Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: Over the last twenty-five years, media assistance programs and policies designed to “develop” the domestic media sphere of target countries in line with democracy and good governance goals have expanded exponentially. The provision and expansion of new communication technologies is an increasingly central tool in service of these strategies. Access expansion initiatives, internet training programs, streaming video and audio, and internet-based video-conferencing are all being utilized in service of attempts to shape the form and content of target country media spheres in line with development goals. Because media assistance programs are typically de-centralized and administered under the rubric of a wide variety of departments and agencies, the structure and motivations of these programs are equally diverse and at times contradictory. Drawing upon qualitative interviews with policy-makers and an analysis of government reports and policy documents, this paper examines the role of new technologies in American government media assistance programs and presents lessons learned.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper investigates the politics of trade adjustment assistance – the provision of income, training and relocation assistance for workers losing their jobs due to trade openness. We develop and test the argument that such assistance might have a politics distinct from the politics of welfare and trade policies with which it overlaps. First, we argue that imperfect substitutability between trade adjustment assistance and trade protection, combined with the political linkage between adjustment assistance and trade liberalization, encourages strategic position-taking among voters as well as policymakers. The result is that opposition to trade liberalization tends to weaken support for trade adjustment assistance among individuals who, owing to their economic circumstances, stand to gain the most from such assistance. Second, we argue that left (liberal) self-identification and partisanship reflect normative values and causal beliefs that are partly independent of economic self-interest and are strong predictors of individual support for trade adjustment assistance. These arguments find empirical support in the history of lobbying and legislative bargaining over the U.S.Trade Adjustment Assistance program since 1962, and in more extensive analysis of data on individual attitudes towards trade adjustment assistance among American voters.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Background: Train-the-trainer models are increasingly being used to disseminate educational programs for health-care providers, yet few studies have evaluated the impact of this approach.
Objective: To assess pharmacy faculty members’ post-training perceptions of the Rx for Change program materials and train-the-trainer workshop.
Methods: During 2003-2005, 188 faculty members representing 89 schools of pharmacy attended a train-the-trainer workshop (15 hours conducted over 3 days) and completed a post-training survey assessing key factors hypothesized to be associated with program adoption.
Results: Prior to the workshop, 49.5% of participating faculty had received no formal training for treating tobacco use and dependence, and 46.3% had not taught tobacco cessation to students. On average, participants reported that 30.3% of the curriculum content was new [to them], 46.0% was a necessary review, and 23.6% was an unnecessary review. When asked to rate their post-training confidence for teaching the Rx for Change materials, 73.3% responded “high,” and 26.7% responded “moderate,” Compared to pre-training, there was an increase in self-rated abilities to teach tobacco cessation training to pharmacy students (p<0.001). The materials were viewed as either moderately (43.9%) or highly (55.0%) compatible for integration into existing curricula, and 68.3% indicated a high likelihood of program adoption in the upcoming academic year. Nearly all participants (97.3%) would recommend the workshop to other pharmacy faculty.
Conclusion: Participation in a train-the-trainer workshop increased faculty confidence for providing comprehensive tobacco cessation education to pharmacy students. The majority of participants indicated high likelihood of adopting the Rx for Change program.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Objective:
The objective of this study was to measure the use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) by pharmacists and assess their interest in using PDAs for various activities.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering a pre-validated survey to a convenient sample of pharmacists (N=295) in the Houston metropolitan. A scale from 0 (never) to 5 (frequently) was used to measure how often pharmacists used PDA for clinical administration (10 items), practice administration (9 items) and knowledge enrichment (4 items) if they owned a PDA. Similarly, a five-point extremely disinterested (1) -- extremely interested (5) scale was used to measure interest in future PDA use for those who did not own or use PDA. Descriptive analysis and comparative analysis were performed to understand the activities for which PDAs were used.
Results: Among the surveyed population 49% of pharmacists owned PDA. The top 5 activities in which pharmacists used PDAs were personal organizer (3.72 SD 1.80), drug information (2.94 SD 1.84), medical calculator (2.62 SD 1.91), clinical information to physicians (1.99 SD 1.90) and read medical textbooks (1.59 SD 1.86). These results were similar when analyzed to evaluate interest with respect to those who did not own or use a PDA for the above five activities.
Implications: Pharmacists who own a PDA, use it mainly for the basic functions that help them in their job duties. Training opportunities for pharmacist as well as initiation of PDA use in the pharmacy curriculum may enhance the use and benefits derived from PDAs.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Objectives: To describe the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary team experience implemented to give students real life exposure to geriatric patients and the roles of other health care professionals.
Methods: Second and third year pharmacy students enrolled in an elective geriatric pharmacy course were teamed with occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) students to assess geriatric residents in assisted living facilities. Resident participation was voluntary. A pre-experience meeting was scheduled to allow students to meet their OT and PT counterparts. Medication lists were obtained prior to the live visit to give pharmacy students an opportunity to develop a preliminary set of questions for the residents they were assigned. A meet-and-greet party was scheduled prior to the clinical patient encounter to allow students and residents to learn about one another. During the assessment visit, students were able to observe the other disciplines interact with the residents. An interdisciplinary class meeting was scheduled to allow each student group to present their care plan.
Results: Several barriers were encountered during the process, particularly with regard to coordination of student schedules and uneven participant numbers from the different disciplines. However, student feedback indicates the experience was positive, both from the standpoint of learning about other disciplines and gaining a better understanding of the challenges facing the geriatric patient.
Implications: A real-life multidisciplinary approach can enhance pharmacy students’ understanding of their role, and the roles of other practitioners, in the care of the older patient.