PHA 599: Clinical Research Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Preceptor

Scott Bolesta, Pharm.D., BCCCP, FCCM, FCCP

Professor

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Nesbitt College of Pharmacy

Wilkes University

Office location: SLC 334D

University office: (570) 408-4203

E-mail: scott.bolesta@wilkes.edu

Webpage: http://web.wilkes.edu/scott.bolesta

Clerkship Description

The clinical research advanced pharmacy practice experience is an elective rotation that exposes the student to various aspects of hospital-based clinical pharmacy research. This will include developing a research hypothesis and study methods, drafting and presenting an institutional review board proposal, gathering clinical data, statistical analysis of clinical data, submission of a meeting abstract and development of a poster, and drafting a research paper. Additional opportunities may include collection of observational patient data, participation in other ongoing prospective research investigations and attendance of various meetings and conferences. During the clerkship students will have the opportunity to collaborate and interact with various health-care professionals in several professional settings.

Specific clinical research that clerkship students may be actively engaged in during their clerkship year includes the following:

· Evaluation of sedative discontinuation practices in adult ICUs in the United States

· Effect of nicotine replacement therapy on agitation/sedation/delirium in ICU patients with a history of nicotine abuse

· Pharmacokinetics of vitamin C in adult ICU patients with severe sepsis

· Impact of an albumin restriction policy on patient outcomes

· Incidence of VTE in medically ill patients prescribed DOACs versus heparins

· Incidence of new-onset thyroid disorders with initiation of amiodarone therapy

· Efficacy and/or safety of dabigatran and/or edoxaban without 5-10 days of parenteral anticoagulation

· Effects of peri-operative discontinuation of aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular events

· Incidence of acute kidney injury with vasopressor agents

· Incidence of acute kidney injury with sedative agents

· Statins for the treatment/prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury

· The effect of ascorbic acid on the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation in cardiothoracic surgery patients

· Dosing of renally adjusted antithrombotic medications in patients with chronic kidney disease

· Medication dosing in obese patients admitted to an intensive care unit

· Benefits of ED pharmacists compounding first antibiotic doses in the emergency department

· Effects of acetaminophen on pain and sedation requirements in ICU patients

· Pharmacists monitoring of triglycerides in ICU patients on propofol for sedation

Students should be self-motivated and have an interest in clinical research to be considered for this clerkship. Interest in pursuing pharmacy residency training is not a requirement, but is preferred. Ultimately, students taking this clerkship will likely have a poster presentation at a national professional meeting, and possibly an article submitted for peer review to a professional journal.

Development and utilization of the following skills will be emphasized throughout this clerkship: communication, time management, organization, drug information, literature evaluation, statistical analysis, and writing.

clerkship Learning Outcomes

· Communicate both verbally and nonverbally with other health care professionals about clinical research.

· Conduct literature searches to help guide current and future clinical research proposals.

· Analyze the medical literature and extrapolate the information into ongoing and future clinical research.

· Develop a research hypothesis along with study methods.

· Identify the data necessary to research the study hypothesis.

· Write an institutional review board proposal.

· Analyze clinical data in order to draw conclusions about a study hypothesis.

· Submit an abstract and complete a poster for presentation at a professional meeting.

· Write a paper describing the findings of the research conducted during the clerkship.

Daily Activities/Responsibilities

The typical daily activities and responsibilities will vary throughout the clerkship. Generally students will be expected to arrive at site no later than 0900 and should not finish with clerkship related work sooner than 1700.

Grading

Grading for this clerkship is pass/fail and will be based on the applicable guidelines for this clerkship found in the APPE Student manual. The majority (approximately 60%) of an evaluation will be based on the outcomes related to research knowledge and skills and professionalism. The remainder of the clerkship evaluation will be based on any additional projects and assignments.