Carer involvement in medication adherence: carer views and experiences of facilitating medication adherence using pharmacy-filled multi-compartment medication compliance aids and other methods of adherence support-a questionnaire survey.

INTRODUCTION: Unpaid carers are an increasing proportion of the UK population. One of the many ways in which they help those they care for is assisting with medication adherence. Many older adults have medicines dispensed in pharmacy-filled multi-compartment medication compliance aids (pMCAs). However, evidence suggests that pMCAs may increase medication-related harm, and little is known about the interaction between the user, medication adherence systems and the carer. AIM: To explore the views of carers supporting older adults to manage their medications with and without a pMCA. METHOD: A researcher-administered questionnaire survey of carers supporting older adults to manage their medicines with or without a pMCA. Participants were recruited from inpatient wards, outpatient clinics and community services in central London. Responses were analysed by two independent researchers to identify overarching themes. RESULTS: Eighty-eight unpaid carers were interviewed and responses were categorised according to the medication adherence method used; 47 supported a user with a pMCA and 41 supported without a pMCA. The main themes were: Time, Responsibility and Mistakes, Waste and Sustainability, and Polypharmacy, with sub-themes of design of multi-compartment medication compliance aids, organisation and reassurance. CONCLUSION: Supporting medication adherence puts considerable burden on carers regardless of whether a self- or pharmacy-filled medication compliance aid is used or not. Prescribers could alleviate this burden through regular medication review by considering the prescribing frequency and duration and medication rationalisation. Redesign of both pMCAs and systems surrounding their use could also help reduce carer's burden and environmental burden.

Thrombocytopenia: the good, the bad and the ugly.

New thrombocytopenia may be associated with a variety of conditions and diagnosis can be challenging. Presentation can vary from life-threatening bleeding or thrombosis to an incidental finding in an asymptomatic patient. New thrombocytopenia requires urgent investigation. Investigations are mainly guided by findings from the clinical history, physical examination, full blood count and blood film analysis. Aside from the actively bleeding patient, rare but life-threatening causes of thrombocytopenia must be identified early as they require urgent treatment. These include thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, disseminated intravascular coagulation, suspicion of new acute promyelocytic leukaemia, and vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia. Here, we discuss how to approach a patient with new thrombocytopenia, along with key differentials not to be missed.

Lymphocytosis and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: investigation and management.

Lymphocytosis is a common blood-test finding. Establishing whether the cause of lymphocytosis is benign or malignant is key to managing patients appropriately. A lymphocytosis should always prompt clinical review including a thorough history, examination and appropriate preliminary investigations (blood tests, blood film). The majority of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) present incidentally due to a lymphocytosis found on routine blood tests. Patient outcomes vary considerably based on genetic pre-disposition and various prognostic markers (age, Binet or Rai staging, and B2-microglobulin). Although not curative, chemo-immunotherapy is an effective treatment strategy for the majority of CLL patients with progressive disease. More recently, novel oral therapies have been developed that target key signalling and apoptosis pathways and that are being used in relapse settings and as first-line treatments for certain patients.