Pharmacology/Medication

Assisting with or directly administering medication is an important role of the personal caregiver and carries significant responsibility. In fulfilling this role effectively and safely, the caregiver becomes a vital member of the health care team. This program introduces safe and responsible medication practices. Topics include the Five Rights principles of medication administration, proper routes of administration, and the various techniques of managing and manipulating medicine consumption. Students will learn how to address the effects of medications-including intended effects, side effects, and allergic reactions-and how these should be documented. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (43 minutes)

Although Alexander Fleming is usually credited with the discovery of penicillin in 1928, no penicillin-based antibiotic was actually developed for human use until 1938 through the work of Australian pathologist Howard Florey and German biochemist Ernst Chain. This program puts Fleming's contribution in scientific perspective. Live interviews, journal accounts, and archival footage lead the viewer through the discovery of the drug from a by-product of the tiny fungus, Penicillium notatum. The roles played by luck, politics, and society both in scientific research and bestowing credit for the discovery are explored. Original BBC broadcast title: The Mold, the Myth and the Microbe. (51 minutes)

Modern medicine owes much of its success to drugs. How do these chemical molecules treat and cure aches and illnesses? This program explains that these substances are usually copies" of natural substances produced by our own bodies. We witness the invention of a new drug by two researchers working at a major pharmaceutical laboratory-computer-assisted, of course. Finally, we are introduced to some promising new weapons against cancer, drugs designed to zero in on cancer cells and destroy them. (23 minutes)"

This program illustrates a growing appetite for-and dependence on-experience-enhancing pharmaceuticals and nutriceuticals among those who have the money, the connections, or the savvy to procure them. Drawing examples from the U.S. and France, Pills: Never Enough! examines the use of dietary supplements augmented by hormones to slow the effects of aging; the consumption of energy drinks such as the controversial Cocaine, which packs the caffeine punch of eight espressos per; the abuse of Prozac and sleep disorder med Modafinil by employees striving to work better and longer; the abuse of Ritalin and Concerta by students trying to improve their grades; and the abuse of OxyContin, Xanax, and other prescription meds at pharming parties," just for kicks. The abuse of ED meds Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra is given special attention, emphasizing their obvious value to the porn industry and their inclusion in chemical cocktails downed at gay sex clubs. Contains mature themes and explicit language and imagery. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 52 minutes)"

The misuse of prescription medicine is a growing problem. This program outlines six commonsense questions every patient should ask when given a prescription, like what activities should be avoided, and possible side effects. It also explains the importance of communication between patient, physician, and pharmacist to avoid potential problems. Saving medication, borrowing it from friends, and failing to take medication as prescribed are discussed as potential pitfalls. (27 minutes)

With thousands of prescription drugs on the market, patients, physicians, and pharmacists must work together as never before to ensure that medicines yield their intended effects without exposing those taking them to unnecessary health risks. This overview of prescription medications emphasizes the dangers of interactions between prescription drugs and other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbal and dietary supplements, and foods and beverages. Patient involvement through sharing information with the healthcare team, accepting accountability for compliance with the dosage regimen, and becoming informed of drug side effects is stressed. (24 minutes)

Once conducted almost entirely on dry land, the hunt for biochemical and pharmaceutical resources is shifting to the world's oceans. This program examines various phases of that research-algae and sponge extraction around the globe, the growing utilization of toxic substances produced by some marine organisms, and the practical application of treatments and cures that are often a dozen years in the making. With its ethical discussions about animal testing and the prerogatives of developing countries, Sea Changes provides a balanced and comprehensive look at a fascinating vanguard in undersea exploration. (50 minutes)

What is the state of medical research today? In what areas are breakthroughs imminent? What areas lag behind? This series takes a broad look at the field of medicine, journeying to the frontiers of research in key areas of medical science, as well as touring the most advanced treatment centers. A Deutsche Welle Production. 6-part series, 26 minutes each.

Drugs that can cure cardiovascular disease, rather than simply slowing cholesterol buildup, are currently in development. This program examines the history of anti-cholesterol drug production, as well as current biochemical research that might lead to the eradication of heart attacks and strokes. Describing scientific studies of isolated populations-most notably the inhabitants of Limone, Italy, where a genetic mutation has produced a natural cure for arterial plaque accumulation-the video also investigates the extraordinary level of competition that exists among pharmaceutical companies racing to create lifesaving chemical compounds. (55 minutes)

What is the most costly element of America's trillion-dollar healthcare system? Surprisingly, experts believe it is the medical quality gap and medical errors, which they estimate take more than 90,000 lives each year. In this program, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hedrick Smith examines New York's tough performance reports on doctors and hospitals doing open-heart surgery; profiles a pioneering effort by a VA hospital in Kentucky to confront medical errors; and shows breakthrough quality improvement drives in northern New England and Utah. Each case study is an eye-opener for an American public that rates high-quality care as its number one health priority. (49 minutes)