Clinical factors associated with patterns of endocrine therapy adherence in premenopausal breast cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer are recommended at least five years of adjuvant endocrine therapy, but adherence to this treatment is often suboptimal. We investigated longitudinal trends in adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) adherence among premenopausal breast cancer patients and identified clinical characteristics, including baseline comorbidities and non-cancer chronic medication use, associated with AET adherence. METHODS: We included stage I-III premenopausal breast cancer patients diagnosed during 2002-2011 and registered in the Danish Breast Cancer Group clinical database who initiated AET. We used group-based trajectory modeling to describe AET adherence patterns. We also linked patients to Danish population-based registries and fit multinomial logistic models to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) associating clinical characteristics with AET adherence patterns. RESULTS: We identified three adherence patterns among 4,353 women-high adherers (57%), slow decliners (36%), and rapid decliners (6.9%). Women with stage I disease (vs. stage II; OR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.5, 2.5), without chemotherapy (vs. chemotherapy; OR: 4.3, 95% CI 3.0, 6.1), with prevalent comorbid disease (Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≥ 1 vs. 0; OR: 1.6, 95% CI 1.1, 2.3), and with a history of chronic non-cancer medication use (vs. none; OR: 1.3, 95% CI 1.0, 1.8) were more likely to be rapid decliners compared with high adherers. CONCLUSIONS: Women with stage I cancer, no chemotherapy, higher comorbidity burden, and history of chronic non-cancer medication use were less likely to adhere to AET. Taking steps to promote adherence in these groups of women may reduce their risk of recurrence.

Adverse Effects of Medications on Micronutrient Status: From Evidence to Guidelines.

Recent dietary reference intake workshops focusing on nutrient requirements in chronic disease populations have called attention to the potential adverse effects of chronic medication use on micronutrient status. Although this topic is mostly ill defined in the literature, several noteworthy drug-nutrient interactions (DNIs) are of clinical and public health significance. The purpose of this narrative review is to showcase classic examples of DNIs and their impact on micronutrient status, including those related to antidiabetic, anticoagulant, antihypertensive, antirheumatic, and gastric acid-suppressing medications. Purported DNIs related to other drug families, while relevant and worthy of discussion, are not included. Unlike previous publications, this review is primarily focused on DNIs that have sufficient evidence supporting their inclusion in US Food and Drug Administration labeling materials and/or professional guidelines. While the evidence is compelling, more high-quality research is needed to establish clear and quantitative relationships between chronic medication use and micronutrient status.

Associations between sex, race/ethnicity, and age and the initiation of chronic high-risk medication in US older adults.

BACKGROUND: High-risk medication use is associated with an increased risk of adverse events, but little is known about its chronic utilization by key demographic groups. We aimed to study the associations between age, sex, and race/ethnicity with new chronic use of high-risk medications in older adults. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from older adults aged ≥65 years enrolled in a national health insurer who started a high-risk medication between 2017 and 2022 across 16 high-risk medication classes. We used generalized estimating equations to estimate the associations between sociodemographic classifications and the onset of chronic high-risk medication use after initiation (≥90 days' supply across ≥2 fills within 180 days). We adjusted the analyses for sociodemographic and clinical patient characteristics and added three-way interaction terms for race/ethnicity, sex, and age to explore whether the outcome varied across different subgroups of race/ethnicity, age, and sex. RESULTS: Across 2,751,069 patients (mean age: 74 years [SD = 7], 72% White, 60% Female), 406,075 (15%) became new chronic users of ≥1 high-risk medication. Compared to White older adults, Asian (RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.79-0.84), Black (RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.90-0.94), and Hispanic (RR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.83-0.86) older adults had a lower risk of becoming new chronic users. Men had a higher risk compared to women (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.08-1.10). Age was not significantly associated with new chronic high-risk medication use (≥75 years: RR = 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01). We observed differences across some medication classes, like benzodiazepines, first-generation antihistamines, and antimuscarinics for which non-White older adults were at a higher risk. The joint presence of specific age, sex, and race/ethnicity characteristics decreased the risk of becoming a new chronic user (e.g., Hispanic/Female/65-74 years: RR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: New chronic high-risk medication use varied across older adults by sociodemographic characteristics, suggesting the need to individualize medication optimization approaches and better understand how systematic barriers in access to health care may influence differences in high-risk medication use in older adults.

Chronic Medication Burden After Cardiac Surgery for Pediatric Medicaid Beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart defects are the most common and resource-intensive birth defects. As children with congenital heart defects increasingly survive beyond early childhood, it is imperative to understand longitudinal disease burden. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine chronic outpatient prescription medication use and expenditures for New York State pediatric Medicaid enrollees, comparing children who undergo cardiac surgery (cardiac enrollees) and the general pediatric population. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of all Medicaid enrollees age <18 years using the New York State Congenital Heart Surgery Collaborative for Longitudinal Outcomes and Utilization of Resources database (2006-2019). Primary outcomes were total chronic medications per person-year, enrollees per 100 person-years using ≥1 and ≥3 medications, and medication expenditures per person-year. We described and compared outcomes between cardiac enrollees and the general pediatric population. Among cardiac enrollees, multivariable regression examined associations between outcomes and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: We included 5,459 unique children (32,131 person-years) who underwent cardiac surgery and 4.5 million children (22 million person-years) who did not. More than 4 in 10 children who underwent cardiac surgery used ≥1 chronic medication compared with approximately 1 in 10 children who did not have cardiac surgery. Medication expenditures were 10 times higher per person-year for cardiac compared with noncardiac enrollees. Among cardiac enrollees, disease severity was associated with chronic medication use; use was highest among infants; however, nearly one-half of adolescents used ≥1 chronic medication. CONCLUSIONS: Children who undergo cardiac surgery experience high medication burden that persists throughout childhood. Understanding chronic medication use can inform clinicians (both pediatricians and subspecialists) and policymakers, and ultimately the value of care for this medically complex population.

Use of Chronic Prescription Medications and Prevalence of Polypharmacy in Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

BACKGROUND: As survivors of childhood cancer age, development of cancer treatment-related chronic health conditions often occur. This study aimed to describe the pattern of chronic prescription medication use and identify factors associated with polypharmacy among survivors of childhood cancer. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted at the pediatric oncology long-term follow-up clinic in Hong Kong. Eligible subjects included survivors who were (1) diagnosed with cancer before 18 years old, (2) were at least 3 years post-cancer diagnosis and had completed treatment for at least 30 days, and (3) receiving long-term follow-up care at the study site between 2015 and 2018. Dispensing records of eligible survivors were reviewed to identify medications taken daily for ≥30 days or used on an "as needed" basis for ≥6 months cumulatively within the past 12-month period. Polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent use of ≥5 chronic medications. Multivariable log-binomial modeling was conducted to identify treatment and clinical factors associated with medication use pattern and polypharmacy. RESULTS: This study included 625 survivors (mean current age = 17.9 years, standard deviation [SD] = 7.2 years) who were 9.2 [5.2] years post-treatment. Approximately one-third (n = 219, 35.0%) of survivors were prescribed at least one chronic medication. Frequently prescribed medication classes include systemic antihistamines (26.5%), sex hormones (19.2%), and thyroid replacement therapy (16.0%). Overall prevalence of polypharmacy was 5.3% (n = 33). A higher rate of polypharmacy was found in survivors of CNS tumors (13.6%) than in survivors of hematological malignancies (4.3%) and other solid tumors (5.3%) (P = .0051). Higher medication burden was also observed in survivors who had undergone cranial radiation (RR = 6.31; 95% CI = 2.75-14.49) or hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) (RR = 3.53; 95% CI = 1.59-7.83). CONCLUSION: Although polypharmacy was observed in a minority of included survivors of childhood cancer, chronic medication use was common. Special attention should be paid to survivors of CNS tumors and survivors who have undergone HSCT or cranial radiation. These individuals should be monitored closely for drug-drug interactions and adverse health outcomes that may result from multiple chronic medications, particularly during hospitalization in an acute care setting.

Medication burden in epilepsy: Exploring the impact of non-epilepsy concomitant drugs load.

PURPOSE: To determine the burden of non-epilepsy drugs on people with epilepsy, using administrative health care data. METHODS: The Achmea Health Insurance Database (AHID) contains health claims data from 25 % of the Dutch population. From the AHID, we selected all policyholders with coverage for at least one full calendar year between 2006-2009. We included adults with diagnostic codes for epilepsy and randomly selected two frequency-matched controls per case. We labeled drugs dispensed at least twice per calendar year as chronic and excluded antiseizure medications. We estimated and compared the prevalence of chronic medication use, number of chronic medications used, number of prescriptions dispensed, Rx Risk comorbidity index, and drug burden index (DBI) between people with epilepsy and controls. RESULTS: Non-epilepsy chronic medication use was more frequent in people with epilepsy than controls (67 % versus 59 %, p < 0.001). People with epilepsy had an increased DBI (average 0.19 versus 0.10, p < 0.001), used more chronic medications (median 2 versus 1, p < 0.001) and had more prescriptions dispensed (median 7 versus 3, p < 0.001). The DBI and number of unique chronic medications were higher among older (>60 years) than younger (<60 years) subjects in cases and controls. Non-epilepsy chronic medication use was more prevalent in people with epilepsy across all therapeutic drug classes and most comorbidities measured using the Rx Risk score. CONCLUSION: Chronic non-epilepsy medication use is more prevalent among people with epilepsy. The medication burden is higher among elderly with epilepsy and could partially explain the lower quality of life of people with epilepsy with comorbidities.

Circulating tumor cells and drug history in primary breast cancer patients.

Aim: Different types of chronic medication may affect breast cancer prognosis. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play an important role in cancer metastasis formation. There is no evidence of how chronic medication affects CTCs and breast cancer prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate association between chronic medication and CTCs in patients with primary breast cancer. Methods: This study involved 414 patients with stage I-III primary breast cancer. Chronic drug history was collected from patients' medical records and included all drugs that were prescribed for patients over at least the last 6 months prior to CTCs evaluation. CTCs were detected using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)-based method at the time of breast surgery. Results: There was no association between CTCs, including their different subpopulations and chronic medication. Chronic medication using angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), metformin, and insulin were associated with inferior disease-free survival (HR = 0.49, 95%CI 0.26-0.94, P = 0.007 for ACEi; HR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.08-0.91, P < 0.001 for metformin; and HR = 0.12, 95%CI 0.01-2.91, P < 0.001 for insulin) and this was most pronounced in patients with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (CTC_EMT) phenotype. In multivariate analysis, chronic administration of metformin and/or insulin was an independent predictor of inferior outcome. Conclusion: Our findings show that there was no association between chronically used medication and CTCs in primary breast cancer patients. However, administration of ACEi, metformin, and/or insulin could negatively affect prognosis of patients with CTC_EMT.

A Simple Bayesian Method for Evaluating Whether Data From Patients With Rheumatic Diseases Who Have Been Under Chronic Hydroxychloroquine Medication Since Before the COVID-19 Outbreak Can Speak to Hydroxychloroquine's Prophylactic Effect Against Infection With SARS-CoV-2.

No vaccine against infection by SARS-CoV-2 yet exists. Treatment by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) medication, among others, has been proposed. However, prophylactic HCQ medication has been little evaluated. We propose to use data from patients with rheumatic diseases (RA, SLR) who have been chronically taking HCQ medication since before the COVID-19 outbreak (hereafter: HCQpa), in order to evaluate the potential of HCQ for preventing infection with SARS-CoV-2. This can be achieved with relative ease by considering whether COVID-19 prevalence is significantly lower in HCQpa than in the general population (i.e., all people that are not HCQpa). Even if COVID-19 prevalence is truly significantly lower in HCQpa, some HCQpa may still present with COVID-19 (lower prevalence does not mean a prevalence of zero). However, given a value for COVID-19 prevalence in the general population and a number of available HCQpa, one may compute the maximum number of HCQpa for that total number of HCQpa considered that can have COVID-19 in order to still be able to conclude a lower COVID-19 prevalence in HCQpa (i.e., if there is one more case of COVID-19 than that maximum number, the COVID-19 prevalence in the HCQpa cannot be said to be lower than in the general population). Because the COVID-19 prevalence in the general population is not known with precision, we will consider different general population prevalence values. Among these contemplated prevalence values, one is derived from the official total number of confirmed cases, others by computing the total number of cases from the number of fatal COVID-19 cases so far and considering different case fatality rates per total cases. Our analyses show that systematic testing for COVID-19 in as few as 5,000 HCQpa is all that is needed for a test of whether HCQ has a prophylactic action against COVID-19, even for a COVID-19 prevalence value as low as 250 per 100,000, provided that test sensitivity is at least equal to its specificity. For higher COVID-19 prevalence values, the number of HCQpa needed is even lower.

[Perioperative handling of anticoagulation]. / Perioperativer Umgang mit Antikoagulation.

A growing number of patients in Germany receive a long-term prophylactic anticoagulation with phenprocoumone or one of the novel direct oral anticoagulants (NOAC), such as dabigatran, rivaroxaban or apixaban. The most common indication for an oral anticoagulant therapy is atrial fibrillation (approximately 75%) where the anticoagulant therapy can reduce the risk for an embolic event, particularly stroke by 60%. Operations carried out during such a therapy can result in major bleeding complications. On the other hand, suspending anticoagulant therapy can lead to an increased risk of thromboembolisms. Thus, the preoperative assessment should address the bleeding risk of the planned operation, the individual risk of thromboembolism, as well as other factors, such as patient age and renal function. If the individual assessment shows a substantial risk of perioperative bleeding when anticoagulant treatment is continued and a substantial risk of thromboembolism if the treatment is suspended, then a perioperative bridging, for example with low molecular weight heparin, is necessary. Perioperative bridging also leads to an increased risk of perioperative bleeding. Thus, undifferentiated bridging for all patients with atrial fibrillation with anticoagulant treatment is not recommended. Instead, the indications for a perioperative bridging should be decided according to individual risk profiles.

[Perioperative handling of immunosuppressive therapy]. / Perioperativer Umgang mit immunsuppressiver Therapie.

Every year 16 million operations are performed in Germany. Many patients have an autoimmune disorder, for example rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or chronic inflammatory bowel disease, which requires treatment. Immunosuppressants are widely applied. Physicians must make a risk-adapted decision whether the immunosuppressant medication can be continued perioperatively or if certain drugs must be paused and if so, with what risks. The handling of immunosuppressants during the perioperative period is very relevant as many patients, for example with rheumatoid arthritis are in need of a hip or knee replacement or patients with inflammatory bowel disease need an operation due to the chronic illness. The interruption of an immunosuppressant therapy should be discussed in an interdisciplinary board according to the underlying disease, because the continuation of immunosuppressants perioperatively can lead to an increased rate of complications, especially wound healing disorders. If a patient is on a glucocorticoid therapy the following must be considered: during the perioperative period the body has an increased demand for glucocorticoids due to the stress reaction. If glucocorticoids are administered in a dosage of more than 7.5 mg/day equivalent of prednisolone this stress reaction is inhibited. Thus, in these cases a perioperative substitution with hydrocortisone is recommended.

[Perioperative handling of antidiabetic drugs]. / Perioperativer Umgang mit Antidiabetika.

Diabetes mellitus is the most frequent metabolic disorder in the western world with a prevalence of 3% in adults under 65 years of age and 14.3% in adults over 65 years of age. Due to the increasing age of our population, the number of patients taking oral antidiabetic drugs has increased. Thus, operating physicians must make a risk-adapted decision whether the medication can be continued perioperatively or if certain drugs must be paused, and if so, with what risks. Operative interventions can lead to a number of metabolic shifts, which change the normal glucose metabolism. Hyperglycemia in the perioperative period is a risk factor for postoperative sepsis, dysfunction of the endothelium, cerebral ischemia and poor wound healing. Due to perioperative fasting oral antidiabetic medication can lead to severe hypoglycemia if taken during this period. This leads to an increased morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period and extends the duration of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) as well as the overall hospital stay. Oral antidiabetic medication should be paused on the day of the operation and restarted in line with the gradual postoperative return to solid food. Especially metformin, the most commonly used medication in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, should be paused perioperatively due to the severe side effect of lactate acidosis.

[The use of tumor therapeutics in the perioperative period]. / Perioperativer Umgang mit antitumoralen Medikamenten.

In 2010 Germany had 447,300 new cases of cancer. From 2000 to 2010 the incidence of cancer increased by 21% in men and by 14% in women. The change in the age structure with an aging population is the crucial influencing factor. Various cancer types can now be treated by oral antitumor agents used as a chronic medication. Physicians must decide whether the oral antitumor agents can be continued perioperatively or if certain drugs must be paused and if so, with what risks. Oral antitumor agents are a very heterogeneous group of medication. The use of oral antitumor agents during the perioperative period has not been thoroughly examined, but most often a perioperative interruption is recommended. In general, poor wound healing is a frequent complication of this group of medication. The handling of oral antitumor agents in the perioperative period should be based on an individual decision with consideration of the desired therapy goal as well as the individual prognosis. In general, all oral antitumor agents are chronic medication and are continued until a loss of efficacy or intolerable side effects occur. A potentially curative therapy should be paused for the shortest possible time in order not to jeopardize the remission already achieved. Furthermore, generally accepted recommendations concerning the interval between chemotherapy and a planned operation have not yet been established. A rough rule of thumb could be to plan the operation after the regeneration of the blood count or at the same point in time of the next planned chemotherapy.

Children/young people taking long-term medication: a survey of community pharmacists' experiences in England.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether community pharmacists undertake medication reviews with children/their carers and to identify the type of medication-related experiences presented to them when a child is taking long-term medication. METHODS: A 13 question semi-structured survey was posted to 354 England-based community pharmacists with telephone follow-up/repeat mailing of non-responders. Participants were asked about their practice as a community pharmacist over the preceding 12 months to children/young people, or their carers, taking long-term medication. The questionnaire covered: medication review, reported adherence, information requests, adverse effects, administration and obtaining medication supplies. The data were analysed using SPSS version 22 and NVivo version 10. RESULTS: The response rate was 76/354 (21.5%). Eighteen (23.7%) respondents had undertaken a Medicines Use Review (MUR) and 22 (28.9%) a New Medicines Service (NMS) medication review with a child/their carer. Participants reported that patients/their carers had presented to them with non-adherence including stopping medication (24, 31.6%) and changing the dose (28, 36.8%). Respondents were directly asked about the indication (59, 77.6%), dose regimen (63, 82.9%), administration (64, 84.2%) and adverse effects (58, 76.3%) of prescribed medication. Respondents reported patients/carers experiencing difficulties obtaining medication from their community pharmacy (47, 61.8%) and patients' family doctors declining to prescribe a medication recommended by a specialist (27, 35.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Medicines Use Review and NMS reviews are utilised by community pharmacists in children/their carers. The medication-related experiences presenting to community pharmacists could fall within the purview of a medication review (MUR or NMS). There is scope to further extend this service to this group of patients/carers.

[The use of platelet aggregation inhibitors in the perioperative period]. / Perioperativer Umgang mit Thrombozytenaggregationshemmern.

Every year 16 million operations are performed in Germany. Many patients take platelet aggregation inhibitors as a primary or secondary prevention to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Especially during the perioperative period, this risk reduction is relevant due to an increased risk for cardiac events (in approximately 6.2% of operations). As a result of a presumed increased risk of bleeding, platelet aggregation inhibitors are often paused perioperatively. Thus, doctors must decide on a risk-adapted basis whether the medication can be continued perioperatively and, if so, with what risks. If acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) treatment is solely used as primary prevention it can be paused during the perioperative period, whereas ASA treatment for secondary prevention should only be paused for operations within narrow confines. When pausing ASA, a sufficient time interval should be maintained before the operation. Furthermore, the ASA withdrawal syndrome with an increased predisposition for clotting is an important phenomenon to be considered. Additionally, the perioperative handling of dual platelet aggregation inhibition needed after coronary stent implantation should be addressed. Due to an increased risk for in-stent thrombosis, dual platelet aggregation inhibition is only reluctantly paused. Emergency surgery must, if not otherwise possible, be carried out even if the dual platelet aggregation inhibition is not paused; however, if the risk for intraoperative bleeding is too high and the risk of an in-stent thrombosis is lower in comparison, P2Y12 inhibitors (e.g. clopidogrel) should be paused and the operation carried out solely with ASA therapy.

Knowledge of hypertension and its management among hypertensive patients on chronic medicines at primary health care public sector facilities in South Africa; findings and implications.

BACKGROUND: There are high growing prevalence rates of hypertension in South Africa. Consequently, there is a need to assess knowledge and management among hypertensive patients receiving chronic medication from primary health care (PHC) facilities in South Africa as a basis for improving future management. This is important as South Africa seeks to improve its management of chronic diseases. METHODS: Descriptive, quantitative study amongst chronic hypertensive patients in the chronic disease programme. Patients were interviewed face-to-face by trained pharmacists using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Half (53.7%) of the patients had uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). Less than a third of patients (27.7%) knew what hypertension is, the meaning of recorded BP numbers (4.5%), and what normal BP should be (19.9%). All patients who knew the meaning of BP numbers had formal education (p = 0.047). Only 15.6% of the 56.0% patients, who received hypertension information, received it on antihypertensive medicines specifically. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the patients lacked hypertension specific knowledge and only half had controlled BP. Interventions to improve the control of high BP should be targeted at closing knowledge gaps as part of the current chronic treatment initiatives in South Africa to ensure the benefits of increased access to care are realized.

Medication management in comprehensive schools in Finland: teachers' perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: Many children who take medication require it during school time, and their participation in school activities could depend on it. The aim of this study was to identify whether schools have guidelines for medication management and to explore teachers' perceptions about medication administration practices and the characteristics affecting these practices using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory as the framework. METHODS: A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted in Finland in 2010 covering a representative sample of comprehensive school teachers (n = 1700). The survey included sections on guidelines and practices for medication administration, beliefs about medicines, and background information on the respondent and the respondent's school. Quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis were used. KEY FINDINGS: The response rate was 56% (928/1664). At the national level (macrosystem), teachers reported uncertainty about existing laws and guidelines, while at the local level (exosystem), most of the teachers reported having medication management guidelines (73% primary; 76% lower secondary school). However, a majority described guidelines instructing them not to administer medicines to pupils. Medication management practices were found to differ depending on the province and size of school. At the personal level (microsystem), practices were also affected by teachers' experience of, and views about, medicines. CONCLUSION: No consistent medication administration guidelines exist in Finnish schools. Challenges were identified at all system levels of ecological theory. To ensure proper medication management, school staff need clear and consistent guidance developed in co-operation between different professions, and exploring ways to involve pharmacists in this task.

What do patients need to know? A study to assess patients' satisfaction with information about medicines.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the information needs and reported adherence of patients prescribed medicines for chronic conditions in those who have received a community pharmacy advanced service and those who have not. METHODS: A questionnaire was constructed using validated tools to measure medication information satisfaction and adherence together with questions eliciting information regarding the use of pharmacy services and demographic characteristics. This questionnaire was distributed from four community pharmacies to a convenience sample of 400 patients as they collected their medicines. Patients were eligible if prescribed more than one regular medicine and attending the pharmacy for longer than 3 months. The questionnaire was returned directly to the university. KEY FINDINGS: Two hundred and thirty-two (58%) questionnaires were returned. All respondents desired further information about their prescribed medicines, particularly about potential medication problems. Dissatisfaction centred on side effects, interactions and certain medicine characteristics such as how long it will take to act. Satisfaction with information about medicines and adherence were significantly greater in a subgroup reporting that they had received an advanced pharmacy service, e.g. medicine use review (MUR). CONCLUSION: Patients who had received an advanced service reported greater adherence and satisfaction with medicine-related information. This was a small, observational study, using a convenience sample of four pharmacies; in order to draw definitive conclusions, a larger study with participants randomised to receive an advanced service is required.

Utilization of oral antidiabetic medications in Taiwan following strategies to promote access to medicines for chronic diseases in community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVES: Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) has encouraged physicians to use "chronic medication prescriptions" for patients with stable chronic diseases since 1995. Patients are allowed to refill such prescriptions at community pharmacies for a maximum of three months' supply of medications without revisiting the doctor. In 2006, NHI initiated strategies targeting the public, doctors, and healthcare facilities to enhance the overall rate of chronic medication prescriptions, aiming to achieve 30% by 2010. We examined prescribing and dispensing of oral antidiabetic drugs from 2001 to 2010, before and after the start of the promotion strategies for chronic medication prescriptions in 2006. METHODS: Using outpatient care data from the NHI database and the interrupted time series design, we analyzed changes in rate of chronic medication prescriptions, share of prescriptions filled at community pharmacies, and share of reimbursed expenditures accounted by community pharmacies. RESULTS: During 2001-2010, the rate of chronic medication prescriptions for diabetes increased steadily by about 3% per year (from 3.5% to 26.2%). Three years after the promotion strategies, there was a non-significant reduction of 8.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -17.35%, 0.05%) in the rate of chronic medication prescriptions but increases in prescription refills at community pharmacies and associated reimbursed expenditures: 12.8% (95% C.I.:1.66%, 23.98%) and 15.8% (95% C.I.: -1.35%, 33.02%) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While rate of chronic medication prescriptions was not significantly affected by the 2006 promotion strategy, shares of prescriptions refilled at community pharmacies and associated expenditures increased slightly but significantly.

[Impact of a software application to improve medication reconciliation at hospital discharge]. / Impacto de una aplicación informática en la mejora de la conciliación de la medicación al alta hospitalaria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a software application to improve the quality of information concerning current patient medications and changes on the discharge report after hospitalization. To analyze the incidence of errors and to classify them. MATERIAL AND METHOD DESIGN: Quasi-experimental pre / post study with non-equivalent control group study. STUDY POPULATION: Medical patients at hospital discharge. INTERVENTION: implementation of a software application. VARIABLES: Percentage of reconciled patient medication on discharge, and percentage of patients with more than one unjustified discrepancy. RESULTS: A total of 349 patients were assessed; 199 (pre-intervention phase) and 150 (post-intervention phase). Before the implementation of the application in 157 patients (78.8%) medication reconciliation had been completed; finding reconciliation errors in 99 (63.0%). The most frequent type of error, 339 (78.5%), was a missing dose or administration frequency information. After implementation, all the patient prescriptions were reconciled when the software was used. The percentage of patients with unjustified discrepancies decreased from 63.0% to 11.8% with the use of the application (p<.001). The main type of discrepancy found on using the application was confusing prescription, due to the fact that the professionals were not used to using the new tool. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a software application has been shown to improve the quality of the information on patient treatment on the hospital discharge report, but it is still necessary to continue development as a strategy for improving medication reconciliation.