OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led, motivational interviewing on antibiotic adherence following discharge in older adults with pneumonia. SETTING: Inpatient medical wards in a large tertiary academic medical center. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Older adults diagnosed with pneumonia were enrolled from December 1, 2013, to August 1, 2014, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Motivational interviewing—a patient-centered method of communication—has gained recognition as a tool that can aid pharmacists in addressing negative health behaviors (e.g., medication adherence, health screenings, substance abuse during counseling sessions). However, the potential role of motivational interviewing in older adults to improve medication adherence during transitions of care is not clear. In this study, in addition to standard discharge care, older adults hospitalized with pneumonia who were randomized to the intervention group received enhanced care: pharmacist-led motivational interviewing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Evaluation of adherence to prescribed antibiotic regimens and patient satisfaction with the motivational interviewing, enhanced-care session. RESULTS: Ultimately, 87% of patients in the intervention group (n = 16) compared with 64% of patients in the control group (n = 14) were adherent to their antibiotic regimens. Patient satisfaction with the motivational interviewing intervention was high. CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-led motivational interviewing sessions have the potential to positively influence antibiotic adherence rates and patient satisfaction.

To describe the literature on connections between empathy and professional identity formation (PIF) in pharmacy and other health professions education. A PRISMA-Scoping Review (PRISMA-SCr) methodology was used for this study. Searches were conducted in PubMed and CINAHL from 2010-January 12, 2023, with English added as a limiter. Articles had to address both empathy and PIF, whether implicitly or explicitly. "Theory Talk" was modified and utilized with six levels of connectedness to assess article quality. A total of 419 articles were reviewed for inclusion into the study with a total of 45 articles being included. Seventeen (37.8%) and 12 (26.7%) included a definition for empathy and PIF, respectively. Thirty-eight (84.4%) articles implicitly discussed a connection between PIF and empathy. Educational initiatives that fostered connections between empathy and PIF focused on classroom activities, clinical rotation activities, and assessments. Key elements to enhance empathy and PIF development across articles focused on mentorship, role models, and reflective practice alongside intentional curricular integration. Similarly, barriers to empathy and PIF are multi-faceted. Despite educational initiatives in the literature that attempt to foster connections between empathy and PIF in classroom activities, clinical rotation activities, and assessments, most connections are implicit as opposed to explicit. This may be due to the multiple barriers, such as the hidden curriculum, which make the connection between empathy and PIF difficult. This area needs further research and development given the importance of empathy in all health care provider interactions.

Background: The older adult population is rapidly expanding in the United States (US), with a high prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Medication nonadherence is prevalent in this population, with less evidence on the influence of social determinants of health (SDoH). Thus, the objective of this study was to identify and prioritize SDoH associated with medication adherence among US older adults with these comorbidities. Method: Using the World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health and Pharmacy Quality Alliance Medication Access Conceptual Frameworks, publicly available National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey datasets (2009–2018) were cross-sectionally analyzed among respondents aged 65 and older who were diagnosed with study diseases. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, and logistic regression using an alpha level of 0.05. Result: Analyses included 5513 respondents’ data. Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences in medication adherence based on several structural (e.g., ethnicity) and intermediary (e.g., disability status) determinants of health. Multivariable analysis revealed significant differences in medication adherence for alcohol consumption (p = 0.034) and usual healthcare place (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The study findings underscore pertinent implications for public health and policy, with specific SDoH being the most likely to affect medication adherence in common chronic conditions among older adults in the US.

Background: Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States (US), affecting approximately 27%, or 15.9 million adults 65 years of age and older. Diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition in the US and accounts for the second largest avoidable healthcare cost. Adherence to long-term medication treatment plans is crucial among patients with diabetes because it decreases risk of developing comorbid conditions and improves quality of life . Greater exposure to adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) over an individual's lifespan can result in worse health outcomes. Hence, it is important to obtain a better understanding of how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence patients' behaviors and affect medication adherence among older adults with diabetes. Objectives: Identify and prioritize SDOH associated with medication adherence among a nationally representative sample of older adults with diabetes. Secondary objectives were to characterize SDOH, estimate medication adherence, and explain implications for health disparity populations among older adults in the US who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional secondary data analysis to examine the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, identifying associations between SDOH and medication adherence among older adults with diabetes in the US. Results: A total of 1807 respondents' data were included in the analyses. Nearly three-quarters (73.9%) of patients were considered adherent to their oral diabetes medications. Multivariable analysis revealed significant differences in medication adherence based on disability status (p = 0.016), household balanced meals (p = 0.033), and interview language (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Results revealed those with a disability, those who could not afford a balanced meal, and/or those who spoke English were associated with a higher likelihood of being nonadherent to their diabetes medications in comparison to individuals not in these groups. These findings can assist in developing SDOH-centered medication adherence strategies for pharmacists to implement with older patients with diabetes.