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Biomedical subjects

A P Wolfgang

Publications and source records attributed to A P Wolfgang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

A modified work locus of control scale: preliminary investigation of reliability and validity in a sample of pharmacists.

Items in Spector's Work Locus of Control-Scale were modified to reflect how much control the respondent feels he might have on a job as opposed to what he feels people in general have. This modified Work Locus of Control Scale was tested for reliability and construct validity. As part of a larger study, data were collected via mail questionnaires from a sample of 284 pharmacists licensed in Indiana. The Cronbach coefficient alpha for the modified scale was .88, indicating good internal consistency. The modified scale also showed some evidence of convergent validity when correlated with scores on measures of Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Job Dissatisfaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Development of a scale to measure directive guidance by pharmacists.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and test a questionnaire that can be used to measure directive guidance behaviors by pharmacists. QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN: The Purdue Pharmacist Directive Guidance (PPDG) scale was developed based on the directive guidance dimension of socially supportive behaviors, as described by Barrera and Ainlay. The final scale consists of 10 items. SUBJECTS: Individuals on the Walker Test Crew database who were 18 years of age or older and self-reported taking medications for asthma, hypertension, and/or diabetes in the past 3 months were eligible for inclusion. All data were collected through telephone interviews. A total of 464 contacts were made, resulting in 300 responses. DATA ANALYSIS: Principal components analysis was performed to determine the construct subscales of the PPDG. Internal consistency of the PPDG and its subscales was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and corrected item-total correlations. Pearson product-moment correlations of the PPDG with measures of family and friend support (FFS) and self-reported medication adherence were used to determine convergent validity. Spearman rank-order correlations of the PPDG with the total number of prescription medications as well as those for asthma, hypertension, and diabetes taken in the past 3 months were obtained. ANOVA and Student's t-tests were used to determine differences in PPDG across demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Principal components analysis yielded two subscales for the PPDG. These were named Instruction and Feedback and Goal Setting, based on their content. The PPDG scale had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86), and correlated positively and significantly with FFS (r = 0.27), giving some evidence of convergent validity. The PPDG scale and its subscales also had logically intuitive positive and significant correlations with the total number of prescription drugs taken in the past 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The PPDG is short and easy to administer, and showed validity and reliability. The PPDG scale should be useful in developing a better understanding of the process by which pharmacists influence healthcare outcomes, assessing variations in pharmaceutical care, and as a tool in identifying means of overcoming barriers to higher levels of pharmaceutical care.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pharmacists' views on health care reform.

This study explored pharmacists' opinions on a reformed health care system. Questionnaires were mailed to 523 pharmacists about the structure, funding, cost control mechanisms, benefits, and features to be covered by a national health plan; 57.2% responded. The pharmacists showed no consensus regarding the basic structure of a national health plan. They favored increased taxes on alcohol and cigarettes to fund the plan and adamantly opposed increased individual income or employer payroll taxes. Pharmacists were not convinced that plan costs could be controlled. They strongly supported benefits for preventive services; however, they ranked coverage of outpatient prescription drugs relatively low. Pharmacists' opinions on health care reform differed according to position (e.g., owner or staff) and age.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1994

The Health Professions Stress Inventory: factor structures for pharmacists.

Scores from a sample of pharmacists on the Health Professions Stress Inventory were factor analyzed to identify any underlying components of these professionals' job-related stress. Data were collected via mail questionnaires from a nationwide sample of 573 practicing pharmacists. Three- and four-factor solutions, using both orthogonal and oblique rotations, were compared. Based on these comparisons, a four-factor oblique solution was judged to be most appropriate, the four factors being labeled Professional Recognition, Patient Care Responsibilities, Job Conflicts, and Professional Uncertainty. The factors show evidence of internal consistency and construct validity.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Dealing with stress on the job.

Pharmacists are urged to take an important first step toward effective stress management by considering five questions: How do you know if stress is a problem for you? What is causing most of your stress? Is your supervisor aware of the problem? How do you deal with stress? What can you do to reduce the impact of stress? Because uncontrolled job stress has been associated with serious negative consequences, pharmacists owe it to themselves to explore strategies that they can use to manage stress in their lives.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Substance abuse potential and job stress: a study of pharmacists, physicians, and nurses.

A study was conducted to assess the substance abuse potential of pharmacists, nurses, and primary care physicians, as well as the relationship between perceived job stress and substance abuse potential. Data was collected via a questionnaire mailed to 2,951 health professionals randomly selected from across the United States; a 42.1% response rate was achieved. Responses to the Hoffmann-Lumry substance abuse screening scale indicated that 17.2% of the actively practicing health professionals would be classified as high likelihood substance abusers. For all three professions studied, substance abuse potential was significantly related to scores on the Health Professions Stress Inventory.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of job expectations fulfillment of BS and entry-level PharmD graduates in hospital and community practice.

Job expectations are an important link between work and subsequent employee mental and physical well-being. Schools and colleges play an important role in the development of job expectations. This role gives them the responsibility of not only technically training students but also instilling in them realistic job previews and career expectations. Failure to do so places the graduate in a state of conflict between the reality of work in his/her chosen career and his/her preconceived expectations regarding the work. This state represents a potential source of job-related stress. BS and entry level PharmD training programs represent two approaches to pharmaceutical education in a practice environment which remains essentially the same for graduates of both programs. As such, there is the potential for a mismatch of job expectations resulting from one or both of the degree types. The present study investigated the following research questions: (i) to what extent are job expectations being fulfilled for pharmacists in hospital and community pharmacy; and (ii) in community and hospital practice, does the fulfillment of job expectations of BS and entry level PharmD graduates differ? Questionnaires were mailed to randomly selected 1980 to 1986 graduates of seven schools or colleges of pharmacy to elicit responses regarding fulfillment of job expectations in their present community or hospital pharmacy positions. The response rate was 48 percent. The subsequent data revealed that pharmacists generally felt that their job expectations were being fulfilled. No differences in overall fulfillment of job expectations were found between BS and entry level PharmD graduates in either community or hospital pharmacy practice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Inherent risk and market acceptance of generic drug products.

The results of a national survey of pharmacists indicate that generic substitutes are less likely to be used for drugs with higher inherent risk. Drugs used to treat chronic disease conditions are viewed as high risk products. Those used to treat symptoms are considered low risk products.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1988

Job stress in the health professions: a study of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

While considerable research has been devoted to job stress within individual health professions, little information has been available for comparing the sources or levels of stress among different groups of health professionals. To bridge that knowledge gap, the Health Professions Stress Inventory (HPSI) was administered via a mail questionnaire to 291 primary care physicians, 379 registered nurses, and 387 pharmacists randomly selected from across the United States. Mean stress scores on the HPSI were significantly different for all three professions, with nurses reporting the greatest levels of stress. Frequency of exposure to individual stressful job situations also differed significantly among the professional groups. While exploratory in nature, the results of this research emphasize the interprofessional differences that must be considered when considering the management of job stress in the health care system.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Pharmacy newsletters--the journalistic approach.

Pharmacy newsletters are an important communication tool for the majority of pharmacy operations across the country. They are used by pharmacists for basically two purposes: 1) to disseminate information to physicians, nurses and other hospital staff; and 2) for public relations. An enormous amount of time is spent by pharmacists in preparing newsletters but their effectiveness with respect to the above two purposes may vary from hospital to hospital. It is believed that a journalistic approach to the creation and publication of pharmacy newsletters can increase their effectiveness and acceptance by the hospital staff.

Communication↗
PubMed1988

Impact of computerization on clinical pharmacy services in South Atlantic states.

The impact of computerization on clinical pharmacy services in the South Atlantic region was surveyed. Questionnaires were mailed to 350 hospital pharmacy directors in March 1987. The survey assessed type of computer system, degree of computerization, years computerized, hospital bed capacity, occupancy rate, staffing, presence of a clinical coordinator, and type of clinical services. For analysis of the relationship between clinical services and computerization, only responses indicating an increase in the number of clinical services since 1982 were used. Respondents were asked to rank, in order of importance, factors that they believed enabled clinical services to be increased. The survey response rate was 52.2%, with 179 of 343 usable replies received. The results indicate that there is a link between computerization and clinical services. Computerized pharmacies offered more services on average than did noncomputerized pharmacies. However, the differences in the types of services offered between computerized and noncomputerized pharmacies were not significant. Of the different means of increasing services, pharmacy directors ranked increasing professional staff the most important, followed by increased responsibility of technical staff, computerization, increasing technical staff, hiring a clinical coordinator, and other methods. Pharmacy directors interested in increasing the numbers of clinical services offered at their institutions should consider organizational factors such as departmental structure and number and types of personnel in conjunction with computerization.

Analysis of Variance↗