B-cell-specific checkpoint molecules that regulate anti-tumour immunity.

The role of B cells in anti-tumour immunity is still debated and, accordingly, immunotherapies have focused on targeting T and natural killer cells to inhibit tumour growth1,2. Here, using high-throughput flow cytometry as well as bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing and B-cell-receptor-sequencing analysis of B cells temporally during B16F10 melanoma growth, we identified a subset of B cells that expands specifically in the draining lymph node over time in tumour-bearing mice. The expanding B cell subset expresses the cell surface molecule T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1, encoded by Havcr1) and a unique transcriptional signature, including multiple co-inhibitory molecules such as PD-1, TIM-3, TIGIT and LAG-3. Although conditional deletion of these co-inhibitory molecules on B cells had little or no effect on tumour burden, selective deletion of Havcr1 in B cells both substantially inhibited tumour growth and enhanced effector T cell responses. Loss of TIM-1 enhanced the type 1 interferon response in B cells, which augmented B cell activation and increased antigen presentation and co-stimulation, resulting in increased expansion of tumour-specific effector T cells. Our results demonstrate that manipulation of TIM-1-expressing B cells enables engagement of the second arm of adaptive immunity to promote anti-tumour immunity and inhibit tumour growth.

Factor Xa Inhibitors versus warfarin in patients with morbid obesity and atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: Factor Xa Inhibitors have emerged as a first-line agent in the management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), but there is a need for additional data surrounding their use in the morbidly obese population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Factor Xa Inhibitors are as safe and effective as warfarin for the treatment of NVAF in individuals with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 and/or weight ≥ 120 kg. METHODS: This was a multi-center retrospective cohort study comparing the use of Factor Xa Inhibitors (apixaban and rivaroxaban) to warfarin for the management of NVAF in adult patients with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 and/or weight ≥ 120 kg. The primary outcomes were stroke or systemic embolism and major bleeding within 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 3,156 patients were included in the final analysis; 1,396 in the warfarin group and 1760 in the Factor Xa Inhibitor group. The mean weight and BMI of the overall cohort was 134.1 kg and 44.7 kg/m2, respectively. There was no difference in stroke or systemic embolism (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.78-1.85) or major bleeding (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.65 - 1.53) with Factor Xa Inhibitors compared to warfarin after controlling for covariates. CONCLUSION: This analysis of real-world data suggests no difference in bleeding or thrombotic outcomes for severely obese patients with NVAF taking Factor Xa Inhibitors compared to warfarin. Overall, our study adds further data to support the use of Factor Xa Inhibitors as an alternative to warfarin in severely obese patients with NVAF.

Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Low Body Weight Critically Ill Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare bleeding and thromboembolic events in low body weight patients receiving reduced-dose venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis versus standard-dose VTE prophylaxis. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective, cohort study. SETTING: Five Ascension Health Hospitals. PATIENTS: Adult, critically ill, low body weight (≤50 kg) patients who received either reduced-dose VTE prophylaxis (n = 140) or standard-dose VTE prophylaxis (n = 279) for at least 48 h. INTERVENTION: Reduced-dose prophylaxis (enoxaparin 30 mg daily or heparin 5000 units every 12 h subcutaneously) or standard-dose prophylaxis (enoxaparin 40 mg daily, enoxaparin 30 mg every 12 h, or heparin 5000 units every 8 h subcutaneously). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 419 patients were included with a mean weight of 45.1 ± 4.2 kg in the standard-dose group and 44.0 ± 5.1 kg in the reduced-dose prophylaxis group (P = .02). The primary endpoint, composite bleeding, was significantly lower in patients receiving reduced-dose prophylaxis (5% vs 12.5%, P = .02). After adjusting for confounding factors, results remained consistent demonstrating reduced composite bleeding with reduced-dose prophylaxis (odds ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.96). Major bleeding events occurred in 3.6% of reduced-dose patients compared with 8.6% in standard-dose patients (P = .056). Clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (5.4% vs 2.9%, P = .24) and VTE (2.2% vs 0%, P = .08) events were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: A reduced-dose VTE prophylaxis strategy in low body weight, critically ill patients was associated with a lower risk of composite bleeding and similar rate of thromboembolism.

Zavegepant Intranasal Spray for Migraines.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of intranasal zavegepant in the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura. DATA SOURCE: PubMed, Embase database, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the following terms: Zavzpret, Zavegepant, BHV-3500, and migraine. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Articles published in English from January 2013 to September 2023 related to pharmacology, safety, efficacy, and clinical trials were assessed. DATA SYNTHESIS: In a phase 2/3 trial, zavegepant 10 and 20 mg were more effective than placebo on primary endpoints of freedom of pain (22.5%, 23.1%, and 15.5%, respectively), and freedom from most bothersome symptoms (MBSs) (41.9%, 47.9%, and 33.7%, respectively) 2 hours after treatment. The incidence of adverse effects for both doses was similar to placebo. In a phase 3 trial, zavegepant 10 mg was compared with placebo. Two hours after treatment, more patients in the zavegepant group achieved pain freedom (24% vs 15%) and relief from MBSs (40% vs 31%) compared with placebo. Common adverse events included dysgeusia (21% zavegepant vs 5% placebo) and nasal discomfort (5% zavegepant vs 1% placebo). RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE IN COMPARISON WITH EXISTING DRUGS: Zavegepant is indicated for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Zavegepant method of administration and prompt relief of migraine symptoms may be an attractive alternative to triptans for those in need of relief. CONCLUSION: Zavegepant may be a convenient and useful acute treatment option for migraines with and without aura.

Evaluation of References Supporting Hospital Pharmacy Policies.

There is a lack of research evaluating the role of references in hospital policies. The goal of this study was to describe the type of literature used as a reference in medication policies and evaluate the agreement of the policy with evidence-based guidelines. One hundred forty-seven pharmacy owned policies met inclusion criteria; 27.2% of the policies contained references, in which tertiary literature was the most frequently cited source (90%), followed by primary (47.5%), and lastly secondary (27.5%). When references were used, all policies agreed with current guidelines. For policies without references, 3.7% disagreed with published guidelines. Disagreement with guidelines may negatively impact patient care, therefore health systems should incorporate librarians into clinical policy development and review to ensure the best available evidence is incorporated into polices.

Azithromycin Versus Beta-lactams in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Exacerbations of COPD.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data comparing azithromycin to alternative antibiotic choices in managing COPD exacerbations, making appropriate antibiotic selection controversial. OBJECTIVE: To compare treatment failure in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) receiving azithromycin or beta-lactams. DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study using logistic regression for multivariable analysis. Patients were included if they were at least 18 years old, admitted with AECOPD, and received at least two consecutive days of either a beta-lactam or azithromycin. Patients were excluded if they received concomitant azithromycin and beta-lactam antibiotics during the first 2 days, had a history of other severe underlying pulmonary diseases, pregnancy, COVID-19, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or received a corticosteroid for a diagnosis other than COPD. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred ninety-five patients were included, of which 428 (72%) received azithromycin and 167 patients (28%) received a beta-lactam. MAIN MEASURES: The primary endpoint was treatment failure rate in patients receiving azithromycin versus beta-lactams, which was a composite endpoint defined as in-hospital mortality, admission to intensive care, initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation, initiation of a new antibiotic, steroid therapy escalation, or readmission due to AECOPD within 30 days. KEY RESULTS: The composite primary outcome occurred in 84 patients (19.6%) in the azithromycin group and 54 (32.3%) in the beta-lactam group (p<0.01). The difference in the composite outcome was a result of higher rates of new antibiotics during admission (12.6% vs 4.2%; p<0.01) and higher readmission within 30 days (19.3% vs 12.4%; p=0.032). After controlling for potential confounders, beta-lactams continued to demonstrate a higher risk for treatment failure (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.46-3.63). There was no difference in adverse effects between the groups. CONCLUSION: Azithromycin was associated with less treatment failure in AECOPD which was driven by lower readmission rates and prescription of new antimicrobials.

Management of Venous Thromboembolism in Morbid Obesity With Rivaroxaban or Warfarin.

BACKGROUND: Rivaroxaban is a first-line option for the management of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, limited data are available regarding its effectiveness in morbidly obese patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate rates of thrombosis and bleeding in morbidly obese patients receiving rivaroxaban or warfarin for VTE. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare rates of bleeding and thrombosis in patients receiving rivaroxaban versus warfarin for acute VTE. Patients were included if they were older than 18 years and had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 kg/m2 or weight greater than 120 kg. The primary effectiveness outcome was hazard of VTE recurrence; the primary safety outcome was hazard of major bleeding. Patients were followed for up to 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 1281 patients were identified for acute VTE and were included in this study with 487 patients receiving rivaroxaban and 785 receiving warfarin. The average cohort age was 57.6 ± 14.6 years, and the average weight was 136.4 ± 27.2 kg. After controlling for confounding factors, the use of rivaroxaban was not associated with an increased hazard of VTE events when compared with warfarin (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-1.08, P = 0.12) or major bleeding (HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.66-2.30, P = 0.52). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: No difference was observed in obese patients with weight >120 kg or BMI >40 kg/m2 receiving rivaroxaban or warfarin for VTE treatment in hazard of VTE or major bleeding. Either agent may be considered an appropriate treatment option in this population.

Evaluation of adverse drug reaction formatting in drug information mobile phone applications.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences in presentation (formatting) of adverse drug reaction (ADR) information within drug monographs in commonly used drug information (DI) mobile device applications. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of ADR formatting of twenty commonly prescribed oral medications within seven DI mobile applications was performed. Databases were assessed for ADR information, including presence of placebo comparisons, severity of ADR, onset of ADR, formatting of ADRs in percentile (quantitative) format or qualitative format, whether references were used to cite information, and whether ADRs are grouped by organ system. Data was collected by two study investigators and discrepancies were resolved via consensus. RESULTS: The seven DI mobile applications varied significantly on every analyzed ADR variable with the exception of ADR onset, which was absent in all databases. Significant differences were found for variables known to impact clinical judgment such as placebo comparisons and qualitative versus quantitative formatting. Placebo comparisons were most common among monographs in Lexicomp (30%) but were absent among monographs within other applications. Quantitative information was commonly used in most databases but was absent in Epocrates. Qualitative formatting was present in all Epocrates and Micromedex applications but absent in the majority of other applications. Substantial variations were also found in severity and grouping information. CONCLUSION: Substantial variation in ADR formatting exists among the most common DI mobile applications. These differences may translate into alternative interpretations of medical information and thus impact clinical judgment. Health care librarians and clinicians should consider ADR formatting when choosing between DI applications.

Patient Education and Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Randomized Comparative Trial.

Objective: To compare video to pharmacist education for patients taking sacubitril/valsartan. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing video to pharmacist education with a second randomized intervention of education delivered through text or phone call at 14 days. The primary outcome compared the change in short term knowledge between groups and the secondary outcome was long term knowledge at 1 month. Results: Forty-three patients were included. Scores improved significantly (P < .05) in the pharmacist group from 54.1% to 85.9% and from 64.3% to 86.1% in the video education group, although there was no difference between groups (31.8% vs 22.9%, P = .13). At 30 days, scores were significantly higher than baseline (difference 16.5%, P < .05) although did decrease from the posttest (difference 7.4%, P < .05). There was no difference at 30 days between those that received text messages versus phone calls (-10% vs -5.5%, respectively; P = .36). Conclusion: We saw improvements in both short term and long term knowledge for patients receiving education through pharmacist or video education. Neither approach was more effective than the other. Clinicians can use either approach based on patient preference.

Multicenter randomized comparative trial of Micromedex, Micromedex with Watson, or Google to answer drug information questions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare pharmacy students' ability to correctly answer drug information questions using Micromedex with Watson, Micromedex without Watson, or Google. METHODS: This multicenter randomized trial compared pharmacy student responses to drug information questions using Micromedex with Watson, Micromedex without Watson, or Google from January to March of 2020. First- to fourth-year pharmacy students at two institutions were included. The primary outcome was the number of correct answers. Secondary outcomes were the time taken to answer the questions and differences in number of correct answers by pharmacy student year and institution. RESULTS: The analysis included 162 participants: 52 students in the Micromedex group, 51 students in the Watson group, and 59 students in the Google group. There was a significant difference among groups in the total number of questions answered correctly (p=0.02). Post-hoc analysis revealed that participants in the Micromedex group answered more questions correctly than those in the Google group (p=0.015). There were no significant differences between Micromedex and Watson groups (p=0.52) or between Watson and Google groups (p=0.22). There was also no difference in time to complete the questions among groups (p=0.72). CONCLUSION: Utilizing Google did not save students time and led to more incorrect answers. These findings suggest that health care educators and health sciences librarians should further reinforce training on the appropriate use of drug information resources.

Impact of Pharmacist Involvement in Heart Failure Transition of Care.

Background: Heart failure (HF) transition of care (TOC) programs may improve continuity of care and coordination and decrease hospital readmissions. Objective: This study evaluated the impact of pharmacy-led HF TOC on HF readmission rate. Methods: This was a single-center, pre-post quasi-experimental study. Pharmacy TOC comprised admission and discharge medication reconciliations and patient education. Patients were included if they had a primary HF diagnosis. Patients were excluded if they were admitted for a non-HF diagnosis, admitted for <24 hours, had a stage IV cancer or dementia diagnosis, or were transferred to hospice care. The primary outcome was HF 30-day readmission rate. Results: A total of 663 patients were included in the study: 330 in the control group and 333 in the intervention group. The average age for both groups was 67 ± 16 years; 48.1% were female; 56.9% were African American; and 51.4% of patients had an ejection fraction ≤40%. In the control group, 57 (17.3%) patients had a HF 30-day readmission compared with 35 (10.5%) patients in the intervention group. After adjusting for age, the intervention group continued to show a difference in readmission (odds ratio = 0.578; 95% CI = 0.367-0.911; P = 0.018). The most common interventions were medication addition (11%), dose titration (7.5%), medication discontinuation (6.6%), and duplication avoidance (2.7%). Conclusion and Relevance: Pharmacy-led HF TOC, as a component of a targeted hospital-based initiative, significantly decreased HF 30-day readmission rate. Results from this study warrant further research to explore which interventions in TOC are most effective.

Evaluation of adverse drug reaction formatting in drug information databases.

OBJECTIVE: The research evaluated the differences in formatting of adverse drug reaction (ADR) information in drug monographs in commonly used drug information (DI) databases. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of formatting of ADR information for twenty commonly prescribed oral medications in seven commonly used DI databases was performed. Databases were assessed for presentation of ADR information, including presence of placebo comparisons, severity of ADR, onset of ADR, formatting of ADRs in percentile (quantitative) format or qualitative format, whether references were used to cite information, whether ADRs are grouped by organ system, and word count of the ADR section. Data were collected by two study investigators and discrepancies were resolved via consensus. Chi-square analyses and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate for mean group differences in categorical and continuous data, respectively. RESULTS: The seven DI databases varied significantly on each analyzed ADR variable, including variables known to impact interpretation such as placebo comparisons and qualitative versus quantitative formatting. Placebo comparisons were most common among monographs in Micromedex In-Depth Answers (70%) but were absent among monographs in Epocrates, Lexicomp, and Micromedex. Quantitative information was commonly used in most databases but was absent in Epocrates. Average word counts were higher in Clinical Pharmacology and Micromedex In-Depth answers compared to other databases. CONCLUSION: Substantial variation in ADR formatting exists between the most common DI databases. These differences may translate into alternative interpretations of medical information and, thus, impact clinical judgment. Further studies are needed to assess whether these differences impact clinical practice.

Adverse drug reactions in drug information databases: does presentation affect interpretation?

OBJECTIVE: Formatting of adverse drug reaction (ADR) information differs among drug information (DI) resources and may impact clinical decision-making. The objective of this study was to determine whether ADR formatting impacts adverse event interpretation by pharmacy practitioners and students. METHODS: Participants were randomized to receive ADR information in a comparative quantitative (CQUANT), noncomparative quantitative (NQUANT), or noncomparative qualitative (NQUAL) format to interpret 3 clinical vignettes. Vignettes involved patients presenting with adverse events that varied in the extent to which they were associated with a medication. The primary outcome was interpretation of the likelihood of medication-induced adverse events on a 10-point Likert scale. Lower scoring on likelihood (i.e., ADR deemed unlikely) reflected more appropriate interpretation. Linear regression was performed to analyze the effects of ADR information format on the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 108 participants completed the study (39 students and 69 pharmacists). Overall, the CQUANT group had the lowest average likelihood compared to NQUAL (4.0 versus 5.4; p<0.01) and NQUANT (4.0 versus 4.9; p=0.016) groups. There was no difference between NQUAL and NQUANT groups (5.4 versus 4.9; p=0.14). In the final model, at least 2 years of postgraduate training (-1.1; 95% CI: -1.8 to -0.3; p<0.01) and CQUANT formatting (-1.3; 95% CI: -0.9 to -1.7; p<0.01) were associated with reduced likelihood. CONCLUSIONS: Formatting impacts pharmacists' and pharmacy students' interpretation of ADR information. CQUANT formatting and at least two years of postgraduate training improved interpretation of adverse events.

Insulin Detemir Versus Insulin Glargine in the Hospital: Do Hypoglycemia Rates Differ?

IN BRIEF Several studies have compared the safety and efficacy of insulin detemir and insulin glargine; however, most have been conducted in the ambulatory care setting. This retrospective cohort study compared hypoglycemia rates between the two basal insulin analogs in hospitalized patients with diabetes. No difference was found between the two insulin cohorts in the proportion of patients who experienced hypoglycemic events.

A Guide to Bacterial Culture Identification And Results Interpretation.

PURPOSE: To provide a guide to interpreting bacterial culture results. METHODS: Studies were identified via a PubMed literature search (from 1966 to January 2018). Search terms included microbial sensitivity tests, microbial drug resistance, and anti-infective agents/pharmacology. Articles were included if they were published in English. References within identified articles were also reviewed. RESULTS: This paper reviewed core concepts of interpreting bacterial culture results, including timing of cultures, common culture sites, potential for contamination, interpreting the Gram stain, role of rapid diagnostic tests, conventional antibiotic susceptibility testing, and automated testing. CONCLUSION: This guide can assist pharmacists in their role as integral members of the antimicrobial stewardship team in an effort to improve patient care.

Evaluation of a Hospital Pharmacist Annual Competency Program.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate a pharmacist annual competency evaluation (PACE) program for pharmacists at a single site. The results of this evaluation will be utilized to understand the effectiveness of PACE and provide suggestions for programmatic improvement. Methods: The primary outcome of this study was to evaluate the change in pharmacist composite self-efficacy (PSE) scores before and 1 month after the PACE program. The composite score was composed of self-efficacy related to 5 different clinical tasks. The 5 tasks selected were advanced cardiac life support, chemotherapy, dofetilide, patient-controlled analgesia pump, and alteplase (tPA). Secondary outcomes included evaluating each component of the composite score at 1 month, changes in composite score and components at 1 year, and changes in the generalized self-efficacy (GSE) survey at 1 month. Last, themes were identified from a feedback questionnaire after completion of PACE. Results: For the primary endpoint, PSE composite scores increased by 12.6% from pre-PACE to post-PACE at 1 month (79.6 ± 12.2 vs 89.7 ± 5.8; P < .001). All components of the composite PSE score showed a statistically significant improvement from baseline to 1 month. At 1 year, tPA was the only clinical task that was statistically different from baseline. GSE scores increased by 11.4% from pre-PACE to post-PACE (31.6 ± 3.6 vs 35.4 ± 2.8). No pharmacists required remediation. Conclusion: The competency assessment program led to improvements in pharmacist self-efficacy in dealing with low-volume, high-risk clinical pharmacy tasks. Future studies could assess various forms of competency assessment and timing of these programs to determine the most effective way to ensure pharmacist competency.

Association Between the Use of Long-Acting Insulin and Hypoglycemia in Nondiabetic Patients in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between long-acting insulin and hypoglycemia in nondiabetic surgical intensive care patients. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective cohort study evaluated glycemic control in nondiabetic critically ill surgical patients receiving long-acting insulin plus sliding scale versus those receiving sliding scale alone. Patients were matched based on sliding scale order and type of surgery. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who experienced hypoglycemia (glucose values <70 mg/dL). Secondary outcomes included comparing the distribution of glycemic events in the 2 groups and describing the proportion of patients transferred out of the intensive care unit on long-acting insulin who experienced hypoglycemia. RESULTS: One hundred twenty patients met the study criteria. Hypoglycemia was significantly higher in the long-acting insulin plus sliding scale group compared to those receiving sliding scale alone (17 [28.3%] patients vs 8 [13.3%] patients; P = .047). After adjusting for body mass index, renal failure, age, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, the odds of hypoglycemia were 4.1 times higher for patients receiving long-acting insulin and sliding scale compared to those receiving sliding scale alone ( P = .02). There were more hypoglycemic events (42 vs 20; P = .05) and hyperglycemic events (313 vs 135; P = .02) in the long-acting insulin group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated higher rates of hypoglycemia associated with the utilization of long-acting insulin in nondiabetic surgical intensive care patients. Risk of hypoglycemia should be weighed against possible benefits in this population.

"I Never Would Have Caught That Before": Pharmacist Perceptions of Using Clinical Decision Support for Antimicrobial Stewardship in the United States.

To systematically improve the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing, antimicrobial stewardship programs have been developed. There is a paucity of literature examining how pharmacists perform antimicrobial stewardship using a clinical decision support system in a hospital setting. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a model exploring how pharmacists perform antimicrobial stewardship to identify areas for programmatic improvement. Semistructured interviews were conducted across a health care system until saturation of themes was reached. Pharmacists identified that self-efficacy and time were vital for antimicrobial stewardship to be performed, while culture of the hospital and attitude facilitated the process of stewardship. Antimicrobial stewardship programs using clinical decision support tools should ensure pharmacists have adequate time to address rules, provide easy-to-use resources and training to support self-efficacy, and engage influential physicians to support a culture of collaboration.

Can a Short Video Improve Apixaban Knowledge in an Inpatient Setting?

PURPOSE: To increase patient knowledge about apixaban (Eliquis, Bristol-Myers Squibb) using an educational video delivered in an urban inpatient setting. METHODS: This prospective, quasi-experimental study evaluated knowledge gain and retention in patients receiving apixaban after viewing a short educational video. Knowledge was assessed with a questionnaire immediately before, immediately after, and one month following the educational video. RESULTS: After 33 patients watched the video, scores increased by 19.7% from the pre-test to the immediate post-test time point (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.5-24.9; P < 0.001). Patients previously receiving apixaban or another anticoagulant were less likely to improve scores compared with new patients (P < 0.05). Twenty-two of the 33 patients (66.7%) completed the one-month follow-up. No difference in scores from pre-test to one month post-test were noted (6.4%; 95% CI, 1.6-14.5; P = 0.11). CONCLUSION: The apixaban educational video led to improvements in short-term knowledge; however, patients did not retain this knowledge at one month. Future studies should seek ways to improve long-term knowledge retention.

Safety and Efficacy of a Pharmacist-Managed Patient-Controlled Analgesia Service in Postsurgical Patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of a pharmacist-managed patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) service with physician/midlevel provider-managed (standard) PCA services in postsurgical patients. METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study performed at 3 major hospitals in the Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan area. Postsurgical patients from October 2012 to December 2013 were included. The primary outcome compared the pain area under the curve adjusted for time on PCA (AUC/T) of patients receiving pharmacist-managed PCA services vs. standard care, up to 72 hours after initiation of PCA. Secondary outcomes included initial opioid selection, programmed PCA settings, duration of PCA use, frequency of adjunct analgesia utilization, and frequency of breakthrough analgesia utilization. Safety outcomes were assessed as a composite safety endpoint and individually. RESULTS: Total pain AUC/T scores did not differ between the pharmacist-managed and standard-managed groups (3.25 vs. 3.25, respectively; P = 0.98). Adjunct pain medications were given with similar frequency in the 2 groups; however, significantly fewer patients required breakthrough pain medication in the pharmacist-managed group (11% vs. 36%, respectively; P < 0.0001). A composite endpoint of any adverse event occurring was found to be greater in the pharmacist-managed group. This was driven by a higher proportion of patients requiring antiemetic use (46% vs. 32%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: A pharmacist-managed PCA service provided no difference in pain control compared to standard management. The requirement for breakthrough analgesia was decreased in the pharmacist group, while the need for antiemetic use was increased. Further research should be conducted to evaluate different PCA management strategies.