Mejora de calidad del área de pacientes externos mediante participación del paciente y metodología Lean

Objetivo: Mejorar la calidad del proceso de dispensación y atenciónfarmacéutica a pacientes externos mediante la participación del pacientey la aplicación de la metodología Lean y analizar los resultados obtenidos en cuanto a eficiencia e impacto en la satisfacción de los pacientes.Método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y unicéntrico. Se creó ungrupo de trabajo con los diferentes profesionales implicados en la atención al paciente externo para aplicar la metodología Lean y detectaroportunidades de mejora. Para conocer la experiencia del paciente seutilizó la técnica del grupo focal. El impacto en la satisfacción de lospacientes se midió mediante encuestas de satisfacción que se enviaron através del correo electrónico en diciembre de 2019 (antes de implantarlas principales medidas) y en diciembre de 2020.Resultados: Teniendo en cuenta la perspectiva de los pacientes yde los profesionales sanitarios, se identificaron más de 30 acciones demejora de las que se priorizaron 9, relacionadas fundamentalmente concambios estructurales y de circuitos. Se consiguió mejorar significativamente los tiempos de espera (el 35% de los pacientes esperaban másde 30 minutos frente al 4,5% en el análisis realizado después de lasintervenciones). Los aspectos que mostraron diferencias estadísticamentesignificativas en las encuestas entre los dos periodos fueron el tiempo de espera y la satisfacción global, en ambos casos el grado de satisfacciónfue superior una vez implantadas las acciones de mejora. (AU)

Objective: To improve the quality of the dispensing process and pharmaceutical care in the Outpatient Pharmacy through patient participationand Lean methodology, and to analyse the results obtained in terms ofefficiency and patient satisfaction.Method: Prospective observational single-centre study. A working groupwas organized with the health care staff involved in outpatient care toapply Lean methodology and detect improvement opportunities. Weused a focus group technique to understand the patients’ experience. Theimpact on patient satisfaction was measured through a mass survey mailed out in December 2019 (before introducing the main measures) and inDecember 2020.Results: More than 30 improvement actions were identified after surveying the opinions of the patients and health care staff involved. Nineactions were prioritized, which were mainly related to structural andcircuit changes. Waiting times significantly improved (35% of patientswaited for more than 30 minutes before the improvement actions vs4.5% afterward). The results showed that waiting times and overall satisfaction significantly improved in the period between the two surveys. Inboth cases, the degree of satisfaction was higher after introducing theimprovement actions. (AU)

Improvement of outpatient pharmacy through patient participation and Lean methodology.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the quality of the dispensing process and  pharmaceutical care in the Outpatient Pharmacy through patient participation and Lean methodology, and to analyse the results obtained in  terms of efficiency and patient satisfaction. METHOD: Prospective observational single-centre study. A working group was  organized with the health care staff involved in outpatient care to apply Lean  methodology and detect improvement opportunities. We used a focus group  technique to understand the patients' experience. The impact on patient  satisfaction was measured through a mass survey mailed out in December  2019 (before introducing the main measures) and in December 2020. RESULTS: More than 30 improvement actions were identified after surveying the opinions of the patients and health care staff involved. Nine actions were prioritized, which were mainly related to structural and circuit changes. Waiting times significantly improved (35% of patients waited for more than 30 minutes before the improvement actions vs 4.5% afterward). The results showed that waiting times and overall  satisfaction significantly improved in the period between the two surveys. In both cases, the degree of satisfaction was higher after introducing the improvement actions. CONCLUSIONS: We analysed the situation of our Outpatient Service and designed the most appropriate improvement actions according to the resources available. This initiative was achieved through patient  participation (via a focus group and mass surveys), the participation of health  care staff, and the application of Lean methodology.

Objetivo: Mejorar la calidad del proceso de dispensación y atención farmacéutica a pacientes externos mediante la participación del  paciente y la aplicación de la metodología Lean y analizar los resultados  obtenidos en cuanto a eficiencia e impacto en la satisfacción de los pacientes. Método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y unicéntrico. Se creó un grupo de  trabajo con los diferentes profesionales implicados en la atención al  paciente externo para aplicar la metodología Lean y detectar oportunidades de  mejora. Para conocer la experiencia del paciente se utilizó la técnica del grupo  focal. El impacto en la satisfacción de los pacientes se midió mediante  encuestas de satisfacción que se enviaron a través del correo electrónico en  diciembre de 2019 (antes de implantar las principales medidas) y en diciembre  de 2020.Resultados: Teniendo en cuenta la perspectiva de los pacientes y de los  profesionales sanitarios, se identificaron más de 30 acciones de mejora de las  que se priorizaron 9, relacionadas fundamentalmente con cambios  estructurales y de circuitos. Se consiguió mejorar significativamente los  tiempos de espera (el 35% de los pacientes esperaban más de 30 minutos  frente al 4,5% en el análisis realizado después de las intervenciones). Los  aspectos que mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las  encuestas entre los dos periodos fueron el tiempo de espera y la satisfacción  global, en ambos casos el grado de satisfacción fue superior una vez  implantadas las acciones de mejora.Conclusiones: La participación del paciente, a través del grupo focal y  encuestas masivas, unido a la participación de los profesionales sanitarios implicados en el proceso, a través de la metodología Lean, ha permitido analizar la realidad de nuestro servicio y diseñar las acciones de  mejora más adecuadas en función de los recursos disponibles.

[Characteristics of antiretroviral drugs]. / Características de los fármacos antirretrovirales.

As of November 2010, a total of 22 antiretroviral agents are marketed in Spain. These agents are divided into 6 classes according to their mechanism of action: 1) nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) (abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, stavudine, lamivudine, zidovudine, and tenofovir), 2) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) (efavirenz, etravirine, and nevirapine), 3) protease inhibitors (PI) (atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir), 4) entry inhibitors (enfuvirtide), 5) coreceptor CCR5 inhibitors (maraviroc), and 6) integrase inhibitors (raltegravir). All 22 agents are indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Most have also proven to be active against HIV-2 (except the NNRTIs, enfuvirtide, and maraviroc) and some are active against hepatitis B virus (lamivudine, emtricitabine, and tenofovir). The present article reviews the main characteristics of the different antiretroviral agents and classes, namely, commercial presentations, paediatric and adult dosages, dose adjustments in renal and hepatic insufficiency, pharmacokinetics and interactions, mechanism of action, treatment indications, resistance, adverse effects, and safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some of the characteristics of antiretrovirals are class-specific and common to other agents of the same class, and others are individual and different from those of other drugs in the same class. Knowledge of these characteristics enables us to prepare efficacious therapeutic regimens according to the specific requirements of the patient (tolerability, simplicity, adaptability to lifestyle) and clinical setting (naive, simplification, rescue, resistance).

Características de los fármacos antirretrovirales / Characteristics of antiretroviral drugs

En noviembre de 2010 se encuentran comercializados en España 22 fármacos antirretrovirales (ARV), que pertenecen a 6 clases según su mecanismo de acción: 1) inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa análogos de nucleósidos y nucleótidos (ITIAN) (abacavir, didanosina, emtricitabina, estavudina, lamivudina, zidovudina y tenofovir), 2) inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa no análogos de nucleósidos (ITINN) (efavirenz, etravirina y nevirapina), 3) inhibidores de la proteasa (IP) (atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir), 4) inhibidores de la entrada (enfuvirtide), 5) inhibidores de los correceptores CCR5 (maraviroc) y 6) inhibidores de la integrasa (raltegravir). Todos ellos se encuentran indicados en el tratamiento de la infección por el VIH-1, en combinación con otros ARV. La mayoría de ellos han demostrado ser también activos frente al VIH-2 (excepto los inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa no análogos de nucleósidos, enfuvirtide y maraviroc) y algunos son activos frente al virus de la hepatitis B (lamivudina, emtricitabina y tenofovir).En este artículo se revisan las principales características de los diferentes fármacos y familias de ARV, con sus presentaciones comerciales, dosificación pediátrica y del adulto, ajustes de dosis en insuficiencia renal o hepática, farmacocinética e interacciones, mecanismo de acción, indicaciones de tratamiento, resistencias, efectos adversos y seguridad en el embarazo y lactancia. Algunas de las características de los ARV son propias de la familia a la que pertenecen y comunes a otros fármacos de la misma clase y otras son individuales y diferentes a las de los otros fármacos de la familia. Todo ello nos permitirá elaborar diferentes regímenes terapéuticos eficaces en función de las peculiaridades del individuo (tolerabilidad, simplicidad, adaptabilidad al estilo de vida) y del escenario clínico (naive, simplificación, rescate, resistencias) (AU)

As of November 2010, a total of 22 antiretroviral agents are marketed in Spain. These agents are divided into 6 classes according to their mechanism of action: 1) nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NRTI) (abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, stavudine, lamivudine, zidovudine, and tenofovir), 2) nonnucleosi dereverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) (efavirenz, etravirine, and nevirapine), 3) proteaseinhibitors (PI) (atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir,tipranavir), 4) entry inhibitors (enfuvirtide), 5) coreceptor CCR5 inhibitors (maraviroc), and 6) integrase inhibitors (raltegravir). All 22 agents are indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Most have also proven to be active against HIV-2 (except the NNRTIs, enfuvirtide, and maraviroc) and some are active against hepatitis B virus (lamivudine, emtricitabine, and tenofovir).The present article reviews the main characteristics of the different antiretroviral agents and classes, namely, commercial presentations, paediatric and adult dosages, dose adjustments in renal and hepatic insufficiency, pharmacokinetics and interactions, mechanism of action, treatment indications, resistance, adverse effects, and safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some of the characteristics of antiretrovirals are class-specific and common to other agents of the same class, and others are individual and different from those of other drugs in the same class. Knowledge of these characteristics enables us to prepare efficacious therapeutic regimens according to the specific requirements of the patient (tolerability, simplicity, adaptability to lifestyle) and clinical setting (naive, simplification, rescue, resistance) (AU)

Tolerance of benznidazole in treatment of Chagas' disease in adults.

Chagas' disease is an emerging public health problem in areas where the disease is not endemic. Treatment with benznidazole has shown efficacy in the acute stage of the disease, but its efficacy in the chronic stage remains controversial, and unwanted side effects are more frequent and severe in adults than in children. This study describes the profile of side effects of benznidazole in a cohort of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients in a European country.

[Adverse side effects of antiretroviral therapy: relationship between patients' perception and adherence]. / Reacciones adversas del tratamiento antirretroviral: relación entre los síntomas percibidos y el cumplimiento terapéutico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between perceived adverse side effects (AE) and non-adherence associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). PATIENTS AND METHOD: For 6 consecutive months, patients taking HAART who came to the Pharmacy Department were interviewed. In the questionnaire they had to answer if they had experienced any AE over the past 6 months, what did they do in response to AE and what was the clinical evolution. Adherence was measured by pill counts or by pharmacy records (when pill counts were not possible). RESULTS: Of 1,936 interviewed patients, 661 (34.1%) reported AE over the past 6 months. The type of antiretroviral drug regimen and starting, re-starting or changing HAART over the past 6 months were significantly associated with AE. Patients who reported AE were 1.4 times more likely to be non-adherents. The most frequently reported AE were diarrhea followed by central nervous system abnormalities and by other gastrointestinal disturbances. In patients starting HAART, 62% of AE improved or disappeared during the first 4 weeks of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who report AE have worst adherence. AE are more frequent in patients starting HAART but in most cases they improve with time and/or symptomatic therapy.

[Antiretroviral therapy of HIV infection: duration and reasons for changing the first therapeutic regimen in 518 patients]. / Tratamiento antirretroviral de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: duración y motivos de cambio del primer esquema terapéutico en 518 pacientes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Different combinations of antiretroviral drugs are used as initial HIV therapy but comparative studies between them are not frequent. The objectives of this study are to determine the median duration of different therapy combinations in naive patients between 1998-2000 and the main reasons for changing or stopping this first antiretroviral therapy (ARVT). PATIENTS AND METHOD: This study included a total of 518 naive patients who began antiretroviral therapy patients from 1998-2000. Using a Kaplan-Meier analysis the median duration of different combinations was determined. In addition, the main reasons for changing or stopping this first treatment were analysed. RESULTS: First ARVT median duration was 427 days (IQR: 114-890). 47% of patients stopped their first therapy due to adverse effects, 6% voluntarily withdrew from it, in 9% of patients the therapy was not effective and 15% of them were lost of follow up. Only 9% of them continued with the same ARVT at the end of the study but if we add 7% of treatment simplifications we can consider 16% of first ARVT successful. CONCLUSIONS: A median duration of 427 days, similar to other studies, is shorter than we would prefer for HIV, a condition that requires continuous treatment. On the other hand, the study corroborates that secondary effects are the principal problem associated with ARVT.

[Characteristics of antiviral drugs]. / Características de los fármacos antivirales.

This article summarizes the principal characteristics of the drugs used to treat viral infections, with the exception of human immunodeficiency virus infection. It includes antiviral agents active against herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C virus, and respiratory viruses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Dosage according to the indication, dose adjustment in the case of renal or hepatic insufficiency, significant pharmacokinetic characteristics, and the main adverse effects and interactions are described.

[Comparison of three methods to calculate adherence in patients receiving antiretroviral treatment]. / Comparación de tres métodos de cálculo de adherencia en pacientes con tratamiento antirretroviral.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of the patient's adherence to antiretroviral treatment is extremely useful for monitoring HIV infection. Several methods have been proposed to calculate adherence, but they all have certain problems at application. The aim of this study was to compare three of the available methods for assessing medication adherence in order to determine their accuracy for this purpose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three methods for evaluating medication adherence were prospectively studied: 1. Remaining pill count (RPC), 2. Structured interview (SI), and 3. Pharmacy registry of drug refills (DR). The RPC was considered the gold standard and sensitivity and specificity of the other methods was calculated according to the RPC. The study included 100 consecutive patients and had a follow-up of one year. RESULTS: We were able to assess all three methods in 69 cases. The percentages of patients taking 95% or more of the prescribed dose according to the three methods were 72.5% (RPC), 85.5% (SI) and 81.2% (DR). Taking the RPC as gold standard, there was 75.1% concordance with the DR and 75.1% with the SI method. The sensitivities of the DM and SI were 52.6 % and 42.1 %, respectively. After one year of follow-up, patients with > 90% adherence (RPC) had a 1.29-times higher probability of achieving good virological response (CI 95% 1.04-1.62, p 5 0.0138). CONCLUSION: Although concordance among the methods was acceptable, the SI and DR overestimated adherence as compared to the RPC. Since there is currently no ideal method for determining treatment adherence, it is important to combine several methods to minimize errors and provide results that are as close to the true situation as possible.