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Bortz C, Armistead I, Bonaguidi A, Coyle DT. Critical incidents in Colorado's opioid treatment programs: A comparison of the COVID-19 pandemic to previous years. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2024; 161:209342. [PMID: 38513975 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guidance allowed opioid treatment programs (OTPs) greater flexibility to provide take-home medication doses to patients. This study aims to characterize trends in the rates of critical incidents-safety events occurring in OTPs that are reportable to regulatory entities-across all Colorado OTPs during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This study is a retrospective review of critical incidents (CIs) for patients enrolled in Colorado OTPs between the years 2017 to 2022, as recorded in Colorado Behavioral Health Administration's (BHA) Opioid Treatment Program Critical Incident Repository Dataset. March 15, 2020 was considered the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado, so only incidents which occurred from March 15-December 31 of each year were included. CI rate per 100 patients was calculated by dividing CI annual count between March 15-December 31 by the census of enrolled patients at the calendar midpoint of this period, which is August 7. Means comparison tests assessed differences in CI rates. RESULTS OTP patient enrollment in Colorado increased from 4377 in 2017 to 7327 in 2022. Overall, Medication Diversion accounted for 70 % of CIs, followed by Death (14 %), and Other (5 %). There was a significant increase in the overall rate of CIs from 2017 to 2022 (1.1 % to 3.4 %). The average post-COVID CI rate was higher than pre-COVID (4.0 % vs. 2.4 %). There was no difference, however, in the post-COVID rate of CIs when exclusively compared to 2019 (4.0 % vs. 4.1 %). Post-pandemic years had significantly more CIs per month than pre-pandemic years (27.6 ± 5.6 vs 15.8 ± 3.5). There was no difference in mean monthly CIs between 2019 and post-pandemic (28.5 ± 5.3 vs 27.6 ± 5.6). CONCLUSIONS There was no increase in the rate of reportable CIs in Colorado OTPs following the SAMHSA COVID-19 guidance increasing take-home doses when comparing 2019 to post-pandemic years. The notable increase in CI incidence occurred from 2018 to 2019, predating the pandemic. These data offer a measure of reassurance for the safety of increased take-home methadone doses. There should be further consideration of how a greater number of take-home doses might benefit both patients and OTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole Bortz
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Isaac Armistead
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246, USA
| | - Angela Bonaguidi
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - D Tyler Coyle
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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Meyerson BE, Treiber D, Brady BR, Newgass K, Bondurant K, Bentele KG, Samorano S, Arredondo C, Stavros N. Dialing for doctors: Secret shopper study of Arizona methadone and buprenorphine providers, 2022. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2024; 160:209306. [PMID: 38296033 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Methadone and buprenorphine are effective and safe treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) and also reduce overdose and all-cause mortality. Identifying and reaching providers of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has proven difficult for prospective patients and researchers. OBJECTIVES To assess the accuracy of government-maintained lists of Arizona (AZ) providers prescribing MOUD, and the extent to which these providers are accessible for treatment. METHODS A two-phase study used a listing of 2376 AZ MOUD providers obtained from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Phase 1 assessed the accuracy of the listing using internet confirmatory research from May-October 2022. Phase 2 used the resulting list of 838 providers to assess provider availability, type of MOUD treatment provided, and accepted payment through secret shopper calls between November 16 and 30, 2022. RESULTS Just over half (52.2 %, n = 1240) of providers were removed from the original listing during Phase 1. One quarter (25.9 %) were no longer in practice. Among the 833 eligible for the secret shopper Phase 2 study, 36.6 % (n = 307) were reached and identified as providing MOUD. A vast majority (88.1 %) of MOUD providers indicating treatment type were accepting new patients, however methadone was identified far more frequently than was likely permitted or provided for OUD. Providers were 5.5 times more likely to accept new patients if they accepted cash payment for services, and 4.9 times more likely if they accepted Medicaid. Rural areas remained underserved. CONCLUSIONS The active population of MOUD providers is far smaller than surmised. DEA and SAMHSA provider listings are not sufficiently accurate for survey research sampling. Other means of representative sampling will need to be devised, and trusted lists of providers for prospective patients should be promoted, publicly available, and regularly maintained for accuracy. Providers that offer treatment should assure that public-facing staff have basic information about the practice, the treatment offered, and conditions for taking new patients. Concerted efforts must assure rural access at the most local levels to reduce patient travel burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- B E Meyerson
- Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States of America.
| | - D Treiber
- Sonoran Prevention Works, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America; Drug Policy Research and Advocacy Board, AZ, United States of America
| | - B R Brady
- Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States of America; School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs, College of Health and Human Services, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America
| | - K Newgass
- Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Southwest Recovery Alliance, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America; Drug Policy Research and Advocacy Board, AZ, United States of America
| | - K Bondurant
- Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Drug Policy Research and Advocacy Board, AZ, United States of America
| | - K G Bentele
- Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Southwest Institute for Research on Women, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - S Samorano
- Harm Reduction Research Lab, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Drug Policy Research and Advocacy Board, AZ, United States of America
| | - C Arredondo
- Drug Policy Research and Advocacy Board, AZ, United States of America; El Rio Community Health Center, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - N Stavros
- Drug Policy Research and Advocacy Board, AZ, United States of America; Community Medical Services, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
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Chapman SA, Fraimow-Wong L, Phoenix BJ, Tierney M, Spetz J. Perspectives on APRN prescribing of medications for opioid use disorder: Key barriers remain. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2024; 157:209215. [PMID: 37979946 PMCID: PMC11092094 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Deaths from drug overdoses are rising dramatically in the United States. Treatment for opioid use disorders may include behavioral treatments as well as medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD). Buprenorphine can be prescribed by physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), other advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and physician assistants (PAs) and required a training and a federal waiver until recently. The number of NP MOUD prescribers grew steadily over the past decade, but research has identified state-level scope of practice regulations as a barrier to NP MOUD prescribing. This article explores the contributions of, and remaining barriers faced by NP and other APRN MOUD prescribers. We describe qualitative findings from a study of NPs and other key stakeholders involved in MOUD treatment in four states with two differing levels of regulatory structure. METHODS In this qualitative study, we conducted site visits and semi-structured interviews with NPs and other APRNs, physicians, clinic managers, and regulators in four states including New Mexico and West Virginia (full practice authority for NPs), and Ohio and Michigan (which require physician supervision). Interview notes were entered into a qualitative software package and coded and reviewed by two members of the research team. Data were grouped into key themes. RESULTS A total of 76 participants participated in individual or small group interviews in the four states. We found key themes and several subthemes that describe NP practice in MOUD. Participants described key contributions of NP engagement in MOUD, including increasing access, serving rural areas, the unique role of psychiatric NPs, and the value of the nursing model of care in working with people with substance use disorders (SUD). Participants also identified barriers including scope of practice regulations, other regulatory barriers, stigma, and lack of supportive services to address psychosocial needs. CONCLUSIONS The waiver requirements were eliminated at the end of 2022 in federal budget legislation. Other barriers for NP and other APRN prescribers remain and should be addressed in practice, and in state and federal regulations. Research needs to explore the impact of the waiver elimination on MOUD prescribing and access to services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A Chapman
- University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 490 Illinois Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States of America.
| | - Leah Fraimow-Wong
- UCSF School of Medicine, 533 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States of America.
| | - Bethany J Phoenix
- University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems, 2 Koret Way, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, United States of America.
| | - Matthew Tierney
- University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems, 2 Koret Way, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, United States of America.
| | - Joanne Spetz
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States of America.
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White LA, Verdeli H, Petridis PD. Rationale for Adapting Group Interpersonal Therapy for the Treatment of Psychological Distress Among Seafarers. Am J Psychother 2023; 76:134-136. [PMID: 37608755 DOI: 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20230015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay A White
- Department of Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City (White, Verdeli); Department of Psychiatry, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York City (Petridis)
| | - Helen Verdeli
- Department of Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City (White, Verdeli); Department of Psychiatry, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York City (Petridis)
| | - Petros D Petridis
- Department of Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City (White, Verdeli); Department of Psychiatry, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York City (Petridis)
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Giacomini P, Valenti F, Allegretti M, Pallocca M, De Nicola F, Ciuffreda L, Fanciulli M, Scalera S, Buglioni S, Melucci E, Casini B, Carosi M, Pescarmona E, Giordani E, Sperati F, Jannitti N, Betti M, Maugeri-Saccà M, Cecere FL, Villani V, Pace A, Appetecchia M, Vici P, Savarese A, Krasniqi E, Ferraresi V, Russillo M, Fabi A, Landi L, Minuti G, Cappuzzo F, Zeuli M, Ciliberto G. The Molecular Tumor Board of the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute: from accrual to treatment in real-world. J Transl Med 2023; 21:725. [PMID: 37845764 PMCID: PMC10577953 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04595-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular Tumor Boards (MTB) operating in real-world have generated limited consensus on good practices for accrual, actionable alteration mapping, and outcome metrics. These topics are addressed herein in 124 MTB patients, all real-world accrued at progression, and lacking approved therapy options. METHODS Actionable genomic alterations identified by tumor DNA (tDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling were mapped by customized OncoKB criteria to reflect diagnostic/therapeutic indications as approved in Europe. Alterations were considered non-SoC when mapped at either OncoKB level 3, regardless of tDNA/ctDNA origin, or at OncoKB levels 1/2, provided they were undetectable in matched tDNA, and had not been exploited in previous therapy lines. RESULTS Altogether, actionable alterations were detected in 54/124 (43.5%) MTB patients, but only in 39 cases (31%) were these alterations (25 from tDNA, 14 from ctDNA) actionable/unexploited, e.g. they had not resulted in the assignment of pre-MTB treatments. Interestingly, actionable and actionable/unexploited alterations both decreased (37.5% and 22.7% respectively) in a subset of 88 MTB patients profiled by tDNA-only, but increased considerably (77.7% and 66.7%) in 18 distinct patients undergoing combined tDNA/ctDNA testing, approaching the potential treatment opportunities (76.9%) in 147 treatment-naïve patients undergoing routine tDNA profiling for the first time. Non-SoC therapy was MTB-recommended to all 39 patients with actionable/unexploited alterations, but only 22 (56%) accessed the applicable drug, mainly due to clinical deterioration, lengthy drug-gathering procedures, and geographical distance from recruiting clinical trials. Partial response and stable disease were recorded in 8 and 7 of 19 evaluable patients, respectively. The time to progression (TTP) ratio (MTB-recommended treatment vs last pre-MTB treatment) exceeded the conventional Von Hoff 1.3 cut-off in 9/19 cases, high absolute TTP and Von Hoff values coinciding in 3 cases. Retrospectively, 8 patients receiving post-MTB treatment(s) as per physician's choice were noted to have a much longer overall survival from MTB accrual than 11 patients who had received no further treatment (35.09 vs 6.67 months, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS MTB-recommended/non-SoC treatments are effective, including those assigned by ctDNA-only alterations. However, real-world MTBs may inadvertently recruit patients electively susceptible to diverse and/or multiple treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizio Giacomini
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Fabio Valenti
- UOC Translational Oncology Research, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Allegretti
- UOC Translational Oncology Research, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Pallocca
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De Nicola
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Ludovica Ciuffreda
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fanciulli
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Scalera
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Buglioni
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Melucci
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Casini
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariantonia Carosi
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pescarmona
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Giordani
- UOC Translational Oncology Research, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Sperati
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Jannitti
- Pharmacy Unit, Medical Direction, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute and San Gallicano Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Betti
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Maugeri-Saccà
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology 2, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Veronica Villani
- Neuro-Oncology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pace
- Neuro-Oncology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Appetecchia
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Vici
- Phase IV Studies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Savarese
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Eriseld Krasniqi
- Phase IV Studies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia Ferraresi
- Sarcomas and Rare Tumors Departmental Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Russillo
- Sarcomas and Rare Tumors Departmental Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fabi
- Precision Medicine Unit in Senology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Landi
- Clinical Trial Center: Phase 1 and Precision Medicine, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Minuti
- Clinical Trial Center: Phase 1 and Precision Medicine, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Cappuzzo
- Medical Oncology 2, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Zeuli
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
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Marchetti P, Curigliano G, Calabria S, Piccinni C, Botticelli A, Martini N. Do more targets allow more cancer treatments, or not? Eur J Cancer 2023; 187:99-104. [PMID: 37137204 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The three current oncology models (histological, agnostic and mutational) mainly differ in clinical, technological and organisational aspects, leading to different regulatory procedures and implications in antineoplastic therapy access by patients. Within the histological and agnostic models, Regulatory Agencies authorise target therapies and define their price, reimbursement, prescription and access based on results from clinical trials including patients affected by the same tumour (histological) or subjects with specific genetic mutations regardless of the tumour site or the histology (agnostic). The mutational model has been developed to identify specific actionable molecular alterations found by next-generation sequencing test-based large platforms on solid and liquid biopsies. Nevertheless, due to the highly uncertain efficacy and possible toxicity of drugs tested within this model, regulatory procedures based on histological or agnostic oncology cannot be followed. Multidisciplinary skills are required (e.g. the molecular tumour board's (MTB) representatives) to identify the best association between the genomic profile and the drug planned to be used, but quality requirements, practices and procedures of these discussions still need to be standardised. Real-world evidence from clinical practice (i.e. genomic findings, clinical data and MTBs' choices) lacks, therefore, it is urgently needed as opposed to limited findings from clinical trials. A potential solution for an appropriate access to the therapy chosen by the mutational model can be the indication-value-based sub iudice procedure of authorisation. The access to therapies suggested by extensive molecular profiling could be easily implementable within the Italian national health system, thanks to the existing regulatory procedures, i.e. the managed-entry agreements and the antineoplastic drug monitoring registries, alongside those granted by conventional studies (phase I, II, III, IV) conducted according to the histological and agnostic models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Calabria
- Fondazione ReS (Ricerca e Salute) - Research and Health Foundation, Rome, Italy.
| | - Carlo Piccinni
- Fondazione ReS (Ricerca e Salute) - Research and Health Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Nello Martini
- Fondazione ReS (Ricerca e Salute) - Research and Health Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Burnett AL, Nyame YA, Mitchell E. Disparities in prostate cancer. J Natl Med Assoc 2023; 115:S38-S45. [PMID: 37202002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite substantial advances in early detection/prevention and treatments, and improved outcomes in recent decades, prostate cancer continues to disproportionately affect Black men and is the secondleading cause of cancer death in this subgroup. Black men are substantially more likely to develop prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from the disease compared with White men. In addition, Black men are younger at diagnosis and face a higher risk of aggressive disease relative to White men. Striking racial disparities endure along the continuum of prostate cancer care, including screening, genomic testing, diagnostic procedures, and treatment modalities. The underlying causes of these inequalities are complex and multifactorial and involve biological factors, structural determinants of equity (i.e., public policy, structural and systemic racism, economic policy), social determinants of health (including income, education, and insurance status, neighborhood/physical environment, community/social context, and geography), and health care factors. The objective of this article is to review the sources of racial disparities in prostate cancer and to propose actionable recommendations to help address these inequities and narrow the racial gap.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yaw A Nyame
- Division of Public Health Sciences Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Urology, University of Washington, United States
| | - Edith Mitchell
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer at Jefferson, 925 Chestnut Street, Suite 220A, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States.
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Davis MT, Bohler R, Hodgkin D, Hamilton G, Horgan C. The role of health plans in addressing the opioid crisis: A qualitative study. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2023; 149:209022. [PMID: 36935064 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Health plans are key players in substance use treatment in the United States, and the opioid crisis presents new challenges for them. This article is part of the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) funded by NIH, which seeks to facilitate communities' adoption of activities that might reduce overdose deaths, including overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution, medication for opioid use disorder, and safer opioid prescribing. We examine how health plans in one state (Massachusetts) are adapting to encourage and sustain activities that help communities to address opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with managers of behavioral health services at eight health plans in Massachusetts that that have Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial lines of business. Two plans in this sample contract with a specialized behavioral health organization ("carve-out"). The interviewees also completed a survey on policies regarding access to treatment and opioid prescribing. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Analysis of the data included intended influence of the policies at three levels: member level (micro), group or community level (meso), and system or institutional level (macro). RESULTS All health plans developed strategies to increase access to treatment for OUD, primarily through eliminating or decreasing cost-sharing, eliminating pre-authorization for MOUD, and increasing supply of providers. Health plans encourage qualified practitioners to offer MOUD, but most do not provide incentives or training. Identifying high risk populations is a focus of health plans in this sample. Naloxone is a covered benefit in all health plans, although with variation in monthly limits and cost-sharing. Most health plans take measures to influence opioid prescribing. Health plans' activities are predominately aimed at the micro (member) level with little ability to influence at the macro (wider system-level changes). CONCLUSION This study provides insight into how health plans develop strategies to address the rise in OUD and fatal opioid overdoses, many of which are key in the HCS initiative. How active a role health plans play in addressing the opioid crisis varies, even within the insurance industry in one state (Massachusetts).
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot Trotter Davis
- Institute for Behavioral Health, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, United States of America.
| | - Robert Bohler
- Institute for Behavioral Health, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, United States of America
| | - Dominic Hodgkin
- Institute for Behavioral Health, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, United States of America
| | - Greer Hamilton
- Boston University School of Social Work, United States of America
| | - Constance Horgan
- Institute for Behavioral Health, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, United States of America
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Alexander K, Reed MK, Sterling RC. The interaction of race and age in methadone treatment retention outcomes: A single-center analysis. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2023; 148:209020. [PMID: 36933661 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Early treatment drop-out is due to the unique interplay of the individual and their context, and is associated with overdose death. The objective of this project was to determine if age or race is associated with 6-month treatment retention outcome differences at a single-center opioid treatment program. METHODS The study team performed a retrospective administrative database study from January 2014 to January 2017 using admission data with age and race as predictors of 6-month treatment retention outcomes. RESULTS Of the 457 admissions, 114 were under the age of 30; however, only 4 % of these young adults were Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC). While retention for BIPOC patients (62 %) was slightly higher than for White patients (57 %), this difference did not reach traditional levels of significance. CONCLUSIONS Once BIPOC enter treatment, their treatment retention is similar to their White counterparts. Young adult BIPOC were less represented in the admission data, but treatment retention across racial groups was similar. An urgent need exists to determine the barriers and facilitators to treatment access among BIPOC young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan K Reed
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, United States of America; Center for Connected Care, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 1015 Walnut Street, Suite 704, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America
| | - Robert C Sterling
- Division of Community Substance Abuse Programs, Thomas Jefferson University, United States of America
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10
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Gbessi DG, Gnangnon FHR, Kpossou AR, Gbetchedji PP, Seidou F, Imorou Souaïbou Y, Attolou SGR, Lawani I, Laleye MC, Gangbo F, Dossou FM, Sehonou J, Mehinto DK. Challenge of gastro-intestinal stromal tumor management in low-income countries: example of Benin. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:247. [PMID: 36451201 PMCID: PMC9714201 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02709-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND GISTs are rare tumors but the most frequent mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. Diagnosis and treatment are challenging in low-income countries due to relatively poor access to immunohistochemistry and targeted therapy. In Africa, there are few studies about it. Imatinib, an oral targeted therapy, has been available in Benin since 2010 and free since 2016. This study describes the diagnosis and therapeutic management of GIST in Cotonou, Benin. METHODS This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, with retrospective data collection over a 10-year period from 2010 to 2020, focused on patients with histological confirmed gastro-intestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Cases were identified using the registry database and the archival files of the Hubert Koutoukou Maga National University Hospital of Cotonou (CNHU-HKM). RESULTS Fifteen GISTs were identified during the study period. The median age was 52 and the sex ratio was 2:1 (10 males and 5 females). The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain (n = 12). Delay in care seeking after onset of symptoms ranged from 24 h to 15 years. The most common site for GISTs was the stomach (n = 8). The median tumor size was 11 cm and the majority (n=10) was metastatic or locally advanced at the time of diagnosis. The tumors were often spindle-shaped at histology (n = 13) and the majority expressed KIT (n = 14). Most of the tumors (n = 12) were at high risk of recurrence according to the Joensuu scoring system. The availability of imatinib has improved the outcome of GIST with response in all cases it was used in neoadjuvant setting (n = 7). CONCLUSION GISTs are rare tumors and preferentially affect the stomach in Cotonou). Most of the tumors were large, unresectable at the time of diagnosis and at high risk of recurrence. Access to imatinib has revolutionized the management of those tumors in our country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dansou Gaspard Gbessi
- grid.420217.2Department of Visceral Surgery, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | | | - Aboudou Raïmi Kpossou
- grid.420217.2Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Pacifique Prudent Gbetchedji
- grid.420217.2Department of Visceral Surgery, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Falilatou Seidou
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences/ Abomey-Calavi University (FSS/UAC), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Yacoubou Imorou Souaïbou
- grid.420217.2Department of Visceral Surgery, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Setondji Gilles Roger Attolou
- grid.420217.2Department of Visceral Surgery, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Ismaïl Lawani
- Department of General Surgery, Departmental University Hospital Oueme-Plateau (CHDU-OP), Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin
| | - Marie-Christel Laleye
- grid.420217.2Department of Visceral Surgery, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Flore Gangbo
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences/ Abomey-Calavi University (FSS/UAC), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Francis Moïse Dossou
- Department of General Surgery, Departmental University Hospital Oueme-Plateau (CHDU-OP), Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin
| | - Jean Sehonou
- grid.420217.2Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Delphin Kuassi Mehinto
- grid.420217.2Department of Visceral Surgery, National University Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Republic of Benin
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11
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Zhand N, Desai N, Park A, Dick M. Limitations of access to antipsychotics in Canada: loss of the old and unavailability of the new options. Int J Clin Pharm 2022; 44:1083-6. [PMID: 35699861 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-022-01426-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe, debilitating disorder that is associated with a significant burden of illness. Antipsychotic medications remain the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia and related disorders. In recent years, a number of new psychotropic medications have been introduced to the market, with some potential differences in the mechanism of action compared to the previous ones. In this paper, we discuss the issue of lack of access to the newer antipsychotics in Canada, and the discontinuation of some of the older options from the market, leaving clinicians and patients with a limited number of available options. While the aim of this paper is to increase awareness of the current state of availability and accessibility of options, we further discuss some potential solutions.
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12
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Claus B, Commeyne S, Van de Casteele M, Rottey S. The use of national reimbursement reports to support formulary decisions of the hospital's Drug and Therapeutics Committee: a comparative analysis. Int J Clin Pharm 2022. [PMID: 35199288 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-022-01384-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background New therapies that do not reach patients in need, have not achieved their goal. Drug and Therapeutics Committees in hospitals ensure access to patients by compiling a formulary on rational grounds. An evolving landscape of innovative molecules challenges timely formulary adaptation after national reimbursement. Aim To integrate national reimbursement reports in the hospital's appraisal, thereby promoting access for patients without delay. Method For 2019, the rationale for new molecules at Ghent University Hospital, Belgium, was compared with the public assessment report of the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance, assessing a medicine in a specific indication following a reimbursement request by the manufacturer. Decision criteria (therapeutic value and cost) between matching medicines in both databases (national & hospital) were retrospectively compared [no (%), mean (SD)]. Results Two-hundred public reports and 30 formulary decisions were analysed (with antineoplastic & immunomodulating as most prevalent class: 41.0% resp. 36.7%). National decision often concerned hospital-only medicines (89; 44.5%) without patient co-payment (101; 50.5%). Of 13 matched medicines (same indication), time delay between national decision and formulary admission was on average 3.1 (SD 2.3) months. Comparative analysis showed that assessment in both committees was mostly based on the efficacy endpoints of Randomised Controlled Trials. Literature used in hospital appraisals was of more recent publication date: + 0.78 (SD 2.2) years. Using public reports as a horizon scan could enable quick identification of new indications. Conclusion To speed up patient access, the scientific evidence of national reimbursement reports can be used for the purpose of hospital formulary decisions.
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13
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Perkins D, Brophy H, McGregor IS, O'Brien P, Quilter J, McNamara L, Sarris J, Stevenson M, Gleeson P, Sinclair J, Dietze P. Medicinal cannabis and driving: the intersection of health and road safety policy. Int J Drug Policy 2021; 97:103307. [PMID: 34107448 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent shifting attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis has seen legal access pathways established in many jurisdictions in North America, Europe and Australasia. However, the positioning of cannabis as a legitimate medical product produces some tensions with other regulatory frameworks. A notable example of this is the so-called 'zero tolerance' drug driving legal frameworks, which criminalise the presence of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in a driver's bodily fluids irrespective of impairment. Here we undertake an analysis of this policy issue based on a case study of the introduction of medicinal cannabis in Australia. METHODS We examine the regulatory approaches used for managing road safety risks associated with potentially impairing prescription medicines and illicit drugs in Australian jurisdictions, as well as providing an overview of evidence relating to cannabis and road safety risk, unintended impacts of the 'zero-tolerance' approach on patients, and the regulation of medicinal cannabis and driving in comparable jurisdictions. RESULTS Road safety risks associated with medicinal cannabis appear similar or lower than numerous other potentially impairing prescription medications. The application of presence-based offences to medicinal cannabis patients appears to derive from the historical status of cannabis as a prohibited drug with no legitimate medical application. This approach is resulting in patient harms including criminal sanctions when not impaired and using the drug as directed by their doctor, or the forfeiting of car use and related mobility. Others who need to drive are excluded from accessing a needed medication and associated therapeutic benefit. 'Medical exemptions' for medicinal cannabis in comparable jurisdictions and other drugs included in presence offences in Australia (e.g. methadone) demonstrate a feasible alternative approach. CONCLUSION We conclude that in medical-only access models there is little evidence to justify the differential treatment of medicinal cannabis patients, compared with those taking other prescription medications with potentially impairing effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Perkins
- Office of Medicinal Cannabis, Department of Health, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; School of Social and Political Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Hugh Brophy
- Office of Medicinal Cannabis, Department of Health, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia. Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Paula O'Brien
- Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Julia Quilter
- School of Law, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Luke McNamara
- Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, Faculty of Law and Justice, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jerome Sarris
- NICM Health Research institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 130 Church St, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
| | - Mark Stevenson
- Urban Transport and Public Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Penny Gleeson
- Deakin Law School, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Justin Sinclair
- NICM Health Research institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Paul Dietze
- Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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Rezk MF, Pieper B. Unlocking the Value of Anti-TNF Biosimilars: Reducing Disease Burden and Improving Outcomes in Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Narrative Review. Adv Ther 2020; 37:3732-3745. [PMID: 32740789 PMCID: PMC7444394 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-020-01437-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are chronic conditions that create a significant disease burden on millions of patients while adding a major financial burden to societies and healthcare systems. The introduction of biologic medicines has contributed majorly to improving the clinical outcomes of IMIDs and as such these modalities have gained first- or second-line positions in a wide range of treatment guidelines from different international clinical societies. However, the high cost of these biologics traditionally limited their accessibility and delayed their initiation, leaving millions of patients with unmet medical needs for a more affordable and sustainable solution. The introduction of cost-efficient biosimilar anti-TNFs within Europe since 2013 has allowed more patients with IMIDs to access biologic therapies earlier and for longer, potentially altering the course of the disease into a milder phenotype and reducing the long-term disease burden. This review provides the latest evidence for the impact of biosimilars on patient outcomes and demonstrates their clinical value beyond a reduction in price.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mourad F Rezk
- Biogen International GmbH, Neuhofstrasse 30, 6340, Baar, Switzerland.
| | - Burkhard Pieper
- Biogen International GmbH, Neuhofstrasse 30, 6340, Baar, Switzerland
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Abstract
Increasing numbers of young adults need continued support for their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) beyond the age-boundary for children's services. The sparse literature on transition in general suggests patchy provision and huge gaps in transitional care, but also that young people with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders fair particularly badly. Transition in health care coincides with many other important life-transitions while the difficulties associated with ADHD may make these challenges particularly hard to cope with. Parents or other advocates therefore often need to be involved, which can present problems in adult mental health services given that they tend to be less family oriented than children's services. Importantly, young people need help negotiating the transition from passive recipient of care to active self-management, and in building relationships with the adult team.In addition to patchy provision of adult ADHD services, transition is currently hampered by poor understanding of ADHD as a long term condition and uncertain knowledge of what services are available among young people and parents as well as the clinicians working with them. Guidelines recommend, and more importantly young people want, access to psycho-social interventions as well as medication. However, available evidence suggests poor quality transitional care and adult services that are highly focused on medication.Adult ADHD services need to undergo similar development to that experienced by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and community paediatrics over the last few decades. While we debate the relative merits of dedicated or specialist v. generic adult mental health services, for young adults with ADHD the training, experience and availability of professionals are more important than their qualifications or setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road Cambridge CB2 2AH, Exeter, UK
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16
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Radzi Ah M, S Tan S, Mohamed R, Jaya F, K S, C Aun A, A Kutty G, S Wong H, Abdullah R, R Seman M, Al Mahtab M, Morad Z, Lim TO. Hepatitis Screening and Treatment Campaign in Malaysia-Validation of Low-cost Point of Care Screening Tests and Nucleic Acid Tests for Hepatitis B and C. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2019; 8:101-107. [PMID: 30828549 PMCID: PMC6395483 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Two major challenges in implementing budget-constrained Hepatitis screening and treatment campaign in Malaysia are the availability of low-cost point of care tests (POCT) and nucleic acid tests (NAT) for hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA) and hepatitis B virus dioxyribo nucleic acid (HBV DNA). We evaluated the performance of these tests in this study. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the diagnostic performance of four POCT brands at 12 sites in Malaysia. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the POCTs for the detection of HBsAg and anti-HCV in a finger-stick capillary or venepuncture whole-blood samples compared with test results from lab-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or chemi-luminescence immunoassay (CLIA) assay as the reference standard. We also conducted a cross-sectional study on 30 to 139 serum specimen panel to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a low-cost in-house Applied Biosystem®TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (ABS) for the detection of HCV RNA and HBV DNA, compare with Roche Cobas® Ampliprep/TaqMan assay (COBAS). Results Between March and December 2017, we enroll 295 participants for the evaluation of POCT for HBsAg and another 307 participants for POCT anti-HCV evaluation. Three of the four POCT brands dropped out of evaluation early on account of sub-optimal sensitivity. The sensitivity of the remaining POCT for HBsAg was 95.2%and specificity 100%, while the POCT for anti-HCV has a sensitivity of 98.1% and specificity 100%. Hepatitis B virus dioxyribo nucleic acid and HCV RNA concentrations detected by the ABS were systematically higher than those measured by COBAS (mean bias +0.10 and +0.17 log10 IU/mL respectively). The 95% limits of agreement between the two assays are -1.28 to 1.47 log10 IU/mL for HBV DNA and –0.41 to 0.75 log10 IU/mL for HCV RNA. Conclusion We found adequate evidence for the diagnostic validity of a low-cost POCT for anti-HCV and HBsAg, as well as for an in-house nucleic acid tests (NAT), to provide support for their broader use in our Hepatitis screening and treatment campaign. Abbreviations ABS: Applied Biosystem®TaqMan real-time PCR assay, CI: Confidence interval, CLD: Chronic liver disease, CLIA: Chemi-luminescence immunoassay, COBAS: Roche Cobas® Ampliprep/ TaqMan assay, DAA: Direct Acting Anti-Viral drugs, EIA: Enzyme immunoassay, HBV: Hepatitis B virus, HCV: Hepatitis C virus, HFPM: Hepatitis Free Pahang Malaysia, LOA: Limits of agreement, LOD: Limit of detection, MOH: Ministry of Health, Malaysia, NAT: Nucleic Acid Tests, POCT: Point of Care Tests, SD: Standard deviation, WHO: World Health Organization How to cite this article: Radzi AHM, Tan SS, Mohamed R, Jaya F, Senamjit K, Aun AC, Kutty GA, Wong HS, Abdullah R, Seman MR, Mahtab MA, Morad Z, Lim TO. Hepatitis Screening and Treatment Campaign in Malaysia-Validation of Low-cost Point of Care Screening Tests and Nucleic Acid Tests for Hepatitis B and C. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol, 2018;8(2):101-107.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fauziah Jaya
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh Perak, Malaysia
| | - Senamjit K
- Hospital, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Azlida C Aun
- Gastroenterology, Hospital Tengku, Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | - Mohd R Seman
- Hospital Tengku, Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Mamun Al Mahtab
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Zaki Morad
- National Kidney Foundation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Chan CWT, Gogovor A, Valois MF, Ahmed S. Age, gender, and current living status were associated with perceived access to treatment among Canadians using a cross sectional survey. BMC Health Serv Res 2018; 18:471. [PMID: 29921265 PMCID: PMC6006735 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3215-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Access, particularly timely access, to care is the Canadian public’s most important healthcare concern. The drivers of perceived appropriateness of access to care among patients with at least one chronic health condition (CHC) are not, however, well defined. This study evaluated whether personal characteristics, self-reported health status and care received were associated with patients’ perception of effective access in managing a chronic illness. Methods The study population (n = 619) was drawn from a representative sample of the adult Canadian population who reported having ≥1 CHC in the 2013–2014 Health Care in Canada survey. Ordinal regression, with the continuation ratio model, was used to evaluate association of perceived level of access to treatment with socio-demographic factors, perceived health status and care utilization experience. Results Factors most closely associated with patients’ satisfaction with care access were: age, sex, current cohabitation, care affordability, and availability of support and information to help manage their CHCs. Individuals, particularly females, < 35 years, currently living alone, with poor access to professional support or information and who feel affordability of care has worsened over the past five years were more likely to report a poorer level of treatment access. Conclusions Individuals living alone, who are younger, and women may be especially susceptible to lower perceived access to care of CHCs and a sense of pessimism about things not getting better. Further evaluation of the reasons behind these findings may help develop effective strategies to assist these populations to access the care they need. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3215-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine W T Chan
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A2, Canada
| | - Amédé Gogovor
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, 687 Pine Avenue West, Ross Building, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada.,Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, McGill University Health Centre, 5252 Boul. De Maisonneuve, Montreal, QC, H4A 3S5, Canada.,School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y5, Canada.,Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR), Constance Lethbridge Rehabilitation Center du CIUSSS de Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7005 de Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1T3, Canada
| | - Marie-France Valois
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A2, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, 687 Pine Avenue West, Ross Building, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Sara Ahmed
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A2, Canada. .,Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, McGill University Health Centre, 5252 Boul. De Maisonneuve, Montreal, QC, H4A 3S5, Canada. .,School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y5, Canada. .,Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR), Constance Lethbridge Rehabilitation Center du CIUSSS de Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7005 de Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1T3, Canada.
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18
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Mackintosh M, Tibandebage P, Karimi Njeru M, Kariuki Kungu J, Israel C, Mujinja PGM. Rethinking health sector procurement as developmental linkages in East Africa. Soc Sci Med 2018; 200:182-189. [PMID: 29421465 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Health care forms a large economic sector in all countries, and procurement of medicines and other essential commodities necessarily creates economic linkages between a country's health sector and local and international industrial development. These procurement processes may be positive or negative in their effects on populations' access to appropriate treatment and on local industrial development, yet procurement in low and middle income countries (LMICs) remains under-studied: generally analysed, when addressed at all, as a public sector technical and organisational challenge rather than a social and economic element of health system governance shaping its links to the wider economy. This article uses fieldwork in Tanzania and Kenya in 2012-15 to analyse procurement of essential medicines and supplies as a governance process for the health system and its industrial links, drawing on aspects of global value chain theory. We describe procurement work processes as experienced by front line staff in public, faith-based and private sectors, linking these experiences to wholesale funding sources and purchasing practices, and examining their implications for medicines access and for local industrial development within these East African countries. We show that in a context of poor access to reliable medicines, extensive reliance on private medicines purchase, and increasing globalisation of procurement systems, domestic linkages between health and industrial sectors have been weakened, especially in Tanzania. We argue in consequence for a more developmental perspective on health sector procurement design, including closer policy attention to strengthening vertical and horizontal relational working within local health-industry value chains, in the interests of both wider access to treatment and improved industrial development in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Tibandebage
- REPOA, 157 Mgombani Street, Regent Estate, P.O. Box 33223, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Mercy Karimi Njeru
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Mbagathi Rd., P.O. Box 54840, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Joan Kariuki Kungu
- African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Gigiri Court 49, P.O. Box 45917-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Caroline Israel
- REPOA, 157 Mgombani Street, Regent Estate, P.O. Box 33223, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Phares G M Mujinja
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Maistat L, Kravchenko N, Reddy A. Hepatitis C in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: a survey of epidemiology, treatment access and civil society activity in eleven countries. Hepatol Med Policy 2017; 2:9. [PMID: 30288322 PMCID: PMC6171005 DOI: 10.1186/s41124-017-0026-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The 16 countries of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region are home to 6.6 million people in need of treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Because of transformational change in HCV treatment, global efforts to address HCV are accelerating. Given its large regional burden, the EECA needs to ensure its inclusion in and benefit from any new developments. METHODS Our 2015-16 survey aimed to collect and report on epidemiology, treatment access (including drug registration and prices, national HCV guidelines and treatment program coverage) and pertinent civil society organization (CSO) activities in 11 countries in the EECA. RESULTS Major gaps in epidemiological data exist; reported anti-HCV prevalence ranged from 1.5 to 7.5% for the general population, 22.7 to 70-95% for people who inject drugs (PWID) and 18 to 80% for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Ten countries (91% of the sample) have registered one or more of the second-generation, direct-acting antiviral medications (DAA) for potential interferon-free treatment. However, intellectual property issues and prices limit access to these drugs. In 2014, HCV programs in the surveyed countries covered only 0.15% of the total number of people in need of treatment. CSO-driven, international donor-funded programs are starting to fulfill needs of PWID and PLHIV. CONCLUSIONS As feasible curative HCV treatment is now available, and given the significant regional disease burden, EECA countries need to ensure HCV surveillance and DAA availability at affordable prices in order to expand treatment and prevent the onward transmission of the infection. EECA CSOs have demonstrated their capacity to play a crucial role in advancing HCV issues, and they should continue leveraging these issues for the benefit of individual patients and public health in general.
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Druetz T, Bicaba A, Some T, Kouanda S, Ly A, Haddad S. Effect of interrupting free healthcare for children: Drawing lessons at the critical moment of national scale-up in Burkina Faso. Soc Sci Med 2017; 185:46-53. [PMID: 28554158 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
With solid evidence that free healthcare increases the utilization of health services, Burkina Faso recently exempted all children under five and pregnant women from direct payment at health facilities. However, there is little insight into the capacity to maintain the gains attributable to free healthcare under routine conditions of implementation at the national scale. In particular, the repercussions of its interruption are unknown. The objective is to assess the effects of a sequence of natural interventions including the introduction, interruption and reintroduction of free healthcare on health-seeking practices and utilization of healthcare facilities by children under five. This is an embedded mixed methods study conducted in Kaya district, Burkina Faso. The quantitative component is based on a reversal longitudinal design. Pooled interrupted time-series analysis was performed to assess changes in the monthly number of visits from January 2005 to March 2015. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with health personnel and mothers to better understand the quantitative results. The results show that visits to health centres dropped immediately and significantly when free healthcare was interrupted (-146, CI95% [-255; -37]). They increased again when free healthcare was reintroduced (+89, CI95% [-11; 187]). Both urban and rural centres were affected. Self-medication and visits to traditional healers were reported more frequently during the withdrawal of free healthcare, and tensions between the population and health personnel increased. Implementation problems other than insufficient funding limited the coverage or intensity of free healthcare. While removing user fees could potentially improve mothers and children's health in Burkina Faso, this study shows that demand for healthcare remains highly sensitive to price changes. Gains in utilization attributable to free healthcare may vanish rapidly if user fees are reintroduced. It is essential to support an effective and sustainable implementation of this ambitious initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Druetz
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2323, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
| | - Abel Bicaba
- Société d'Études et de Recherche en Santé Publique, 06 BP 9150 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
| | - Telesphore Some
- Société d'Études et de Recherche en Santé Publique, 06 BP 9150 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
| | - Seni Kouanda
- Biomedical and Public Health Department, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Ouagadougou 03 BP 7192, Burkina Faso.
| | - Antarou Ly
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Slim Haddad
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; Laval University Medical Research Center (CHUQ), Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050, Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, Québec G1S 4L8, Canada.
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Asselah T, Esmat G, Sanai FM, Goulis I, Messinger D, Bakalos G, Waked I. Simple Predictive Model for Identifying Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4 Infection with a High Probability of Sustained Virologic Response with Peginterferon Alfa-2a/Ribavirin: Pooled Analysis of Data from Two Large, International Cohort Studies. Adv Ther 2016; 33:1797-1813. [PMID: 27517563 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-016-0396-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Wherever access to direct-acting antiviral agents is restricted, dual peginterferon/ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) therapy remains an option for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 (GT4) infection, which predominates in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Our goal was to develop a baseline scoring system to identify GT4-infected patients with a low or high probability of achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) with PegIFN alfa-2a/RBV using data from two large cohort studies. METHODS Associations between baseline characteristics and SVR were explored by generalized additive models and multiple logistic regression analysis to develop a predictive model, which was then checked by bootstrapping. The score comprised four factors with points assigned thus: age ≤40, 3 points; >40 but ≤55, 2 points; alanine aminotransferase ≤1 or >3× the upper limit of normal, 1 point; no cirrhosis, 1 point; HCV RNA <50,000 IU/mL, 2 points; 50,000 to <400,000 IU/mL, 1 point. The values for a given patient are summed to produce a score from 0 to 7 where higher scores indicate higher chances of SVR. RESULTS Among the 459 patients, 28 (6%), 50 (11%), 92 (20%), 121 (26%), 103 (22%), and 65 (14%) patients had scores of 0-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-7, respectively, with respective SVR rates of 11%, 28%, 50%, 57%, 63%, and 83%. Relapse rates decreased with increasing prediction score (80%, 39%, 15%, 19%, 5%, and 7%, respectively). SVR rates were consistently higher in Caucasian than Black patients and in patients with a rapid virologic response HCV RNA <50 IU/mL at week 4); however, the trend toward higher SVR rates with increasing score remained apparent in each subgroup. CONCLUSION In conclusion, a simple scoring system can be used to identify GT4-infected patients with a high probability of achieving an SVR with PegIFN alfa-2a/RBV. FUNDING F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarik Asselah
- Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation (CRI), INSERM UMR 1149, Service d'Hépatologie, Université Paris Diderot, AP-HP Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, 100 Bd du Général Leclerc, 92110, Clichy, France.
| | - Gamal Esmat
- Endemic Medicine Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Faisal M Sanai
- Liver Disease Research Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ioannis Goulis
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Αristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | - Imam Waked
- National Liver Institute, Shebeen El Kom, Egypt
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Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, with more than 170 million infected individuals worldwide. Genotype 4 is the most frequent cause of chronic hepatitis C in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. It has recently spread to southern Europe. The introduction of all-oral, interferon-free regimens that combine direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has significantly advanced HCV treatment. High efficacy rates, short treatment duration, and favorable adverse event profiles have been demonstrated with multiple regimens, both with and without ribavirin. This review discusses management of patients with HCV genotype 4 chronic hepatitis, in the era of DAAs.
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LaBelle CT, Han SC, Bergeron A, Samet JH. Office-Based Opioid Treatment with Buprenorphine (OBOT-B): Statewide Implementation of the Massachusetts Collaborative Care Model in Community Health Centers. J Subst Abuse Treat 2015; 60:6-13. [PMID: 26233698 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2015.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We describe a Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services' (BSAS) initiative to disseminate the office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine (OBOT-B) Massachusetts Model from its development at Boston Medical Center (BMC) to its implementation at fourteen community health centers (CHCs) beginning in 2007. The Massachusetts Collaborative Care Model for the delivery of opioid agonist therapy with buprenorphine, in which nurses working with physicians play a central role in the evaluation and monitoring of patients, holds promise for the effective expansion of treatment for opioid use disorders. The training of and technical assistance for the OBOT nurses as well as a limited program assessment are described. Data spanning 6years (2007-2013) report patient demographics, prior treatment for opioid use disorders, history of overdose, housing, and employment. The expansion of OBOT to the fourteen CHCs increased the number of physicians who were "waivered" (i.e., enabling their prescribing of buprenorphine) by 375%, from 24 to 114, within 3years. During this period the annual admissions of OBOT patients to CHCs markedly increased. Dissemination of the Massachusetts Model of the Office-Based Opioid Treatment with Buprenorphine employing a collaborative care model with a central role for nursing enabled implementation of effective treatment for patients with an opioid use disorder at community health centers throughout Massachusetts while effectively engaging primary care physicians in this endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen T LaBelle
- Boston Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
| | - Steve Choongheon Han
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Alexis Bergeron
- Boston Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Jeffrey H Samet
- Boston Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, United States
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Blanco C, Rafful C, Olfson M. The use of clinical trials in comparative effectiveness research on mental health. J Clin Epidemiol 2013; 66:S29-36. [PMID: 23849150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2013.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Revised: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A large body of comparative effectiveness research (CER) focuses on the use of observational and quasi-experimental approaches. We sought to examine the use of clinical trials as a tool for CER, particularly in mental health. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING Examination of three ongoing randomized clinical trials in psychiatry addressing issues that would pose difficulties for nonexperimental CER methods. RESULTS Existing statistical approaches to nonexperimental data appear insufficient to compensate for biases that may arise when the pattern of missing data cannot be properly modeled such as when there are no standards for treatment, when affected populations have limited access to treatment, or when there are high rates of treatment dropout. CONCLUSION Clinical trials should retain an important role in CER, particularly in cases of high disorder prevalence, large expected effect sizes, difficult-to-reach populations, or when examining sequential treatments or stepped-care algorithms. Progress in CER on mental health will require careful consideration of appropriate selection between clinical trials and nonexperimental designs and on allocation of research resources to optimally inform key treatment decisions for each patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Blanco
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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