No abstract

The use of SC or IV octreotide, a long-acting synthetic analog of somatostatin, provides a promising pharmacologic approach to reducing drainage in selected patients with a congenital or postoperative chylothorax, who do not respond to conservative treatment strategies. Prompt institution of octreotide therapy after surgery in patients with significant drainage or the formation of chyle may reduce the expense and morbidity associated with a prolonged hospital stay. Given the individual variability in patient response to octreotide and the limited clinical data regarding its use in the pediatric population, octreotide therapy must be individualized with careful consideration being given to possible benefits versus inherent risks.

Our purpose was to conduct a customer satisfaction survey of verbal responses provided by a pharmaceutical company's third-party medical information (MI) call center. One survey for health care providers (HCPs) and one for consumers were designed to assess customer satisfaction following a verbal response to an MI question. Surveys were offered to all HCPs and consumers contacting the MI call center January-March 2007. Respectively, 27% and 18% of all HCPs and consumers (N = 318) receiving a verbal response agreed to participate. The completeness and understanding of medical responses were rated similarly, independent of caller type, 92% rating the answer received as complete and 98%> rating the quality as above average to excellent. Additionally, 53% of HCPs rated the response quality as better than that provided by other industry call centers. Lastly, 100% of both caller types stated they were treated in a courteous or professional manner. Based on the three-month customer satisfaction survey, the medical information and level of professionalism provided by the call center were average to above average, indicating a high level of customer satisfaction with verbal responses.

To enhance medical information (MI) support of the sales force, two online surveys were designed: an external survey to identify general avenues for improvement and an internal survey to identify specific opportunities for improvement. The external survey was disseminated to 86 MI departments to determine standard MI practices in support of sales representatives. The internal survey assessing sales representative satisfaction with existing MI services was disseminated to 778 Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc sales representatives. Both surveys were sent in December 2007 and remained open through January 2008. Eighteen MI departments (21%) responded to the external survey and 420 sales representatives (54%) responded to the internal survey. Results from these surveys suggested several considerations for the enhancement of MI support of the sales force.

Objective. To design, implement, and assess a women's health elective course for second-and thirdyear doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students. Design. A women's health course was developed, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment throughout a woman's lifespan. Course format included didactic lectures, in-class activities, peer teaching, case studies, and reading assignments. Assessment. Student performance and learning were assessed based on class participation, (graded 3 times during the semester), activities and assignments, (graded weekly), and 2 formal written assessments. Student survey results indicated perceptions of women's health had changed in 3 ways: a realization that many diseases manifest differently in women than men, an increased awareness of numerous diseases not addressed in the required curriculum that affect women, and a greater appreciation of the physiological and pharmacokinetic differences that increase the potential for adverse drug reactions in women.Conclusion. An elective course in women's health was well received by PharmD students. Excellent student performance in weekly active-learning activities and class participation, however, did not translate into excellent performance on subsequent formal assessments.