Christine Hughes, BscPharm, ACPR, PharmD

Area of Study / Keywords

HIV Medications Vaccines Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections Sexual Health Pharmacy Services Professional Development

About

Education:

Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy (BScPharm) - University of Alberta, 1994

Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency (ACPR) - Royal Alexandra Hospital, 1995

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) - University of British Columbia, 1997

Awards and Recognitions (Select):

2017 Teaching Excellence Award (Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences)

2015CSHP 2015 National Success Story (Optimizing HIV Perinatal Outcomes: Pharmacist Contributions in a Collaborative Care Model)

2013Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (University of Alberta)

2011Bristol Myers Squibb, Excellence in Teaching Award (undergraduate pharmacy program)

2011Alberta Pharmacy Centennial Award of Distinction

2010 Canadian Pharmacists Association Patient Care Achievement Award in Specialty Practice

2010MJ Huston Pharmacist of Distinction – Alberta College of Pharmacists

2008Fellow Award (FCSHP) – Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists

2002Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (Alberta Branch), Practitioner of the Year Award

1999Bristol Myers Squibb, Excellence in Teaching Award (undergraduate pharmacy program)

Certification/Licensure:

1994-present Alberta College of Pharmacists

2007 Additional Prescribing Authority (Alberta College of Pharmacists)

2007 Authorization to Administer Drugs by Injection

2012 American Academy of HIV Medicine HIV Pharmacist Credential (AAHIVP)

Clinical Practice:

Northern Alberta HIV Program - Kaye Edmonton Clinic

Research

My research interests primarily focus on HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI). This includes both treatment as well as prevention. I am also interested in community pharmacist's roles in sexual health, including STBBI screening, treatment, and administration of vaccines.

Current work also focuses on implementation and evaluation of new pharmacy services and professional development support needed.

Selected Publications (*corresponding author):

Kelly D, Kielly J, Hughes C, et al. Expanding access to HIV testing through Canadian community pharmacies: findings from the APPROACH study. BMC Public Health 20, 639 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08719-0 

Hughes CA, Breault RR, Schindel TJ. A qualitative case study exploring implementation of care planning services in community pharmacies. J Am Pharm Assoc 2020; S1544-3191(19)30594-1.

Watson T, Schindel TJ, Simpson SH, Hughes CA*. Medication adherence in patients with mental illness and recent homelessness: contributing factors and perceptions on mobile technology use. Int J Pharm Pract 2020;28(4):362-9. doi:10.1111/ijpp.12608

Hughes C*. Pharmacists and vaccination in pregnancy. Can Pharm J 2019;152:424-426.

Schindel TJ, Breault RR, Hughes CA*. “It Made a Difference to Me”: A Comparative Case Study of Community Pharmacists’ Care Planning Services in Primary Health Care. Pharmacy 2019;7(3);90.

Hughes C*, Yoong D, Giguere P, Hull M, Tan DH. Canadian guideline on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis for pharmacists. Can Pharm J 2019;152:81-91.

Giguere P, Nhean S, Tseng AL, Hughes CA, Angel JB. Getting to the heart of the matter: a review of drug interactions between HIV antiretrovirals and cardiology medications. Can J Cardiol 2019;35:326-40.

Nguyen B, Foisy MM, Hughes CA*. Pharmacokinetics and safety of the integrase inhibitors elvitegravir and dolutegravir in pregnant women with HIV. Ann Pharmacotherapy 2019; https://doi.org/10.1177/1060028019830788

Schindel TJ, Yuksel N, Breault R, Daniels J, Varnhagen, Hughes C*. Pharmacists’ learning needs in the era of expanding scopes of practice: evolving practices and changing needs. Res Soc Admin Pharm 2019;15(4):448-58.

Chowdhury F, Guirguis L, Hughes C, Makowsky M, Sadowski C, Schindel T, Cor K, Yuksel N. Characterizing Pharmacist Prescribers in Alberta Using Cluster Analysis. J Pharm Health Serv Res 2018; (available online October 25, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1111/jphs.12276

Robinson J, Hughes C. Prevention of in utero and intrapartum transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. JAMMI 2018;3(4):155-160.

Boswell R, Foisy MM, Hughes CA*. Dolutegravir dual therapy as maintenance treatment in HIV-infected patients: a review. Ann Pharmacother 2018;52:681-9.  

Lefebvre M, Mayan, M, Hughes C, Houston S. Adherence among chaos: exploring how control and relationships influence adherence to HIV medication. Cogent Medicine; 5(1):1430197. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331205X.2018.1430197. 

Kielly J, Kelly DV, Hughes C, Day K, Hancock S, Asghari S, Gahagan J, Marra C, Nguyen H. Adaptation of POCT for Pharmacies to Reduce risk and Optimize Access to Care in HIV, the APPROACH study: examining acceptability and feasibility. BMC Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2018;4:59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-018-0252-1

Guirguis LM, Hughes CA, Makowsky M, Sadowski CA, Schindel TJ, Yuksel N, Faruqee CF. Development and validation of a survey instrument to measure factors that influence pharmacist prescribing in Alberta, Canada. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2018;16(1):1068.

Tan DHS, Hull MW, Yoong D, Tremblay C, O’Byrne P, Thomas R, Kille J, Baril JG, Cox J, Giguere P, Harris M, Hughes C, MacPherson P, O’Donnell S, Reimer J, Singh A, Barrett L, Bogoch I, Jollimore J, Lambert G, Lebouche B, Metz G, Rogers T, Shafran S. Canadian guidelines on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis. Can Med Assoc J 2017; 189: E1448-58.

Hughes CA, Breault RR, Hicks D, Schindel TJ. Positioning pharmacists’ roles in primary health care: a discourse analysis of the compensation plan in Alberta, Canada. BMC Health Serv Res 2017; 17:770.

Sahajpal R, Ahmed RA, Hughes CA, Foisy MM. Probable Drug Interaction Between Levothyroxine and Ritonavir: Case Report and Literature Review. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2017;74:587-92. 

Tseng A, Hughes CA, Wu J, Seet J, Phillips EJ. Cobicistat versus ritonavir: similar pharmacokinetic enhancers but some important differences. Ann Pharmacother 2017;51:1008-22. 

Breault RR, Whissel JG, Hughes CA, Schindel TJ. Development and implementation of the compensation plan for pharmacy services in Alberta, Canada. J Am Pharm Assoc 2017;57:532-41.

Guirguis LM, Hughes C, Makowsky M, Sadowski C, Schindel T, and Yuksel N. A survey of pharmacist prescribing practices in Alberta. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2017;74:62-69.

Schindel TJ, Yuksel N, Breault R, Daniels J, Varnhagen S, Hughes CA*. Perceptions of pharmacists' roles in an era of expanding scopes of practice. Res Social Admin Pharm 2017;13:148-61.  

Watson T, Simpson S, Hughes CA*. Text messaging interventions for individuals with mental health disorders including substance use: a systematic review. Psychiatry Res 2016;243:255-62. 

Sidhu V, Foisy MM, Hughes CA*. Discontinuing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis in HIV-infected patients with a CD4 cell count < 200 cells/mm3. Ann Pharmacother 2015;49:1343-8.

Hughes CA*, Tseng A, Cooper R. Managing drug interactions in HIV-infected adults with comorbid illness. Can Med Assoc J 2015;187:36-43. 

Kim S, Hughes CA, Sadowski CA. A review of acute care interventions to improve inpatient pneumococcal vaccination. Prev Med 2014; 67:119-27.  

Lefebvre M, Hughes CA, Yasui Y, Saunders LD, Houston S. Antiretroviral treatment outcomes among immigrant/refugee persons living with HIV/AIDS in northern Alberta. Can J Public Health 2014;105(4):e251-7. 

Egan G, Hughes CA, Ackman ML. Drug interactions between antiplatelet or novel oral anticoagulant medications and antiretroviral drugs. Ann Pharmacother 2014;48:734-50.  

Guirguis LM, Makowsky M, Hughes CA, Sadowski CA, Schindel TJ, Yuksel N. How have pharmacists in different practice settings integrated prescribing privileges into practice in Alberta? A qualitative exploration. J Clin Pharm Ther 2014;39(4):390-8. 

Gunther M, Foisy M, Houston S, Guirguis L, Hughes C*. Treatment beliefs, illness perceptions, and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in an ethnically diverse patient population. Int J Clin Pharm 2014;36:105-111.

Charrois T, Rosenthal M, Hoti K, Hughes C. Pharmacy student perceptions of pharmacist prescribing: a comparison study. Pharmacy 2013;1(2):237-47. 

Schindel TJ, Hughes CA, Sadowski CA. Blended learning: Reflections on teaching experiences across the pharmacy education continuum. Pharmacy 2013, 1(2): 137-152. 

Hughes C, Makowsky M, Sadowski C, Schindel T, Yuksel N, Guirguis L. What prescribing means to pharmacists: A qualitative exploration of practicing pharmacists in Alberta. Int J Pharm Pract 2014;22(4):283-91. (article first ahead of print 7 Nov 2013). 

Makowsky M, Guirguis LM, Hughes C, Sadowski C, and Yuksel N. Factors influencing pharmacists’ adoption of prescribing: qualitative application of the diffusion of innovations theory. Implement Sci 2013; 8:109.

Hall JJ, Hughes CA*, Foisy MM, Houston S, Shafran S. Iatrogenic Cushing syndrome after intra-articular triamcinolone in a patient receiving ritonavir boosted darunavir. Int J STD AIDS 2013;24(9):748-52.

Foisy MM, Hughes C, Hills-Nieminen C, Singh AE, Joffe AM. Tenofovir-related nephrotoxicity: An ongoing clinical challenge. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2013;70(15):1272-4.

Hughes C. Should all pharmacists in direct patient care settings be authorized to inject medications. (The Pro side). Can J Hosp Pharm 2013;66:35-36. 

Al Ghurair SA, Hughes CA, Simpson SH, Guirguis LM. A systematic review of patient self-reported barriers of adherence to antihypertensive medications using the world health organization multidimensional adherence model. J Clin Hypertens 2012;14:877-86. 

Watson T, Hughes C*. Pharmacists and harm reduction: A review of current practices and attitudes. Can Pharm J 2012;145:124-7.

Tseng A, Foisy M, Hughes CA, et al. Role of the Pharmacist in Caring for Patients with HIV/AIDS: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Can J Hosp Pharm 2012;65:125-145.

Schindel TJ, Kehrer JP, Yuksel N, Hughes CA. University-based continuing education for pharmacists. Am J Pharm Educ 2012; 76(2): Article 20.

Hunt K, Hughes CA*, Hills-Nieminen C. Protease inhibitor-associated QT interval prolongation. Ann Pharmacother 2011;45:1544-50. 

Foisy M, Hughes C. Role of the pharmacist in perinatal management of HIV disease. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2011;68:2116-22.

Guirguis L, Cooney D, Dolovich L, Eberhart G, Hughes C, Makowsky M, Sadowski C, Schindel T, Yuksel N.  Exploring pharmacists' understanding and adoption of prescribing in two Canadian jurisdictions: design and rationale for a mixed methods approach. Can Pharm J 2011;144(5):240-244.

Hughes C, Guirguis L, Wong T, Ng K, Ing L, Fisher K. The Influence of Pharmacy Practice on Community Pharmacists’ Integration of Medication and Lab Value Information from Electronic Health Records. J Am Pharm Assoc 2011;51:591-8.

Kau L, Sadowski CA, Hughes C. Vaccinations in older adults: focus on pneumococcal, influenza and herpes zoster infections. CPJ 2011;144:132-41.

Wong K, Hughes C*, Plitt S, Foisy M, MacDonald J, Johnson M, Singh A. HIV Non-occupational Post-exposure Prophylaxis in a Canadian province: Treatment Completion and Follow-up Testing. Int J STD AIDS 2010;21:617-21. 

Hughes CA*, Foisy M, Tseng A. Interactions between antifungals and antiretroviral agents. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2010;9:1-20.

Hughes CA*, Schindel T. Evaluation of a professional development course on laboratory values: can practice change? Int J Pharm Pract 2010;18(3):174-9.

Hills-Nieminen C, Hughes CA, Houston S, Shafran SD. Drug-drug interaction between itraconazole and protease inhibitor lopinavir/ritonavir. Ann Pharmacother 2009;43:2117-20.

Hughes CA, Robinson L, Tseng A, MacArthur RD. New antiretroviral drugs: a review of the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and resistance profile of tipranavir, darunavir, etravirine, rilpivirine, maraviroc, and raltegravir. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2009;10(15):2445-66.

Zuk D, Hughes CA*, Foisy M, Robinson J, Singh A, Houston S. Adverse Effects of Antiretrovirals in HIV-infected Pregnant Women. Ann Pharmacother 2009;43:1028-35.

Yuksel N, Hughes C. Is a 1-year residency program long enough to prepare hospital pharmacists for practice? The “con” side. Can J Hosp Pharm 2009; 62(1): 44-5.

Hughes CA. Practice Spotlight: Interdisciplinary HIV Outpatient Clinic. Can J Hosp Pharm 2009;62:326-7. 

Hughes CA*, Zuk D, Foisy M, Robinson J, Singh A, Houston S. Prenatal Screening and Perinatal HIV transmission in northern Alberta: 1999-2006. Am J Public Health, 2009;99:S412-S416.

Foisy MM, Yakiwchuk EM, Hughes CA. Induction effects of ritonavir: implications for drug interactions. Ann Pharmacother 2008;42:1048-59.

Yakiwchuk EM, Foisy M, Hughes C. Complexity of drug interactions between voriconazole and antiretroviral agents. Ann Pharmacother 2008;42:698-703.

Hughes CA*, Foisy M, Dewhurst N, Higgins N, Robinson L, Kelly DV, Lechelt KE. Abacavir hypersensitivity reaction: update on management and prevention. Ann Pharmacother 2008;387-96. ) Ann Pharmacother 2008;387-96. 

Hughes CA*, Freitas A, Miedzinski L. Lopinavir/ritonavir and warfarin interaction. Can Med Assoc J 2007;177(4):357-9. 

Hughes CA*, Shafran SD. Treatment of hepatitis C in HIV co-infected patients. Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:479-89.

Hughes CA*, Shafran SD. Chronic hepatitis C virus management: 2000-2005 update. Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:74-82.

Hughes CA*, Cashin RP, Eurich DT, Houston S. Risk factors for new-onset diabetes mellitus in patients receiving protease inhibitor therapy. Can J Inf Dis 2005;16:225-9.

Sheehan NL, Kelly DV, Tseng AL, van Heeswijk RPG, Beique LC, Hughes CA. Evaluation of HIV drug interaction websites. Ann Pharmacother 2003;37:1577-86.

Teaching

Teaching areas:

Course coordinator Pharmacy 446 (Infectious Diseases & Transplant): vaccines, therapeutics of viral pathogens (e.g. HIV, hepatitis, herpes viruses), opportunistic infections, protozoal and fungal infections

Other areas of teaching: thyroid conditions, assessment and therapeutic management of anemias, antiretroviral therapeutic drug monitoring

Teaching philosophy:

In many situations my teaching philosophy can best be described as progressive adult education. I believe my role (as an instructor) is to guide the learning process by providing learning experiences which involve integration and application of knowledge to realistic patient scenarios. I believe learners develop confidence in themselves as learners and critical thinkers when they are supported and encouraged to ask questions to broaden their thinking. In order to achieve this, I try to create a classroom environment that supports questioning behaviours and encourages critical thought.