Omar Attarabeen

Rollins B, Perri M. Pharmaceutical Marketing. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2013, 282 pp,

Pharmaceutical Marketing serves as an eventual answer to the long-lasting dearth in pharmacy-specific pharmaceutical marketing texts. This book has made a remarkable step toward the understanding of pharmaceutical marketing and its practical applications in the industry. Several authors from different disciplines and backgrounds, including academia, industry, and health care contributed to writing this book. Pharmaceutical Marketing would make a great addition for different types of readers interested in getting acquainted with the field of pharmaceutical marketing. This text succeeds in explaining not only the theoretical principles of pharmaceutical marketing that are crucial to know, but also in presenting it to the reader in a way that pertains to the current actual practice of marketing of pharmaceutical products. As a result, combining theoretical knowledge with examples from actual practice enables beginning learners in the pharmaceutical marketing field, such as students, to easily comprehend different details as they relate to both clinical and industrial practice. Moreover, the authors provide a quick yet sufficient introduction about different topics the reader needs to be aware of before going through the bulk of relevant details.

69.95 (softcover), ISBN 9781449697990

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of a peer evaluation instrument in a longitudinal team-based learning setting. Methods: Student pharmacists were instructed to evaluate the contributions of their peers. Evaluations were analyzed for the variance of the scores by identifying low, medium, and high scores. Agreement between performance ratings within each group of students was assessed via intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: We found little variation in the standard deviation (SD) based on the score means among the high, medium, and low scores within each group. The lack of variation in SD of results between groups suggests that the peer evaluation instrument produces precise results. The ICC showed strong concordance among raters. Conclusions: Findings suggest that our student peer evaluation instrument provides a reliable method for peer assessment in team-based learning settings.

Reliability assessment of a peer evaluation instrument in a team-based learning course

Background: Policies by the American Medical Association and the American Pharmacists Association advocate for the discontinuation of tobacco sales in pharmacies, yet tobacco sales remain lucrative for pharmacies in the United States. West Virginia has the highest smoking rate (29%) and the second highest lung cancer incidence in the country. Objective: This study examined pharmacists’ perceptions of tobacco sales in pharmacies and awareness of relevant policies. Methods: West Virginia pharmacists (n = 195) were surveyed to understand tobacco sales in West Virginia pharmacy, utilizing Diffusion of Innovations as a theoretical framework. Results: Eighty-one percent were community pharmacists, and 39% practiced at independent pharmacies. Sixty-two percent reported that their pharmacies did not sell tobacco. Pharmacists at independent pharmacies were more likely to be in rural areas/small towns, have decision-making control over tobacco sales, and not currently selling tobacco products. Other community pharmacists (ie, at regional and national chains) were more likely to sell tobacco products, not have decision-making control over tobacco sales, and perceive revenue loss from discontinuing tobacco sales. Other types of pharmacists (eg, hospital) estimated a greater number of patients who were smokers/tobacco users. A logistic regression showed that less perceived revenue loss was associated with greater likelihood of not selling tobacco products (all Ps < .05). Conclusions: Findings indicate a strong movement among community pharmacists to curtail the use of tobacco. Generating support for the elimination of tobacco sales and adoption of tobacco cessation initiatives in community pharmacy could help reduce smoking rates in elevated-risk populations.