Fundamentals of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy: An Evidence-Based Approach Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781585282289 ISBN-10: 1585282286 Copyright: 2010 Edition: 1st Editors: Hutchinson, Lisa C., Sleeper, Rebecca B., Doody's Expert Review    Score: 99 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Susan Romann,  PharmD, BCGP  (Temple University School of Pharmacy) Description This is a valuable and much needed book for pharmacy practitioners caring for geriatric patients. Intended as a textbook for pharmacy students, each chapter contains clear objectives, defines key terms, provides clinical pearls and case studies, and includes chapter summaries as well as self-assessment questions. Purpose The book builds on knowledge gained from a general pharmacotherapy textbook. A previous foundation in disease-specific pathophysiology and pharmacology is assumed, allowing the authors to focus on evidence-based pharmacotherapy specific to elderly patients. Although designed as a textbook for pharmacy students, practicing pharmacists and other healthcare providers will find this useful, especially given the dearth of geriatric-trained practitioners. In addition to pharmacotherapy, general psychosocial, economic, and quality of life issues are presented, which can be equally as important as choosing the correct medication for a given disease. This is a much needed book because there is limited clinical literature guiding treatment of many disease states in the geriatric population. The elderly are often excluded from clinical trials, forcing treatment decisions to be made from the general adult literature or guidelines. Medication management is crucial, especially in this population, and this book attempts to provide as much scientific evidence as is currently available. Audience It is designed primarily for pharmacy students for use in an elective or required course focused on geriatric pharmacotherapy. However, the authors suggest that practicing pharmacists and other providers wanting to learn more about caring for geriatric patients also will find the book useful, and I agree. I plan to incorporate parts of this book into my geriatric lectures and would recommend it as required reading for a geriatric elective. The authors are authorities on geriatrics, active in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy's Practice and Research Network, and dedicated to enlightening those of us who strive to provide quality care to older patients. Features The first of the book's two sections reviews general concepts, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes, who cares for the elderly, living options, advanced directives, geriatric assessments, adverse drug events, and polypharmacy issues. Section two covers common disease states encountered in the geriatric population. Each chapter follows a similar format, reviews age-specific epidemiology, and provides evidence for treatment across the aging continuum. Chapters begin with concise learning objectives and a mini-glossary of relevant terms for the chapter, as opposed to a glossary in the back of the book. The book provides a very comprehensive review of important concepts that are unique in this population, as well as specific disease-state guidelines and recommendations. The chapter on ethical and socioeconomic considerations presents topics not routinely taught to students and gives readers an appreciation of when not to give a drug, how to approach end of life care, and the ethical issues surrounding many of these tough decisions. When appropriate, graphs, drug-dosing charts, and examples of validated assessment tools are included. Clinical pearls and key points are unique features that are used frequently throughout the chapters. These useful clinical insights are not necessarily found in the medical literature. The case scenarios and self-assessment questions are also a valuable addition. The cases are set up in similar fashion to SOAP notes that pharmacy students should be accustomed to writing. The patient cases represent real-life examples in a variety of clinical settings to demonstrate the complexity of caring for geriatric patients and the decision-making challenges facing families and providers. Assessment This is a much needed review of available clinical evidence for disease states encountered in the geriatric population. Many general pharmacotherapy textbooks devote little space exclusively to the unique characteristics and medication management needs of older patients. A publication of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, this book is well referenced and includes a host of contributors and reviewers with expertise in geriatric care. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? N/A 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. N/A 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. N/A 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book 4 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? N/A ©2024 Doody Enterprises, Inc.