No abstract

This study was conducted to establish normative data as well as evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the three subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory when given to a national sample of USA licensed practicing pharmacists. Data were subjected to principal factors analysis with iteration and a varimax rotation to obtain a three-factor solution. Visual analysis and statistical comparison provided empirical support for the presence of the hypothesized (a priori) constructs of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Lack of Personal Accomplishment. Internal consistency of the derived subscales, as measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, were comparable with previous data. Pharmacists' subscale scores were significantly lower than those obtained in studies of the helping professions.

Although omalizumab has demonstrated efficacy and safety in adults and adolescents with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe allergic asthma, its use should be restricted to a narrowly defined population of allergic asthmatics who utilize large amounts of health care resources. If targeted only toward this population, cost-of-care studies suggest that the high cost of this product in these patients could be offset by savings resulting from the less frequent use of high-intensity medical services for asthma exacerbations. The use of omalizumab beyond 52 weeks needs evaluation.

Schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States increasingly interact with those in Asian countries for various purposes such as education and research. For both those visiting and those hosting, it is important to understand and respect the culture of the other's country to enrich these interactions. This paper, the second of two manuscripts on Asian countries, focuses on India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. For each country, the following information is provided: general introduction, health care system, pharmacy practice, and pharmacy education, stereotypes and misconceptions, recommendations for US-based health care professionals, faculty members, and students who visit these Asian countries, and recommendations for them to host visitors from these Asian countries. The aim of this paper is to assist US health care professionals, faculty members, and students in initiating and promoting a culturally sensitive engagement.