Advancing the methodology of mapping reviews: A scoping review.

This scoping review aims to identify and systematically review published mapping reviews to assess their commonality and heterogeneity and determine whether additional efforts should be made to standardise methodology and reporting. The following databases were searched; Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Campbell collaboration database, Social Science Abstracts, Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA). Following a pilot-test on a random sample of 20 citations included within title and abstracts, two team members independently completed all screening. Ten articles were piloted at full-text screening, and then each citation was reviewed independently by two team members. Discrepancies at both stages were resolved through discussion. Following a pilot-test on a random sample of five relevant full-text articles, one team member abstracted all the relevant data. Uncertainties in the data abstraction were resolved by another team member. A total of 335 articles were eligible for this scoping review and subsequently included. There was an increasing growth in the number of published mapping reviews over the years from 5 in 2010 to 73 in 2021. Moreover, there was a significant variability in reporting the included mapping reviews including their research question, priori protocol, methodology, data synthesis and reporting. This work has further highlighted the gaps in evidence synthesis methodologies. Further guidance developed by evidence synthesis organisations, such as JBI and Campbell, has the potential to clarify challenges experienced by researchers, given the magnitude of mapping reviews published every year.

Barriers and facilitators related to healthcare practitioner use of real time prescription monitoring tools in Australia.

Introduction: Real time prescription monitoring tools have been implemented in Australia to address the growing concerns of drug misuse, drug-related mortality and morbidity. The objective of this pilot study is to investigate the barriers and facilitators related to healthcare practitioner use of real time prescription monitoring tools. Methods: An online survey was distributed to Australian prescribers and pharmacists who use a real time prescription monitoring tool. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 102 questionnaires were analyzed. Practitioners mainly agreed that the tool was easy to use (n = 64; 66.7%) and access (n = 56; 57.7%), and the data was easy to interpret (n = 77; 79.4%). Over half agreed that they wanted training to guide clinical actions (n = 52; 55.9%) and clinical guidelines or guidance on what to do with the RTPM findings (n = 51; 54.8%). Prescribers were more likely to report difficulties with workplace access to a computer or the internet (n = 7; 21.2%) compared with pharmacists (n = 6; 9.2%; p = 0.037). Practitioners working in community settings (n = 59; 57.9%; p = 0.022) and those with 1-10 years practice experience (n = 45; 44.2%; p = 0.036) were more likely to want training to guide clinical actions in response to RTPM information. Conclusion: This is the first known study to investigate the barriers and facilitators related to practitioner use of RTPM tools in Australia. The results from this study can inform further research to gain an understanding of healthcare practitioners use of RTPM tools, and how to minimize barriers and optimize use for the essential delivery of quality healthcare.

Health-care practitioner use of prescription drug monitoring programs in clinical practice in Australia: A qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) are electronic databases used by prescribers and pharmacists to monitor the use of high-risk prescription medications subject to extramedical use. This study aimed to explore how Australian pharmacists and prescribers are using PDMPs in practice and to gain an understanding of barriers to tool use, as well as practitioner recommendations to increase tool usability and uptake. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists and prescribers who use a PDMP (n = 21). The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. RESULTS: The four themes that emerged were: (i) PDMP notifications combined with practitioner clinical judgement guide PDMP usability; (ii) practitioners use PDMPs to facilitate patient and practitioner communication; (iii) workflow systems integration impacts tool usability; and (iv) optimising PDMP information and data access including practitioner-tool engagement to improve tool uptake and usability. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners appreciate the value of PDMP information support for clinical decisions and patient communication. However, they also acknowledge the challenges to tool use and recommend improvements including enhanced workflow, systems integration, optimisation of tool information and national data sharing. Practitioners provide an important perspective on PDMP use in clinical practice. The findings can be drawn on by PDMP administrators to improve tool usefulness. Consequently, this may lead to an increase in practitioner PDMP use and optimise the delivery of quality patient care.

Corrigendum to: Healthcare practitioner use of real-time prescription monitoring tools: an online survey.

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate how healthcare practitioners use real-time prescription monitoring tools in clinical practice. Methods An online survey was distributed to Australian prescribers and pharmacists who use a real-time prescription monitoring tool. Data were analysed and descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics and responses. A Chi-squared test was conducted to test the difference between prescribers and pharmacists. Results The majority of participants agreed that real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) information is useful (92.2%) and the tool is valuable for informing clinical decisions (90.2%); however, just over half reported that they had changed their prescribing or dispensing practices as a result of RTPM information (51.0%), and they employed evidence-based clinical interventions to varying degrees. No statistically significant differences were detected between pharmacists and prescribers and perceptions on tool use. Conclusions This is the first known study to investigate practitioner use of RTPM tools in Australia, and is a starting point for further research. What constitutes 'success' in the clinical application of RTPM tools is yet to be realised.

Healthcare practitioner use of real-time prescription monitoring tools: an online survey.

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate how healthcare practitioners use real-time prescription monitoring tools in clinical practice. Methods An online survey was distributed to Australian prescribers and pharmacists who use a real-time prescription monitoring tool. Data were analysed and descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics and responses. A Chi-squared test was conducted to test the difference between prescribers and pharmacists. Results The majority of participants agreed that real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM) information is useful (92.2%) and the tool is valuable for informing clinical decisions (90.2%); however, just over half reported that they had changed their prescribing or dispensing practices as a result of RTPM information (51.0%), and they employed evidence-based clinical interventions to varying degrees. No statistically significant differences were detected between pharmacists and prescribers and perceptions on tool use. Conclusions This is the first known study to investigate practitioner use of RTPM tools in Australia, and is a starting point for further research. What constitutes 'success' in the clinical application of RTPM tools is yet to be realised.

Mapping the research addressing prescription drug monitoring programs: A scoping review.

ISSUES: Prescription drug monitoring programs are a harm minimisation intervention and clinical decision support tool that address the public health concern surrounding prescription drug misuse. Given the large number of studies published to date and the ongoing implementation of these programs, it is important to map the literature and identify areas for further research to improve practice. APPROACH: A scoping review was undertaken to identify the research on prescription drug monitoring programs published between January 2015 and April 2021. KEY FINDINGS: A total of 153 citations were included in this scoping review. The majority of the studies originated from the USA and were quantitative. Results on program effectiveness are mixed and mainly examine their association with opioid-related outcomes. Unintended consequences are revealed in the literature and this review also highlights barriers to program use. IMPLICATIONS: Overall, findings are mixed despite the large number of studies published to date. Mapping the literature identifies priority areas for further research that can advise policymakers and clinicians on practice improvement. CONCLUSION: Results on prescription drug monitoring program effectiveness are mixed and mainly examine their association with opioid-related outcomes. This review highlights barriers to prescription drug monitoring program effectiveness related to program use and system integration. Further research is needed in these areas to improve prescription drug monitoring program use and patient outcomes.

Characteristics of voluntary reporting of adverse drug events related to antipsychotics in Australia: 14-year analysis.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective analyses of large databases of treated patients can provide useful links to the presence of drug misuse or rare and infrequent adverse effects, such as agranulocytosis, diabetic ketoacidosis or neuroleptic malignant syndrome. The aim of this study is to describe the adverse effects to antipsychotics reported in the Australian Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN). METHODS: Data were collected from the DAEN - a spontaneous reporting database. The database, which covered the period from January 2004 to December 2017, was obtained from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website (www.TGA.gov). The drugs selected for this investigation are the following: aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, paliperidone, risperidone, ziprasidone, quetiapine, haloperidol and pimozide. All data were analysed descriptively. Comparison of reporting and management of adverse events between adults (older than 20 years) and children (5-19 years) was undertaken using chi squared test, where p < 0.05 is significant. RESULTS: A total of 7122 adverse events associated with the antipsychotics aripiprazole, clozapine, haloperidol, olanzapine, paliperidone, pimozide, quetiapine and risperidone were reported to the TGA between January 2004 and December 2017. On average, there were 2.6 adverse events reported for each case. The most common adverse event reported for antipsychotics was neuroleptic malignant syndrome. There were no significant differences in the number of co-medications, formulations, indications, therapeutic dose, hospital admission and overdose among the antipsychotics between paediatric and adult populations. However, there were significant differences between causality, death and the management of adverse events between adult and paediatric populations (5-19 years) (p < 0.05, chi squared test). CONCLUSION: The antipsychotic drug associated with the highest adverse events in adults was clozapine, followed by olanzapine. The most common adverse event in adults, and reported with a number of antipsychotic drugs, was neuroleptic malignant syndrome. In children, the highest numbers of adverse events reported in the database were associated with risperidone, clozapine and olanzapine. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Adverse events reported of antipsychoticsBackground: Retrospective analyses of large databases of treated patients can provide useful clues to the presence of drug misuse or rare and infrequent adverse effects associated with antipsychotics. The drugs selected for this investigation are the following: aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, paliperidone, risperidone, ziprasidone, quetiapine, haloperidol and pimozide.Methods: All data were analysed descriptively and investigated for any associations between the variables collected. Comparison of reporting and management of adverse events between adults (older than 20 years) and children (5-19 years) was undertaken using chi squared test, where p < 0.05 is significant.Results: The antipsychotic drug associated with the highest adverse events was clozapine, followed by olanzapine. In children, the highest numbers of adverse events reported in the database were associated with risperidone, clozapine and olanzapine. The most common adverse event in adults, and reported with a number of antipsychotic drugs, was neuroleptic malignant syndrome.Conclusion: There were significant differences between causality, death and the management of adverse events between adult and paediatric populations (5-19 years).Keywords: Antipsychotics, adverse effects, adverse events, safety.

Recent Evidence Regarding the Association Between Migraine and Suicidal Behaviors: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The review presents a systematic analysis of literature investigating the association between migraine and suicidal behaviors. Introduction: Migraine is a common neurological disorder. The prevalence of migraines increases with age from adolescence to adulthood in both sexes, and results in a substantial loss of productivity due to missing days of school or work and need for bed rest. Literature prior to 2015 suggests that migraine is a predictor of suicide. Given the worldwide public health interest in suicide prevention, we examined the literature collected from diverse, predominantly non-European, populations post-2015. Methods: The databases used in this systematic review included: Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE (Ovid), Science Direct (Elsevier), Cochrane, and PubMed for all available years of publication from January 2015 onwards. The review included participants aged 16 and over who had been diagnosed with migraines with the following outcome variables: any suicidality, both fatal and non-fatal; suicidal ideation; and suicidal behavior. Results: The database searches yielded a total of 542 citations. Following title and abstract screening, 460 articles were excluded and a total of 21 citations were evaluated. After full-text review and excluding a further 11 non-eligible studies, a total of 10 studies were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. Conclusions: Current existing research highlights the important association between the increased risk of suicidal behaviors in the clinical and general population among chronic migraineurs with/without aura worldwide. Future studies are needed to facilitate the development of clinical guidelines for risk assessment, targeted interventions, and evidence-based treatment of migraine to reduce the risk of suicide among this vulnerable population.