The International Pharmacy Game: A Comparison of Implementation in Seven Universities World-Wide.

The utilization of serious games and simulations in health professional education has increased. The Pharmacy Game is one such concept that intersects gamification and simulation, in which pharmacy student teams competitively manage simulated pharmacies; a concept included in the pharmacy curricula of seven international universities. This study aimed to compare the implementation and conduct of the Pharmacy Game of participant universities and their students' performance in the same educational task. Data were collected via a questionnaire completed by academic staff in April 2020, and the collation of results of the same patient case was conducted at each university (April 2020 to March 2021). The main results reflected differences in the game frequencies and the curricular approach (standalone or integrated course) and in the learning outcomes for the Pharmacy Game. Other differences were identified in the extent to which students of other professions were part of the game such as medical students or pharmacy assistants. Student case outcomes revealed similar strengths across the universities in patient communication and focus on safety, with variations identified as areas for improvement. Collation of the international utilization of the Pharmacy Game identified a broad spectrum of similar learning outcomes, inspiring a model of international core and aspirational learning outcomes. While the Pharmacy Game has been implemented with flexibility regarding the numbers of teams (4-10) and the duration of activity (12-36 days), all universities reported positive experiences and student outcomes, suggesting that the intervention represents a potential tool to deliver capstone learning experiences, promote interprofessional education, reinforce patient safety, and prepare pharmacy graduates for future practice.

Pulsatile versus continuous administration of oxytocin for induction and augmentation of labor: two randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pulsatile oxytocin infusion improves delivery outcome in women requiring induction or augmentation of labor. STUDY DESIGN: Two related randomized controlled trials undertaken in 2 inner-city United Kingdom university hospitals (ISRCTN72773405; http://www.isrctn.org/). Women were randomly assigned to a pulsatile or continuous infusion protocol. PRIMARY OUTCOME: cesarean section rate (induction trial); operative delivery rate (augmentation trial). RESULTS: For induction, cesarean section rates were similar in women receiving pulsatile (n = 264, 38.3%) vs continuous infusion of oxytocin (n = 257; 37.7%; risk ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.26; P = .903), but associated with increased "infusion to time of delivery" intervals (P < .001) in the pulsatile group. For augmentation, pulsatile infusion resulted in higher operative delivery rates (70.1%, n = 251) vs continuous infusion (62.7%, n = 249; risk ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.27; P = .077) and increased neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: For induction, pulsatile infusion of oxytocin is effective, but conferred little clinical benefit. Pulsatile infusion is not recommended for augmentation.

A randomised controlled trial of metronidazole for the prevention of preterm birth in women positive for cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin: the PREMET Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether metronidazole reduces early preterm labour in asymptomatic women with positive vaginal fetal fibronectin (fFN) in the second trimester of pregnancy. DESIGN: Randomised placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Fourteen UK hospitals (three teaching). POPULATION: Pregnancies with at least one previous risk factor, including mid-trimester loss or preterm delivery, uterine abnormality, cervical surgery or cerclage. METHODS: Nine hundred pregnancies were screened for fFN at 24 and 27 weeks of gestation. Positive cases were randomised to a week's course of oral metronidazole or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was delivery before 30 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes included delivery before 37 weeks. RESULTS: The Trial Steering Committee (TSC) recommended the study be stopped early; 21% of women receiving metronidazole (11/53) delivered before 30 weeks compared with 11% (5/46) taking placebo [risk ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-5.09, P = 0.18]. There were significantly more preterm deliveries (before 37 weeks) in women treated with metronidazole 33/53 (62%) versus placebo 18/46 (39%), risk ratio 1.6, 95% CI 1.05-2.4. fFN was a good predictor of early preterm birth in these asymptomatic women; positive and negative predictive values (24 weeks of gestation) for delivery by 30 weeks were 26% and 99%, respectively (positive and negative likelihood ratios 15, 0.35). CONCLUSION: Metronidazole does not reduce early preterm birth in high risk pregnant women selected by history and a positive vaginal fFN test. Preterm delivery may be increased by metronidazole therapy.

Fetal fibronectin test predicts delivery before 30 weeks of gestation in high risk women, but increases anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy of cervico-vaginal fetal fibronectin as a predictor of spontaneous preterm birth in a high risk antenatal population, and to evaluate the psychological impact of fetal fibronectin testing. DESIGN: An observational study. SETTING: The antenatal clinic at a tertiary referral hospital. POPULATION: One hundred and forty-six pregnant women with known risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth. METHODS: Women designated as 'at risk' for preterm delivery by clinical history were screened for fetal fibronectin at 24 and again at 27 weeks of gestation. Anxiety levels were assessed by questionnaire and compared with anxiety levels of 206 low risk women also tested for fetal fibronectin. Fetal fibronectin results were disclosed to the woman and her clinician. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal anxiety and efficacy of the 24-week fetal fibronectin test to predict delivery before 30, 34 and 37 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Maternal anxiety was higher pretesting in those at high risk compared with low risk women undergoing the test. Among the high risk women, anxiety was raised to clinically significant levels in those receiving a positive fetal fibronectin screening test result. In all women, 5%, 9% and 21% delivered <30, <34 or <37 weeks of gestation, respectively. Nine percent (n= 13) tested positive for fetal fibronectin at 24 weeks. Predictive power for fetal fibronectin (24 weeks) was greatest for delivery <30 weeks of gestation, with a likelihood ratio of 15 for a positive test (6/13 positive women delivered before 30 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: Fetal fibronectin was most efficient as a predictor of preterm spontaneous delivery <30 weeks of gestation, but was associated with high levels of anxiety.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pre-eclampsia: evidence of cerebral ischaemia.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether there are changes in the maternal brain in pre-eclampsia detectable by magnetic resonance angiography and spectroscopy. DESIGN: A prospective, observational study. SETTING: Obstetric and Radiology Departments, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. SAMPLE: Fourteen healthy, nulliparous non-pregnant women, 9 healthy primiparous pregnant women and 10 women with pre-eclampsia. METHODS: Magnetic resonance angiography and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain was performed on each woman. Non-pregnant women were each studied twice. Healthy pregnant women were studied three times during pregnancy and once postnatally. Subjects with pre-eclampsia were studied once antenatally and twice postnatally. Magnetic resonance angiograms were examined for signs of vessel narrowing. On magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the ratios of the dominant peaks of the spectrum: N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline, creatine and lactate were compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparison of spectroscopic indices in non-pregnant, normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic women. RESULTS: On magnetic resonance angiography, there was no evidence of vessel narrowing in any of the three groups. NAA/choline ratio was higher at all stages of pregnancy compared with the non-pregnant group (P < 0.05) associated with lower choline. NAA/choline increased gradually during healthy pregnancy associated with a decrease in choline. NAA/choline was significantly lower in the pre-eclampsia group compared with the healthy pregnant women at similar gestation (P < 0.01), associated with higher choline. There were no differences between the groups postnatally. Lactate was not detected. These changes are similar to those found in patients with carotid stenosis without cerebral infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Narrowing of vessels detectable on magnetic resonance angiography does not occur commonly in pre-eclampsia. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy results suggest that there is relative cerebral ischaemia in pre-eclampsia compared with healthy pregnancy.