1.
Svensberg, Karin, et al.
(author)
Nordic Pharmacy Students' Opinions of their Patient Communication Skills Training
2018
In: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. - : American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). - 0002-9459 .- 1553-6467. ; 82:2, s. 152-165
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
Objective. To describe Nordic pharmacy students' opinions of their patient communication skills training (PCST), and the association between course leaders' reports of PCST qualities and students' perceptions of their training. Secondary objective was to determine what factors influence these associations. Methods. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed. The various curricula were categorized into three types (basic, intermediate and innovative training) and students were divided into three groups according to the type of training they had received. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted with different opinions as outcomes and three types of training as exposure, using generalized estimation equations. Results. There were 370 students who responded (response rate: 77%). Students within the innovative group were significantly more likely to agree that they had received sufficient training, and to agree with the assertion that the pharmacy school had contributed to their level of skills compared to students in the basic group. Conclusion. There appears to be an association between larger and varied programs of training in patient communication skills and positive attitudes toward this training on the part of the students, with students reporting that they received sufficient training, which likely enhanced their skills.
2.
Nijsingh, Niels, 1977, et al.
(author)
Managing pollution from antibiotics manufacturing: charting actors, incentives and disincentives
2019
In: Environmental health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-069X. ; 18
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
Background Emissions of high concentrations of antibiotics from manufacturing sites select for resistant bacteria and may contribute to the emergence of new forms of resistance in pathogens. Many scientists, industry, policy makers and other stakeholders recognize such pollution as an unnecessary and unacceptable risk to global public health. An attempt to assess and reduce such discharges, however, quickly meets with complex realities that need to be understood to identify effective ways to move forward. This paper charts relevant key actor-types, their main stakes and interests, incentives that can motivate them to act to improve the situation, as well as disincentives that may undermine such motivation. Methods The actor types and their respective interests have been identified using research literature, publicly available documents, websites, and the knowledge of the authors. Results Thirty-three different actor-types were identified, representing e.g. commercial actors, public agencies, states and international institutions. These are in complex ways connected by interests that sometimes may conflict and sometimes pull in the same direction. Some actor types can act to create incentives and disincentives for others in this area. Conclusions The analysis demonstrates and clarifies the challenges in addressing industrial emissions of antibiotics, notably the complexity of the relations between different types of actors, their international dependency and the need for transparency. The analysis however also suggests possible ways of initiating incentive-chains to eventually improve the prospects of motivating industry to reduce emissions. High-resource consumer states, especially in multinational cooperation, hold a key position to initiate such chains.
3.
Furmark, Tomas, et al.
(author)
A link between serotonin-related gene polymorphisms, amygdala activity, and placebo-induced relief from social anxiety
2008
In: Journal of Neuroscience. - 0270-6474 .- 1529-2401. ; 28:49, s. 13066-74
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
Placebo may yield beneficial effects that are indistinguishable from those of active medication, but the factors underlying proneness to respond to placebo are widely unknown. Here, we used functional neuroimaging to examine neural correlates of anxiety reduction resulting from sustained placebo treatment under randomized double-blind conditions, in patients with social anxiety disorder. Brain activity was assessed during a stressful public speaking task by means of positron emission tomography before and after an 8 week treatment period. Patients were genotyped with respect to the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the G-703T polymorphism in the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene promoter. Results showed that placebo response was accompanied by reduced stress-related activity in the amygdala, a brain region crucial for emotional processing. However, attenuated amygdala activity was demonstrable only in subjects who were homozygous for the long allele of the 5-HTTLPR or the G variant of the TPH2 G-703T polymorphism, and not in carriers of short or T alleles. Moreover, the TPH2 polymorphism was a significant predictor of clinical placebo response, homozygosity for the G allele being associated with greater improvement in anxiety symptoms. Path analysis supported that the genetic effect on symptomatic improvement with placebo is mediated by its effect on amygdala activity. Hence, our study shows, for the first time, evidence of a link between genetically controlled serotonergic modulation of amygdala activity and placebo-induced anxiety relief.
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Aronsson, Patrik, 1983, et al.
(author)
Patterns in Swedish pharmacy students' performance and attitudes towards their education
2019
In: Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. - : Elsevier BV. - 1877-1297 .- 1877-1300. ; 11:5, s. 433-449
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
Introduction: For some time, our faculty have expressed concerns regarding an apparent decrease in pharmacy students' academic productivity and performance. This study aimed to elucidate present conditions and suggest suitable interventions to improve the pharmacy program. Methods: Student cohorts starting the pharmacy program from 2009 to 2014 were followed with respect to performance in two courses (earlier and later). The students were segmented by entry qualifications, age, gender, etc. Eight students were further interviewed about their attitudes regarding their education. Results and conclusions: Achievement in the earlier course fell sharply over time, despite basically unchanged entry grade levels, increasing the workload for both teachers and students. This decrease was greater for male students. In the later course, the overall achievement level was higher, possibly due to less successful students dropping out. Subgrouping of students revealed differences in study achievement depending on age, gender, study program entrance qualifications, and admission “ranking”. In the interviews, students frequently stressed that connections to their future profession should be clearer and appear earlier in the program. Furthermore, students claimed that lectures with many attendees prevent peer learning and suggested that smaller groups be formed to foster cooperation and unity within the program. Remaining within their original cohort was viewed as very important by most students.
8.
Mulinari, Shai, et al.
(author)
"Black race", "Schwarze Hautfarbe", "Origine africaine", or "Etnia nera"? The absent presence of race in European pharmaceutical regulation
2024
In: BioSocieties. - : PALGRAVE MACMILLAN LTD. - 1745-8552 .- 1745-8560. ; 19, s. 19-36
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
Current scholarship on race in Europe has described race as an "absent presence ". However, little is known about the dynamics of the absentness and presentness of race, including how various social processes operating at distinct levels (e.g. supranational and national) influence the uses of race and ethnicity concepts. We begin addressing this gap by examining racialised pharmaceutical regulation in the EU and its operationalisation in European countries. We analysed patterns of English-language uses of race and ethnicity terms at the EU level for all new drugs approved in 2014-2018, and systematically compared official translations into 24 languages. We found that "race " was promoted in plain sight and often retained when translated, albeit with much inconsistency across languages, creating peculiar patterns of presentness and absentness of race. Finnish, French, Swedish, and German stood out, as "race " was often translated into ethnicity terms, but even in those languages, "race " lingered despite claims that these countries vehemently opposed "race ". Our findings should inform scholarly and political debates about race, ethnicity, and medicine in Europe that tend to assume, incorrectly, an anti-racialist consensus. There are also policy implications, because prescribers may interpret regulator-approved information about race and ethnicity differently because of inconsistent translations.
9.
Hagsten, Kenneth, et al.
(author)
Self-propelled Employees - Co-workership in Swedish Community Pharmacies
2024
In: Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. - : Roskilde Universitetsforlag. - 2245-0157. ; 14:1
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
In this article, work in Swedish pharmacies is examined. With the Nordic concept of co-workership as a frame, the aim is to examine how employees in pharmacies view and handle their work situations and the reasons behind them. Data were mainly collected with 20 qualitative semistructured interviews in five different pharmacies. The data were organized and analyzed by using the content analysis process. In the studied pharmacies, it can be summarized as work was carried out in a self-propelled way. Employees take an overall responsibility for the workplace, have ambition to help others and to be a part of a good team, while most of the work is carried out individually and independently.
10.
