Zubin Austin | University of Toronto (original) (raw)

Papers by Zubin Austin

Canadian Pharmacists Journal, Feb 11, 2016

Canadian Pharmacists Journal, Sep 20, 2022

Background: The Peel region in Southern Ontario is among the most ethnoculturally diverse and fas... more Background: The Peel region in Southern Ontario is among the most ethnoculturally diverse and fastest growing areas in Canada. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the multicultural community of Brampton suffered one of the highest infection rates in Canada, in part because of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the community. The role of pharmacists in supporting vaccine uptake in this linguistically, ethnically and religiously diverse community has not been adequately characterized. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used, focusing on one of the major communities in Peel (Brampton). Interviews with community pharmacists and pharmacy staff directly involved in COVID-19 vaccine administration during the pandemic were undertaken to identify common experiences and trends related to providing care and support to this high-risk community. Constant comparative coding was used to identify common themes that can inform ongoing public health supports in future pandemics. Results: A total of 29 interviews were completed. Key themes that emerged included 1) the impact of operational, organizational and logistical issues on vaccine uptake in the community; 2) the negative influence of inconsistent messaging from public health and other experts during the pandemic; and 3) the identification of an emerging typology of “vaccine hesitancies” describing different reasons/motivations for avoiding COVID-19 vaccination and approaches taken by pharmacy staff to address these within a multicultural, multilingual practice context. Discussion: The COVID-19 vaccination campaign was unprecedented in its size, scope and speed, and community pharmacists were integral in this effort. The unique needs of ethnoculturally, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse communities like Brampton require further studies to examine ways in which the pharmacy profession can positively influence greater vaccine uptake, by increasing understanding of the diverse proliferation of vaccine hesitancies that emerged.

International Journal of Integrated Care, May 16, 2022

Pharmacy Education, 2007

As Canada's economy and health care system become more reliant upon contributions made by individ... more As Canada's economy and health care system become more reliant upon contributions made by individuals educated outside North America, there is an increasing need to develop systems and supportive programs to facilitate integration in the Canadian workforce. Collaboration between partners in different sectors is essential in ensuring success of such programs and systems. This paper reviews the development and outcome of inter-sectoral collaboration in the profession of pharmacy in Ontario, Canada. The need to develop such collaboration in pharmacy was particularly acute given the unusually high reliance upon internationally educated pharmacists in Canadian practice. The value of this collaboration, the way in which it developed and was nurtured, and challenges that emerged as part of the process, are discussed and analyzed as a case study example of how bridging education for internationally educated health care professionals may be operationalized.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Jul 4, 2007

Health sciences curricula are, by definition, built on a foundation of scientific knowledge and i... more Health sciences curricula are, by definition, built on a foundation of scientific knowledge and inquiry. Professional programs in fields such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, physical/occupational therapy, and dentistry purport to provide students with the ability to translate scientific knowledge and understanding into clinical practice, for improving the health and well-being of patients. Indeed, the scientific underpinning of each health profession is a point of pride, a reason these roles exist in the first place and are accorded the prestige of being called a "profession".

Pharmacy Education, Mar 1, 2004

Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2007

Canadian Pharmacists Journal, Nov 23, 2022

The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Sep 1, 2017

The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Feb 1, 2019

Objective. To assess students' impressions on whether Virtual Interactive Cases (VICs) contribute... more Objective. To assess students' impressions on whether Virtual Interactive Cases (VICs) contribute to their learning experience. Methods. Ten fourth-year pharmacy students each independently completed the same four VICs followed by a semi-structured interview conducted by VIC project team members. The interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and coded for themes using qualitative research methods. Results. All participating students completed all the cases. Overall, students' feedback on VIC was positive. Five main themes emerged from the transcripts: VIC facilitated their skills in information gathering; they learned from the built-in, real-time, formative feedback; they had a fun and positive learning experience; VICs were realistic; and VIC system was user-friendly. Students also recommended that VIC be incorporated into classroom learning. Some students required additional explanation on the concept of time and costs associated with each action they selected, and the associated performance score. Conclusion. Pharmacy students' positive experiences with VICs support its use to bridge classroom learning with clinical practice.

Pharmacy Education, Sep 1, 2004

Women and Birth, Feb 1, 2019

Substance use during pregnancy is a major public health concern, stemming from potential physical... more Substance use during pregnancy is a major public health concern, stemming from potential physical and psychosocial harms to both the mother and child. To understand women's experiences using substances during pregnancy and the reasons that women continue and/or discontinue using substances. Focus groups were conducted with women who attended an early intervention program for pregnant or parenting women with substance use issues. Women identified that external and internal stressors, feelings of guilt and low-self efficacy, and a lack of understanding of the scientific and medical consequences of substance use contributed to their continued substance use. Conversely, women highlighted the importance of high self-efficacy and the quality of relationships when trying to make positive changes to their substance use during pregnancy. Recommendations are proposed for easier access to and more comprehensive services. Healthcare professionals and service providers should offer non-judgmental care by building high-quality relationships with pregnant women with substance use issues, to increase these women's self-efficacy and empower them to discontinue substance use.

Healthcare policy, Feb 28, 2023

Pharmacy Education, Dec 9, 2020

Patient Education and Counseling, Jun 1, 2019

American Journal of Distance Education, Jun 1, 2006

The use of distance education for clinical skills development in the health professions has not b... more The use of distance education for clinical skills development in the health professions has not been extensively described, due in part to the intensive nature of the relationship between the patient and practitioner. In the context of pharmacy practice, there are specific needs to develop new vehicles for clinical skills education due to growing shortages, particularly in rural areas. This article describes the experience of one model of facilitated, asynchronous clinical skills distance education for pharmacists educated outside North America who were seeking licensure in Canada. Findings suggest that this model may be an effective way of delivering clinical skills education, provided participants meet baseline English language fluency requirements.