity, and the role of the pharmacist were also identified as less prevalent themes. Conclusions Pharmacy students' responses led to the identification of several themes related to their learning given the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This increased understanding of student perceptions has the potential to improve the remote delivery of education, support increased university-wide mental health resourcing, and shape pharmacy curriculum development.

BACKGROUND: Prior meta-analyses measuring thiazideinduced glycemic change have demonstrated an increased risk of incident diabetes; however, this measure's definition has changed over time. AIM: To determine the magnitude of change in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) for thiazide diuretics. DATA SOURCES: A research librarian designed and conducted searches in Medline®, EMBASE, and EBM Reviews-Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (inception through July 2018) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (inception to December 2014). STUDY SELECTION: Randomized, controlled trials comparing a thiazide or thiazide-like diuretic to any comparator reporting FPG were identified. Trials enrolling < 50 participants, those with a follow-up period of < 4 weeks, and conference abstracts were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Independent duplicate screening of citations and full-text articles, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias was conducted. DATA SYNTHESIS: Ninety-five studies were included (N = 76,608 participants), with thiazides compared with placebo, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, reninangiotensin-aldosterone-system inhibitors, potassiumsparing diuretic, and others alone or in combination. Thiazide diuretics marginally increased FPG (weighted mean difference 0.20 mmol/L (95% CI 0.15-0.25); I 2 = 84%) (1 mmol/L = 18 mg/dL). Results did not change substantially when considering dose or duration, comparing thiazides with placebo or an active comparator, or using thiazides as monotherapy or combination therapy, even when combined with a potassium-correcting agent. CONCLUSION: Thiazide diuretics have a small and clinically unimportant impact on FPG.

OBJECTIVE To examine the intersection between location of residence along the rural–urban continuum (metropolitan, urban, and rural) and sulfonylurea dispensation records for the management of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This retrospective cohort study used administrative health records of adult new metformin users between April 2008 and March 2019 in Alberta, Canada. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the association between sulfonylurea-based treatment intensification and location of residence. RESULTS Treatment was intensified in 66,084 (38%) of 171,759 new metformin users after a mean of 1.5 years. At treatment intensification, mean age was 55 years, 62% of users were male, and 27% were rural residents. The most common antihyperglycemic drug, given to 30,297 people (46%) for treatment intensification, was a sulfonylurea. At the beginning of our observation period, the proportion of people dispensed a sulfonylurea at first treatment intensification was highest in rural (57%), compared with urban (54%) and metropolitan (52%) areas (P = 0.009). Although proportions decreased over time across the province, rural residents continued to constitute the highest proportion of sulfonylurea users (45%), compared with urban (35%) and metropolitan (37%) residents (P &lt; 0.001), and the trend away from sulfonylurea use was delayed by ∼4 years for rural residents. Adjusting for potential sources of confounding, rural residence was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of using a sulfonylurea compared with metropolitan residence (adjusted odds ratio 1.34; 95% CI 1.29–1.39). CONCLUSIONS Variation in sulfonylurea dispensation across the rural–urban continuum provides a basis for continued research in the differences in process of care by location.

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<p>  </p> <p>Objective: To examine the intersection between location of residence along the rural-urban continuum (metropolitan/urban/rural) and sulfonylurea dispensation records for the management of type 2 diabetes.<br> Research Design and Methods: This retrospective cohort study used administrative health records of adult new metformin users between April 2008-March 2019 in Alberta, Canada. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the association between sulfonylurea-based treatment intensification and location of residence.<br> Results: Treatment was intensified in 66,084 (38%) of 171,759 new metformin users after a mean of 1.5 years. At treatment intensification, mean age was 55 years, 62% were male, and 27% were rural residents. The most common antihyperglycemic drug, given to 30,297 (46%) people for treatment intensification, was a sulfonylurea. At the beginning of our observation period, the proportion of people dispensed a sulfonylurea at first treatment intensification was highest in rural (57%), compared to urban (54%) and metropolitan (52%) areas (p=0.009). Although proportions decreased over time across the province, rural residents continued to have the highest proportion of sulfonylurea users (45%) compared to urban (35%) and metropolitan (37%) (p< 0.001) and the trend away from sulfonylurea use was delayed by ~4 years for rural residents. Adjusting for potential sources of confounding, rural residence was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of using a sulfonylurea compared to metropolitan (aOR:1.34; 95% CI:1.29-1.39).<br> Conclusions: Variation in sulfonylurea dispensation across the rural-urban continuum provides a basis for continued research in the differences in process of care by location.</p>