Results from a Walgreens study show that increased medication adherence on cycled oral antineoplastics can lead to lower medical costs and fewer hospitalization events compared with lower adherence levels. Additionally, these results help validate methodology for discontinuations, especially as organizations such as PQA continue their initiatives to create standard quality measures in oncology. PQA is prioritizing research and measurement strategies to improve the quality of care for individuals using oral anticancer medications.  

Evaluating Patient-Centered Prescription Labels on Adherence   
A recent study from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy found that patient-centered prescription medication labels can help increase medication adherence among patients. Current medication labels often hinder safe and appropriate use of medicines. Prescription labels frequently use small fonts and vague terminology and include information needed by the pharmacist, not the patient—such as the National Drug Code number and manufacturer. Previous research showed that 46% of patients misunderstood 1 or more dosing instructions and 56% of patients misunderstood 1 or more auxiliary warnings related to using the medication. 

Leveraging the Pharmacy and Total Store in Nutrition
NACDS President and CEO Steven Anderson said in a statement to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee that NACDS members are leveraging the pharmacy, the total store, and external partnerships to innovate in areas including food as medicine, comprehensive health and wellness, and chronic disease prevention and management. He also shared NACDS’ recommendations and commitments associated with the September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. PQA is expanding its work to address food security and its impact on medication use quality.  

New Student opportunities at PQA

PQA has new opportunities for pharmacy and other health professions students as part of it's commitment to train the next generation of medication use quality professionals.

This Diversity in Quality Scholarship is open to students who have completed at least their second year of study in a pharmacy or other health care degree program – and are part of racial, ethnic and other minority groups who are underrepresented in quality and health care leadership positions. 

Self-nominations will be accepted through a form on the PQA website through Friday, March 17.

The PQA Healthcare Quality IQ (HQIQ) program, sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions (PQS), teaches pharmacy and other health professions students the basics of quality measurement and strategies to improve medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. It provides more than 20 hours of specialized learning opportunities in quality and is open to undergraduate and graduate students who have completed their second year of study in a pharmacy or other health care degree program. 

Today, Friday, February 24, is the final day to submit self-nominations for HQIQ through a form on the PQA website. Selected participants for HQIQ and the Diversity in Quality Scholarship will be notified in early March.