Clarification of the Relationship between Awareness of Doping of Competitive Sports Coaches and Their Instructions to Prevent Doping.

It has been 6 years since the establishment of the position of "sports pharmacist" as one type of pharmacist. In the sporting world of Japan, sports pharmacists are expected to promote athletes' awareness of antidoping regulations and provide them with relevant education. However, currently, these pharmacists' main duty is to provide athletes and their coaches with guidance on medication. Using a model for the prediction of athletes' actions, we have worked to promote athletes' awareness of antidoping regulations and encourage sports pharmacists to perform relevant activities, such as antidoping education. As a result, we clarified that athletes' awareness regarding antidoping rules influences their actions when experiencing minor illnesses. In addition, we have proposed approaches to encourage athletes to undertake antidoping activities. The present study aimed to clarify competitive sports coaches' awareness of antidoping regulations, the instructions that those coaches give athletes when they experience minor illnesses, and coaches' awareness of athletes' usage of drugs and supplements. Analysis using a model for the prediction of actions revealed that to promote coaches' awareness of antidoping regulations, education aimed at raising their level of knowledge of doping is warranted. Furthermore, coaches were aware of the necessity of continuously providing athletes with antidoping instructions, but they did not keep sufficient track of athletes' usage of drugs and supplements. To encourage sports coaches to perform antidoping activities, it is effective to provide them with opportunities to develop their knowledge of doping prevention in their areas.

[Effects of practical training to increase motivation for learning and related factors].

Under the six-year pharmaceutical education system that was initiated in April 2006, students who had completed the course in March 2012 became the first graduates. The six-year system encourages students to develop a well-rounded personality, a deep sense of ethics, knowledge required for health care professionals, abilities to identify and solve problems, and practical skills required in clinical settings, as well as basic knowledge and skills. Under the new education system based on the "pharmaceutical education model core curriculums" and "practical training model core curriculums", general pharmaceutical education is implemented in each college, and five-month practical training is conducted in clinical settings. Clinical tasks experienced by students for the first time are expected to significantly influence their motivation to learn and future prospects. In the present survey research, students who had completed practical training evaluated the training program, and correspondence and logistic regression analyses of the results were conducted to examine the future effects and influences of the training on the students. The results suggest that the students viewed the practical training program positively. In addition, clinical experience during the training sessions not only influenced their decisions on future careers, but also significantly increased their motivation to learn. Furthermore, their motivation for learning was increased most by the enthusiasm of pharmacists who advised them in clinical settings, rather than the training program itself. To improve pharmaceutical clinical learning, it is important to develop teaching and working environments for pharmacists in charge of advising students in clinical training.

[Education effect of the simple suspension method training for fifth-year medical students].

The clinical training curriculum for fifth-year students of a school of medicine (Department of Medicine) includes training in clinical pharmacy, which is conducted by the Department of Pharmacy. Following training involving the simple suspension method, a survey was conducted to examine its effects to improve medical students' knowledge on the proper use of drugs. Forty-eight 5th-year students of Ehime University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, underwent training that employed the simple suspension method, and examinations were conducted prior to and following it to assess its effects. Following the training, the questionnaire results were analyzed using Quantification Theory Class II to examine whether knowledge acquired from it had motivated the students to use the simple suspension method. A correspondence structural analysis was also conducted to identify improvements in the training. The correct answer rate increased from 55.2±2.4% before to 83.8±1.7% after training, which supports its learning effects. The presence or absence of changes in disposition and the efficacy of the method for patients with dysphagia strongly motivated the medical students to use the method. As a future improvement, it is necessary to describe differences between the crushing and simple suspension methods during training. The results of a survey on training involving medical students conducted based on the simple suspension method suggested its learning effects and knowledge that motivated them to use the method.

Identification of the role of the sports pharmacist with a model for the prediction of athletes' actions to cope with sickness.

In 2009, the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) established Sports Pharmacist-a system for certified pharmacists. There are many over-the-counter drugs that contain prohibited substances in Japan, and they are easily available. In Japan, most doping violations are committed when athletes unintentionally take prohibited substances. Therefore, the Sports Pharmacist has a vital role in promoting the prevention of doping. In the present study, surveys involving a total of 350 athletes, (including 260 representatives of Ehime Prefecture in the National Athletic Meets and 90 college students who participated in the intercollegiate athletics Shikoku area meets), on awareness regarding doping and medical drugs were conducted. Using correspondence and logistic regression analyses, the results were examined to develop a model for the prediction of athletes' actions to cope with sickness based on changes in their awareness of anti-doping, and the relationship between them was also analyzed. The survey results suggested that attitudes towards doping were strongly influenced by gender, rather than the athletic ability and whether or not a doping test is scheduled. Their behavior and criteria for the selection of drugs to address sickness were strongly correlated with awareness of anti-doping. Therefore, athletes with an increased awareness of anti-doping are expected to consult a pharmacist prior to using medicine. The Sports Pharmacist should further promote environmental development, such as activities to improve awareness of doping among young athletes and the establishment of medical drug consultation services for athletes (female athletes in particular).

Analysis of phthalate contamination in infusion solutions by automated on-line in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography.

Contamination of infusion solutions with phthalates was analyzed, and its origin was determined. Phthalates were determined by on-line in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (in-tube SPME-HPLC) with UV detection. In-tube SPME is an extraction technique for organic compounds in aqueous samples, in which analytes are extracted from the sample directly into an open tubular capillary by repeated draw/eject cycles of sample solution. The infusion solutions were used without any pretreatment, and the phthalates in these solutions were automatically analyzed by the on-line in-tube SPME-HPLC system. The limits of detection of phthalates in the infusion solutions were 1-10 ng/mL. With a few exceptions, the recoveries of phthalates added to the infusion solutions were above 80%. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) was detected at a concentration of 7-60 ng/mL in most infusion solutions in plastic containers but was not detected in those in glass bottles. On the other hand, no other phthalates were detected in infusion solutions in either plastic or glass containers. Large amounts of DBP were detected in the adhesive used to affix the paper labels to the plastic bottles and bags, but not in the plastic containers themselves. Furthermore, DBP was shown to be readily eluted from the adhesive into water and alcohol and easily pass through the plastic. These results indicated that the source of the DBP was the adhesive used to affix the paper labels, and DBP contaminated the infusion solutions by passing through the plastic. The in-tube SPME-HPLC method is simple and rapid and provides a useful tool for the screening and determination of phthalate contamination in infusion solutions.

Simple and rapid analysis of endocrine disruptors in liquid medicines and intravenous injection solutions by automated in-tube solid-phase microextraction/high performance liquid chromatography.

A simple and rapid method was developed for analyzing contamination of endocrine disruptors in liquid medicines and intravenous injection solutions. Endocrine disrupting compounds such as bisphenol A (BPA), alkylphenols and phthalates were quantitated by on-line in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (in-tube SPME/HPLC) with UV detection. The liquid medicines and intravenous injection solutions could be used directly without any pretreatment, and the BPA, alkylphenols and phthalates in these solutions were automatically analyzed. The limits of quantification for these compounds were 1-10 ng/ml. Recoveries of these compounds spiked to the intravenous injection solutions was over 80%, except for some phthalates. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) was detected at a concentration of 7-60 ng/ml in most intravenous injection solutions in plastic containers, but it was not detected in solutions in glass bottles. Diethyl phthalate, di-n-propyl phthalate, DBP and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were also detected in syrup, lotion and eye drops in plastic containers. On the other hand, BPA and alkylphenols were not detected at all in these solutions. DEHP contamination from an administration set increased when total vitamin formulation was added to the infusion solution. DEHP was easily leached from polyvinyl chloride tubing by polysorbate 80. The in-tube SPME/HPLC method is simple, rapid and automatic, and it provides a useful tool for the screening and determination of endocrine disruptor contamination in liquid medicines and intravenous injection solutions.