An update on characteristics of dual PharmD/MBA programs in the United States: 2016-2017

INTRODUCTION

This study was conducted to update current literature on the characteristics of dual doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) and master of business administration (MBA) programs in the United States.

METHODS

After a preliminary search of institutions' websites for public information regarding PharmD/MBA programs, an email was sent to representatives of each school requesting additional promotional or program information that was not found online. After the data was collected and organized, an electronic survey was sent to each representative. Characteristics obtained include those related to program history, student and school demographics, enrollment requirements, and program structure.

RESULTS

Sixty-six schools of pharmacy were included in the study and asked to complete an electronic survey, and 36 (54%) programs responded. The oldest program was established 29 years ago, while most of the programs (43%) have been active for 11 to 20 years. Programs were similar in enrollment requirements, point of entry, and time to dual degree completion. Programs varied in the program structure, including how dual degrees are awarded.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides updated information about the characteristics of dual PharmD/MBA programs across the United States. This information may be useful to programs interested in developing or modifying existing dual programs and to students deciding whether to pursue a dual PharmD/MBA.

Health behaviors of culturally diverse inner-city community college students

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of risk behaviors related to cigarette use, alcohol use, nutrition, physical fitness, and sexual behavior.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 1,075 students attending an urban community college during the Spring 2012 semester.

METHODS

Data were collected in randomly selected classes using the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II (ACHA-NCHA II) paper survey and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for frequencies and chi-square test of independence.

RESULTS

The sample population reported poor diet, low rates of physical activity, high rates of overweight/obesity, low rates of condom use for vaginal sex, multiple sexual partners, and unintentional pregnancy. Protective health behaviors included low rates of cigarette smoking and alcohol use, high rates of condoms use for anal sex, and high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.

CONCLUSION

Students are at high risk for health problems related to poor diet, lack of exercise, and risky sexual behaviors. Additional research is recommended to determine the most effective intervention strategies.

Human papillomavirus vaccine and Pap tests on college campuses: How do historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) measure up?

OBJECTIVE

The availability of cervical cancer prevention services at college health centers was compared between historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and non-HBCUs.

METHODS

Four-year, non-primarily distant learning colleges, matching HBCUs with randomly selected non-HBCUs within the same states (N = 136) were examined. Data were collected (2014-2015 academic year) on the availability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and Pap tests at college health centers. HBCUs were compared with non-HBCUs using conditional logistic regression, and correlates of offering these services were identified.

RESULTS

Many institutions did not offer HPV vaccine or Pap tests. Fewer HBCUs offered HPV vaccine (18% vs 53%) and Pap tests (50% vs 76%) compared with non-HBCUs. In multivariable analyses, HBCUs remained less likely than non-HBCUs to offer HPV vaccine (odds ratio [OR] = 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02-0.26) and Pap tests (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Greater effort is needed to make cervical cancer prevention services available at colleges, especially at HBCUs.

Exploring chlamydia positivity among females on college campuses, 2008-2010

OBJECTIVE

Describe chlamydia positivity among young women tested at college health centers by student characteristics: age, race/ethnicity, and institution type.

PARTICIPANTS

During 2008-2010, colleges participating in a national infertility prevention program provided chlamydia testing data from females aged 18-24.

METHODS

Chlamydia positivity (number of positive tests divided by the number tested) among females stratified by college type (4-year versus 2-year and minority serving institutes [MSIs]) was determined.

RESULTS

Chlamydia testing data were provided by 148 colleges: 37 (26%) MSIs and 21 (15%) 2-year colleges. Of the 118,946 chlamydia tests, 6.5% were positive. Chlamydia positivity in females at 4-year colleges was 6.6% versus 5.3% at 2-year colleges (p = .0001). Positivity at MSIs was almost double of that at non-MSIs, 10.0% versus 5.4% (p = .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Chlamydia positivity may be higher among college females than previously thought. Higher positivity at MSIs suggests that targeted sexually transmitted infection prevention efforts may be useful for high-risk college populations.

Variations in Student Mental Health and Treatment Utilization Across US Colleges and Universities

OBJECTIVE

On US college campuses, mental health problems are highly prevalent, appear to be increasing, and are often untreated. Concerns about student mental health are well documented, but little is known about potential variations across the diversity of institutions of higher education.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 43,210 undergraduates at 72 campuses that participated in the Healthy Minds Study from 2007 to 2013.

METHODS

Multivariable logistic regressions focus on associations between institutional characteristics and student mental health and treatment utilization.

RESULTS

The following institutional characteristics are associated with worse mental health: doctoral-granting, public, large enrollment, nonresidential, less competitive, and lower graduation rates. Among students with apparent mental health problems, treatment utilization is higher at doctorate-granting institutions, baccalaureate colleges, institutions with small enrollments, and schools with strong residential systems.

CONCLUSIONS

Although high rates of mental health problems and low treatment utilization are major concerns at all types of institutions of higher education, substantial variation occurs across campuses.

Waterpipe dependence in university students and effect of normative beliefs: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to measure the correlates, including normative beliefs, associated with waterpipe (WP) and cigarette smoking prevalence and dependence.

SETTING

A cross-sectional study was carried out using a proportionate cluster sample of Lebanese students in 17 public and private universities.

PARTICIPANTS

Of the 4900 distributed questionnaires, 3384 (69.1%) were returned to the field worker. All available students during break times were approached, with no exclusion criteria.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

sociodemographic variables, detailed active and passive smoking, in addition to items of the tobacco dependence scales were all evaluated.

RESULTS

Correlates to WP smoking were studying in a private university (adjusted OR, aOR=1.50 (1.26 to 1.79); p<0.001) and ever smoking cigarettes (aOR=1.80(1.44 to 2.26); p<0.001); friends' and societal influence were found on smoking behaviour and dependence. Although the role of parents was not visible in decreasing the risk of smoking WP, their protective influence seemed more important on WP dependence (β=-1.09(-1.79 to -0.28); p<0.001), a behaviour that is considered more deleterious for health. Parents' and friends' disagreement with smoking had a protective effect on cigarette smoking and dependence (aOR<1; p<0.01), while thinking that idols and successful people smoke increased the risk of both cigarette smoking and dependence (aOR>1; p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, WP smoking and dependence are influenced by parents' and friends' opinions, and idols' smoking status. Future research is necessary to further improve our understanding of motives for WP smoking and dependence.

Cigarette use among young adults: comparisons between 2-year college students, 4-year college students, and those not in college

OBJECTIVE

To examine cigarette smoking among young adults based on education status.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-based sample of 2,694 young adults in the United States

METHODS

The authors compared 3 groups--those not in college with no college degree, 2-year college students/graduates, 4-year college students/graduates--on various smoking measures: ever smoked, smoked in past month, smoked in past week, consider self a smoker, began smoking before age 15, smoked over 100 cigarettes in lifetime, ever tried to quit, and plan to quit in next year.

RESULTS

The authors found that for nearly all the smoking measures, the 4-year college group was at lowest risk, the noncollege group was at highest risk, and the 2-year college group represented a midpoint. Differences between groups remain after adjusting for parents' education and other potential confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking behaviors clearly differ between the 2-year, 4-year, and no college groups. Interventions should be tailored for each group.

[Ranking 2010 in production and research productivity in Spanish public universities]

The creation of the European Higher Education Area has brought the relevance of the scientific quality assessment in higher education. The result of this interest is a growing interest in the development of rankings of universities, both nationally and internationally. To continue the line started two years ago, the goal of this research is to update the ranking of research productivity in Spanish public universities with the data of 2010. We follow the same methodology to data from 2008 and 2009; although this year it includes measures of total production. The same indicators to evaluate research in 2009: journals articles indexed in the JCR, research periods, research + development projects, doctoral dissertations, grants for training university teachers, Doctoral Programs with Quality Mention and patents. From the results obtained show that universities with higher production were Complutense de Madrid, Barcelona and Granada. The most productive were the Pompeu Fabra University, the Pablo de Olavide, and the Autonoma de Barcelona.

The differential prevalence of obesity and related behaviors in two- vs. four-year colleges

The objective of this study was to determine whether obesity prevalence and weight-related behaviors (e.g., diet, physical activity) differ among students enrolled in 2-year community/technical colleges and those attending 4-year colleges/universities. This information could inform the development of intervention strategies. Through an existing surveillance system of Minnesota postsecondary education institutions, survey data were collected from 16,539 students from 27 campuses (14 two-year college campuses, 13 four-year college/university campuses; 2007-2008), including self-reported physical activity, media use, dietary patterns, weight control behaviors, height, and weight. Unadjusted analyses indicated that students enrolled in 2-year colleges, particularly females, had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, lower levels of physical activity, more television viewing, higher intakes of soda, fast food, and diet pills compared to students attending 4-year colleges (P < 0.05). Females attending 4-year colleges were more likely to engage in certain unhealthy weight control behaviors (taking diet pills, binge eating, self-induced vomiting) compared to females attending 2-year institutions. Among male students there were fewer differences between 2-year and 4-year colleges. Controlling for sociodemographic factors (e.g., race/ethnicity, age), most disparities in prevalence estimates remained, though many were attenuated. Overall, few young adults engage in weight-related behaviors consistent with national recommendations. Two-year college students may represent a particularly at-risk group. Disparities between 2- and 4-year college students exist beyond the sociodemographic differences in these populations. Effective weight-related interventions are needed for young adults, particularly females attending 2-year colleges and all males attending postsecondary institutions.

[Ranking of 2009 in research in Spanish public universities]

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the development of quality rankings of universities, both nationally and internationally. The lack of clarity in the collection and presentation of information means that many of these classifications are difficult to understand and interpret, so that it is necessary to establish a series of considerations about the name of ranking, selection criteria, the weight indicators, the type and choice of institutions that are evaluated, the size of the institutions, information sources, the one-dimensionality/multi-dimensionality of the rankings, frequency and quality criteria. In addition to providing this information, the aim of this study is to update and improve the research ranking of Spanish public universities of 2009. The same methodology as in the ranking of 2008 is followed, adding a new criterion, which refers to the patents registered and operated, and also enhances the rate of research sections. Results allow the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each Spanish public university in the area of research.

[The reasons of smoking cigarettes among students in Poznan universities--a comparative study]

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most common factor disturbing health and a part of negative life style. The aim of the study was to estimate the frequencies of smoking cigarettes and their conditions among students of two Poznan universities: Poznan University of Medical Sciences and Poznan University and three lines: physiotherapy, midwifery, psychology. 84 persons participated in the study. 22.6% of them were smoking and almost 80% were not smoking. 51% persons smoked in the past. Author's questionnaire of own concept used in the study. The research was conducted according to law of care about personal data.

RESULTS

9.5% smoking responders did it after breakfast, 16.6 % at working place during breaks. The data show that stress is a main reason of smoking. Almost 9.5% smoke during brakes at work and in social circumstances. According to opinion of examined group, the joy, relax are the effects of smoking. There were no significant differences and correlations between fear as a state and character and smoking. However the frequency of smoking in the group was lower in comparison to medium values in population of central part of Europe in a group of women. There was no correlation between sex and the frequency of smoking. The frequency of smoking in a group was lower in comparison to data from Central Europe region.

An emerging typology of academic interdisciplinary gerontology centers in the United States

Little is known about the organization, characteristics or services offered by academic interdisciplinary gerontology centers located in higher education institutions. This article presents a description and an emerging typology of academic interdisciplinary gerontology centers based on information collected from the Websites of 47 centers. The emerging typology comprised three dimensions: focus, functions and specialty areas. Significant relationships were found between the center's function and focus as well as function and number of specialties. The newly developed typology is useful for classifying and learning about academic interdisciplinary gerontology centers. Students who have an interest in gerontology might use the classification system to select a school that matches their academic goals. Educators and educational administrators might apply the typology's dimensions in program development. The typology might also serve as a useful framework for future research and policymakers could use the information from the typology and center's Websites to support proposed policies. Furthermore, older adult consumers, their families and professional caregivers can use the information to learn about services and resources.

The validity of the 2004 U.S. News & World Report's rankings of schools of social work

The exceedingly influential U.S. News & World Report's rankings of the educational quality of graduate schools of social work are based on responses of a small group of deans and faculty members to a single item on a mailed survey. This study evaluated the validity of these "quick and dirty" commercial ratings by comparing the 2004 USNWR results to three more objective measures of overall program quality--admissions selectivity, faculty publications, and program longevity--and by conducting a replication study of 1516 deans, faculty members, students, and practitioners. Results revealed USNWR rankings are consistent with objective indicators of program success and representative of the views of a larger sample of deans, faculty members, and to a lesser degree, of practitioners and students. In spite of this empirical support, the authors recommend strategies for eliminating the reliance on commercial ratings and developing professionally driven and disseminated systems of evaluating graduate schools.

Emergency contraceptive pills: a 10-year follow-up survey of use and experiences at college health centers in the mid-Atlantic United States

The authors conducted a 10-year follow-up study using a telephone survey to investigate the availability of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) at college health centers in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. They also examined related issues, such as distribution procedure, existence of a written protocol, personnel involved, contraindications, follow-up procedures, methods of advertising, staff attitudes, changes in distribution over the past 10 years, and availability if ECPs become over-the-counter. Of the 119 completed responses, 58 schools (49%) reported distributing ECPs. The most common reasons schools listed for not distributing ECPs (n = 61, 51%) were religious convictions, understaffing, and lack of funding. Major changes in ECP distribution over the past 10 years related primarily to the number of schools distributing ECPs, protocol in ECP distribution, and advertising for ECP services.

Social influences on substance-use behaviors of gay, lesbian, and bisexual college students: findings from a national study

A variety of social factors are expected to contribute to health behaviors among college students. The goal of this paper is to describe the relationships of two different aspects of the campus social environment, namely the campus resources for gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) students and the campus-wide behavioral norms of substance use, to the individual substance-use behaviors of college students with same-sex experiences. Individual-level data come from 630 college students reporting same-sex experience, who were part of a national random sample returning questionnaires. Current cigarette smoking and binge drinking were examined. College-level data regarding the campus resources designed for GLB students were collected and used with campus-wide substance-use norms to predict individual substance use in logistic regression analyses. One-third to one-half of students reported current smoking and binge drinking, by sex and sex-partner category. The presence of GLB resources was inversely associated with women's smoking and directly associated with men's binge drinking behaviors. The proportion of students reporting same-sex behavior on campus was directly associated with these same outcomes, and behavioral norms were not associated with either outcome. Findings provide a glimpse into the influence of the social environment on the use of two of the most widely used substances at American colleges, and suggest that contextual approaches to explaining and controlling substance use may be important.

Prevention efforts underlying decreases in binge drinking at institutions of higher education

Analyses of 94 Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE)-sponsored drug-prevention programs and their outcomes used the Core Survey to identify 34 institutions where college students' binge drinking increased (M = 5.44%) and 60 institutions where it decreased (M = -4.59%) during 2 years of program operation. The authors used an inductively derived taxonomy of prevention program elements, student variables, student substance use, use-related variables, and institutional variables to compare the 2 groups of institutions. Only prevention program elements discriminated between groups. Factor analysis of discriminating elements identified 8 prevention factors that improved base-rate prediction of institutional decrease in binge drinking by 28.1%. Factor synthesis yielded a 3-construct binge-drinking prevention model based on student participation and involvement strategies, educational and informational processes, and campus regulatory and physical change efforts. This model improved base-rate prediction of decreased binge drinking by 33.2%.

[The assessment of health behaviours among Warsaw Medical University students]

Some health behaviours among 228 students of Warsaw Medical University (130 women and 98 men) using anonymous questionnaire were examined. Percentage of smokers among female and male students was similar (13.1% and 14.3% respectively). Among respondents the greatest frequency of drinking alcohol was from a few times weekly to a few times monthly. Male students drunk alcohol more often than female ones. Beer was prefered by men, wine and beer--by women. Only male students (10.2%) used drugs (amphetamine, marihuana). About 1/3 of respondents did not do any sports. Female students had better knowledge about objective factors of their health status (blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol level) compared to males ones.

Personnel resource distribution for nursing programs in Carnegie-classified Research I and II and Doctoral I institutions

Increasingly, nursing education programs, like other major institutions in the United States, are being charged to "do more with less." How to acquire sufficient human and material resources is a continuing challenge in an era of economic constraint. Benchmark data on the distribution of personnel resources within nursing programs is nearly nonexistent. To assess the personnel resources of nursing programs of major size and stature within the United States, a Personnel Resource Survey was mailed to the universe of all nursing programs located in Carnegie-designated Doctoral I, Research II, and Research I universities and/or colleges in the United States (n = 96). The return rate was 58 per cent, with a useable survey rate of 51 per cent (n = 49). Comparative numbers and ratios of administrators, faculty, students, and various levels and types of support staff by Carnegie-type institutions are presented. Findings indicate that, overall, nursing programs in Research I universities had 1.5 to 2 times as many personnel resources per student than programs in Doctoral I and Research II institutions. Doctoral I and Research II programs closely resembled each other. The details of the data, as well as its standardization into full-time equivalents, are useful to both university and nursing administrators, faculty, and staff in their comparisons and procurement of needed resources.