Using a mobile application to reduce potentially inappropriate prescribing for older Brazilian adults in primary care: a triple-blind randomised clinical trial.

BACKGOUND: Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) has been evaluated in several countries, and several strategies have been devised for deprescribing drugs in older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile application in reducing PIP for older adults in primary care facilities in Brazil. METHODS: This randomised, triple-blind, parallel-group trial was conducted in 22 public primary care facilities in Brazil. During the intervention phase, the general practitioners (GPs) were randomly allocated to the intervention (MPI Brasil app provides information about PIP, therapeutic alternatives and deprescribing) or control (MedSUS app provides general information about medications) group. All GPs were trained on the Clinical Decision-Making Process and how to access an Evidence-Based Health website. The GPs received an Android tablet with an installed mobile application depending on their allocated group, which they used when caring for older patients over at least 3 months. At the end of this period, a sample of older patients aged ≥ 60 years who had been awaiting medical consultation by the participating GPs were interviewed and their prescriptions analysed. The primary outcome was the frequency of PIP in and between the groups. RESULTS: Among 53 GPs who were administered the baseline survey, 14 were included in the clinical trial. At baseline, 146 prescriptions were analysed: the PIP overall was 37.7% (55/146), in the intervention group was 40.6% (28/69), and in the control group was 35.1% (27/77). After the intervention, 284 prescriptions were analysed: the PIP overall was 31.7% (90/284), in the intervention group was 32.2% (46/143), and in the control group was 31.2% (44/141) (RR: 1.16; 95% CI, 0.76-1.76). In the within-group analysis, the PIP reduced from before to after the intervention in both groups-more significantly in the intervention than in the control group (p < 0.001). In the stratified analysis of PIP frequency by GPs, there was a relative risk reduction in 86% (6/7) of GPs in the intervention group compared to 71% (5/7) in the control group. CONCLUSION: We found that the MPI Brasil app effectively reduced PIP, suggesting that it may be useful to incorporate this tool into clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02918643). First registration on 22/09/2016.

Optimizing Hypertension Treatment in Older Patients Through Home Blood Pressure Monitoring by Pharmacists in Primary Care: The MINOR Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Incorporating technology such as home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) into the clinical routine generates opportunities to improve BP monitoring and control in primary health care. It is also important to prevent overtreatment. However, the combination of HBPM with collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) has not yet been studied. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of combining HBPM with CDTM to optimize hypertension treatment for older patients. METHODS: This open-label, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was conducted between June 2021 and August 2022 in a Brazilian community pharmacy and included older patients (aged ≥60 years) with hypertension. Those who were classified as poorly adherent or nonadherent to the prescribed drug treatment or who were unable to perform HBPM were excluded. In the control group, participants received a BP monitor and instructions on how to perform HBPM. A general practitioner, who was provided a report with the obtained BP values, determined any changes to the treatment protocol. In the intervention group, a pharmacist enrolled participants in a drug therapy management protocol and provided the general practitioner with suggestions to optimize the antihypertensive drug therapy, in addition to the report with the BP values. The following outcomes were considered: the proportion of participants receiving deprescriptions of antihypertensive drugs, other treatment adjustments, and the difference in mean BP between the groups 45 days after performing HBPM. The study used a t test combined with Levene's test to calculate mean intergroup differences in BP, the paired t test to calculate mean intragroup differences in BP, and Pearson's χ2 test to determine intergroup differences in changes in drug therapy. FINDINGS: In each group, 161 participants completed the trial. Antihypertensive agents were deprescribed for 31 (19.3%) participants in the intervention group versus 11 (6.8%) in the control group (P = 0.01). In addition, 14 (8.7%) participants were prescribed antihypertensive drugs in the intervention group versus 11 (6.8%) in the control group (P = 0.52). The mean office systolic BP and HBPM values were lower in the intervention group (P = 0.22 and P = 0.29, respectively). IMPLICATIONS: Combining HBPM with a CDTM protocol effectively optimized antihypertensive treatment for older patients in a primary health care setting. CLINICALTRIALS: gov identifier: NCT04861727.

A policy of free access to asthma medicines in Brazil: an opportunity for pharmacists to optimize asthma treatment.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that is characterized by recurrent symptoms associated with airflow limitation and by bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Free asthma treatment has been guaranteed in Brazil since 2003, notably after the Brazilian government decided to support drugs for the most serious forms of the disease. The asthma treatment access policy in Brazil offers a new opportunity for pharmacists to work closely with patients, and for caregivers and health care teams to promote educational activities and patient counselling about asthma. Pharmacists have an important role in the management of drug therapy within the health care team. Pharmacists should be prepared to engage with the latest concept of health care delivery proposed for Brazilian Unified Health System. These are centred on forming health care networks and strengthening multidisciplinary teams to integrate all professionals who are in charge of patient care.

Adherence to treatment in severe asthma: predicting factors in a program for asthma control in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: : In Brazil, like many other low- to middle-income countries, most asthmatic patients cannot afford the medication necessary to prevent exacerbations. The reference clinic of the Programme for Asthma Control in Bahia (ProAR; Salvador-Bahia) offers free medical care, pharmaceutical assistance (inhaled medication) and patient education. The reference clinic is accessible to all the population of Salvador and the Programme is targeted on severe asthma. OBJECTIVE: : The aim of the present study was to evaluate adherence to inhaled medication in severe asthmatics enrolled in ProAR. METHODS: : A sub-group of 160 consecutive severe asthmatics enrolled in ProAR were followed prospectively for 6 months. All patients were assessed by means the Asthma Control Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory and spirometry. The rate of adherence to inhaled corticosteroid was checked monthly. A cut-off point of 80% of the doses prescribed in the period was used to define patients as adherent. RESULTS: : Of the one hundred-sixty patients with severe asthma included, it was possible to objectively assess adherence to the use of the inhaled corticosteroid in 158. Among these, 112 (70.9%) were considered adherent according to the adopted cut-off point. The rate of adherence in the whole sample of subjects was 83.9% of the prescribed doses. There was a significant association between asthma control and adherence to treatment. Predictors of poor adherence were adverse effects, living far from the referral center, limited resources to pay for transportation and dose schedule. CONCLUSION: : In the present study, adherence to treatment was high. In a sample of patients with severe asthma managed in a public program that provides free medication and multidisciplinary treatment at a referral center, adherence to treatment was found to be associated with favorable clinical outcomes.