A description of sodium valproate, lamotrigine and levetiracetam consumption in the Western Cape public sector

Background

The rational use of medicine is fundamental to ensure effective and safe patient medicine treatment, and hence, should be monitored. Undisputable evidence exists for the teratogenic risk factors associated with sodium valproate. Consequently, the Western Cape Department of Health introduced a policy (2019) recommending alternatives for valproate in women of childbearing age, including lamotrigine or levetiracetam as alternatives for patients on antiretrovirals. This study aimed to describe the change in the consumption of valproate, lamotrigine and levetiracetam after a policy implementation in public sector health facilities of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Methods

This observational study followed a quasi-experimental design. Consumption data from the Cape Medical Depot over the period 01 April 2018 to 31 March 2020 were analysed retrospectively. Consumption was presented as a defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 population per quarter for sodium valproate, levetiracetam and lamotrigine for the Western Cape province, urban and rural areas. Consumption 12 months before was compared with consumption 12 months after policy implementation.

Results

Post-policy implementation, valproate consumption remained unchanged provincially (3.3%; p = 0.255), in urban (7.8%; p = 0.255) and rural (1.5%; p = 0.701) areas. Lamotrigine consumption increased significantly provincially (30.7%; p = 0.020) and in urban areas (54.5%; p = 0.002); however, rural (26.1%; p = 0.108) areas did not show significant change. Provincially, valproate consumption remained substantially higher (209 DDDs/1000 population per quarter) compared with lamotrigine consumption (32.22 DDDs/1000 population per quarter).

Conclusion

In the Western Cape public sector, the consumption of sodium valproate remained unchanged 12 months after policy implementation. Although there were significant increases in lamotrigine and levetiracetam consumption, the consumption was considerably less compared with sodium valproate consumption.

Evaluation of Drug Use Pattern in Emergency Department of Dilchora Referral Hospital, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Background

Drug use evaluation is a system of continuous, systematic, criteria-based drug evaluation that ensures the appropriate use of drugs. Rationalization of drug therapy in emergency medicine would be useful in managing the broad array of conditions that present for emergency care. High-quality drug utilization is associated with the use of a relatively limited number of essential medicines. The World Health Organization developed core drug use indicators for conducting drug utilization studies in healthcare setting. WHO core drug use indicators including prescribing indicators, patient care indicators, and health facility indicators are used nowadays.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the drug use pattern in the Emergency Department of Dilchora Referral Hospital, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, 2018.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the emergency department (ED) of Dilchora Referral Hospital from July 20 to August 19, 2018, using structured data collection format.

Result

Out of 344 prescriptions analyzed, a total of 753 medications were prescribed. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.19. Of drugs prescribed, 685 (90.97%) were in their generic names. Antibiotics were prescribed in 95 (27.62%) of encounters, and injections were prescribed in 154 (44.77%) of encounters. Among 753 medications prescribed, the name and strength of drugs are indicated in 100% and 95.22%, respectively. 679 (90.17%) of drugs were prescribed from the essential drug list of Ethiopia.

Conclusion

The findings of this study revealed that the drug utilization pattern was not optimal in accordance with the standard values of WHO prescribing indicators. Some of the prescribing indicators like overprescribing of antibiotics and injections were a problem. Therefore, it is very imperative for the concerned stakeholders and healthcare providers to work toward ensuring drug use according to the standard.

A pilot study evaluating the prescribing of ceftriaxone in hospitals in Ghana: findings and implications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Widespread empiric use of antibiotics exists especially in developing countries. This is a concern since inappropriate use of antibiotics, including their extended inappropriate use, will increase resistance rates. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate antibiotic utilisation across healthcare sectors to improve future use. This includes ceftriaxone, widely used among hospitals including those in Ghana.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study to evaluate the appropriateness of ceftriaxone prescribing in a leading hospital in Ghana. Ceftriaxone prescribing in patient-record cards was assessed using a modified WHO drug-utilization evaluation criteria as well as referencing the national standard treatment guidelines in Ghana and the ceftriaxone package insert.

RESULTS

A total of 251 patients were assessed. Ceftriaxone was most commonly prescribed for comorbid malaria with bacterial infections, urinary tract infections, sepsis and gastroenteritis. The appropriateness of the indication was 86% (n = 218). The doses most prescribed were 1g (41%) and 2g (39%). Stat dose and once-daily dosage regimen constituted 51.4% and 84.5%, respectively. The most common duration of treatment was 1 (51.4%) and 2 days (35.1%). The overall appropriateness of prescribing was 93% against a pre-set threshold of 97%.

CONCLUSION

The appropriateness of ceftriaxone prescribing was high in this leading hospital in Ghana; however, there is room for improvement with targeted education initiatives, with further research planned.

Improving osteoporosis management in general practice: a pharmacist-led drug use evaluation program

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a drug use evaluation (DUE) program on osteoporosis management in general practice.

METHODS

A DUE program, led by pharmacists integrated into two general practice clinics in Melbourne, Australia, was undertaken as part of the Pharmacists in Practice Study. Data on use of anti-osteoporosis medicines and calcium and vitamin D supplements were collected at baseline and 12 months. Following the baseline audit, an intervention comprising prescriber feedback, group education and individual case-conferences with prescribers, and patient education mail-outs was implemented. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis and without contraindications to anti-osteoporosis medicines who were prescribed an anti-osteoporosis medicine. Feedback from practice staff and pharmacists was explored qualitatively to evaluate the acceptability of the program.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients without documented contraindications to osteoporosis therapies who were prescribed an anti-osteoporosis medicine increased significantly (134/227 [59.0 %] vs. 168/240 [70.0 %], p = 0.002). The proportion of patients for whom vitamin D and/or calcium supplement use was documented also increased significantly (145/227 [63.9 %] vs. 205/240 [85.4 %], p = 0.002). Practice staff and pharmacists were generally positive about the DUE program.

CONCLUSIONS

A practice pharmacist-led DUE program improved the management of osteoporosis in general practice.

An exploration of the role of pharmacists within general practice clinics: the protocol for the pharmacists in practice study (PIPS)

Background

Medication-related problems are a serious concern in Australian primary care. Pharmacist interventions have been shown to be effective in identifying and resolving these problems. Collaborative general practitioner-pharmacist services currently available in Australia are limited and underused. Limitations include geographical isolation of pharmacists and lack of communication and access to patient information. Co-location of pharmacists within the general practice clinics is a possible solution. There have been no studies in the Australian setting exploring the role of pharmacists within general practice clinics.

The aim of this study is to develop and test a multifaceted practice pharmacist role in primary care practices to improve the quality use of medicines by patients and clinic staff.

Methods/design

This is a multi-centre, prospective intervention study with a pre-post design and a qualitative component. A practice pharmacist will be located in each of two clinics and provide short and long patient consultations, drug information services and quality assurance activities. Patients receiving long consultation with a pharmacist will be followed up at 3 and 6 months. Based on sample size calculations, at least 50 patients will be recruited for long patient consultations across both sites. Outcome measures include the number, type and severity of medication-related problems identified and resolved; medication adherence; and patient satisfaction. Brief structured interviews will be conducted with patients participating in the study to evaluate their experiences with the service. Staff collaboration and satisfaction with the service will be assessed.

Discussion

This intervention has the potential to optimise medication use in primary care clinics leading to better health outcomes. This study will provide data about the effectiveness of the proposed model for pharmacist involvement in Australian general practice clinics, that will be useful to guide further research and development in this area.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000742875

Implementation and evaluation of a multisite drug usage evaluation program across Australian hospitals - a quality improvement initiative

BACKGROUND

With the use of medicines being a broad and extensive part of health management, mechanisms to ensure quality use of medicines are essential. Drug usage evaluation (DUE) is an evidence-based quality improvement methodology, designed to improve the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of drug use. The purpose of this paper is to describe a national DUE methodology used to improve health care delivery across the continuum through multi-faceted intervention involving audit and feedback, academic detailing and system change, and a qualitative assessment of the methodology, as illustrated by the Acute Postoperative Pain Management (APOP) project.

METHODS

An established methodology, consisting of a baseline audit of inpatient medical records, structured patient interviews and general practitioner surveys, followed by an educational intervention and follow-up audit, is used. Australian hospitals, including private, public, metropolitan and regional, are invited to participate on a voluntary basis. De-identified data collected by hospitals are collated and evaluated nationally to provide descriptive comparative analyses. Hospitals benchmark their practices against state and national results to facilitate change. The educational intervention consists of academic detailing, group education, audit and feedback, point-of-prescribing prompts and system changes. A repeat data collection is undertaken to assess changes in practice.An online qualitative survey was undertaken to evaluate the APOP program. Qualitative assessment of hospitals' perceptions of the effectiveness of the overall DUE methodology and changes in procedure/prescribing/policy/clinical practice which resulted from participation were elicited.

RESULTS

62 hospitals participated in the APOP project. Among 23 respondents to the evaluation survey, 18 (78%) reported improvements in the documentation of pain scores at their hospital. 15 (65%) strongly agreed or agreed that participation in APOP directly resulted in increased prescribing of multimodal analgesia for pain relief in postoperative patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This national DUE program has facilitated the engagement and participation of a number of acute health care facilities to address issues relating to quality use of medicine. This approach has been perceived to be effective in helping them achieve improvements in patient care.

The Queensland experience of participation in a national drug use evaluation project, Community-Acquired Pneumonia Towards Improving Outcomes Nationally (CAPTION)

Background

Multicentre drug use evaluations are described in the literature infrequently and usually publish only the results. The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of Queensland hospitals participating in the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Towards Improving Outcomes Nationally (CAPTION) project, specifically evaluating the implementation of this project, detailing benefits and drawbacks of involvement in a national drug use evaluation program.

Methods

Emergency departments from nine hospitals in Queensland, Australia, participated in CAPTION, a national quality improvement project, conducted in 37 Australian hospitals. CAPTION was aimed at optimising prescribing in the management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia according to the recommendations of the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic 12th edition. The project involved data collection, and evaluation, feedback of results and a suite of targeted educational interventions including audit and feedback, group presentations and academic detailing.

A baseline audit and two drug use evaluation cycles were conducted during the 2-year project. The implementation of the project was evaluated using feedback forms after each phase of the project (audit or intervention). At completion a group meeting with the hospital coordinators identified positive and negative elements of the project.

Results

Evaluation by hospitals of their participation in CAPTION demonstrated both benefits and drawbacks. The benefits were grouped into the impact on the hospital dynamic such as; improved interdisciplinary working relationships (e.g. between pharmacist and doctor), recognition of the educational/academic role of the pharmacist, creation of ED Pharmacist positions and enhanced involvement with the National Prescribing Service, and personal benefits. Personal benefits included academic detailing training for participants, improved communication skills and opportunities to present at conferences. The principal drawback of participation was the extra burden on already busy staff members.

Conclusion

A national multicentre drug use evaluation project such as CAPTION allows hospitals which would otherwise not undertake such projects the opportunity to participate. The Queensland arm of CAPTION demonstrated benefits to both the individual participants and their hospitals, highlighting the additional value of participating in a multicentre project of this type.