An ecological approach to monitor geographic disparities in cancer outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Area-level indices are widely used to assess the impact of socio-environmental characteristics on cancer outcomes. While area-level measures of socioeconomic status (SES) have been previously used in cancer settings, fewer studies have focused on evaluating the impact of area-level health services supply (HSS) characteristics on cancer outcomes. Moreover, there is significant variation in the methods and constructs used to create area-level indices. METHODS: In this study, we introduced a psychometrically-induced, reproducible approach to develop area-level HSS and SES indices. We assessed the utility of these indices in detecting the effects of area-level characteristics on prostate, breast, and lung cancer incidence and stage at diagnosis in the US. The information on county-level SES and HSS characteristics were extracted from US Census, County Business Patterns data and Area Health Resource Files. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify individuals diagnosed with cancer from 2010 to 2012. SES and HSS indices were developed and linked to 3-year age-adjusted cancer incidence rates. SES and HSS indices empirically summarized the level of employment, education, poverty and income, and the availability of health care facilities and health professionals within counties. RESULTS: SES and HSS models demonstrated good fit (TLI = 0.98 and 0.96, respectively) and internal consistency (alpha = 0.85 and 0.95, respectively). Increasing SES and HSS were associated with increasing prostate and breast cancer and decreasing lung cancer incidence rates. The results varied by stage at diagnosis and race. CONCLUSION: Composite county-level measures of SES and HSS were effective in ranking counties and detecting gradients in cancer incidence and stage at diagnosis. Thus, these measures provide valuable tools for monitoring geographic disparities in cancer outcomes.

Assessing the Understanding of Pediatric-Oriented Medication Education Materials Versus Standard Available Education Materials.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine if education material targeting children would improve understanding of medication indication, administration, and common side effects in pediatric subjects. METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study included students 7 to 11 years old from a suburban elementary school. Study participants were read either the US Food and Drug Administration-approved adult medication leaflet or a pediatric medication leaflet created at a first-grade reading level for levetiracetam (Keppra, UCB, Inc, Atlanta, GA). Students were asked a set of standardized survey questions to evaluate comprehension of side effects, medication indication, dosing frequency, administration, and overall impression of the leaflet. RESULTS: Fifty-eight children were included. Fifty percent of the children were male, 79% were Caucasian, and the average age was 9 years. There was no statistical difference for demographics in the adult leaflet versus the pediatric leaflet group. Children correctly stated the indication for the medication in 30% of participants (9/30) in the adult leaflet group and 79% of participants (22/28) in the pediatric leaflet group, p = 0.002. The administration frequency question was answered correctly in 93% of the pediatric leaflet group (26/28) as compared to 73% in the adult leaflet group (22/30), p = 0.05. For questions about side effects and how to administer the medication, there was no difference between the groups. The responses regarding readability and understanding of the leaflets were significantly different in the pediatric leaflet group compared to the adult leaflet group, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Leaflets designed for pediatric patients resulted in an improvement in the understanding of the indication for levetiracetam.

Assessing Physician and Patient Perceptions of Generic Drugs via Facebook: A Feasibility Study.

Background: Social media offer a novel avenue to engage with and recruit research participants. Facebook in particular is a promising option given its popularity and widespread use. Objective: To explore the feasibility of using Facebook to recruit physicians and patients to participate in a survey to assess their perceptions about generic venlafaxine extended release (ER) tablet indicated for depression. Methods: Web-based surveys were developed to gauge physicians' prescribing experiences with and patients' perceptions of generic venlafaxine ER tablet. The surveys included questions specific to venlafaxine ER tablets, such as perceived safety and efficacy of the drug and overall comfort level with either prescribing or taking the drug. Survey links were then posted and advertised on Facebook to recruit physicians and patients. Results: Advertisement for physicians reached 1898 Facebook users and advertisement for patients reached 1144 users during a 10-day advertising period. However, only 14 and 35 users clicked on the survey for physicians and patients, respectively. No physician completed the physician survey while 3 patients completed the patient survey. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that Facebook may not be an effective method to recruit physicians. Facebook holds promise to recruit patients, but additional recruitment efforts, such as incentives, are needed.

A review of how the quality of HIV clinical services has been evaluated or improved.

To examine approaches being used to evaluate and improve quality of HIV clinical services we searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library collection, EMBASE, Global Health, and Web of Science databases for articles and abstracts focused on evaluating or improving quality of HIV clinical services. We extracted country income level, targeted clinical services, and quality evaluation approaches, data sources, and criteria. Fifty journal articles and 46 meeting abstracts were included. Of the 96 studies reviewed, 65% were programme evaluations, 71% focused on low- and middle-income countries, and 65% focused on antiretroviral therapy services. With regard to quality, 45% used a quality improvement model or programme, 13% set a quality threshold, and 51% examined patient records to evaluate quality. No studies provided a definition for quality HIV care. Quality assurance and improvement of HIV clinical services is increasingly important. This review highlights gaps in knowledge for future research, and may also help countries and programmes develop their HIV care quality improvement frameworks.

Perceptions of patient provider agreements.

OBJECTIVES: Use of patient provider agreements (PPAs) is increasing, yet there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of PPAs to prevent prescription opioid misuse and diversion, and few guidelines for providers. We conducted eight focus groups to understand patient and prescriber perceptions of PPAs. METHODS: We recruited 40 patients who had been asked to sign a PPA and 40 prescribers who had administered at least one PPA. We developed topic guides for the two groups based on prior literature. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Two investigators independently performed the content analysis of the transcripts and reached consensus on recurring themes. KEY FINDINGS: PPA use varied according to physician specialty. General practitioners used PPAs the least but reported increasing pressure from liability insurers to use them. Many patients reported signing a PPA in the emergency room of a hospital. Prescribers and patients reported a lack of understanding among patients concerning the purpose and content of the PPA. Prescribers questioned the legal status of the PPA, while patients believed that the PPA was a legal document intended to protect prescribers. Patients and prescribers valued PPA content items differently, although both groups agreed that signing a PPA would not prevent opioid misuse. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several themes concerning the administration, content, effectiveness and utility of PPAs that highlight areas of research to improve PPAs. We also describe trends requiring further investigation. Understanding content of importance to patients will facilitate the development of a patient-centred PPA.

Benefits Improvement and Protection Act's impact on transplantation rates among elderly MEDICARE beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: The Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA) expanded Medicare coverage for posttransplantation immunosuppresants for elderly patients and others eligible for Medicare beyond their end-stage renal disease (ESRD) status yet retained the 3-year limit for patients eligible solely because of ESRD status. Our objective was to determine BIPA's impact on renal transplantation among elderly patients (age ≥65 years) affected by BIPA. METHODS: Medicare claims and the U.S. Renal Data System Standard Analysis Files were used to analyze the likelihood of transplantation among elderly patients, all of whom were affected by BIPA, versus the nonelderly, many of whom were unaffected by BIPA. A difference-in-differences approach and generalized logistic regressions were used to estimate BIPA's impact. RESULTS: Analysis of data for 632,904 ESRD Medicare beneficiaries who met inclusion/exclusion criteria suggests that BIPA made elderly patients more likely (relative likelihood, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-1.41) to have a transplant. The likelihood for nonelderly patients decreased following BIPA (relative likelihood, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.94). CONCLUSION: Transplantation rates increased among those elderly patients, all of whom were affected by BIPA by extending immunosuppressant coverage under BIPA. These results suggest that removing financial barriers to posttransplantation care may positively impact transplantation rates yet raise questions regarding whether the law shifted transplants from younger to older patients.

A qualitative study to identify reasons for discharges against medical advice in the cardiovascular setting.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for the largest number of discharges against medical advice (AMA). However, there is limited information regarding the reasons for discharges AMA in the CVD setting. OBJECTIVE: To identify reasons for discharges AMA among patients with CVD. DESIGN: Qualitative study using focus group interviews (FGIs). PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of patients with a CVD-related discharge diagnosis who left AMA and providers (physicians, nurses and social workers) whose patients have left AMA. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: To identify patients' reasons for discharges AMA as identified by patients and providers. To identify strategies to reduce discharges AMA. APPROACH: FGIs were grouped according to patients, physicians and nurses/social workers. A content analysis was performed independently by three coauthors to identify the nature and range of the participants' viewpoints on the reasons for discharges AMA. The content analysis involved specific categories of reasons as motivated by the Health Belief Model as well as reasons (ie, themes) that emerged from the interview data. RESULTS: 9 patients, 10 physicians and 23 nurses/social workers were recruited for the FGIs. Patients and providers reported the same three reasons for discharges AMA: (1) patient's preference for their own doctor, (2) long wait time and (3) factors outside the hospital. Patients identified an unmet expectation to be involved in setting the treatment plan as a reason to leave AMA. Participants identified improved communication as a solution for reducing discharges AMA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients wanted more involvement in their care, exhibited a strong preference for their own primary physician, felt that they spent a long time waiting in the hospital and were motivated to leave AMA by factors outside the hospital. Providers identified similar reasons except the patients' desire for involvement. Additional research is needed to determine the applicability of results in broader patient and provider populations.

Assessment of hospice health professionals' knowledge, views, and experience with medical marijuana.

The medicinal and recreational use of cannabis has been controversial, especially in the United States. Marijuana for medicinal use is approved in 14 U.S. states and has recently been considered for legalization in several additional states. Given its demonstrated efficacy in symptom management, marijuana has a potential role in palliative care. This study utilized a 16-item questionnaire to assess the knowledge, experience, and views of hospice professionals regarding the use of marijuana in terminally ill patients. The study results revealed that, like the general public, hospice health care providers are generally in favor of legalization of marijuana and, if legalized, would support its use in symptom management for their terminally ill patients.

Barriers to self-management of diabetes: a qualitative study among low-income minority diabetics.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes self-management is a key element in the overall management of diabetes. Identifying barriers to disease self-management is a critical step in achieving optimal health outcomes. Our goal was to explore patients' perceptions about barriers to self-management of diabetes that could possibly help explain poor health outcomes among minority patients. STUDY DESIGN: Four focus groups were conducted among 31 predominately African American patients with diabetes who were enrolled in the Baltimore Cardiovascular Partnership Study, a NIH-funded multiyear prospective partnership study. The topic guide consisted of a series of open-ended questions about knowledge of current health status, medication use, continuity of care, blood glucose level and nutrition. RESULTS: The focus groups confirmed that previously reported barriers to self-management persisted and identified new concerns that could be associated with poor health outcomes among minority patients with diabetes. Attitudes, perceptions and behaviors surrounding diabetes and self-management of the condition did vary across individuals, however, the variation appeared to reflect the individual's knowledge and opinions rather than patient's age, sex, or culture. The primary barrier to diabetes self-management resulted from lack of knowledge of target blood glucose and blood pressure. Several participants found some of the health information to be quite confusing. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes is a major public health concern and the lack of awareness of target blood glucose and blood pressure further complicates the problem. The limited health literacy seen in this study could help explain several of the barriers to self-management. The barriers to self-management identified in this qualitative study are amenable to intervention that could improve health outcomes.

Racial/ethnic and age disparities in chemotherapy selection for colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypotheses that African American patients and older patients with stage IV colorectal cancer were less likely to receive newer chemotherapy agents. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort design. METHODS: Among 5068 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare patients diagnosed as having stage IV colorectal cancer between 2000 and 2002, a total of 2466 received chemotherapy and were included in the analysis. Irinotecan hydrochloride was the first of the "newer" chemotherapy agents and was marketed in 2000 as a first-line add-on agent. Descriptive statistics were generated, and a multivariable logistic regression was run to estimate the odds of receiving irinotecan among African American patients and older patients and within 2 months of chemotherapy initiation. RESULTS: African American patients had lower odds of initiating treatment with a newer chemotherapy than white patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.641; 95% confidence interval, 0.453-0.907). An age disparity was also found, with all older age groups being significantly less likely to initiate treatment with a newer chemotherapy than the youngest age group: the adjusted odds of receiving newer chemotherapy agents (relative to patients aged 66-70 years) were lower and significant among patients aged 71 to 75, 76 to 80, and older than 80 years (odds ratios, 0.708, 0.527, and 0.213, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in chemotherapy selection exist among patients receiving chemotherapy for stage IV colorectal cancer. On initiating chemotherapy, African American patients and older patients were less likely to receive a newer agent.

Reasons for discharges against medical advice: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information in the literature about reasons for discharges against medical advice (DAMA) as supplied by patients and providers. Information about the reasons for DAMA is necessary for identifying workable strategies to reduce the likelihood and health consequences of DAMA. The objective of this study is to identify the reasons for DAMA based on patient and multicategory provider focus-group interviews (FGIs). METHODS: Patients who discharged against medical advice between 2006 and 2008 from a large, academic medical centre along with hospital providers reporting contact with patients who left against medical advice were recruited. Three patient-only groups, one physician-only group and one nurse/social worker group were held. Focus-group interviews were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was performed to identify themes within and across groups. Participants discussed the reasons for patient DAMA and identified potential solutions. RESULTS: Eighteen patients, five physicians, six nurses and four social workers participated in the FGIs. Seven themes emerged across the separate patient, doctor, nurse/social worker FGIs of reasons why patients leave against medical advice: (1) drug addiction, (2) pain management, (3) external obligations, (4) wait time, (5) doctor's bedside manner, (6) teaching hospital setting and (7) communication. Solutions to tackle DAMA identified by participants revolved mainly around enhanced communication and provider education. CONCLUSIONS: In a large, academic medical centre, the authors find some differences and many similarities across patients and providers in identifying the causes of and solutions to DAMA, many of which relate to communication.

Haemodialysis patients' readiness to pursue live donor kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Despite the benefits of live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) over deceased donor kidney transplantation, patients hesitate to pursue this option. METHODS: A total of 324 transplant-eligible haemodialysis patients attending 14 dialysis facilities in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Southern Pennsylvania were asked about their stages of readiness to pursue LDKT, attitudes towards LKDT and demographics. Logistic regressions were used to test the effect of patients' attitudes and demographics on their stages of readiness to pursue LDKT. RESULTS: Fewer than half of the patients who had heard about LDKT were considering this option. Among patients considering LDKT, 26% had not talked to their loved ones about LDKT and 54% had not asked anyone for a kidney. Concerns about the surgical procedure for the donor were associated with a lower likelihood of considering LDKT (adjusted OR = 0.38; CI 0.18-0.79), talking about LDKT (adjusted OR = 0.38; CI 0.18-0.78) and asking for a kidney (adjusted OR = 0.14; CI 0.06-0.36). Being satisfied with the information the patient received about LDKT was associated with a higher likelihood of talking with someone about LDKT and asking for a kidney (adjusted OR = 2.26; CI 1.33-3.83 and 3.89; CI 1.78-8.51). Women and younger patients were more likely to talk with family/friends about LDKT (respectively, adjusted OR = 1.76; CI 1.26-2.47 and 0.97; CI 0.95-0.99) and to ask for a kidney (respectively, adjusted OR = 4.36; CI 2.57-7.40 and 0.97; CI 0.94-0.99). CONCLUSION: Tailored educational programmes considering the patient's stage of readiness and related attitudinal and demographic factors might help patients move towards LDKT.

Outcomes of irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimens in elderly Medicare patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Several population-based studies have confirmed the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin for treatment of colorectal cancer. Few population-based studies have evaluated other chemotherapies that are now available for colorectal cancer management. OBJECTIVE: This study primarily sought to evaluate the survival benefit of first-line irinotecan use in a group of Medicare patients with stage IV (metastatic) colorectal cancer. METHODS: Data on chemotherapy users with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer reported between 1998 and 2002 were obtained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Irinotecan, marketed in 1997, was one of the newer chemotherapy agents in the available data. Chemotherapy episodes, defined as periods of continuous chemotherapy treatment with no gaps >90 days between successive claims, were identified. The first chemotherapy episode after diagnosis was used to identify lines of treatment: patients may have initiated irinotecan therapy within 2 months (first-line), used irinotecan later in the first episode (second-line), or not used irinotecan at all. Descriptive statistics were generated and a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the survival benefit of irinotecan. Secondary analyses explored the survival benefit in specific patient subgroups. The impact of irinotecan use on health care utilization also was assessed. RESULTS: Of 3327 chemotherapy users (mean/median age, 75 years), 842 (25.3%) initiated chemotherapy using irinotecan. No overall survival benefit for irinotecan was observed in the primary analysis comparing irinotecan initiators with all other chemotherapy users (including those who used irinotecan subsequently). Covariates that were negatively associated with survival included older age, presence of >1 comorbidity, a high tumor grade, lymph node involvement, and a primary tumor site in the colon. Surgery was positively associated with a lower hazard of death. In subgroup analyses that excluded subsequent irinotecan users, a survival benefit for irinotecan was observed but diminished over time. Irinotecan users had higher rates of hospitalizations possibly due to chemotherapy-related adverse effects. This retrospective claims study had limitations such as a lack of information on patient performance status, dosing, and the types of regimens used; hence, certain assumptions had to be made and selection bias may have been involved. CONCLUSIONS: The definitive survival advantage of irinotecan observed in clinical trials was not reproducible in this population of elderly Medicare patients. The results emphasize the need for expansion of trials to include a more diverse patient group as well as continued evaluation of more recent chemotherapies in real-world settings.

Students' perceptions and satisfaction with a web-based human nutrition course.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the perceptions and satisfaction of third-year pharmacy students with a Web-based, distance-learning course, Principles of Human Nutrition, and describe the challenges faculty members encountered while implementing the course. DESIGN: The human nutrition course was redesigned from a traditional classroom-based format to a Web-based format. Precourse and postcourse surveys were administered to 2 consecutive classes of 120 students. ASSESSMENT: Students gave positive feedback regarding the Web-based format and especially appreciated the flexibility the course offered. Students recommended that a hybrid Web-based/classroom-based course be developed instead of a Web-based only course. CONCLUSION: A Web-based format was used to effectively deliver a course in human nutrition to third-year pharmacy students; however, implementation of the course revealed several challenges that will need to be addressed before additional Web-based courses can be added.

A survey of nephrologists' views on preemptive transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite emerging evidence that preemptive transplantation is the best treatment modality for patients reaching end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is underutilized. Nephrologists' views on preemptive transplantation are explored herein. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: A web-based survey elicited barriers to preemptive transplantation as perceived by nephrologists as well as demographic and practice variables associated with a favorable attitude toward preemptive transplantation. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-six of 5,901 eligible nephrologists responded (8% participation rate). Seventy-one percent of respondents agreed that preemptive transplantation is the best treatment modality for eligible chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients reaching ESRD, 69% reported that late referrals did not allow enough time for patients to be evaluated for preemptive transplantation, and 50% stated that there was too much delay between a patient's referral and the time the patient was seen at the transplant center. Nephrologists agreed to a lesser extent that they should be held accountable for CKD patients' education (26%) and preemptive transplant referrals (23%). The most important patient factors considered when deciding not to discuss preemptive transplant were poor health status (70%), lack of compliance (69%), other medical problems (51%), being too old (40%), lack of prescription coverage (37%), and lack of health insurance to cover the costs of the procedure (36%). CONCLUSIONS: Surveyed nephrologists consider preemptive transplantation as the optimal treatment modality for eligible patients. Late referral, patient health and insurance status, and delayed transplant center evaluation are perceived as major barriers to preemptive transplantation.

Kidney transplantation as primary therapy for end-stage renal disease: a National Kidney Foundation/Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF/KDOQITM) conference.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplantation is the most desired and cost-effective modality of renal replacement therapy for patients with irreversible chronic kidney failure (end-stage renal disease, stage 5 chronic kidney disease). Despite emerging evidence that the best outcomes accrue to patients who receive a transplant early in the course of renal replacement therapy, only 2.5% of incident patients with end-stage renal disease undergo transplantation as their initial modality of treatment, a figure largely unchanged for at least a decade. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: The National Kidney Foundation convened a Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) conference in Washington, DC, March 19 through 20, 2007, to examine the issue. Fifty-two participants representing transplant centers, dialysis providers, and payers were divided into three work groups to address the impact of early transplantation on the chronic kidney disease paradigm, educational needs of patients and professionals, and finances of renal replacement therapy. RESULTS: Participants explored the benefits of early transplantation on costs and outcomes, identified current barriers (at multiple levels) that impede access to early transplantation, and recommended specific interventions to overcome those barriers. CONCLUSIONS: With implementation of early education, referral to a transplant center coincident with creation of vascular access, timely transplant evaluation, and identification of potential living donors, early transplantation can be an option for substantially more patients with chronic kidney disease.

Short-term impact of an educational program promoting live donor kidney transplantation in dialysis centers.

CONTEXT: Given the shortage of kidneys available for transplantation, a community-based intervention trial was implemented to assess the impact of an educational program on patients' access to live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT). OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term impact of a basic intervention and an enhanced intervention on patients' readiness to pursue LDKT. DEGISN: Baseline data and data from 1 week after interventions were analyzed. PARTICIPANTS: 214 transplant-eligible hemodialysis patients attending 14 dialysis facilities in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. INTERVENTIONS: In the basic intervention, 107 patients watched a 10-minute videotape on the experience of recipients and live donors of a kidney. In the enhanced intervention, 107 patients watched the same videotape and had a discussion with a health educator on the risks and benefits of LDKT, who could be a donor, and how to address the barriers they were encountering when seeking a live kidney donor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Patient reported whether they were considering LDKT, had talked with family or friends about LDKT, and had asked someone for a kidney. RESULTS: Over half of transplant-eligible patients were not pursuing LDKT at baseline (64% in the basic intervention group, 61% in the enhanced intervention group). One week after the intervention, the odds of considering LDKT were higher among African Americans (odds ratio [OR], 2.28; confidence interval [CI], 1.22-4.25), younger patients (OR, 0.94; CI, 0.91-0.97), and patients who spent less time on dialysis (OR, 0.90; CI, 0.83-0.97). The odds of asking for a kidney were higher among African Americans (OR, 4.94; CI, 2.54-9.60) and patients who perceived they were in poor to fair health (OR, 3.30; CI, 1.12-9.67). CONCLUSIONS: Although both interventions helped patients consider LDKT and ask for a kidney, more time and expanded educational content might be needed to facilitate patients' discussion about LDKT with their loved ones.

Factors affecting pharmacists' pediatric asthma counseling.

OBJECTIVE: To explore various factors that may influence community pharmacists' pediatric asthma counseling. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Maryland from September 2002 through March 2003. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 400 community pharmacists. INTERVENTION: Mail survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pharmacists' attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intention to provide pediatric asthma counseling, and reported counseling using the theory of planned behavior as a framework; demographic and pharmacy characteristics. RESULTS: 98 of 389 (25%) eligible pharmacists responded. Most acknowledged the importance of providing asthma counseling to children (54%) or caregivers (68%). However, only a small number reported demonstrating to children or caregivers or asking them to demonstrate how to use antiasthmatic medications. Multivariate logistic regressions revealed that intention to counsel was a significant predictor of providing counseling for children or caregivers (odds ratio [OR], 3.95 and 3.09, respectively). Intention to counsel children was significantly associated with subjective norm (OR, 1.88) and perceived ease of counseling (OR, 1.48); intention to counsel caregivers was significantly associated with perceived ease (OR, 1.45). Pharmacists also reported the following barriers that made counseling difficult: lack of time, lack of parent's interest, and lack of placebo devices useful for demonstration of inhalation technique. CONCLUSION: Despite a positive attitude toward providing asthma counseling, the majority of pharmacists reported not fully engaging in counseling. A number of barriers to counseling were reported that, if targeted, could improve the management of pediatric asthma through pharmacist-initiated counseling.

Health-related quality of life as a potential predictor in chronic obstructive lung disease patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is used as an umbrella term for chronic bronchitis and emphysema and is the fourth most common cause of death in North America. Current therapies are based on reducing risk factors as there is no known cure for this disease and hence an important focus of clinical medicine has been the prevention of further decline in physical function and the enhancement of health-related quality of life. The objective of the study is to assess the relationship between the patients' reported health-related quality of life and the severity of disease as measured by clinical indicators. A prospective, nonrandomized, observational study was conducted. The population consisted of subjects presenting to the University of Maryland Medical Center and the Baltimore Veterans Administration outpatient clinic, enrolled according to a convenience, staggered sampling. The Airways obstruction Questionnaire-20, the Medical Outcomes Study short form-12 and the Health Utilities Index instruments were used, and descriptive, as well as multivariate analyses were performed using multivariate linear regression models. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cohort was predominantly Caucasian (64%) and male (68%). The disease-specific instrument (Airways obstruction Questionnaire-20) had weak associations with the utility scores as well as a mental component and mild association with a physical component. Results showed a mild association between the disease severity, which is based on the forced expiratory volume in 1 s value, and the health-related quality of life scores. Over a 3-month period, no change was seen in the patient-reported health-related quality of life and the change in health-related quality-of-life scores was not associated with disease severity.