Cristi A L Migliaccio1, Sarah Ballou2, Mary Buford1, Ava Orr1, Christopher Migliaccio3. 1. Center for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States. 2. The Skaggs School of Pharmacy, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States. 3. The Skaggs School of Pharmacy, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, MT 59812, 32 Campus Drive, Skaggs 062D, Missoula, MT 59812, United States. Electronic address: christopher.migliaccio@umontana.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We describe a novel, interprofessional, experiential training involving pharmacy students in response to a health emergency in rural Montana (MT). EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Fourth-year pharmacy students on clinical rotations were recruited to participate in screening events assessing effects of wildfire smoke in Seeley Lake, MT. Students were required to fulfill at least two hours of supplementary training in addition to education on human research guidelines. Students assisted with patient surveys (demographics, health, and respiratory), physiological testing with biomedical researchers, blood pressure and medication counseling, and spirometry specialists. FINDINGS: At least 20 pharmacy students have participated in this project in addition to nursing (n = 8), public health (n = 1), and social work (n = 1) students. In initial and subsequent screenings, students worked alongside a team of biomedical researchers and faculty from the University of Montana. An initial cohort of 95 patients was recruited. SUMMARY: This unique experiential training opportunity has afforded pharmacy students access to rural community patient interaction and exposure to and performance of a variety of tests in response to an environmental health emergency. Furthermore, it enabled health professionals and researchers to assess individual and overall community health following an extreme wildfire smoke event, providing the groundwork for utilization of pharmacy students in healthcare responses to public health emergencies.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We describe a novel, interprofessional, experiential training involving pharmacy students in response to a health emergency in rural Montana (MT). EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Fourth-year pharmacy students on clinical rotations were recruited to participate in screening events assessing effects of wildfire smoke in Seeley Lake, MT. Students were required to fulfill at least two hours of supplementary training in addition to education on human research guidelines. Students assisted with patient surveys (demographics, health, and respiratory), physiological testing with biomedical researchers, blood pressure and medication counseling, and spirometry specialists. FINDINGS: At least 20 pharmacy students have participated in this project in addition to nursing (n = 8), public health (n = 1), and social work (n = 1) students. In initial and subsequent screenings, students worked alongside a team of biomedical researchers and faculty from the University of Montana. An initial cohort of 95 patients was recruited. SUMMARY: This unique experiential training opportunity has afforded pharmacy students access to rural community patient interaction and exposure to and performance of a variety of tests in response to an environmental health emergency. Furthermore, it enabled health professionals and researchers to assess individual and overall community health following an extreme wildfire smoke event, providing the groundwork for utilization of pharmacy students in healthcare responses to public health emergencies.
Authors: Ana G Rappold; Jeanette Reyes; George Pouliot; Wayne E Cascio; David Diaz-Sanchez Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2017-06-02 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Kate M Shaw; Kristina A Theis; Shannon Self-Brown; Douglas W Roblin; Lawrence Barker Journal: Prev Chronic Dis Date: 2016-09-01 Impact factor: 2.830