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Teum L, Gokhman F, Park S, Budnitz DS, Aquilina JW, Kuffner EK. A Pilot Study Assessing Common Medication Organizers for Child-Resistant Features. AJPM FOCUS 2024; 3:100232. [PMID: 38832092 PMCID: PMC11145423 DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2024.100232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Prescription and most over-the-counter medicines are required to have child-resistant packaging and/or labeled with instructions "Keep out of reach of children." Although medication organizers are not required to have such design features or instructions, these could help prevent unsupervised ingestions by children. Commonly purchased medication organizers were evaluated for child-resistant design features and instructions for safe use to prevent unsupervised ingestions. Methods The 29 best-selling medication organizers on Amazon.com were identified, and product identifiers, design characteristics, and safety characteristics were recorded using a standardized instrument. Results Of the 29 medication organizers, none claimed to be child resistant. Only 31% provided a specific warning that the organizer was not child resistant on the packaging; only 41% communicated "Keep out of reach of children." Most organizers (59%) provided neither a warning that the organizer was not child resistant nor instructions to store out of reach of children. The majority of organizers (79%) shared the following characteristics: plastic construction, rectangular shape, nonelectronic flip-top opening mechanisms, and 7-day usage. Conclusions Opportunities exist for manufacturers of medication organizers to improve child-resistant product design, provide information to help prevent unsupervised ingestions (directions to keep the device out of the reach of children), and help to reduce unsupervised ingestions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilai Teum
- Global Product Safety, Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Skillman, New Jersey
- Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Raritan, New Jersey
| | - Fallon Gokhman
- Global Product Safety, Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Skillman, New Jersey
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Sophia Park
- Global Product Safety, Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Skillman, New Jersey
- Genmab US, Plainsboro, New Jersey
| | - Daniel S. Budnitz
- Global Product Safety, Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Skillman, New Jersey
- Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Skillman, New Jersey
| | | | - Edwin K. Kuffner
- Global Product Safety, Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Skillman, New Jersey
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2
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Nelson AJ, Pagidipati NJ, Bosworth HB. Improving medication adherence in cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:417-429. [PMID: 38172243 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00972-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Non-adherence to medication is a global health problem with far-reaching individual-level and population-level consequences but remains unappreciated and under-addressed in the clinical setting. With increasing comorbidity and polypharmacy as well as an ageing population, cardiovascular disease and medication non-adherence are likely to become increasingly prevalent. Multiple methods for detecting non-adherence exist but are imperfect, and, despite emerging technology, a gold standard remains elusive. Non-adherence to medication is dynamic and often has multiple causes, particularly in the context of cardiovascular disease, which tends to require lifelong medication to control symptoms and risk factors in order to prevent disease progression. In this Review, we identify the causes of medication non-adherence and summarize interventions that have been proven in randomized clinical trials to be effective in improving adherence. Practical solutions and areas for future research are also proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Nelson
- Victorian Heart Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Hayden B Bosworth
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Faye SLB, Lugand MM, Offianan AT, Dossou-Yovo A, Kouadio DKM, Pinto F. Field testing of user-friendly perennial malaria chemoprevention packaging in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Mozambique. Malar J 2024; 23:157. [PMID: 38773567 PMCID: PMC11106929 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04977-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) aims to protect children at risk from severe malaria by the administration of anti-malarial drugs to children of defined ages throughout the year. Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) has been widely used for chemoprevention in Africa and a child-friendly dispersible tablet formulation has recently become available. METHODS This qualitative non-interventional observational study was conducted in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mozambique between February and June 2022. Prototype blister packs, dispensing boxes and job aids designed to support dispersible SP deployment for PMC were evaluated using focus group discussions (FGD) and semi-structured in-depth individual interviews (IDI) with health authorities, health personnel, community health workers (CHWs) and caregivers. The aim was to evaluate knowledge and perceptions of malaria and chemoprevention, test understanding of the tools and identify gaps in understanding, satisfaction, user-friendliness and acceptability, and assess the potential role of CHWs in PMC implementation. Interviews were transcribed and imported to ATLAS.ti for encoding and categorization. Thematic content analysis used deductive and inductive coding with cross-referencing of findings between countries and participants to enrich data interpretation. Continuous comparison across the IDI and FGD permitted iterative, collaborative development of materials. RESULTS Overall, 106 participants completed IDIs and 70 contributed to FGDs. Malaria was widely recognised as the most common disease affecting children, and PMC was viewed as a positive intervention to support child health. The role of CHWs was perceived differently by the target groups, with caregivers appreciating their trusted status in the community, whereas health authorities preferred clinic-based deployment of PMC by health professionals. Empirical testing of the prototype blister packs, dispensing boxes and job aids highlighted the context-specific expectations of respondents, such as familiar situations and equipment, and identified areas of confusion or low acceptance. A key finding was the need for a clear product identity reflecting malaria. CONCLUSION Simple modifications profoundly affected the perception of PMC and influenced acceptability. Iterative quantitative investigation resulted in PMC-specific materials suited to the local context and socio-cultural norms of the target population with the aim of increasing access to chemoprevention in children most at risk of severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Landry Birane Faye
- Laboratoire de Sociologie, Anthropologie, Psychologie (LASAP), Department of Sociology, Cheikh Anta DIOP University (UCAD), Dakar, Senegal
| | - Maud Majeres Lugand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, PO Box 1826, 1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland.
| | - André Touré Offianan
- Department of Parasitology & Mycology, Institut Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Aurélie Dossou-Yovo
- Directorate of Health Training and Research, Ministry of Health, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Dieudonné Kouakou M'Bra Kouadio
- Département d'Anthropologie et de Sociologie/Centre de Recherche Pour le Développement, Université Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire
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Lin E, Gandhi D, Volk M. Preventing Readmissions of Hepatic Encephalopathy: Strategies in the Acute Inpatient, Immediate Postdischarge, and Longitudinal Outpatient Setting. Clin Liver Dis 2024; 28:359-367. [PMID: 38548445 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a strong predictor of early hospital readmission in patients with cirrhosis. Early hospital readmission increases health care costs and is associated with worse survival. Herein we provide an overview of strategies to prevent hospital readmissions in patients with HE, divided into 3 contexts: (a) acute inpatient, (b) immediate postdischarge, and (c) longitudinal outpatient setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Devika Gandhi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
| | - Michael Volk
- Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott and White, Central Texas Region, Temple, TX, USA
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5
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Tang B, Espejo E, Steinman MA, Growdon ME. Cognitive, physical, and sensory deficits that can affect everyday medication use among older adults: A national view. J Am Geriatr Soc 2024. [PMID: 38599615 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Tang
- State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
- Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program, Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Edie Espejo
- Division of Geriatrics, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael A Steinman
- Division of Geriatrics, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Matthew E Growdon
- Division of Geriatrics, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
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Shaw L, Briscoe S, Nunns MP, Lawal HM, Melendez-Torres GJ, Turner M, Garside R, Thompson Coon J. What is the quantity, quality and type of systematic review evidence available to inform the optimal prescribing of statins and antihypertensives? A systematic umbrella review and evidence and gap map. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e072502. [PMID: 38401904 PMCID: PMC10895245 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to map the systematic review evidence available to inform the optimal prescribing of statins and antihypertensive medication. DESIGN Systematic umbrella review and evidence and gap map (EGM). DATA SOURCES Eight bibliographic databases (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, EMBASE, Health Management Information Consortium, MEDLINE ALL, PsycINFO, Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science and Science Citation Index) were searched from 2010 to 11 August 2020. Update searches conducted in MEDLINE ALL 2 August 2022. We searched relevant websites and conducted backwards citation chasing. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES We sought systematic reviews of quantitative or qualitative research where adults 16 years+ were currently receiving, or being considered for, a prescription of statin or antihypertensive medication. Eligibility criteria were applied to the title and abstract and full text of each article independently by two reviewers. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Quality appraisal was completed by one reviewer and checked by a second. Review characteristics were tabulated and incorporated into an EGM based on a patient care pathway. Patients with lived experience provided feedback on our research questions and EGM. RESULTS Eighty reviews were included within the EGM. The highest quantity of evidence focused on evaluating interventions to promote patient adherence to antihypertensive medication. Key gaps included a lack of reviews synthesising evidence on experiences of specific interventions to promote patient adherence or improve prescribing practice. The evidence was predominantly of low quality, limiting confidence in the findings from individual reviews. CONCLUSIONS This EGM provides an interactive, accessible format for policy developers, service commissioners and clinicians to view the systematic review evidence available relevant to optimising the prescribing of statin and antihypertensive medication. To address the paucity of high-quality research, future reviews should be conducted and reported according to existing guidelines and address the evidence gaps identified above.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz Shaw
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
| | - Simon Briscoe
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
| | - Michael P Nunns
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
| | - Hassanat Mojirola Lawal
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
| | - G J Melendez-Torres
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
| | - Malcolm Turner
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
- NIHR ARC South West Peninsula Patient and Public Engagement Group, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Ruth Garside
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
- European Centre for Environment and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jo Thompson Coon
- Exeter Policy Research Programme Evidence Review Facility, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, EX1 2LU, Exeter, UK
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Edelblut J, Skaar JR, Hilton J, Seibt M, Martin K, Hadker N, Quartel A, Steiner RD. Quantifying preferences for urea cycle disorder treatments using a discrete choice experiment. J Med Econ 2024; 27:506-517. [PMID: 38491962 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2024.2330846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) can cause ammonia accumulation and central nervous system toxicity. Nitrogen-binding medications can be efficacious, but certain attributes may negatively impact adherence. This study sought to quantify the administration-related attributes influencing overall prescription selection and patient adherence. METHODS A web-based, quantitative survey including discrete choice experiment (DCE) methodology captured responses from health care providers for patients with UCDs. A series of hypothetical treatment profile sets with attributes such as route of administration, taste/odor, preparation instructions, packaging, dose measurement, and weight use restrictions were presented. From 16 sets of 3 hypothetical product profiles, respondents evaluated attributes most preferred for prescription selection or patient adherence. Attributes assumed a higher overall preference if relative importance (RI) scores were >16.67% (the value if all attributes were of equal importance). Preference weight scores were assessed. A nine-point Likert scale assessed respondent attitudes, such as satisfaction. RESULTS A total of 51 respondents completed the survey. Respondents reported dissatisfaction with current treatments (mean [SD] = 5.4 [1.7]). For prescription selection, four attributes achieved RI >16.67%: taste/odor (24%), weight restrictions (21%), preparation instructions (18%), and route of administration (17%). For adherence, three attributes related to administration achieved RI >16.67%: taste/odor (28%), preparation instructions (21%), and route of administration (17%). Preference weights for "taste/odor masked" were higher than "not taste/odor masked" for prescription selection (mean [SD]; 1.52 [1.10] vs -1.52 [1.10]) and treatment adherence (73.8 [55.2] vs -73.8 [55.2]). LIMITATIONS This study contained a relatively small sample size. Survey respondent selection, the use of hypothetical product profiles, and exclusion of non-pharmacologic treatment options could have contributed to potential biases. CONCLUSIONS Among attributes tested, taste/odor was the most important attribute influencing overall preference for both prescribing and patient adherence, with taste/odor masking preferred. Optimizing nitrogen-binding medications through masking taste/odor may support improved patient adherence and outcomes in UCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John Hilton
- Acer Therapeutics, Newton, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zevra Therapeutics
| | - Matthew Seibt
- Acer Therapeutics, Newton, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zevra Therapeutics
| | | | | | - Adrian Quartel
- Acer Therapeutics, Newton, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zevra Therapeutics
| | - Robert D Steiner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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Sinnappah KA, Hughes DA, Stocker SL, Vrijens B, Aronson JK, Wright DFB. A framework for understanding sources of bias in medication adherence research. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2023; 89:3444-3453. [PMID: 37496213 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The sources of bias in medication adherence research have not been comprehensively explored. We aimed to identify biases expected to affect adherence research and to develop a framework for mapping these onto the phases of adherence (initiation, implementation and discontinuation). A literature search was conducted, key papers were reviewed and a Catalogue of Bias was consulted. The specific biases related to adherence measurement and metrics were mapped onto the phases of adherence using a tabular matrix. Twenty-three biases were identified, of which 11 were specifically relevant to adherence measures and metrics. The mapping framework showed differences in the numbers and types of biases associated with each measure and metric while highlighting those common to many adherence study designs (e.g., unacceptability bias and apprehension bias). The framework will inform the design of adherence studies and the development of risk of bias tools for adherence research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dyfrig A Hughes
- Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Sophie L Stocker
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bernard Vrijens
- AARDEX Group, Seraing, Belgium
- Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - Jeffrey K Aronson
- Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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9
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Pack AP, Masters MC, O’Conor R, Alcantara K, Svoboda S, Smith R, Yeh F, Wismer G, Wallia A, Bailey SC. A Qualitative Exploration of Perceived Medication Adherence Determinants Conducted Among Older Adults with HIV and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Patient Prefer Adherence 2023; 17:2667-2678. [PMID: 37927343 PMCID: PMC10625325 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s431869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background People living with HIV (PLWH) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Both chronic conditions require individuals to adhere to medication regimens, yet few studies have sought to explore medication-taking behaviors among individuals with comorbid HIV and T2DM (HIV+T2DM). Objective This qualitative study sought to: 1) identify and compare perceived determinants of medication adherence for HIV and, separately, for T2DM, and 2) explore how participants prioritize conditions. Methods Between October 2022 and January 2023, we conducted in-depth interviews with individuals aged 50 or older, living with comorbid HIV+T2DM. Participants were prescribed oral medications to treat their conditions and had recent clinical measures indicating probable challenges with medication adherence. Interviews with consented participants from a large academic health center in the Midwest were conducted remotely. Questions largely drew from the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), a widely used implementation science framework. Additional questions explored the prioritization of conditions. Analysis employed the Framework Method and a side-by-side comparison of key determinants of medication adherence by condition. Results A total of 19 interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Participants were an average age of 61, mostly male (89.5%), and Non-Hispanic White (47.4%). Although results revealed many commonalities between perceived determinants of medication adherence for HIV and for T2DM, differences relating to two TDF domains were noted: nature of the behavior (taking medications as prescribed), and motivations and goals. Many participants viewed their conditions as equally important, though they suggested T2DM was more difficult to manage, largely due to lifestyle modifications. Conclusion As individuals with HIV develop chronic conditions, such as T2DM, they may require additional medication adherence support. Attention should be paid to offering support early. Disease perceptions may differ by condition, and as such, one's motivations to take medication as prescribed may also differ by condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Pack
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mary Clare Masters
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rachel O’Conor
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kenya Alcantara
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sophia Svoboda
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Reneaki Smith
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Fangyu Yeh
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Guisselle Wismer
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amisha Wallia
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stacy C Bailey
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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DeCoster MM, Spiller HA, Badeti J, Casavant MJ, Rine NI, Michaels NL, Zhu M, Smith GA. Pediatric ADHD Medication Errors Reported to United States Poison Centers, 2000 to 2021. Pediatrics 2023; 152:e2023061942. [PMID: 37718991 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-061942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the characteristics and trends of out-of-hospital attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication-related therapeutic errors among youth <20 years old reported to US poison centers. METHODS National Poison Data System data from 2000 through 2021 were analyzed. Population-based rates were calculated using US census data. RESULTS There were 124 383 ADHD medication-related therapeutic errors reported to US poison centers from 2000 through 2021, with the annual frequency increasing by 299.0% during that period. Two-thirds (66.6%) of the 87 691 first-ranked exposures involved children 6 to 12 years old, three-fourths (76.4%) were among males, and half (50.5%) involved amphetamines and related compounds. Most (79.7%) therapeutic errors were single-substance exposures. Although most (82.7%) individuals did not receive treatment in a health care facility (HCF), 2.3% were admitted to a HCF and 4.2% had a serious medical outcome. Children <6 years old were more likely to experience a serious medical outcome (odds ratio = 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.9-2.3) or be admitted to a HCF (odds ratio = 3.4; 95% confidence interval: 3.0-3.7) than 6 to 19-year-olds. The most common scenarios were "inadvertently taken or given medication twice" (53.9%), followed by "inadvertently taken or given someone else's medication" (13.4%), and "wrong medication taken or given" (12.9%). CONCLUSIONS The frequency of cases reported to poison centers of pediatric out-of-hospital therapeutic errors related to ADHD medications increased by almost 300% during the 22-year study period and is likely attributable to increased prescribing of these medications. Because therapeutic errors are preventable, more attention should be given to patient and caregiver education and development of improved child-resistant medication dispensing and tracking systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela M DeCoster
- Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Henry A Spiller
- Central Ohio Poison Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jaahnavi Badeti
- Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Marcel J Casavant
- Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Central Ohio Poison Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Natalie I Rine
- Central Ohio Poison Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Nichole L Michaels
- Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Motao Zhu
- Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Gary A Smith
- Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, Ohio
- Child Injury Prevention Alliance, Columbus, Ohio
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Abdalla M, Bolen SD, Brettler J, Egan BM, Ferdinand KC, Ford CD, Lackland DT, Wall HK, Shimbo D. Implementation Strategies to Improve Blood Pressure Control in the United States: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and American Medical Association. Hypertension 2023; 80:e143-e157. [PMID: 37650292 PMCID: PMC10578150 DOI: 10.1161/hyp.0000000000000232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors that contribute to incident cardiovascular events. A multitude of US and international hypertension guidelines, scientific statements, and policy statements have recommended evidence-based approaches for hypertension management and improved blood pressure (BP) control. These recommendations are based largely on high-quality observational and randomized controlled trial data. However, recent published data demonstrate troubling temporal trends with declining BP control in the United States after decades of steady improvements. Therefore, there is a widening disconnect between what hypertension experts recommend and actual BP control in practice. This scientific statement provides information on the implementation strategies to optimize hypertension management and to improve BP control among adults in the United States. Key approaches include antiracism efforts, accurate BP measurement and increased use of self-measured BP monitoring, team-based care, implementation of policies and programs to facilitate lifestyle change, standardized treatment protocols using team-based care, improvement of medication acceptance and adherence, continuous quality improvement, financial strategies, and large-scale dissemination and implementation. Closing the gap between scientific evidence, expert recommendations, and achieving BP control, particularly among disproportionately affected populations, is urgently needed to improve cardiovascular health.
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12
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Martínez LA, García C, Moreno L. Cost Evaluation of Professional Services in a Rural Community Pharmacy: A Monocentric Exploratory Approach. PHARMACY 2023; 11:156. [PMID: 37888501 PMCID: PMC10609737 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy11050156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing pressure on healthcare systems (HCSs) is a cause for concern worldwide. Rising costs, uncertainty about sustainability, and aging populations are the main issues that make it challenging to allocate scarce resources to the needs of HCSs. Clinical professional pharmacy services (PSs) have been shown to help alleviate system stress and to reach the entire population, although a cost of provision is borne. The objective of this study was to evaluate the provision costs of three PSs, a medicine-dispensing service (MDS), a multicompartmental compliance aid system service (MCAS), and a cognitive impairment screening service (CISS), in a rural community pharmacy. A cost analysis was performed using a time-driven activity-based costing model. The time dedicated to PS provision was appropriately recorded, and the corresponding expenses were extracted from the accounting records. A provision time of 4.80 min and a cost of EUR 2.24 were estimated for the MDS, while 18.33 min and EUR 8.73 were calculated for the MCAS, and 122.20 min and EUR 56.72 were calculated for the CISS. The total provision time represented 85% of the pharmacist's effective working time. Tailored cost analysis is a useful tool for making decisions on the implementation of a PS. Larger studies including a variety of pharmacies and locations are necessary to accurately assess costs and engage in discussions on funding and remuneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Martínez
- Community Pharmacist, 02161 Albacete, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Castilla La Mancha (UCLM), 02171 Albacete, Spain
| | - Cristina García
- Community Pharmacist, 02161 Albacete, Spain
- Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, University Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, University Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - Lucrecia Moreno
- Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, University Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, University Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain
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13
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Cao B, Hogan SL, Derebail VK, Ehlert A, Thorpe CT. Polypharmacy in US Medicare beneficiaries with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2023; 29:770-781. [PMID: 37404075 PMCID: PMC10387912 DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2023.29.7.770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Treatment requirements of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody vasculitis (AV) and high comorbidity burden among patients with AV may lead to higher potential for polypharmacy and its associated adverse outcomes, including adverse drug events, nonadherence, drug-drug interactions, and higher costs. Medication burden and risk factors associated with polypharmacy in patients with AV have not been well-characterized. OBJECTIVE: To characterize medication burden and examine prevalence of and risk factors for polypharmacy in the first year after diagnosis with AV. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using 2015-2017 Medicare claims to identify incident cases of AV. We counted the number of unique generic products dispensed to patients in each of the 4 quarters after diagnosis and categorized medication count as high (≥10 medications), moderate (5-9 medications), or minimal or no polypharmacy (<5 medications). We used multinomial logistic regression to examine associations of predisposing, enabling, and medical need factors with having high or moderate polypharmacy. RESULTS: In 1,239 Medicare beneficiaries with AV, high or moderate polypharmacy was most common in the first quarter after diagnosis (83.7%), with 43.2% taking 5 - 9 medications and 40.5% taking at least 10. The odds of high polypharmacy were greater in all quarters for patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis compared with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, ranging from 2.02 (95% CI = 1.18 - 3.46) in the third quarter to 2.96 (95% CI = 1.64-5.33) in the second quarter. Older age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score, coverage with Medicaid/Part D low-income subsidy, and living in areas with low education or persistent poverty were risk factors for high or moderate polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare beneficiaries with newly diagnosed AV experienced a high medication burden, with more than 40% taking at least 10 medications and the highest rates among those with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Patients with AV may benefit from medication therapy management interventions to manage complex drug regimens and reduce risks associated with polypharmacy. DISCLOSURES: Dr Derebail receives personal fees from Travere Therapeutics, Pfizer, Bayer, Forma Therapeutics, UpToDate, outside of the submitted work. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr Thorpe receives royalties from SAGE Publishing for activities unrelated to the submitted work. This research is supported by internal funds from the University of North Carolina, as well as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number R21AI160606 (PI: C. Thorpe).
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Affiliation(s)
- Binxin Cao
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | - Susan L Hogan
- UNC Kidney Center, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | - Vimal K Derebail
- UNC Kidney Center, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | - Alexa Ehlert
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | - Carolyn T Thorpe
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, PA
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14
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Jennings L, West RL, Halim N, Kaiser JL, Gwadz M, MacLeod WB, Gifford AL, Haberer JE, Orrell C, Sabin LL. Protocol for an evaluation of adherence monitoring and support interventions among people initiating antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town, South Africa-a multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) approach using a fractional factorial design. Trials 2023; 24:310. [PMID: 37147725 PMCID: PMC10163747 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07322-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND South Africa bears a large HIV burden with 7.8 million people with HIV (PWH). However, due to suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in care, only 66% of PWH in South Africa are virally suppressed. Standard care only allows for suboptimal adherence detection when routine testing indicates unsuppressed virus. Several adherence interventions are known to improve HIV outcomes, yet few are implemented in routinely due to the resources required. Therefore, determining scalable evidence-based adherence support interventions for resource-limited settings (RLS) is a priority. The multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework allows for simultaneous evaluation of multiple intervention components and their interactions. We propose to use MOST to identify the intervention combination with the highest levels of efficacy and cost-effectiveness that is feasible and acceptable in primary care clinics in Cape Town. METHODS We will employ a fractional factorial design to identify the most promising intervention components for inclusion in a multi-component intervention package to be tested in a future randomized controlled trial. We will recruit 512 participants initiating ART between March 2022 and February 2024 in three Cape Town clinics and evaluate acceptability, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of intervention combinations. Participants will be randomized to one of 16 conditions with different combinations of three adherence monitoring components: rapid outreach following (1) unsuppressed virus, (2) missed pharmacy refill collection, and/or (3) missed doses as detected by an electronic adherence monitoring device; and two adherence support components: (1) weekly check-in texts and (2) enhanced peer support. We will assess viral suppression (<50 copies/mL) at 24 months as the primary outcome; acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and other implementation outcomes; and cost-effectiveness. We will use logistic regression models to estimate intervention effects with an intention-to-treat approach, employ descriptive statistics to assess implementation outcomes, and determine an optimal intervention package. DISCUSSION To our knowledge, ours will be the first study to use the MOST framework to determine the most effective combination of HIV adherence monitoring and support intervention components for implementation in clinics in a RLS. Our findings will provide direction for pragmatic, ongoing adherence support that will be key to ending the HIV epidemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05040841. Registered on 10 September 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Jennings
- Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine and the Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Rebecca L West
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nafisa Halim
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeanette L Kaiser
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marya Gwadz
- Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - William B MacLeod
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Allen L Gifford
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot Building, T348W, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jessica E Haberer
- Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Catherine Orrell
- Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine and the Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lora L Sabin
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Parvathaneni A, Olesen A, Diven D. Comment on: "Methotrexate Cutaneous Ulceration: A Systematic Review of Cases". Am J Clin Dermatol 2023; 24:487-489. [PMID: 37062793 DOI: 10.1007/s40257-023-00773-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Aarthi Parvathaneni
- College of Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Adam Olesen
- Ascension Medical Group Dermatology, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Dayna Diven
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
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16
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Berna R, Quinlan M, Baumrin E. Author's Reply to Parvathaneni et al. Comment on: "Methotrexate Cutaneous Ulceration: A Systematic Review of Cases". Am J Clin Dermatol 2023; 24:491-492. [PMID: 37062792 DOI: 10.1007/s40257-023-00772-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Berna
- Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, South Tower, 7th floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Meghan Quinlan
- Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily Baumrin
- Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, South Tower, 7th floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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17
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Sayegh CS, Iverson E, Newman C, Tanaka D, Olshansky EF, Wijaya C, Belzer M. Designing an mHealth Roadmap for the Journey to Self-Management: A Qualitative Study with Adolescents and Young Adults Living with Chronic Illness. Chronic Illn 2023; 19:65-80. [PMID: 34904870 DOI: 10.1177/17423953211067436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic illnesses often struggle with illness self-management. The objective of this study is to understand how AYA with various chronic illnesses develop self-management skills and which mobile health (mHealth) strategies they believe could be helpful. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients, between 16 to 20 years old, living with at least one chronic illness (N = 19), between 2018 and 2019 in Los Angeles, CA. Three coders completed thematic coding to understand how AYA develop and maintain self-management skills, to inform the development of mHealth interventions appropriate across a variety of chronic conditions. RESULTS Results suggest that AYA develop self-management skills through several strategies, including (1) getting organized, (2) making it work for me and (3) keeping the right mentality. AYA described developing these strategies through: (1) receiving social support, (2) accessing helpful tools and technologies, and (3) going through a maturation process. They provided recommendations for mHealth intervention developers. DISCUSSION The results suggest that an appealing mHealth intervention could support AYA patients in proactively acquiring self-management skills and prevent having to rely on trial and error or uneven access to guidance and support. Interventions should be responsive to individual technology preferences and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin S Sayegh
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, 5150Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, 5150Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, 12223University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ellen Iverson
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, 5150Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, 12223University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Clarissa Newman
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, 12223University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Diane Tanaka
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, 5150Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, 12223University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ellen F Olshansky
- 115162Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, 8788University of California Irvine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Clarisa Wijaya
- Department of Psychology, 5116University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Marvin Belzer
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, 5150Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, 12223University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
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18
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LaValley SA, Brady LA, Nguyen M, Jacobs D. Family Caregivers of Older Adults: Strategies, Tools, and Technologies for Medication Management. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2023; 66:291-302. [PMID: 35850634 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2022.2100856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan A LaValley
- Department of Family Medicine, Primary Care Research Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Laura A Brady
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Primary Care Research Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Melanie Nguyen
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - David Jacobs
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
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19
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Kerstenetzky-Brenny L, Adamsick ML, Lauscher RL, Kennelty KA, Hager DR. Pharmacist discharge summary: Impact of inpatient to community pharmacist handoff at hospital discharge. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2023; 63:198-203.e4. [PMID: 36064524 DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community pharmacists are often the initial health professionals whom patients encounter after hospital discharge but are rarely provided relevant discharge information. OBJECTIVES Implement a pharmacist-to-pharmacist discharge summary (P2PDS) to improve the safety of pharmacist care provision to patients transitioning home from the hospital. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION Inpatient pharmacists at an academic medical center conduct discharge medication reconciliation and release discharge electronic prescriptions to dispensing pharmacies. PRACTICE INNOVATION A multidisciplinary intersystem quality improvement project was conducted to demonstrate the impact of clinical information sharing via the P2PDS to community pharmacists. EVALUATION METHODS With input from community pharmacists, the P2PDS was created and implemented on inpatient units throughout the health system. Outcomes assessed included identification of medication discrepancies, enrollment into reimbursable medication management services, and pharmacist confidence when filling discharge prescriptions. RESULTS During the study period, community pharmacists identified a total of 388 medication discrepancies in 161 patients; 16% of discrepancies were considered "unintentional." Twenty-five discharging patients were identified for enrollment in medication management services, with 20 of these patients enrolling in all 3 services (medication delivery, synchronization, and medication packaging). The P2PDS increased community pharmacist confidence in discharge medication filling (40% vs. 95%, P < 0.001) and increased the percent of patients receiving community pharmacist medication reconciliation (14%-76%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Enhancing pharmacist communication across practice settings with a P2PDS decreases care fragmentation through identification of medication discrepancies and improves pharmacist confidence in patient care provision.
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20
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Bartlett Ellis RJ, Andrews A, Elomba CD, Remy LM, Ruggeri SY, Russell CL, Ruppar TM. Managing Medications and Medication Adherence Among US Adults During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Patient Prefer Adherence 2023; 17:369-383. [PMID: 36819643 PMCID: PMC9930569 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s393749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Before the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions it brought, medication adherence was already a challenging and complex health behavior. The purpose of this study was to describe patients' interactions in clinic, pharmacy, and home contexts and associated medication management and adherence during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS A survey questionnaire was developed using the Medication Adherence Context and Outcomes framework and distributed via social media between May and July 2020 targeting adults taking a daily prescribed medication. Survey questions assessed sociodemographics, interactions with healthcare providers, clinics, pharmacies, medication management experiences, habit strength, and life chaos perceptions during the pandemic. Medication adherence was assessed by the self-report BAASIS© scale to measure implementation, discontinuation, and overall nonadherence. RESULTS A total of 134 adults from the United States, mean age 50.0 (SD 16.1) years were included in this analysis. Respondents took a median of 3.50 (interquartile range 4) daily medications. Delays in seeing a provider were reported by 47 (35.1%). Pharmacy encounters were impacted; 25 (18.7%) indicated their method for obtaining medication changed. Medication nonadherence was reported among 62 (46.3%) and was significantly greater among those who delayed prescription refills (p=0.032), pillbox users (p=0.047), and those who experienced greater life chaos (p=0.040) and lower habit strength (p<0.001) in the early phase of the pandemic. CONCLUSION Although the early phase of the pandemic affected access to care for nearly one-third of the sample, distance-accessible care options and strategies to obtain needed services without being in-person supported respondents medication management. Helpful strategies included provider accessibility, telehealth, home delivery/mail-order, drive-thru's, 90-day supplies, and online/automatic refills. Methods to develop and reestablish habits are critical. Care providers in clinic and pharmacy settings can educate and remind patients about services like distance-accessible technologies and online ordering of medications and establishing routines to support medication adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Bartlett Ellis
- Science of Nursing Care Department, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Correspondence: Rebecca J Bartlett Ellis, Science of Nursing Care Department, Indiana University, 600 Barnhill Drive, NU 120, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA, Tel +1 317 274 0047, Email
| | - Angela Andrews
- Primary Care and Health Systems, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, USA
| | - Charles D Elomba
- Science of Nursing Care Department, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Sunny Yoo Ruggeri
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, Kansas City, Missouri, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Cynthia L Russell
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, Kansas City, Missouri, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Todd M Ruppar
- Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
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21
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Williamson M, Maruff P, Schembri A, Cummins H, Bird L, Rosenich E, Lim YY. Validation of a digit symbol substitution test for use in supervised and unsupervised assessment in mild Alzheimer's disease. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2022; 44:768-779. [PMID: 36888758 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2023.2179977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Digit-Symbol-Substitution Test (DSST) is used widely in neuropsychological investigations of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). A computerized version of this paradigm, the DSST-Meds, utilizes medicine-date pairings and has been developed for administration in both supervised and unsupervised environments. This study determined the utility and validity of the DSST-Meds for measuring cognitive dysfunction in early AD. METHOD Performance on the DSST-Meds was compared to performance on the WAIS Coding test, and a computerized digit symbol coding test (DSST-Symbols). The first study compared supervised performance on the three DSSTs versions in cognitively unimpaired (CU) adults (n = 104). The second compared supervised DSST performance between CU (n = 60) and mild-symptomatic AD (mild-AD, n = 79) groups. The third study compared performance on the DSST-Meds between unsupervised (n= 621) and supervised settings. RESULTS In Study 1, DSST-Meds accuracy showed high correlations with the DSST-Symbols accuracy (r = 0.81) and WAIS-Coding accuracy (r = 0.68). In Study 2, when compared to CU adults, the mild-AD group showed lower accuracy on all three DSSTs (Cohen's d ranging between 1.39 and 2.56) and DSST-Meds accuracy was correlated moderately with Mini-Mental State Examination scores (r = 0.44, p < .001). Study 3 observed no difference in DSST-meds accuracy between supervised and unsupervised administrations. CONCLUSION The DSST-Meds showed good construct and criterion validity when used in both supervised and unsupervised contexts and provided a strong foundation to investigate the utility of the DSST in groups with low familiarity to neuropsychological assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Williamson
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul Maruff
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Cogstate Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Hannah Cummins
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura Bird
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emily Rosenich
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yen Ying Lim
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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22
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Primary Health Care System Strengthening Project in Sri Lanka: Status and Challenges with Human Resources, Information Systems, Drugs and Laboratory Services. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10112251. [PMID: 36360593 PMCID: PMC9691080 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10112251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A Primary Healthcare-System-Strengthening Project (PSSP) is implemented by the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, with funding support from the World Bank for providing quality care through primary medical care institutions (PMCIs). We used an explanatory mixed-methods study to assess progress and challenges in human resources, drug availability, laboratory services and the health management information system (HMIS) at PMCIs. We conducted a checklist-based assessment followed by in-depth interviews of healthcare workers in one PMCI each in all nine provinces. All PMCIs had medical/nursing officers, but data entry operators (44%) and laboratory technicians (33%) were mostly not available. Existing staff were assigned additional responsibilities in PSSP, decreasing their motivation and efficiency. While 11/18 (61%) essential drugs were available in all PMCIs, buffer stocks were not maintained in >50% due to poor supply chain management and storage infrastructure. Only 6/14 (43%) essential laboratory investigations were available in >50% of PMCIs, non-availability was due to shortages of reagents/consumables and lack of sample collection−transportation system. The HMIS was installed in PMCIs but its usage was sub-optimal due to perceived lack of utility, few trained operators and poor internet connectivity. The PSSP needs to address these bottlenecks as a priority to ensure sustainability and successful scale-up.
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23
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Syafhan NF, Donnelly R, Harper R, Harding J, Mulligan C, Hogg A, Scott M, Fleming G, Scullin C, Hawwa AF, Chen G, Parsons C, McElnay JC. Adherence to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes: a combined method approach. J Pharm Policy Pract 2022; 15:61. [PMID: 36224634 PMCID: PMC9554867 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-022-00457-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Medication adherence, one of the most important aspects in the process of optimal medicines use, is unfortunately still a major challenge in modern healthcare, and further research is required into how adherence can be assessed and optimised. The aim of this study was to use a combined method approach of self-report and dried blood spot (DBS) sampling coupled with population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modelling, to assess adherence to metformin in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. Further aims were to assess metformin exposure levels in patients, determine factors associated with non-adherence with prescribed metformin, and to explore the relationship between adherence and therapeutic outcomes. Methods A combined method approach was used to evaluate metformin adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes who had been prescribed metformin for a minimum period of 6 months. Patients were recruited from consultant-led diabetic outpatient clinics at three hospitals in Northern Ireland, UK. Data collection involved self-reported questionnaires [Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire and Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale], direct measurement of metformin concentration in DBS samples, and researcher-led patient interviews. The DBS sampling approach was coupled with population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modelling, which took account of patient characteristics, metformin dosage and type of formulation prescribed (immediate or sustained release). Results The proportion of patients considered to be adherent to their prescribed metformin, derived from self-reported MARS scores and metformin concentration in DBS samples, was 61.2% (74 out of 121 patients). The majority (n = 103, 85.1%) of recruited patients had metformin exposure levels that fell within the therapeutic range. However, 17 patients (14.1%) had low exposure to metformin and one patient (0.8%) had undetectable metformin level in their blood sample (non-exposure). Metformin self-administration and use of a purchased adherence pill box significantly increased the probability of a patient being classified as adherent based on logistic regression analysis. Both HbA1c and random glucose levels (representing poor glycaemic control) in the present research were, however, not statistically linked to non-adherence to metformin (P > 0.05). Conclusions A significant proportion of participating patients were not fully adherent with their therapy. DBS sampling together with the use of a published PopPK model was a useful, novel, direct, objective approach to estimate levels of adherence in adult patients with type 2 diabetes (61.2%). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40545-022-00457-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Farhanah Syafhan
- Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Rosemary Donnelly
- Ulster Hospital, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK
| | - Roy Harper
- Ulster Hospital, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK
| | - Janet Harding
- Ulster Hospital, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK
| | - Ciara Mulligan
- Ulster Hospital, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK
| | - Anita Hogg
- Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre, Northern Health Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Michael Scott
- Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre, Northern Health Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Glenda Fleming
- Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre, Northern Health Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Claire Scullin
- Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre, Northern Health Social Care Trust, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Ahmed F Hawwa
- Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,School of Biological Sciences. Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Gaoyun Chen
- Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Carole Parsons
- Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - James C McElnay
- Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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Kuo AP, Roche SD, Mugambi ML, Pintye J, Baeten JM, Bukusi E, Ngure K, Stergachis A, Ortblad KF. The effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of HIV service delivery at private pharmacies in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e26027. [PMID: 36285619 PMCID: PMC9597376 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Private pharmacies are an understudied setting for differentiated delivery of HIV services that may address barriers to clinic-delivered services, such as stigma and long wait times. To understand the potential for pharmacy-delivered HIV services in sub-Saharan Africa, we conducted a scoping review of the published and grey literature. METHODS Using a modified Cochrane approach, we searched electronic databases through March 2022 and HIV conference abstracts in the past 5 years for studies that: (1) focused on the delivery of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and/or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at private pharmacies in sub-Saharan Africa; (2) reported on effectiveness outcomes (e.g. HIV incidence) or implementation outcomes, specifically feasibility and/or acceptability; and (3) were published in English. Two authors identified studies and extracted data on study setting, population, design, outcomes and findings by HIV service type. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Our search identified 1646 studies. After screening and review, we included 28 studies: seven on HIV testing, nine on ART delivery and 12 on PrEP delivery. Most studies (n = 16) were conducted in East Africa, primarily in Kenya. Only two studies evaluated effectiveness outcomes; the majority (n = 26) reported on feasibility and/or acceptability outcomes. The limited effectiveness data (n = 2 randomized trials) suggest that pharmacy-delivered HIV services can increase demand and result in comparable clinical outcomes (e.g. viral load suppression) to standard-of-care clinic-based models. Studies assessing implementation outcomes found actual and hypothetical models of pharmacy-delivered HIV services to be largely feasible (e.g. high initiation and continuation) and acceptable (e.g. preferable to facility-based models and high willingness to pay/provide) among stakeholders, providers and clients. Potential barriers to implementation included a lack of pharmacy provider training on HIV service delivery, costs to clients and providers, and perceived low quality of care. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence suggests that pharmacy-delivered HIV services may be feasible to implement and acceptable to clients and providers in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. However, limited evidence outside East Africa exists, as does limited evidence on the effectiveness of and costs associated with pharmacy-delivered HIV services. More research of this nature is needed to inform the scale-up of this new differentiated service delivery model throughout the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra P. Kuo
- Department of PharmacyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Stephanie D. Roche
- Public Health Sciences DivisionFred Hutchinson Cancer CenterSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Jillian Pintye
- School of NursingUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Jared M. Baeten
- Department of Global HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- School of NursingUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Gilead SciencesFoster CityCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elizabeth Bukusi
- Department of Global HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Centre for Microbiology ResearchKenya Medical Research InstituteNairobiKenya
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Kenneth Ngure
- Department of Global HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Department of Community HealthJomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and TechnologyNairobiKenya
| | - Andy Stergachis
- Department of PharmacyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Department of Global HealthUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Katrina F. Ortblad
- Public Health Sciences DivisionFred Hutchinson Cancer CenterSeattleWashingtonUSA
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Suen LW, Lee TG, Silva M, Walton P, Coffin PO, Geier M, Soran CS. Rapid Overlap Initiation Protocol Using Low Dose Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in an Outpatient Setting: A Case Series. J Addict Med 2022; 16:534-540. [PMID: 35149614 PMCID: PMC11006272 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fear and risk of precipitated withdrawal are barriers for initiating buprenorphine in individuals with opioid use disorder, particularly among those using fentanyl. A buprenorphine rapid overlap initiation (ROI) protocol (also knownas "rapidmicro-dosing") utilizing small, escalating doses of buprenorphine can overcome this barrier, reaching therapeutic doses in 3 to 4 days. We sought to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a buprenorphine ROI protocol for buprenorphine initiation in the outpatient setting. METHODS We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients prescribed an outpatient ROI protocol at the Office-based Buprenorphine Induction Clinic from October to December 2020. The ROI protocol utilizes divided doses of sublingual buprenorphine tablets and blister packaging for easier dosing. Patients were not required to stop other opioid use and were advised to follow up on day 4 of initiation. RESULTS Twelve patients were included, of whom eleven (92%) were using fentanyl at intake. Eleven patients picked up their prescription. Seven patients returned for follow-up (58%), and all 7 completed the ROI protocol. One patient reported any withdrawal symptoms, which were mild. At 30 days, 7 patients (58%) were retained in care, and 5 (42%) were still receiving buprenorphine treatment, 4 (33%) of whom had been abstinent from nonprescribed opioid use for ≥2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS The ROI protocol was successful in initiating buprenorphine treatment for patients in our outpatient clinic, many of whom were using fentanyl. The ROI protocol may offer a safe alternative to traditional buprenorphine initiation and warrants further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie W Suen
- From the National Clinician Scholars Program, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy, University of California, San Francisco, CA (LWS); San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA (LWS); San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA (TGL, PC, MG); Division of Substance Abuse and Addiction Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA (MS, PW, CSS); Division of General Internal Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA (CSS)
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Werner NE, Campbell NL, Boustani M, Ganci A, Holden RJ. Helping the Helpers - A research protocol for user-centered technology to aid caregiver management of medications for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Res Social Adm Pharm 2022; 18:3680-3686. [PMID: 35396151 PMCID: PMC9308637 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Systematically supporting caregiver-assisted medication management through IT interventions is a critical area of need toward improving outcomes for people living with ADRD and their caregivers, but a significant gap exists in the evidence base from which IT interventions to support caregivers' medication tasks can be built. User-centered design can address the user needs evidence gap and provide a scientific mechanism for developing IT interventions that meet caregivers' needs. The present study employs the three phases of user-centered design to address the first two stages of the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development. METHODS We will conduct a three-phase study employing user-centered design techniques across three aims: Aim 1) assess the needs of ADRD caregivers who manage medications for people with ADRD (Stage 0); Aim 2) co-design a prototype IT intervention to support caregiver-assisted medication management collaboratively with ADRD caregivers (Stage IA); and Aim 3) feasibility test the prototype IT intervention with ADRD caregivers (Stage IB). DISCUSSION Our user-centered design protocol provides a template for integrating the three phases of user-centered design to address the first two stages of the NIH Stage Model that can be used broadly by researchers who are developing IT interventions for ADRD caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Werner
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
| | - Noll L Campbell
- Purdue University, College of Pharmacy, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, USA
| | - Malaz Boustani
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, USA
| | - Aaron Ganci
- Department of Visual Communication Design, IUPUI Herron School of Art and Design, USA
| | - Richard J Holden
- Department of Health & Wellness Design, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, USA
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27
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Semvua SK, Kim CY, Muiruri C, Peter TA, Mmbaga BT, Bartlett JA, Zullig LL, Jazowski SA, Knettel BA, Karia FP, Ramadhani HO. Predictors of Self-repackaging of Antiretroviral Therapy in Northern Tanzania. Am J Health Behav 2022; 46:124-133. [PMID: 35501963 DOI: 10.5993/ajhb.46.2.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: In this study, we explored determinants of "researcher-observed" patient-initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) repackaging practices among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Northern Tanzania. Methods: We used a quasi-experimental design to describe the prevalence of ART self- repackaging; we conducted face-to-face surveys to determine factors associated with ART self- repackaging practices. Data collection sites included the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre and the Mawenzi Referral Hospital. We used study-specific numerical identifiers assigned to ARTs packaging to determine self-repackaging behavior. Self-repackaging was defined as a binary variable where participants who discarded antiretroviral drugs packaging in at least 2 clinic visits were classified as self- repackagers. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the determinants of patient-initiated repackaging practices. Results: Among 590 study participants, 57.6% self-repackaged based on researcher observation and 55.6% self-repackaged based on patient report. Researcher-observed self- repackaging was associated with gender (AOR = 1.590; 95% CI: 1.011, 2.502), employment status (AOR = 0.475: 95% CI; 0.239, 0.942), and study site (AOR = 0.218; 95% CI: 0.134, 0.355). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients self-repackage their ARTs for various reasons. Health system interventions should focus on addressing the attributes of repackaging among men and unemployed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seleman Khamis Semvua
- Seleman K. Semvua, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania;,
| | - Christine Yaeree Kim
- Christine Yaeree Kim, Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States, and Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,
United States
| | - Charles Muiruri
- Charles Muiruri, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania, and Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States, and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University,
Durham, NC, United States
| | - Timothy Antipas Peter
- Timothy Antipas Peter, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Blandina T. Mmbaga
- Blandina T. Mmbaga, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania, and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - John A. Bartlett
- John A. Bartlett, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania, and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Leah L. Zullig
- Leah L. Zullig, Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States, and Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shelley A. Jazowski
- Shelley A. Jazowski, Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States, and Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel
Hill, NC, United States
| | - Brandon A. Knettel
- Brandon A. Knettel, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States, and School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Francis P. Karia
- Francis P. Karia, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania, and Duke Office of Clinical Research. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Habib O. Ramadhani
- Habib O. Ramadhani, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania, and Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Byamugisha J, Adero N, Kiwanuka TS, Nalwadda CK, Ntuyo P, Namagembe I, Nabunya E, Nakirijja E, Mwadime-Ngolo R, Mukasa DC, Ononge S. The effect of blister packaging Iron and Folate on adherence to medication and hemoglobin levels among pregnant women at National Referral Hospital antenatal clinics in a low to middle income country: a Randomised Controlled Trial (The IFAd Trial). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:179. [PMID: 35241006 PMCID: PMC8895867 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04507-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Anemia in pregnancy is an important global public health problem. It is estimated that 38% of pregnant women worldwide are anemic. In Africa, literature from observational studies show 20% of maternal deaths are attributed to anemia. In Uganda, 50% of pregnant women have iron deficiency anaemia. The proportion of pregnant women receiving Iron-Folic acid (IFA) supplementation has improved. However, the number of IFA pills consumed is still low. We carried out a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of dispensing blister and loose packaged IFA pills on adherence measured by count on next return visit and hemoglobin levels among pregnant women at two National Referral Hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. Methods This trial was conducted between April and October 2016. Nine hundred fifty pregnant women at ≤28 weeks were randomized to either the blister (intervention arm) or loose (control arm) packaged IFA. The participants completed the baseline measurements and received 30 pills of IFA at enrolment to swallow one pill per day. We assessed adherence by pill count and measured hemoglobin at four and 8 weeks. The results were presented using both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Results There were 474 participants in the control and 478 in the intervention arms. Adherence to IFA intake was similar in the two groups at 4th week (40.6 and 39.0%, p = 0.624) and 8th week (51.9 and 46.8%, p = 0.119). The mean hemoglobin level at 4 weeks was higher in the blister than in the loose packaging arms (11.9 + 1.1 g/dl and 11.8 + 1.3 g/dl, respectively; p = 0.02), however, similar at week 8 (12.1 + 1.2 and 12.0 + 1.3, respectively; p = 0.23). However, over the 8-week period blister packaging arm had a higher change in hemoglobin level compared to loose package (blister package 0.6 ± 1.0; loose packaging 0.2 ± 1.1; difference: 0.4 g/dL (95% CI: 0.24–0.51 g/dL); p = 0.001. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusions Our results showed no effect of blister packaging on IFA adherence among pregnant women. However, our findings showed that blister packaged group had a higher hemoglobin increase compared to loose iron group. Trial registration No. PACTR201707002436264 (20 /07/ 2017). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04507-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josaphat Byamugisha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Nancy Adero
- JSI Research & Training Institute Inc., Boston, USA
| | - Tusuubira S Kiwanuka
- Baylor College of Medicine COE, Kampala, Uganda.,Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christine K Nalwadda
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Peter Ntuyo
- Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Imelda Namagembe
- Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Evelyn Nabunya
- Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Emily Nakirijja
- Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Sam Ononge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
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Sabin LL, Gifford AL, Haberer JE, Harvey K, Sarkisova N, Martin K, West RL, Stephens J, Killian C, Halim N, Berkowitz N, Jennings K, Jennings L, Orrell C. Patients' and Providers' Views on Optimal Evidence-Based and Scalable Interventions for Individuals at High Risk of HIV Treatment Failure: Sequential Explorations Among Key Stakeholders in Cape Town, South Africa. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:2783-2797. [PMID: 35190943 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03623-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
To support translation of evidence-based interventions into practice for HIV patients at high risk of treatment failure, we conducted qualitative research in Cape Town, South Africa. After local health officials vetted interventions as potentially scalable, we held 41 in-depth interviews with patients with elevated viral load or a 3-month treatment gap at community clinics, followed by focus group discussions (FGDs) with 20 providers (physicians/nurses, counselors, and community health care workers). Interviews queried treatment barriers, solutions, and specific intervention options, including motivational text messages, data-informed counseling, individual counseling, peer support groups, check-in texts, and treatment buddies. Based on patients' preferences, motivational texts and treatment buddies were removed from consideration in subsequent FGDs. Patients most preferred peer support groups and check-in texts while individual counseling garnered the broadest support among providers. Check-in texts, peer support groups, and data-informed counseling were also endorsed by provider sub-groups. These strategies warrant attention for scale-up in South Africa and other resource-constrained settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora L Sabin
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Allen L Gifford
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Jessica E Haberer
- Center of Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Kelsee Harvey
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Natalya Sarkisova
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Kyle Martin
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Rebecca L West
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jessie Stephens
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Clare Killian
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Nafisa Halim
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | - Karen Jennings
- City of Cape Town Health Department, Cape Town, South Africa
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30
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Adje YH, Brooks KM, Castillo-Mancilla JR, Wyles DL, Anderson PL, Kiser JJ. The use of technology-based adherence monitoring in the treatment of hepatitis C virus. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2022; 9:20499361221095664. [PMID: 35591885 PMCID: PMC9112320 DOI: 10.1177/20499361221095664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) achieve high hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure rates
and are forgiving to missed doses, but adherence–efficacy relationships have not
been well defined. Traditional adherence measures (e.g. pill counts, self-report
and pharmacy refills) over-estimate medication adherence. Newer technology-based
tools have been used to provide more objective adherence data. Herein,
electronic medication diaries (e-diaries), medication events monitoring system
(MEMS®) caps, electronic blister packs, electronic pill boxes,
video-based directly observed therapy (vDOT), artificial intelligence platforms
(AIPs), and ingestible sensor systems are described, and compared based on
existing studies using DAA. Percent adherence, predictors of adherence, and HCV
cure rates utilizing these technologies are included. DAA adherence with
e-diaries was 95–96%, MEMS® caps and ingestible biosensors were
between 95% and 97%, blister pack weekly dosing ranged 73–98%, and daily dosing
73–94%, whereas electronic pill boxes ranged between 39% and 89%, vDOT was 98%
and AIP 91–96%. Despite a wide range of adherence, high sustained virologic
response (SVR) rates (86–100%) were observed across all studies utilizing these
different technology-based tools. Current data support the forgiveness of DAA
therapies to missed doses using tools that provide more quantitative adherence
measures compared with self-report and provide insight on adherence–efficacy
relationships for contemporary DAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeba H Adje
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kristina M Brooks
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jose R Castillo-Mancilla
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David L Wyles
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Peter L Anderson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jennifer J Kiser
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12850 E. Montview Blvd., V20-C238, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Izzah Z, Zijp TR, Åberg C, Touw DJ, van Boven JFM. Electronic Smart Blister Packages to Monitor and Support Medication Adherence: A Usability Study. Patient Prefer Adherence 2022; 16:2543-2558. [PMID: 36124125 PMCID: PMC9482437 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s374685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE An electronic version of the Dosepak® (EDP) which records date and time of dosing events has been developed to monitor adherence to medication packaged in blisters. This study aimed to evaluate its usability and acceptance and to monitor dose-taking adherence for optimal implementation in future clinical trials and practice. METHODS Healthy volunteers aged over 18 years were asked to dispense placebo tablets twice daily from EDPs equipped with a re-usable electronic module for a total duration of four weeks. Afterwards, subjects were asked to complete an online questionnaire and partake in a short one-on-one interview. The usability of the EDP was assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS), while dose-taking adherence was monitored by EDP records, pill counting, and self-report. The short interview explored user experiences in more detail. RESULTS Twenty subjects with median [IQR] age 41.5 [32-49.8] years, 55% female, 45% healthcare professionals, and 20% chronic medication users completed the study and found the EDP easy to use, with a mean [SD] SUS score of 78.0 [11.2]. Median [IQR] dose-taking adherence was 89% [82-95%] based on EDP records, 96.5% [89-100%] based on pill counting, 92% [91-96%] based on self-report, and the levels differed significantly (p < 0.05). Four themes emerged from the interviews: user preference, experience, patient burden, and ideas for improvement. Most participants preferred smaller sized blisters. They found the EDP simple to use and did not see any patient burden for its use in trials or clinical practice. Some reported forgetfulness and suggested reminders built into the blister or sent to their mobile phones. Adequate information or instruction should also be provided for older people and polypharmacy patients. CONCLUSION EDP had good perceived usability, was well accepted, and differed significantly from other adherence measurement methods. This study provides input to further guide scale-up of the blister packages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zamrotul Izzah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tanja R Zijp
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Christoffer Åberg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Daan J Touw
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Medication Adherence Expertise Center of the Northern Netherlands (MAECON), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Job F M van Boven
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Medication Adherence Expertise Center of the Northern Netherlands (MAECON), Groningen, the Netherlands
- Correspondence: Job FM van Boven, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (Internal Postcode AP50), Groningen, 9713 GZ, the Netherlands, Tel +31 50 361 7893, Fax +31 50 361 4087, Email
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Mahoney DE, Russell CL. Women's Reports of Barriers to and Facilitators of Oral Medication Adherence During Ovarian Stimulation: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study. J Reprod Infertil 2021; 22:184-200. [PMID: 34900639 PMCID: PMC8607872 DOI: 10.18502/jri.v22i3.6719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Adherence to lifestyle modification recommendations remains problematic for women undergoing fertility treatment, raising concerns about the extent to which women adhere to prescribed medication regimens. Limited data have shown suboptimal oral medication adherence rates of 19% to 74%. The objective of this study was to explore what women perceive as barriers to and facilitators of oral medication adherence during fertility treatment cycles. Methods: An exploratory mixed methods pilot study was conducted among a sample of 30 women who were actively taking one to two cycles of letrozole or clomiphene citrate for ovarian stimulation in conjunction with intrauterine insemination cycles. Medication adherence barriers were measured using a 20-item survey. Medication adherence facilitators and personal experiences with fertility treatment were assessed with structured interviews. Medication adherence was assessed with electronic event monitoring. Results: The overall medication adherence median was 0.97 with a range of 0.75 to 1.00, and nine women (50%) demonstrated perfect adherence. The most commonly reported barriers were recently feeling sad, down, or blue (53%), and taking medication more than once per day (40%). Women with higher barrier scores had significantly lower medication adherence scores (p=0.02) compared to women with lower total barrier scores. Facilitators included using physical aides as reminders (60%) and establishing a daily routine (50%). No significant correlation was found between medication adherence scores and facilitators. Conclusion: The dynamic interplay between perceived barriers and facilitators and women’s medication-taking patterns could influence whether or not medication regimens are followed correctly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane E Mahoney
- School of Nursing, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, US
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Patel T, Ivo J, Pitre T, Faisal S, Antunes K, Oda K. An in-home Medication Dispensing System to Support Medication Adherence for Patients with Chronic Conditions in the Community Setting: A Prospective Observational Pilot Study (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2021; 6:e34906. [PMID: 35587371 PMCID: PMC9164090 DOI: 10.2196/34906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Innovative digital technology systems that support and monitor real-time medication intake are now available commercially; however, there is limited knowledge of the use of such technology in patients’ homes. One such smart medication dispenser, spencer, provides alerts to patients to take their medications and allows for tracking and reporting real-time medication adherence data. Objective The objectives of this study were to examine the use of a smart medication dispenser as a medication adherence and self-management support tool for community dwelling adults over a 6-month period, in addition to usability, usefulness, satisfaction, and impact on caregiver support. Methods This prospective, observational study invited community-dwelling adults aged 45 years and older taking at least one chronic medication and their caregivers to use this smart medication dispenser for their medication administration for 6 months. Adherence was defined as a dose intake within 2 hours post scheduled time. Real-time adherence data were collected using the smart medication dispenser and the AdhereNet platform. Usability, usefulness, and satisfaction were measured using the System Usability Scale and the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use questionnaire, respectively. Caregiver burden was measured on a visual analog scale at baseline and at the end of the 6-month study period. Results A total of 58 participants were recruited, of which 55% (32/58) were female with a mean age of 66.36 (SD 11.28; range 48-90) years. Eleven caregiver participants were recruited, of whom 91% (10/11) were female. The average monthly adherence over 6 months was 98% (SD 3.1%; range 76.5%-100%). The average System Usability score was 85.74 (n=47; SD 12.7; range 47.5-100). Of the 46 participants who provided data, 44 (96%) rated the product as easy, 43 (93%) as simple to use, and 43 (93%) were satisfied with the product. Caregiver burden prior to and following smart medication dispenser use for 6 months was found to be statistically significantly different (P<.001; CI 2.11-5.98). Conclusions Smart medication adherence products such as spencer, when connected and clinically monitored, can be a useful solution for medication management and have the potential to improve caregiver burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejal Patel
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON, Canada
- Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team, Kitchener, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica Ivo
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON, Canada
| | | | - Sadaf Faisal
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON, Canada
| | | | - Kasumi Oda
- Catalyst Healthcare, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Gable CJ, Spencer SP, Middelberg LK, Scherzer DJ, Suer M, Casavant MJ. Pediatric exploratory ingestions involving novel pill pack packaging: A report of two cases. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 53:282.e1-282.e3. [PMID: 34538528 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pill packs are novel packaging systems designed to contain multiple medications and increase medication access but are not child-resistant and increase the risk of pediatric ingestions. We present two pediatric ingestion cases suspected to involve pill packs. Case 1 describes a 19-month-old male presenting to the Emergency Department with altered mental status and unsteady gait after a suspected clonidine and buspirone ingestion. The patient's father reportedly received his medications in mail delivery "baggies". Case 2 involves a 21-month-old female presenting to the Emergency Department with unsteady gait. During an extensive workup we eventually found a clonazepam metabolite in her urine. A family friend supervising the patient at the time reportedly received medications through mail delivery in "plastic packs". Emergency physicians should be alert to this packaging system as these products contain multiple medications, potentially increasing injury risk and obfuscating diagnosis. Manufacturers, regulatory agencies and public health authorities should assess and reduce the dangers these products pose to children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Gable
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States.
| | - Sandra P Spencer
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States.
| | - Leah K Middelberg
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States.
| | - Daniel J Scherzer
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States.
| | - Matthew Suer
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States.
| | - Marcel J Casavant
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States; Central Ohio Poison Center, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States.
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Graybill M, Duboski V, Webster L, Kern M, Wright E, Graham J, Blanchard C, Gionfriddo MR. Medication therapy problems identified by pharmacists conducting telephonic comprehensive medication management within a team‐based
at‐home
care program. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CLINICAL PHARMACY 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jac5.1466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margo Graybill
- Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Vanessa Duboski
- Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes Geisinger, Danville Pennsylvania USA
| | - Leeann Webster
- Department of Pharmacy Geisinger, Danville Pennsylvania USA
| | - Melissa Kern
- Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes Geisinger, Danville Pennsylvania USA
| | - Eric Wright
- Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes Geisinger, Danville Pennsylvania USA
| | - Jove Graham
- Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes Geisinger, Danville Pennsylvania USA
| | - Carrie Blanchard
- Center for Medication Optimization UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Michael R. Gionfriddo
- Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes Geisinger, Danville Pennsylvania USA
- Division of Pharmaceutical, Administrative and Social Sciences Duquesne University Pittsburgh PA
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Dietary interventions and blood pressure in overweight or obese individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Nutr 2021; 41:1001-1012. [PMID: 35031150 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Increased fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) beneficially impacts hypertension, yet researchers have not synthesized the effects of FVC interventions on blood pressure (BP) among overweight or obese individuals. Therefore, we aimed to examine if diets with increased FVC decrease BP in overweight and obese persons and explore effects of moderators, study methods, participants, intervention, and source characteristics. METHODS A thorough literature search was conducted in CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertation & Theses, Scopus, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Last search was conducted on February 28, 2020. Inclusion criteria consisted of randomized controlled trials, an increased FVC intervention, and a body mass index (BMI) ≥25. Studies were independently coded and evaluated for bias using Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing study bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool was used to evaluate the body of evidence, which was found to be moderate. Data was analyzed using Stata 16SE Software. We used a random effects model, comparing mean differences. Moderator analysis was conducted using meta-regression for continuous variables and meta-analytic ANOVA analog for categorical variables. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot symmetry, Begg and Mazumdar's rank and correlation, Egger's test of the intercept, and Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill. RESULTS Ten studies met criteria, which included 6862 participants. Overall, effects of FVC interventions on systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 2.16 mmHg (p < 0.001) and -0.55 mmHg (p = 0.39) for diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Moderator analyses showed greater drops in SBP from samples recruited from the community and medical schools (vs. health care/programs), interventions that used the DASH diet, and measured intake with food diaries. When concealed allocation was used and fidelity checked, there were less decreases in SBP than when it was not used. The amount of FVC significantly moderated the effects of SBP and DBP with greater increased FVC leading to greater decreases in SBP and DBP. DISCUSSION Our findings are encouraging in that FVC improves blood pressure. However, outcomes are limited by the small number of studies that met inclusion criteria, significant heterogeneity, possible publication bias, and several studies had quality concerns. Tests for publication bias indicated none and most heterogeneity among studies was explained with moderator analysis our findings should be interpreted with caution. CONCLUSIONS Increased FVC decreased SBP and DBP in obese and overweight individuals which may lower the risk of cardiovascular events. In the future, researchers might conduct higher quality studies and report quality indicators. Researchers might examine the effects of interventions for specific subgroups (overweight vs obese, younger vs older) and explore the impacts of diet-assisted technologies.
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Bailey R, English J, Knee C, Keller A. Treatment Adherence in Integrative Medicine-Part One: Review of Literature. Integr Med (Encinitas) 2021; 20:48-60. [PMID: 34373679 PMCID: PMC8325505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Treatment adherence is a topic that is well studied but not well understood. Low treatment adherence is a significant issue that limits the effective management and treatment of chronic conditions, creating significant health care burden, costs, and poor patient outcomes. This report provides a review of the factors that facilitate or create barriers to treatment adherence, as well as strategies recommended to overcome adherence barriers. A total of 25 interviews were conducted with practitioners demonstrating both high (n = 16) and low (n = 9) treatment adherence rates. A total of 185 survey responses were received from high-treatment adherence rate practitioners (n = 21), low-treatment adherence rate practitioners (n = 83), and practitioners that were neither in the high- or low-treatment adherence rate range (n = 81). Practitioner prescribing behaviors and adherence statistics were determined and stratified by high-treatment adherence rate and low-treatment adherence rate practitioners. From the interviews, 78% of low-rate practitioners mentioned that establishing trust is a primary best practice for optimizing adherence, and for high-rate practitioners, 69% thought that facilitating trust was important to optimizing adherence. Both low- and high-adherence rate practitioners prioritized using a staged approach as a strategy to overcome barriers to adherence. From the total survey sample it was found that key strategies to improving adherence included the practice of booking follow-up appointments, using lab results to explain treatment plans, and using a staged approach for treatment plans. Our research sought to elicit strategies and skills that can help improve treatment adherence in integrative medicine and our findings have identified several common practices that can help to improve adherence. Research taking advantage of mobile devices and the internet for adherence has started to expand within the last 10 to 15 years. Technology has the potential to lead the development and establishment of a centralized database that acquires adherence information and provides solutions to its practitioners and patients. Further work to advance the field of integrative medicine through additional research and interventions that support treatment adherence would be valuable to the effective treatment and management of integrative medicine patients.
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Farrell NM, Hamilton S, Gendron BJ, Corio JL, Lookabill SK. Presence of "One Pill Can Kill" Medications in Medication Organizers: Implications for Child Safety. J Pharm Pract 2021; 35:898-902. [PMID: 34000923 DOI: 10.1177/08971900211017491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medication organizers increased compliance, but they do not contain child protective packaging. Medications organizers have been involved in some pediatric exposures; however, previous reports do not describe if "one pill can kill" (1PCK) medications were involved in the exposures. 1PCK medications may cause toxicity even with a single tablet. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to describe the type and presence of 1PCK medications dispensed in medication organizers at a single center. METHODS Adult patients who received blister packed medications from September 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 were included in this retrospective review. Medications were excluded if dispensed traditionally during this time. The primary outcome described included 1PCK medications (quantity and type). Secondary outcomes included total number of tablets dispensed, delayed- (DR) and extended-release (ER) formulations, average age of those dispensed 1PCK medications versus those without. RESULTS A total of 450 patients received 486 blister packs and 75.5% of which found to include 1PCK medications. Most commonly included 1PCK medications were beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers (42.4 and 49.4%, respectively). Patients receiving 1PCK medications were older (69.1 ± 12.6 vs 62.6 ± 16.7 years old, p < 0.0001) and included more medications (8.5 ± 2.9 vs 5.7 ± 2.9 medications, p < 0.0001). DR and ER formulations were in 150 packs. CONCLUSION The majority of dispensed medication organizers included 1PCK medications. Upon dispensing, patients should be questioned for possible proximity exposures. Additionally, they should receive education on medication safety for children that may be in proximity of the medications during home, work, or social activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalija M Farrell
- Department of Pharmacy, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Bryan J Gendron
- Department of Pharmacy, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica L Corio
- Department of Pharmacy, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sara K Lookabill
- Department of Pharmacy, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Shah G, Erickson JL, Luxenburg J, Hu B, Reali-Sorrell M, Lovelace R, Pfoh E, Kobaivanova N, Brateanu A. Impact on patients' compliance with medication using prepacked blisters for multidrug medical therapy: I-COMPLY Study. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2021; 78:1713-1719. [PMID: 33950184 DOI: 10.1093/ajhp/zxab193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Studies have supported the use of packaging interventions such as pillboxes or blister packs to improve medication adherence but have not evaluated the efficacy of these interventions in a population of low socioeconomic status. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of home-delivered pill packs on medication adherence in a low-income Black American population with Medicaid insurance. METHODS This study was an open-label, randomized, controlled trial. The patient population studied included 80 patients followed by primary care physicians at the Cleveland Clinic. Patients were randomized to a study group who received delivery of their multidrug medical therapy, defined as a minimum of 4 medications daily, in prepackaged blisters or a control group who obtained their prescriptions from their routine pharmacy. RESULTS The primary analysis compared the mean percentage of missed pills between the 2 groups using t-test analysis. The percentage of missed pills in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group (mean [SD]: 3.7% [6.0%] vs 17.4% [16.6%] missed daily pills; P < 0.001). The number of daily missed doses was also significantly lower in the study group (0.3 [0.5] vs 0.7 [0.6]; P = 0.002). Patients were on a mean of 8.1 (SD, 2.3) and 8.1 (SD, 2.6) medications in the study and control groups, respectively (P = 0.96). CONCLUSION Delivery of prepackaged medications in a low-income Black American community was demonstrated to improve medication adherence. The use of prepackaged blisters for medication home delivery is a model that can be utilized on a larger scale for patients on multidrug medical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Shah
- Regional Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Bo Hu
- Department of Quantitative Health Science, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Rita Lovelace
- Department of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Elizabeth Pfoh
- Center for Value-Based Care Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Andrei Brateanu
- Department of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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McCabe S, Wollbrant C, Delaney L. The influence of price and funding source disclosure on medication labels: Implications for intended adherence, perceived value and efficacy, and feelings of burden and guilt. Br J Health Psychol 2021; 27:50-66. [PMID: 33945199 DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine if informing people in free-at-the-point-of-use medical systems of the financial value of medicines, and priming them with the fact that the medication is funded by taxation, influences people's perceived value and efficacy of the medicines, feelings of burdensomeness and guilt, and intended adherence. DESIGN An experiment was implemented to examine the impact of medication labelling featuring the presence (vs. absence) of the phrase 'funded by UK the taxpayer' and pricing information (absent vs. £20 vs. £200) on outcome measures. METHODS A total of 257 UK participants (age: M = 29.10 years, SD = 9.15; 89 males, 167 females, one undisclosed) who were currently taking medication were recruited from an online participant pool (prolific academic). Participants viewed an image of a medication with the manipulated price and taxation message on the label. They then completed a number of measures to gauge perceived value and efficacy of the medicines, feelings of burdensomeness and guilt, and intended adherence. RESULTS Findings point to both positive and negative consequences of such labelling of medication, with the taxpayer label increasing perceptions of value but also increasing feelings of guilt. The price labels demonstrated a positive effect on perceived value and intended adherence. CONCLUSIONS Discussion of results is centred on potential policy implications, applied recommendations, and future directions for study.
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Wang Y, Wang X, Wang X, Naqvi AA, Zhang Q, Zang X. Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the general medication adherence scale (GMAS) in patients with chronic illness. Curr Med Res Opin 2021; 37:829-837. [PMID: 33719815 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2021.1901680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To translate the English version of general medication adherence scale (GMAS) into a Chinese version and test its reliability and validity in Chinese patients with chronic diseases. METHODS After translating the original English version into Chinese (GMAS-C) following the forward-backward translation and expert review procedure, we conducted a pilot study among 10 chronic disease patients. Each patient took about 10 min to complete the scale and was asked about the difficulty of understanding or filling the scale. Then a total of 312 patients aged 18 years or older with chronic illness were selected from the outpatient departments of two tertiary hospitals and a community center in Tianjin from April 2019 to May 2020 by convenience sampling. Cronbach's α coefficient, item-total correlation and test-retest reliability were used to evaluate the scale reliability; expert evaluation method was used to evaluate the content validity of the scale; and exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and known group validity were used to evaluate the construct validity of the scale. RESULTS As a result of the adaptation process, the GMAS-C's structure was determined. It included 3 dimensions and 11 items and was reliable and valid for Chinese patients with chronic diseases. Total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.781 and test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.883 after two weeks. The item-level content validity indexes (CVIs) were ≥ 0.78 for all items. A Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test and Bartlett' test of sphericity test indicated that the sample met the requirements of factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis extracted three factors with eigenvalue >1, and 60% of the total variance was explained by three-factor solution. Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable fit indices (χ2/df = 1.58, IFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.94, CFI = 0.96 and RMSEA = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The GMAS-C demonstrates satisfactory reliability and validity. This scale can be a clinically useful tool to identify the levels of medication adherence and possible barriers for adherence of the medication regime in patients with chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Xiaoxu Wang
- School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Xiaobing Wang
- School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Atta Abbas Naqvi
- Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia
| | - Qing Zhang
- School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Zang
- School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
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Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in LGBT Communities. Prim Care 2021; 48:299-310. [PMID: 33985706 DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals face the highest burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective evidence-based biomedical intervention to reduce acquisition of HIV infection but uptake has been suboptimal in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. Primary care providers play an integral role in addressing HIV disparities by educating patients and facilitating access to PrEP. After PrEP initiation, primary care providers should assess for and manage adverse effects, provide appropriate laboratory monitoring, support adherence, and assist patients with access to low-cost or free PrEP options if needed.
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Hoeben EM, Bernasco W, Suonperä Liebst L, van Baak C, Rosenkrantz Lindegaard M. Social distancing compliance: A video observational analysis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248221. [PMID: 33720951 PMCID: PMC7959357 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Virus epidemics may be mitigated if people comply with directives to stay at home and keep their distance from strangers in public. As such, there is a public health interest in social distancing compliance. The available evidence on distancing practices in public space is limited, however, by the lack of observational data. Here, we apply video observation as a method to examine to what extent members of the public comply with social distancing directives. DATA Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of interactions in public was collected in inner-city Amsterdam, the Netherlands. From the footage, we observed instances of people violating the 1.5-meter distance directives in the weeks before, during, and after these directives were introduced to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS We find that people complied with the 1.5-meter distance directives when these directives were first introduced, but that the level of compliance started to decline soon after. We also find that violation of the 1.5-meter distance directives is strongly associated with the number of people observed on the street and with non-compliance to stay-at-home directives, operationalized with large-scale aggregated location data from cell phones. All three measures correlate to a varying extent with temporal patterns in the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, temperature, COVID-19 related Google search queries, and media attention to the topic. CONCLUSION Compliance with 1.5 meter distance directives is short-lived and coincides with the number of people on the street and with compliance to stay-at-home directives. Potential implications of these findings are that keep- distance directives may work best in combination with stay-at-home directives and place-specific crowd-control strategies, and that the number of people on the street and community-wide mobility as captured with cell phone data offer easily measurable proxies for the extent to which people keep sufficient physical distance from others at specific times and locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien M. Hoeben
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Bernasco
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Spatial Economics, School of Business and Economics, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Carlijn van Baak
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marie Rosenkrantz Lindegaard
- Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Spatial Economics, School of Business and Economics, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Fields SD, Tung E. Patient-Focused Selection of PrEP Medication for Individuals at Risk of HIV: A Narrative Review. Infect Dis Ther 2021; 10:165-186. [PMID: 33569743 PMCID: PMC7875561 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-020-00384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is a key component of the HIV prevention strategy in the US, which has been demonstrated to be highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition among individuals at risk. Two PrEP medications are currently approved: emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada®; F/TDF) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2012, followed by emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (Descovy®; F/TAF) in 2019. An ongoing randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 study (DISCOVER) demonstrated that F/TAF had non-inferior efficacy to F/TDF. While both medications have been found to be efficacious and well tolerated, several studies have identified that important differences exist with regards to pharmacokinetics, bone and renal safety profiles, and other factors. In this narrative review, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the populations at risk of HIV who may also be affected by, or at risk of, bone or renal conditions. We reviewed the safety profiles of F/TDF and F/TAF to develop an evidence-based algorithm for selecting the appropriate PrEP medication, based on biological, behavioral, and health characteristics of an individual at risk of HIV, and considered how the choice of PrEP medication may or may not compound safety concerns for these individuals. We identified that the introduction of F/TAF provides a valuable alternative to F/TDF, allowing the personalization of PrEP. F/TAF may be the preferred medication for cisgender men and transgender women at risk of HIV infection who are predisposed to, or already have, bone or renal conditions. While the approval of F/TAF is the first step in personalization of PrEP, additional options are still warranted to help accommodate the wide spectrum of individuals at risk of HIV with different lifestyles, medical histories, preferences, and requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheldon D Fields
- The Pennsylvania State University, College of Nursing, University Park, PA, USA.
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Shetty KD, Chen AY, Rose AJ, Liu HH. Effect of the ExactCare medication care management model on adherence, health care utilization, and costs. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2021; 27:574-585. [PMID: 33560167 PMCID: PMC10394188 DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2021.20431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are common in the United States and are associated with greater risk of disease-related complications and higher health care costs. ExactCare has implemented a high-touch approach that includes home visits, comprehensive ongoing medication reviews, patient education, medication reconciliation, medication compliance packaging, and electronic reminders and trackers. OBJECTIVE: To test whether the ExactCare program improves medication adherence and reduces health care utilization and costs. METHODS: Using a national database from a large U.S. insurer, we identified Medicare Advantage plan members in 8 states from 2007 to 2018 who had both medical and prescription drug coverage. The index year for an ExactCare patient was identified using the date of the first prescription filled by ExactCare, with the previous year being the baseline. All patients without a prescription from an ExactCare pharmacy were considered potential comparison patients. To propensity match ExactCare and comparison patients, the probability of ExactCare participation was modeled using a logistic regression based on demographics, state, year, urban status, Medicaid eligibility, low-income subsidies, comorbidities, and baseline utilization and costs. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to generate a difference-in-differences estimate of program effect for the matched pairs as well as patient-level fixed effects, while adjusting for additional time-varying characteristics. Adherence outcomes included the proportion of days covered for oral diabetic medications, antihypertensives, and hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins). Utilization outcomes included emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and skilled nursing facility (SNF) admissions, hospitalization days, and SNF days. Cost outcomes included total cost of care, prescription drug cost, hospital inpatient cost, and SNF cost. RESULTS: ExactCare patients (N = 701) were propensity-matched to comparison patients (N = 1,395) using the nearest 1:2 match approach, with an average follow-up period of 6.6 and 5.4 years for ExactCare and comparison patients, respectively. One year of ExactCare participation was associated with statistically significant increases in adherence to statins (8.4 percentage points; P < 0.001) and antihypertensive drugs (4.9 percentage points; P < 0.001), but the increase in adherence for diabetes drugs was not statistically significant. ExactCare participation was associated with statistically significant decreases in SNF admission rates (-67 SNF stays per 1,000 member-years; P = 0.011), inpatient days (-857 days per 1,000 member-years; P = 0.022), and SNF days (-1,801 days per 1,000 member-years; P = 0.002), but not with the rates of ED visits or hospital admissions. Each year of ExactCare participation was associated with increases in prescription drug costs ($30 per-member per month [PMPM]; P = 0.006) and decreases in total costs (-$196 PMPM; P = 0.023) and medical costs (-$226 PMPM; P = 0.008), largely attributable to decreases in hospital inpatient costs (-$119 PMPM; P = 0.001) and SNF costs (-$30 PMPM; P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: ExactCare's medication care management model was associated with improved medication adherence and an approximately $2,400 per member per year reduction in total cost of care, representing a 5% reduction in average costs. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by ExactCare Pharmacy under a contract with RAND that grants the study authors sole responsibility for data management, study design, data analysis, manuscript drafting, and the decision to publish. The sponsor had no role in the study design and manuscript drafting. All data analysis was conducted by the study authors. A draft manuscript was reviewed by the sponsor, but the study authors made final decisions regarding the content and study conclusions. Shetty, Chen, and Liu are employed by RAND. Rose has nothing to disclose.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam J Rose
- Hebrew University School of Public Health, Jerusalem, Israel
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Navin LS. Blister Packaging Medications for Adherence for American Indians/Alaska Natives in the Outpatient Setting. J Pharm Pract 2021; 34:97-102. [PMID: 31248338 DOI: 10.1177/0897190019851357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare adherence one year before and after blister pack implementation in America Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients and to describe the patient population who used blister packs in the outpatient setting. METHODS A retrospective analysis of AI/AN patients receiving blister packs was performed to determine medication adherence as measured by a variable medication possession ratio (MPR). Patient characteristics and the reason for blister pack initiation were also assessed. RESULTS Of the 25 patients receiving blister packs, 76% were female, 56% were elderly and 60% had cognitive impairment. The three most common types of medications used were hypertension meds, vitamins and diabetes meds. The average MPR one year before blister pack implementation was 67.4% and significantly increased to 86.0% one year after. CONCLUSION Blister packs significantly increased the average MPR after one year of implementation in a small group of AI/AN patients. Blister packs were utilized most commonly in patients who were female, had cognitive impairment, and who were taking numerous medications with a high pill burden in the outpatient setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lt Sean Navin
- 357864Albuquerque Indian Health Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Perceptions of community pharmacists to implementing technologies in the workplace: an exploratory study. Int J Clin Pharm 2021; 43:1227-1236. [PMID: 33515134 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-021-01238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Background The proliferation of different technologies in pharmacies has begun to change the role and work of pharmacists; however, while workplace integration of technologies has been shown to be beneficial, there are still barriers to their implementation. Few studies have investigated pharmacists' perceptions of these technologies. Objective To investigate the views of community pharmacists on the implementation of technologies in pharmacy practice. Setting Community pharmacies in Auckland, New Zealand. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted June-September 2018 with a convenience sample of 20 pharmacists. Interviews explored current medication management and technologies used to support this service, experiences with technologies, confidence in learning new technologies, and whether the introduction of technologies could solve any needs in pharmacy practice. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Main outcome measure Community pharmacists views on pharmacy technologies. Results Four key themes were identified: attitudes to existing medication management technologies, adapting to new technologies, acceptance of technology, and barriers to implementing technology in pharmacies. Pharmacists were accepting of technology to help with medication management and allowing them to provide more patient-centered care. Most pharmacists expressed confidence in using new technologies and viewed technology as a tool to address current limitations in their practice. Barriers to technology were cost, consequences of medication error, fear that technology may replace people, and an over-reliance on technology. Conclusion Community pharmacists made use of several types of technologies to promote medication management, including robotics. While mostly accepting of new technologies to streamline tasks and reduce error, pharmacists highlighted the importance of addressing barriers to technology implementation prior to workplace implementation.
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Nair P, Kee KW, Mah CS, Lee ES. Evaluating the Impact of Outpatient Multi-Dose Medication Packaging Service (MDMPS) on Medication Adherence and Clinical Outcomes. J Prim Care Community Health 2020; 11:2150132720965085. [PMID: 33089747 PMCID: PMC7585883 DOI: 10.1177/2150132720965085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is limited understanding on the impact of the multidose medication packaging service (MDMPS). Objectives: The main objective of this study was to evaluate changes in medication adherence in patients using MDMPS compared to patients receiving standard medication packaging (control group). The other objectives were to determine the association between medication adherence and clinical outcomes, and to assess patients’/caregivers’ perceptions toward MDMPS. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among primary care patients in Singapore enrolled into MDMPS between 2012 and 2017. Eligible patients were taking at least five chronic medications, diagnosed with Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia and/or Type 2 Diabetes, with prescription records for at least six months before and after the index period. They were matched to control patients based on the type of comorbidities and medication adherence status. Medication Possession Ratio (MPR), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) of both groups were compared between baseline and at least six months post-index period. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were also conducted for MDMPS patients. Results: The MPR of MDMPS patients (n = 100) increased by 0.37% (P < .001) compared to the control group (n = 100). MDMPS patients with diabetes had reduced HbA1c by 0.1% after six months (P = .022) but was not significant after 12 months. No significant changes were seen in blood pressure and LDL-C between both groups. At least 50% of patients were highly satisfied with MDMPS. Conclusion: MDMPS can improve medication adherence. Further studies are needed to understand its clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kok Wai Kee
- National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore
| | | | - Eng Sing Lee
- National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore
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Salgado TM, Rosenthal MM, Coe AB, Kaefer TN, Dixon DL, Farris KB. Primary healthcare policy and vision for community pharmacy and pharmacists in the United States. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2020; 18:2160. [PMID: 33029264 PMCID: PMC7523559 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2020.3.2160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The United States (US) has a complex healthcare system with a mix of public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit insurers, healthcare institutions and organizations, and providers. Unlike other developed countries, there is not a single payer healthcare system or a national pharmaceutical benefits scheme/plan. Despite spending over USD 10,000 per capita in healthcare, the US is among the worst performers compared to other developed countries in outcomes including life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, safety during childbirth, and unmanaged chronic conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes). Primary care is delivered by physicians and advanced practice providers (i.e., nurse practitioners and physician assistants) in a variety of settings including large health systems, federally qualified health centers or free clinics that provide care to the underserved, or specific facilities for veterans or American Indian and Alaska native peoples. Since 2010, primary care delivery has shifted toward providing patient-centered, coordinated, comprehensive care focused on providing proactive, rather than reactive, population health management, and on the quality, versus volume, of care. Community pharmacy comprises a mix of independently owned, chain, supermarket and mass merchant pharmacies. Community pharmacies provide services such as immunizations, medication therapy management, medication packaging, medication synchronization, point-of-care testing and, in specific states where legislation has been passed, hormonal contraception, opioid reversal agents, and smoking cessation services. There has been criticism regarding the lack of standard terminology for services such as medication synchronization and medication therapy management, their components and how they should be provided, which hampers comparability across studies. One of the main challenges for pharmacists in the US is the lack of provider status at the federal level. This means that pharmacists are not allowed to use existing fee-for-service health insurance billing codes to receive reimbursement for non-dispensing services. In addition, despite there being regulatory infrastructure in multiple states, the extent of service implementation is either low or unknown. Research found that pharmacists face numerous barriers when providing some of these services. State fragmentation and the lack of a single pharmacy organization and vision for the profession are additional challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa M Salgado
- MPharm, PhD. Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA (United States).
| | - Meagen M Rosenthal
- PhD. Department of Pharmacy Administration, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi. Oxford, MS (United States).
| | - Antoinette B Coe
- PharmD, PhD. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI (United States).
| | - Tana N Kaefer
- PharmD. Director of Clinical Services, Bremo Pharmacy. Richmond, VA (United States).
| | - Dave L Dixon
- PharmD. Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA (United States).
| | - Karen B Farris
- PhD. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI (United States).
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Understanding the role of educational interventions on medication adherence in hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart Lung 2020; 49:537-547. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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