Tobacco Cessation Interventions in Non-Respiratory Cancers: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Considering the high rates of persistent tobacco use, effective cessation interventions are needed for cancer patients and caregivers. Despite the need, there is a significant lack of research on tobacco cessation, especially for non-respiratory cancers (breast, prostate, colorectal, cervical, and bladder cancer). PURPOSE: The objective was to evaluate tobacco use and tobacco cessation interventions among patients and caregivers for non-respiratory cancers. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials assessing tobacco cessation interventions were identified. Five electronic databases were searched in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines through July 2023. Studies exclusive to lung, oral, thoracic, and head and neck cancers were excluded. Effect sizes were estimated; risk of bias was assessed. RESULTS: Of 3,304 studies, 17 were included. Interventions included behavioral (n = 6), pharmacotherapy (n = 2), and a combination (n = 9) treatment. Eight studies included a health behavior model; mean behavioral change techniques were 5.57. Pooled magnitude of the odds of cessation was positive and significant (odds ratio = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [Lower Limit 1.02, Upper Limit 1.51]) relative to usual care/placebo. Cumulative meta-analysis examined the accumulation of results over-time and demonstrated that studies have been significant since 2020. Two studies included caregivers' who were involved in the provision of social support. CONCLUSIONS: Current interventions have the potential to reduce tobacco use in non-respiratory cancers. Results may be beneficial for promoting tobacco cessation among non-respiratory cancers. There is a considerable lack of dyadic interventions for cancer survivors and caregivers; researchers are encouraged to explore dyadic approaches.

We aimed to understand effective ways for cancer patients and caregivers to quit using tobacco. We focused on non-respiratory cancers (cancers not related to breathing issues) like breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. We reviewed 17 randomized controlled trials designed to help people quit tobacco, which included behavioral therapies (e.g., education and counseling), pharmacotherapy (i.e., medicine), and combinations of both. We found that people in these studies quit using tobacco, especially when more than one approach was used. The studies also showed that these approaches have been more successful since 2020. The research highlighted a need for more studies that include both patients and their caregivers together in the quitting process. This approach, called dyadic intervention, could be more effective in supporting patients and their caregivers. Overall, while the current approaches are promising, more research is needed to develop better ways to help cancer patients and caregivers quit smoking for longer.

Plant phytochemicals-mediated synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles with antimicrobial, pharmacological, and environmental applications.

Nanotechnology is a fast-growing field with large number of applications. Therefore, the current study, was designed to prepare Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from A. modesta leaves extract through a cost-effective method. The prepared NPs were characterized through UV-Vis Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The XRD and DLS analysis revealed the hexagonal nanocrystalline nature of ZnO NPs. The FTIR results displayed multiple fictional groups and UV results confirmed its optical properties. The average size of the NPs was 68.3 nm with a band gap of 2.71 eV. The SEM images divulge a clover leaf shape of ZnO NPs. The EDX spectrum revealed the presence of zinc and oxygen. The prepared NPs showed excellent biomedical application. The highest antileishmanial activity was 68%, anti-inflammatory activity was 78%, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was 79.1%, antibacterial potential (ZOI) 22.1 mm, and highest growth inhibition of 85 ± 2.1% against A. rabiei. The adsorption efficiency of 85.3% within 120 min was obtained. Conclusively ZnO NPs have shown potential biomedical and environmental applications and ought to be the more investigated to enhance their practical use.

Economic Impact of Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacists in an Advanced Heart Failure Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Clinical pharmacists play pivotal roles in multidisciplinary heart failure (HF) teams through the management of HF pharmacotherapy, but no study has examined the economic impact of HF ambulatory clinical pharmacists in an advanced HF clinic. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the economic impact of HF ambulatory clinical pharmacist interventions in an advanced HF clinic using a cost-benefit analysis. METHODS: This prospective observational study detailed HF ambulatory clinical pharmacist interventions over 6 months in an advanced HF clinic in a single-center tertiary teaching hospital. The economic impact of the interventions was estimated based on the indirect cost savings with pharmacist interventions and direct cost savings recommendations. A cost-benefit analysis was performed to assess the cost of delivering the interventions compared with the benefits generated by clinical pharmacists. Results were reported as a benefit-cost ratio and net benefits. RESULTS: HF ambulatory clinical pharmacists made a total of 2,361 provider-accepted interventions over 6 months. Overall, the 3 most common intervention types were medication reconciliation (28.7%), dose change (20.8%), and addition of medication (12.3%). Anticoagulation (21.2%) was the most common intervened class of medication, followed by sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (12.3%) and angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (9.2%). The total net benefits were $55,553.24 over 6 months and the benefit-cost ratio was 1.55. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The addition of cardiology clinical pharmacists to an advanced HF clinic may be financially justified and cost-beneficial.

Length of Stay, Cost, and Outcomes related to Traumatic Subdural Hematoma in inpatient setting in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: In the US, the prevalence of traumatic subdural hematoma (TSDH) continues to increase. Using a nationally representative sample of discharge records of patients with TSDH, the study objectives were to estimate trend in number of TSDH cases, surgical management, inpatient cost, length of stay (LOS), mortality rate, and complication rate; and to identify the association of sociodemographic, clinical and hospital characteristics with complications and mortality. METHOD: We identified patients with a primary diagnosis of TSDH from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2010 to 2017. Quarterly and monthly trends were estimated using interrupted time series design. Multivariate logistic regressions measured association between various factors and inpatient death and complications. RESULTS: Number of cases, mean LOS, rate of complication increased. Proportion of patients undergoing surgery, mean inpatient cost, inpatient mortality decreased. Mean inpatient cost was $23,182.40 and LOS was 6.41 days. Odds of inpatient death and complications increased with injury severity score and comorbid conditions requiring use of anticoagulants. Odds of inpatient death were highest among those ≥85 years old and in south and northeast region. CONCLUSION: Given the increase in prevalence of TSDH in USA, additional resources should be allocated toward improving patient outcomes and lowering healthcare costs.

Description of pharmacists' reported interventions to prevent prescribing errors among in hospital inpatients: a cross sectional retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Prescribing errors (PEs) are a common cause of morbidity and mortality, both in community practice and in hospitals. Pharmacists have an essential role in minimizing and preventing PEs, thus, there is a need to document the nature of pharmacists' interventions to prevent PEs. The purpose of this study was to describe reported interventions conducted by pharmacists to prevent or minimize PEs in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records data was conducted to identify pharmacists' interventions related to reported PEs. The PE-related data was extracted for a period of six-month (April to September 2017) and comprised of patient demographics, medication-related information, and the different interventions conducted by the pharmacists. The study was carried in a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh region. The study was ethically reviewed and approved by the hospital IRB committee. Descriptive analyses were appropriately conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics. RESULTS: A total of 2,564 pharmacists' interventions related to PEs were recorded. These interventions were reported in 1,565 patients. Wrong dose (54.3 %) and unauthorized prescription (21.9 %) were the most commonly encountered PEs. Anti-infectives for systemic use (49.2 %) and alimentary tract and metabolism medications (18.2 %) were the most common classes involved with PEs. The most commonly reported pharmacists' interventions were dose adjustments (44.0 %), restricted medication approvals (21.9 %), and therapeutic duplications (11 %). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PEs occurred commonly and pharmacists' interventions were critical in preventing possible medication related harm to patients. Care coordination and prioritizing patient safety through quality improvement initiatives at all levels of the health care system can play a key role in this quality improvement drive. Future studies should evaluate the impact of pharmacists' interventions on patient outcomes.

Pharmacist Views Regarding the Prescription Opioid Epidemic.

Community pharmacists have significant opportunity to contribute to prevention and treatment of opioid use disorders, but barriers to implementation still exist. Understanding their viewpoints is critical to designing future interventions.To qualitatively explore experiences and beliefs of community pharmacists regarding the misuse of prescription opioids in the United States.The study was part of a larger project that utilized a survey questionnaire to evaluate the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists in substance use disorders. The survey included an open-ended item on pharmacist views regarding the prescription opioid epidemic. The responses were used for inductive content analysis. Axial coding of themes was conducted to analyze underlying relationships: associations, consequences, intervening relationships, and action strategies regarding a central phenomenon. A model describing pharmacist experiences in the opioid epidemic was conceptualized.The open-ended question resulted in 50 (37.3%) usable responses. Final abstraction resulted in six themes including (1) overprescribing opioids: inappropriate prescribing as a contributor to the epidemic, (2) policy and practice recommendations: potential action strategies against the epidemic, (3) poor prescriber-pharmacist relationship: barrier to addressing the epidemic, (4) negative attitudes: intervening condition affecting roles of the pharmacist, (5) personal experience: facilitator to improve pharmacist roles and (6) decreased access to opioids: consequence of strict prescribing laws.The study identified themes that described pharmacist views, attitudes, barriers, and experiences related to their perceived role in prevention and treatment of opioid use disorders. Future research should consider the implications of the barriers and facilitators identified.

The relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists regarding persons with substance use disorders.

Background: Community pharmacists can play a meaningful role in identification and treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). However, inadequate disease knowledge and negative attitudes are known barriers. The relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practice of pharmacists regarding persons with SUD has not been evaluated comprehensively in the United States. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge of community pharmacists regarding medications for SUD and evaluate their attitudes, levels of stigma, and clinical practices in SUD. Methods: A questionnaire was developed to assess practices, knowledge, screening services, and attitudes toward harm reduction strategies and treatment. A standardized measure of stigma was included along with demographics. A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia among a non-probability sample of community pharmacists working for a retail pharmacy chain (n = 910) and a local alumni network (n = 50). Scores were calculated for each factor and descriptive analyses, mean differences (t-tests and ANOVA), correlations with demographics and practice characteristics were performed. Linear and ordinal regressions were utilized to predict knowledge, practice, screening, and stigma scores. Results: A total of 134 responses (response rate 13.9%) were collected. On average, the pharmacists were 38 years old, had worked for 15 years, primarily full-time with practice locations in suburban settings. Only 53% reported they received SUD education in pharmacy school. Pharmacists received a mean score of 5.5 and 3.5 out of eight and seven on knowledge and practice scales, respectively. Pharmacists overall had slightly stigmatizing and negative attitudes, with higher stigma significantly related to performing lesser services and considering screenings as important. Number of years worked significantly predicted knowledge and screening. Conclusion: Relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices indicate a need for experiential education that includes psychosocial aspects of care with increased opportunities for practice.

The relationship between a cirrhosis-specific comorbidity scoring system and healthcare utilization patterns.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with liver cirrhosis are impacted by comorbidities that affect healthcare utilization and survival. The study objective was to assess the relationship between a cirrhosis-specific comorbidity scoring system (CirCom) and healthcare utilization among patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using electronic medical records from a large academic-based healthcare network. Patients aged 18-90 years with at least one International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code for cirrhosis (571.2/571.5) between 2009 and 2014, and at least 180 pre-index and 365 days of post-index electronic medical record data were included. Patients were assigned CirCom scores based on comorbidities observed at/before index cirrhosis diagnosis. All-cause/cirrhosis-specific outpatient/hospital utilization was assessed post-index diagnosis across 1 year. Predictors of utilization (age, sex, race, body mass index, etiology, Model for End-stage Liver Disease, and CirCom) were assessed using negative binomial and Poisson regression with robust standard errors. RESULTS: A total of 957 patients were included. Healthcare utilization according to CirCom demonstrated a positive linear relationship for both all-cause outpatient/hospital utilization, but no relationship was evident for cirrhosis-specific utilization. Increased CirCom was associated with an increased risk of all-cause utilization for both outpatient (relative risk [RR]: 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-2.07) and hospital (RR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.38-2.12) utilization. However, CirCom showed a statistically non-significant association for cirrhosis-specific outpatient (RR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.91-1.29) and cirrhosis-specific hospital (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.67-1.13) utilization. CONCLUSIONS: CirCom failed to predict cirrhosis-specific healthcare utilization but did positively predict all-cause utilization for both outpatient and hospital services and therefore may be useful in risk assessment and management of cirrhosis.

Barriers and facilitators to shared decision-making in oncology: a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Shared decision-making (SDM) is a strategy to facilitate patient-centered care and is increasingly important in oncology, where patients are faced with complicated treatment decisions that require them to weigh efficacy and safety, quality of life, and cost. Understanding the contributors to the use of SDM may provide insight to its further implementation. Therefore, the objective of the study was to examine the patient-related barriers/facilitators to SDM in oncology care. METHODS: A systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was executed. A search strategy composed of cancer, decision-making, and patient-centered terms was conducted utilizing PubMed, EBSCO MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases between January 2007 and November 2017. Full-text, US-based, English language articles describing the patient perspective of SDM in oncology care were included. Relevant data from articles were reviewed in a qualitative synthesis. RESULTS: From 3435 potential citations, a total of 35 articles were included. The most common cancers studied were breast (n = 22; 62.9%) and prostate (n = 9; 25.7%). The identified themes for barriers to SDM were uncertainty in the treatment decision, concern regarding adverse effects, and poor physician communication. Themes for facilitators for SDM included physician consideration of patient preferences, positive physician actions and behaviors, and use or encouragement of support systems. CONCLUSION: As SDM gains use within oncology practice, understanding key influences will allow for more effective implementation of strategies to increase patient engagement and improve care and value in the treatment process.

2018 American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Annual Meeting & Exhibition.

Poster abstracts are evaluated based on the following criteria: significance of the problem to healthy aging or medication management; innovativeness of ideas, methods, and/or approach; methodological rigor of methods and approach; presentation of finding; implications identified for future research, practice, and/or policy; and clarity of writing. Submissions are not evaluated through the peer-reviewed process used by The Consultant Pharmacist. Industry support is indicated, where applicable. Presenting author is in italics. The poster abstract presentation is supported by the ASCP Foundation.

A systematic review of the real-world effectiveness and economic and humanistic outcomes of selected oral antipsychotics among patients with schizophrenia in the United States: Updating the evidence and gaps.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a chronic, relapsing, and burdensome psychiatric disorder affecting approximately 0.25%-0.6% of the US population. Oral antipsychotic treatment (OAT) remains the cornerstone for managing schizophrenia. However, nonadherence and high treatment failure lead to increased disease burden and medical spending. Cost-effective management of schizophrenia requires understanding the value of current therapies to facilitate better planning of management policies while addressing unmet needs. OBJECTIVE: To review existing evidence and gaps regarding real-world effectiveness and economic and humanistic outcomes of OATs, including asenapine, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, iloperidone, lumateperone, lurasidone, olanzapine/samidorphan, paliperidone, and quetiapine. METHODS: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, American Psychological Association PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature from January 2010 to March 2022 as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. English-language articles describing adults with schizophrenia receiving at least 1 of the selected OATs and reporting real-world effectiveness, direct or indirect costs, humanistic outcomes, behavioral outcomes, adherence/persistence patterns, or product switching were identified. RESULTS: We identified 25 studies from a total of 24,190 articles. Real-world effectiveness, cost, and adherence/persistence outcomes were reported for most OATs that were selected. Humanistic outcomes and product switching were reported only for lurasidone. Behavioral outcomes (eg, interpersonal relations and suicide ideation) were not reported for any OAT. The key economic outcomes across studies were incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, cost per quality-adjusted life-years, and health care costs. In studies that compared long-acting injectables (LAIs) with OATs, LAIs had a higher pharmacy and lower medical costs, while total health care cost was similar between LAIs and OATs. Indirect costs associated with presenteeism, absenteeism, or work productivity were not reported for any of the selected OATs. Overall, patients had poor adherence to OATs, ranging between 20% and 61% across studies. Product switching did not impact the all-cause health care costs before and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed considerable gaps exist for evidence on behavioral outcomes, humanistic outcomes, medication switching, and adherence/persistence across OATs. Our findings also suggest an unmet need regarding treatment nonadherence and lack of persistence among patients receiving OATs. We identified a need for research addressing OATs' behavioral and humanistic outcomes and evaluating the impact of product switching in adults with schizophrenia in the United States, which could assist clinicians in promoting patient-centered care and help payers understand the total value of new antipsychotic drugs.

Real-World Effectiveness, Economic, and Humanistic Outcomes of Selected Oral Antipsychotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review Evaluating Global Evidence.

Background: Schizophrenia is a complex, chronic mental health disorder that confers a substantial disease burden globally. Oral antipsychotic treatments (OATs) are the mainstay for treating early and advanced stages of schizophrenia. Our systematic review aimed to synthesize literature describing real-world effectiveness, economic, and humanistic outcomes of OATs (asenapine, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, iloperidone, lumateperone, lurasidone, olanzapine/samidorphan, paliperidone, and quetiapine) for successful management of the disease. Methods: PubMed, American Psychological Association PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies reporting real-world effectiveness, costs, humanistic, behavioral (eg, interpersonal relations, suicide ideation), medication adherence, and product-switching outcomes for selected OATs published in English from January 2010 to March 2022 were identified and evaluated qualitatively. Results: We included 48 studies with different designs providing extensive evidence on schizophrenia. All studies were conducted in countries outside of the United States. In most studies, antipsychotic medications were more effective than placebo, suggesting their value in the management of schizophrenia. Sixteen studies measured the economic outcomes of OATs. Eight studies assessed humanistic outcomes, while one reported behavioral outcomes in three second-generation antipsychotics. Medication adherence was described in two studies, while five studies evaluated product switching. Non-adherence was commonly reported for OATs. Medication non-adherence and treatment discontinuation were predominant factors contributing to the economic burden of schizophrenia. Conclusion: Our research showcased a significant knowledge gap across OATs spanning the humanistic and behavioral outcomes and medication adherence and switching, suggesting a need for robust evidence generation to help clinicians and payers make informed decisions regarding treatment opportunities and cost-effective strategies for patients with schizophrenia.

The role of managed care professionals in the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema.

Managed care professionals play a significant role in the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) through formulary management and drug utilization strategies. These strategies are designed to improve access to affordable care and minimize medical costs to both patients and payers. Preserving vision in patients with nAMD and DME is key to improving clinical outcomes and reducing the risk of comorbid conditions, such as depression. With the approval of new intravitreal treatment options, managed care professionals must stay up to date with evidence-based guidelines as well as the addition of cost-effective treatments to drug formularies to better manage health care resources and improve patient outcomes.

Evaluation of a pharmacist-provider collaborative clinic for treatment of iron deficiency in patients with heart failure.

PURPOSE: Intravenous iron therapy is recommended to improve symptoms and exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure (HF) with -reduced ejection fraction and iron deficiency (ID), but there are limited published data on the implementation of intravenous iron therapy in practice. A pharmacist-provider collaborative ID treatment clinic was established within an advanced HF and pulmonary hypertension service to optimize IV iron therapy. The objective was to evaluate the clinical impacts of the pharmacist-provider collaborative ID treatment clinic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed to compare clinical outcomes among patients of the collaborative ID treatment clinic (the postimplementation group) and a cohort of patients who received usual care (the preimplementation group). The study included patients 18 years of age or older with diagnosed HF or pulmonary hypertension who met prespecified criteria for ID. The primary outcome was adherence to institutional intravenous iron therapy guidance. A key secondary outcome was ID treatment goal achievement. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients in the preimplementation group and 81 in the postimplementation group were included in the study. The rate of adherence to the institutional guidance was significantly improved in the postimplementation group (93%) compared to the preimplementation group (40%). There was no significant difference in the ID therapeutic target achievement rate between the pre- and postimplementation groups (38% vs 48%). CONCLUSION: Implementing a pharmacist-provider collaborative ID treatment clinic significantly increased the number of patients who adhered to intravenous iron therapy guidance compared to usual care.

A systematic review of quality of life instruments in long-term breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, representing 16% of all female cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, long-term cancer survival is defined as more than five years of survivorship since diagnosis, with approximately 2.5 million breast cancer survivors (BCS) in 2006. The long-term effects from breast cancer and its treatment have been shown to have positive and negative effects on both recovery and survivors' quality of life (QoL). The purpose of the study was to identify QoL instruments that have been validated in long-term BCS and to review the studies that have used the QoL instruments in this population. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted from January 1990 to October 2010 using electronic databases. Instruments validated and used in BCS were included in the review. In addition, QoL studies in long-term BCS using the validated instruments were reviewed. The search was limited to studies in English language. Studies of BCS of less than five years after initial diagnosis, any clinical or review studies were excluded. RESULTS: The review identified a total of 12 instruments (10 disease-specific, 2 condition-specific) validated in long-term BCS. According to the QoL framework proposed by Ferrell and colleagues, three instruments (Quality of Life-Cancer Survivors, Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors Scale, and Quality of Life Index-Cancer Version) evaluated all four domains (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual) of QoL. A review of the psychometric evaluation showed that Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors Scale has acceptable reliability, validity, and responsiveness in long-term BCS compared to other disease-specific instruments. The review also yielded 19 studies that used these QoL instruments. The study results indicated that age-group, ethnicity, and type of treatment influenced different aspects of QoL. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant impact of breast cancer on QoL in long-term BCS. The review can help researchers and clinicians select the most appropriate instruments to assess the changes in QoL in BCS.

Adapting the layered learning model to a virtual international exchange program.

INTRODUCTION: The layered learning model (LLM) is a well-established teaching approach designed for attending preceptors to train post-graduate learners and to precept students. The adaptation of a LLM to a virtual exchange program has not been previously described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the longitudinal virtual international exchange program in applying principles of the LLM to multiple levels of learners and instructors at West Virginia University (WVU) School of Pharmacy and Kitasato University (KU) School of Pharmacy. METHODS: The online survey piloted the impact of applying the LLM to virtual international exchange sessions on improving participant knowledge in pharmacy practice, pharmacy education, cultural practices, and cultural awareness. The survey questions assessed the program's structure and effectiveness in achieving learning outcomes related to pharmacy residency topics and cultural competency using a five-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Median scores of the effectiveness of the virtual international exchange program structure were high (≥ 4.0). Two questions evaluating the use of the LLM had median scores of 4.0. All nine residency-related questions were rated ≥3.0. The median scores for three questions evaluating small group discussions and the use of the LLM were rated significantly higher by WVU participants than KU participants. There were no significant differences in program structure and learning outcome ratings between participant groups (student vs. resident/fellow vs. preceptor/faculty). CONCLUSIONS: Application of the LLM to the virtual international exchange program was positively received by participants, particularly by United States participants.

Disposal practices for unused and expired medications: pilot data from three cities in three countries.

Objective: To collect pilot data on medication disposal practices of unused and expired medications from three cities in three countries. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Pittsburgh, United States (US); Turin, Italy; and Kobe, Japan. A convenience sampling was utilized through drug take-back programs in Pittsburgh, US; pharmacy customers in Turin, Italy; and pharmacy students and family members in Kobe, Japan. Descriptive analysis was conducted to assess medications disposal practices including attitudes and beliefs of respondents. Results: The sample included 342 respondents [99 (Pittsburgh, US); 168 (Turin, Italy); and 75 (Kobe, Japan)]. The mean unused and expired medications per patient for Pittsburgh, US was (1.60±2.30 and 0.51±1.54); Turin, Italy (1.69±1.86 and 0.49±1.22) and Kobe, Japan (6.69±8.78 and 0.84±2.26). The major reason for unused medications in Pittsburgh, US (31.3%) was "Medication was as needed"; in Turin, Italy (28.0%) "No longer suffer from the condition"; and in Kobe, Japan (54.7%) "No longer suffer from the condition". The most common reason for expired medications was "No longer suffer from the condition" (Pittsburgh, US 17.2%; Turin, Italy 15.5%; Kobe, Japan 12.0%). The disposal method in Pittsburgh, US was disposing in the toilet (35.4%); returned to the pharmacy in Turin, Italy (51.2%); and disposed the original container in the trash in Kobe, Japan (82.7%). Conclusions: There is a need for counseling protocols regarding proper disposal, which can lead to better adherence, reduction of prescription drug abuse, and less environmental hazards due to improper disposal of prescription medications.

Cost impact of different treatment regimens of brolucizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: A budget impact analysis.

BACKGROUND: Brolucizumab is a new anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) approved for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Multiple treatment regimens are available for treating nAMD. These regimens include manufacturer-recommended regimens, pro re nata (PRN) regimens, and treat-and-extend (T&E) regimens, which are based on clinical practice guidelines and data observed in the real-world clinical setting, classified as real-world evidence (RWE). Most budget impact models predict the financial consequences of adding a new drug to the formulary based on the manufacturer-recommended regimen. With different anti-VEGF treatment regimens being used in nAMD by ophthalmologists, it is OBJECTIVE: To estimate the budget impact of different treatment regimens of brolucizumab in nAMD from a US payer perspective. METHODS: A Microsoft Excel-based budget impact model was developed for different treatment regimens of brolucizumab over a 1-year time frame from a US payer perspective. A separate analysis was performed to estimate the budget impact from a US patient population perspective. Model inputs included drug costs, administration costs, physician visit costs, and disease monitoring costs. Outcomes in the budget impact model included the cost per member per month, annual health plan cost, and the US patient population-based annual cost. Based on the prevalence of nAMD in public and commercial health plans, a scenario analysis was conducted on the US population to account for the differences in the drug cost to the public and commercial payers. Further, 1-way sensitivity analyses were conducted to test model assumptions and uncertainty in model inputs. RESULTS: The addition of brolucizumab to the formulary increased the net budgetary impact under PRN and T&E regimens. The maximum increase in expenditure for a hypothetical health plan with 1 million enrollees was associated with the PRN regimen ($824,696), followed by the T&E regimen ($163,101). In contrast, using the manufacturer-recommended and RWE regimens led to an annual saving of $93,068 and $94,170 for the health plan, respectively. In the US patient population model, the introduction of brolucizumab resulted in savings in the manufacturer-recommended ($30.99 million) and RWE regimens ($31.35 million) but led to an increase in annual expenditures for the PRN ($274.58 million) and T&E ($54.30 million) regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Payers need to evaluate the cost impact of different treatment regimens of existing and new anti-VEGFs when making formulary decisions in nAMD management. DISCLOSURES: Mr Siddiqui, Ms Dhumal, Dr Patel, and Dr LeMasters have nothing to disclose. Dr Kamal has received research funding from Cerevel Therapeutics, served as a consultant to Pfizer/Cytel Inc, and received honoraria from Pharmacy Times Continuing Education. Dr Almony has served as a consultant to Cardinal Health and received honoraria from Pharmacy Times Continuing Education and Prime Education.