Rx Note

Introduction In today's digital world, we constantly generate information, from swiping credit cards to browsing the web. This abundance necessitates the ability to analyze and interpret it into actionable insights. Data: The Foundation “Data! Data! Data!... I can't make bricks without clay!"—— Sherlock Holmes via Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Now, data science, the discipline of making data useful, is an umbrella term that encompasses 3 disciplines. Statistics Helps make informed decisions with some uncertainty Machine learning Automates decision-making for large datasets with inherent uncertainties Analytics Explores data to uncover potential insights that can guide decision-making Essentially, data is a collection of facts and information. Only with data, conclusions can be drawn for the best way forward (data-driven decicion). In everyday life, an allergic reaction prompts us to avoid the allergen in the future. In businesses, companies use data analytics to improve processes...

Introduction In everyday life, we often have to make decisions based on incomplete information. We use our analytical skills to gather information, assess the situation and make the best possible decision. Analytical thinking is the ability to break down a problem into its component parts and identify the relationships between them. Along with critical thinking, it is a crucial aspect of problem solving, decision making and data analysis. Case Study: Constipation In a community pharmacy setting, pharmacists often use their clinical reasoning skill to diagnose and recommend treatments for common minor symptoms such as cough , diarrhoea and gastric issues. For example, a 34-year-old mother brings her 4-year-old son to the pharmacy because he has been constipated for a few days. Before making any product recommendations, the pharmacist would first need to establish the following: Whether the diagnosis of constipation is correct Different people have different normal bowel habits, rangi...