Factors associated with patient satisfaction with antiretroviral therapy in Japan: A cross-sectional, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens are highly effective; therefore, to differentiate between various regimens, considering patient-reported outcomes is essential. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with their current ART regimens and investigate factors associated with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire: Status (HIVTSQs) score. METHODS: This cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in Japan between April and December 2021. Patient-reported satisfaction with ART was assessed using the Japanese version of the HIVTSQs. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with a low total HIVTSQs score. RESULTS: A total of 679 patients completed the questionnaire. The median total HIVTSQs score was 58 (interquartile range: 52.5-64). In the multivariable logistic regression analyses, a total HIVTSQs score in the lowest quartile (indicating low satisfaction) was independently associated with twice- or thrice-daily regimens compared with single-tablet, once-daily regimens (adjusted odds ratio: 2.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-6.06, p = 0.009) and depression (adjusted odds ratio: 2.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.32-4.01, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction with the current ART regimen was high. Depression and twice- or thrice-daily ART regimen were associated with low HIVTSQ. Switching to a single-tablet, once-daily regimen may improve patient satisfaction in patients receiving twice- or thrice-daily regimens.

Assessment of satisfaction with antiretroviral drugs and the need for long-acting injectable medicines among people living with HIV in Japan and its associated factors: a prospective multicenter cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Long-acting injectable formulations for HIV infection have been approved and are now available in Japan. Although not currently recommended as first-line drugs in Japanese or overseas guidelines, use of such formulations may increase, in accordance with patient conditions and preference. We determine the level of satisfaction with current anti-HIV drugs and analyzed the preferences of patients who favor long-acting injectable drugs based on their satisfaction level with the present anti-HIV drugs. METHODS: People living with HIV (PLWH) who had received antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least one month and consented to the study between 1 April and 31 December 2021 were included in a survey conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The content of the survey included satisfaction with seven items (tablet size, ease and feeling when taking the medicine, color, taste, portability, daily oral therapy, and co-payment) related to the anti-HIV drugs they were taking and their need for future drugs (dosage form, frequency of dosing, long-acting injectable, etc.). In addition, factors related to the need for long-acting injectable medications were analyzed with regard to the relationship with satisfaction with anti-HIV drugs. RESULTS: Overall, 667 patients available for analysis were included in this study. Satisfaction with anti-HIV drugs was highest with regard to "co-payment" and lowest with "daily oral therapy". Regarding the need for long-acting injectable medications, logistic regression analysis indicated that tablet size and daily oral therapy were significant predictors of patient preference for a once-every-eight-weeks intramuscular formulation in terms of their requirement for long-acting injectable medications (tablet size, OR = 2.14, 95%CI 1.030-4.430, p = 0.042; and daily oral therapy, OR = 1.75, 95%CI 1.010-3.030, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Patients currently receiving anti-HIV drugs who express dissatisfaction with tablet size and daily oral therapy may prefer a long-acting injectable formulation, taking into consideration patient age, employment status, ART history, frequency of daily dosage and concomitant medications other than ART.

Factors associated with incomplete adherence to integrase strand transfer inhibitor-containing single-tablet regimen among Japanese people living with HIV.

BACKGROUND: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) require high rates of medication adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for a successful treatment outcome. Understanding the factors associated with incomplete adherence among those receiving integrase strand transfer inhibitor-containing single-tablet regimens (INSTI-STRs) is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to incomplete ART adherence among Japanese PLWH receiving INSTI-STRs. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted at 11 Japanese institutions as an anonymous survey. ART adherence was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. We defined incomplete ART adherence as missing ≥ 1 dose of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) over the past month. The factors associated with incomplete ART adherence were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Additionally, we investigated the associations between patients' satisfaction score with and need for ARVs and their adherence to ART. RESULTS: The final analysis included data of 387 patients who were treated with INSTI-STRs. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated significant association of younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.79; 95%confidence interval [CI]: 0.64-0.99 for each 10-year increment) with incomplete ART adherence. Additionally, female sex (aOR, 3.98; 95%CI: 1.36-11.60); depressive symptoms (mild depression: aOR, 1.68; 95%CI: 1.001-2.82, moderate depression: aOR, 2.98; 95%CI: 1.35-6.53, and severe depression: aOR, 8.73; 95%CI: 1.38-55.00 vs. minimal depression); were also significantly associated with incomplete ART adherence when compared with the reference categories. Concomitant medication usage was significantly associated with a lower rate of incomplete ART adherence (1-4 medications: aOR, 0.53; 95%CI: 0.31-0.89 and ≥ 5 medications: aOR, 0.30; 95%CI: 0.13-0.70 vs. no concomitant medication usage). In the incomplete ART adherence group, satisfaction scores for various aspects were significantly lower. Furthermore, a lower proportion of patients in the incomplete ART adherence group preferred the option of "taking tablets daily and visiting the hospital every 3 months," compared to those in the complete ART adherence group (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that factors associated with incomplete ART adherence include younger age, female sex, no concomitant medication, and depressive symptoms. Despite ART simplification, incomplete adherence among PLWH receiving INSTI-STRs, remains a challenge, requiring additional actions.

Adherence to anti-retroviral therapy, decisional conflicts, and health-related quality of life among treatment-naïve individuals living with HIV: a DEARS-J observational study.

BACKGROUND: Supporting people living with HIV using anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is important due to the requirement for strict medication adherence. To date, no data from longitudinal studies evaluating adherence by treatment-naïve people living with HIV are currently available. We investigated the adherence of treatment-naïve people living with HIV over time and examined the relationships among decisional conflicts, adherence, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). METHODS: The survey items included adherence (visual analogue scale [VAS]), decisional conflict (decisional conflict scale [DCS]), and HRQL (Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey [MOS-HIV]). The DCS and MOS-HIV scores and the VAS and MOS scores were collected electronically at the ART initiation time point and at 4-, 24-, and 48-week post-treatment time points. RESULTS: A total of 215 participants were enrolled. The mean DCS score was 27.3 (SD, 0.9); 23.3% of participants were in the high-score and 36.7% in the low-score groups. The mean adherence rates at 4, 24, and 48 weeks were 99.2% (standard error [SE], 0.2), 98.4% (SE, 0.4), and 96.0% (SE, 1.2), respectively. The least-square means of the MOS-HIV for the DCS (high vs. low scores) were 64.4 vs. 69.2 for general health perceptions and 57.7 vs. 64.0 for HRQL, respectively. CONCLUSION: Adherence among treatment-naïve people living with HIV was maintained at a higher level, and HRQL tended to improve with ART. People with high levels of decisional conflict tended to have lower HRQL scores. Support for people living with HIV during ART initiation may be related to HRQL.

[Report on a Psychiatric Clinical Practicum in Which Pharmacy Students Perform a Pharmaceutical Intervention].

Neuropsychiatric disorders are among the most represented disorders in the 2013 revision of the Model Core Curriculum for Pharmaceutical Education in Japan. However, it is reported that many pharmacy students have a negative impression of neuropsychiatric disorders because they do not know how to interact with psychiatric patients. To deepen students' understanding of pharmacotherapy for psychiatric disorders, Chiba University Hospital provides a one-day psychiatric clinical practicum in which pharmacy students perform a pharmaceutical intervention. In this practicum, students first had a group discussion about the case, assessed the pharmaceutical problem, and considered pharmacotherapy solutions to the problem on their own. Then, the students interviewed the patients directly to collect pharmaceutical-related information. Finally, the students participated in a conference and presented their own pharmacotherapy solutions to the problem. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey and assessed the students' reports in order to investigate their satisfaction with the practicum, changes in their impression of psychiatric disorders or patients with psychiatric disorders, and the level of knowledge they attained. The results showed that almost all students were satisfied with the practicum. The students' impression of psychiatric disorders or patients with psychiatric disorders changed in a positive direction. It seems that students came to realize the role and responsibility of the pharmacist in medical teams. These findings suggest that the practicum led to a positive change in the students' impression of psychiatric patients through conversations with the patients, assessment of pharmacotherapy from a pharmaceutical point of view, and proposing prescriptions.

Risk factors for early-phase clozapine discontinuation: A nested case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Safe and efficient methods for introducing clozapine to patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) are needed. We investigated risk factors for clozapine discontinuation in the early phase of its introduction. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study at 14 psychiatric hospitals in Chiba, Japan. Data from pre-registered TRS patients were collected at 7 time points within 12 weeks before and after the start of clozapine introduction. We examined the demographic data, prior and concomitant psychotropic drugs, strategies for switching from prior antipsychotics, and blood test and Global Assessment of Function results. The Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale was retrospectively scored at 12 weeks before and after clozapine introduction. RESULTS: Of 228 patients, clozapine treatment was continued in 213 (93.4 %) and discontinued in 15 (6.6 %) patients within 12 weeks. Clinical symptoms were improved to mild symptoms with a response rate of 14.9 %. Prior antipsychotics and concomitant psychotropic drugs except for mood stabilizers were significantly decreased. Histories of smoking (OR = 3.32, 95 %CI: 1.11-9.93) and antipsychotic treatment at chlorpromazine-equivalent doses <1200 mg within the past 5 years (OR = 3.93, 95 %CI: 1.24-12.50), but not antipsychotic switching strategy, were associated with clozapine discontinuation. Eosinophilia was the most frequent reason for discontinuation (n = 3, 20 %) and was associated with concomitant valproate at 4 weeks after the introduction. CONCLUSION: Clozapine is an effective option for TRS patients (especially those treated with higher doses of prior antipsychotics) in Japan. Clinicians should be cautious about concomitant valproate in the early phase of clozapine introduction due to a high risk of eosinophilia.

[Practical study for seminar program certified by Japanese Society of Hospital Pharmacists for Clinical Psychiatric Pharmacists organized by Chiba Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and investigation of participants' background and issues for taking board certified psychiatric pharmacy specialists and board certified pharmacists in psychiatric pharmacy certifications using questionnaires].

Recently, certification systems for Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacy Specialists (BCPPS) and Board-Certified Pharmacists in Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPPP) were established by the Japanese Society of Hospital Pharmacists (JSHP) in 2008, to meet the increasing needs for specialists in psychiatric pharmacy. However, there was no report on the background and opinion of pharmacists who have intention to take the BCPPS or BCPPP and/or seminar programs for BCPPS or BCPPP. The Chiba Society of Hospital Pharmacists has started to provide a seminar program certified by the JSHP to study psychiatry for pharmacists and also investigated the participants' background, demand for the program, and issues in taking the BCPPS or BCPPP using questionnaires. We found that many participants wanted lectures to obtain information on issues they face in routine work as well as for certification testing. For many participants, satisfying the requirements for applying for the BCPPS or BCPPP was one of the most important issues in receiving the qualifications. We found that over 40% of participants working at community pharmacies intended to take the BCPPS or BCPPP, although working experience at a community pharmacy does not entitle them to apply for the BCPPS or BCPPP. The intention of community pharmacists indicates that discussion of the requirements for BCPPS or BCPPP certification systems is necessary to improve psychiatric community care. We will plan a practical seminar program with feedback from this investigation.