Evaluation of interactive teaching strategies and learning outcomes on the topic of kidney pharmacotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Students' knowledge retention decreases overtime when experiencing large-group teaching. Engaging class activities improve student learning. We report the rapid changes in teaching methods and measurable learning outcomes on the topic of kidney pharmacotherapy (KP) in a doctor of pharmacy program. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SETTING: The KP modules were delivered using two different methods, traditional lecture (TL) (in-person class) and interactive strategies of online learning (ISOL), to fourth-year pharmacy students during the academic years 2019 and 2020, respectively. This study aimed to compare the learning outcomes from TL and ISOL examinations. Students' perceptions regarding their new learning experiences were also explored. FINDINGS: A total of 226 students were included in the study (TL, n = 118; ISOL, n = 108). The median percentage of the overall score from the ISOL examinations was higher than that achieved by the TL class (73% vs. 67%, P = .003). Further analyses revealed similar improvements in most learning outcomes and cognitive domains. A higher proportion of students taught through ISOL achieved scores >80% than those in the TL group (39% vs. 16%, P < .001). The student respondents provided positive feedback regarding activities in the ISOL cohort. SUMMARY: The delivery of online KP when integrated with interactive strategies can maintain the outcome-based learning in Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University. Approaches that aid student engagement during teaching and learning become opportunities for the improvement of education adaptability.

Trough Level and Tacrolimus Variability of Early Converted Once-Daily Tacrolimus: 1-Year Follow-up Study.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term transplant outcomes are considered a crucial point for kidney transplantation. Follow-up studies in patients receiving early conversion to once-daily tacrolimus (TAC-OD) are still limited. We aimed to investigate tacrolimus trough level (Cmin), intrapatient variability of tacrolimus dose-normalized Cmin (TAC-Cmin/D), along with other outcomes between twice-daily tacrolimus (TAC-BID) and early converted TAC-OD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was a single center, retrospective, cohort study. All new kidney transplant patients who received tacrolimus and presented an estimated glomerular filtration rate of more than 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 on the day of hospital discharge were included. Studied patients were divided into the standard TAC-BID and patients who were converted from TAC-BID to TAC-OD on the day of hospital discharge. We followed patients for 1 year after transplantation. RESULTS: At the first follow-up visit, Cmin of TAC-OD was significantly lower than that of TAC-BID. However, Cmin and estimated glomerular filtration rate were comparable between TAC-BID and TAC-OD throughout 1-year follow-up. TAC-OD also provided a lower intrapatient variability of TAC-Cmin/D compared with TAC-BID when observed after 6 months post transplantation (17.40% and 23.27% for TAC-OD and TAC-BID, respectively; P = .13). The renal function, as well as other adverse outcomes, was similar between 2 formulations. DISCUSSION: TAC-OD provided a similar Cmin with comparable renal function compared with TAC-BID during 1-year follow-up. In addition, TAC-OD is likely to have a benefit of a lower intrapatient variability of tacrolimus. CONCLUSION: Early conversion from TAC-BID to TAC-OD with 1:1 ratio can be used with close long-term monitoring.

Quality assessment and cost saving of renal dosing recommendation by clinical pharmacists at medical wards in Thailand.

Background Renal dosage adjustment for patients with reduced kidney function is a common function of clinical pharmacy service. Assessment of pharmacist's intervention in the aspect of quality and economic impact should be conducted to evaluate the benefit of this service. Objective This study aimed to assess the quality and cost saving of clinical pharmacists' recommendation on renal dosage adjustment among patients with reduced kidney function. Setting Eight medical wards of the Siriraj Hospital, a tertiary-care hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Method A retrospective study was conducted using medical records and clinical pharmacist's intervention database. All patients admitted to the study wards whose estimated creatinine clearance were less than 60 mL/min or presented with acute kidney injury on admission during October 2016-December 2017 were included. The targeted medications were antimicrobial agents. Main outcome measure Percentage of the concordance between pharmacists' recommendation compared to standard dosing references and related cost saving. Results Among 158 patients, pharmacists provided 190 recommendations, including 151 (79.1%) dose reduction, 17 (8.9%) dose increase and 22 (11.5%) recommendations to provide supplemental dose after dialysis. These recommendations were 90.5% consistent with standard references. Physician accepted and complied with 89.5% of pharmacists' recommendations. Average direct cost saving was €5,114.11 while cost avoidance was €863.47. Conclusion Trained clinical pharmacists were able to provide high-quality recommendation on dosage adjustment in these patients in accordance to standard dosing guidelines. In addition, dosage adjustment also led to a significant direct cost saving and cost avoidance from prevention of adverse drug reactions.

The association between trough blood concentration and systemic exposure of tacrolimus: Comparison between once-daily (Advagraf®) and twice-daily (Prograf®) formulation in de novo kidney transplant recipients.

Available data of early conversion from twice-daily tacrolimus (TAC-BID) to once-daily tacrolimus (TAC-OD) in de novo kidney transplant (KT) recipients are limited. We conducted a prospective study of early conversion to TAC-OD in de novo KT recipients. Eligible patients were enrolled to receive TAC-BID (Prograf®) and then converted to TAC-OD (Advagraf®) by 1:1 ratio, approximately 14 days after KT (range 9-22). Blood samples were investigated for pharmacokinetic parameters before and 7-14 days after the conversion. Fifteen patients were included and provided AUC0-24 of 202.9 ± 44.4 ng h/mL for TAC-BID (pre-conversion) and 193.0 ± 63.4 ng h/mL for TAC-OD (post-conversion) (p = 0.41). Mean trough blood concentration (Cmin) of TAC-BID and TAC-OD was 6.4 ± 1.4 ng/mL and 4.9 ± 1.6 ng/mL (p = 0.01). Correlation coefficient (r) between Cmin and AUC0-24 of TAC-BID and TAC-OD were 0.620 and 0.875. Additional analysis found that patients with a drop of Cmin > 30% had a significant lower AUC0-24 after conversion. Renal function remains stable. We conclude that early conversion to TAC-OD is safe and well tolerated with an indifferent systemic exposure. However, patients with a drop of Cmin > 30% after conversion to TAC-OD will require additional dose adjustment.

Trough level from twice daily to once daily tacrolimus in early conversion kidney transplant recipients: a prospective study.

Background Early conversion from twice-daily tacrolimus (TAC-BID) to once-daily tacrolimus (TAC-OD) provides a greater benefit of reducing under-exposure of TAC-OD during the first period after transplantation. Information regarding the conversion dose among Asian kidney transplant recipients is still limited. Objective This study aimed to compare the trough levels (Cmin) of TAC-BID (Prograf®) and TAC-OD (Advagraf®). The values were obtained from early conversion intervention by 1:1 milligram per-milligram. Setting A university-based hospital. Method This study employed a single-center, open-label, prospective and single-armed design. Fifteen de novo standard risk kidney transplant recipients were enrolled. Fourteen days after transplantation, the Cmin of TAC-BID (pre-conversion Cmin) was determined. Subsequently, TAC-BID was converted to TAC-OD with a similar dose. The Cmin of TAC-OD was first measured at a steady state (immediate post-conversion Cmin) and compared. All enrolled patients received therapeutic monitoring at the first and second months. Main outcome measure Pre-conversion Cmin of TAC-BID and immediate post-conversion Cmin of TAC-OD. Results The immediate post-conversion Cmin was found to be 23% lowered than the pre-conversion Cmin. However, the Cmin of TAC-OD was found to be similar to the pre-conversion Cmin compared during the follow-up period. Renal function was found to be stable in all patients over 2 months. Conclusion Early conversion therapy was associated with a significantly lower immediate post-conversion Cmin but comparable Cmin throughout the follow-up period. The "one to one conversion ratio" from TAC-BID to TAC-OD could be performed among Asian de novo kidney transplant recipients at an early period after transplantation.