Beyond the prescription: medication monitoring and adverse drug events in older adults

Adverse drug reactions and events in an Ageing PopulaTion risk Prediction (ADAPTiP) tool: the development and validation of a model for predicting adverse drug reactions and events in older patients

PURPOSE

Older people are at an increased risk of developing adverse drug reactions (ADR) and adverse drug events (ADE). This study aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model (ADAPTiP) for ADR/ADE in older populations.

METHODS

We used the adverse drug reactions in an Ageing PopulaTion (ADAPT) cohort (N = 798; 361 ADR-related admissions; 437 non-ADR-related admissions), a cross-sectional study designed to examine the prevalence and risk factors for ADR-related hospital admissions in patients aged ≥ 65 years. Twenty predictors (categorised as sociodemographic-related, functional ability-related, disease-related, and medication-related) were considered in the development of the model. The model was developed using multivariable logistic regression and was internally validated by fivefold cross-validation. The model was externally validated in a separate prospective cohort from the Centre for Primary Care Research (CPCR) study of ADES. The cross-validated and externally validated model performance was evaluated by discrimination and calibration.

RESULTS

The final prediction model, ADAPTiP, included nine predictors: age, chronic lung disease, the primary presenting complaints of respiratory, bleeding and gastrointestinal disorders and syncope on hospital admission and antithrombotics, diuretics, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system drug classes. ADAPTiP demonstrated good performance with cross-validated area under the curve of 0.75 [95% CI 0.72;79] and 0.83 [95% CI 0.80;0.87] in the external validation.

CONCLUSION

Using accessible information from medical records, ADAPTiP can help clinicians to identify those older people at risk of an ADR/ADE who should be monitored and/or have their medications reviewed to avoid potentially harmful prescribing.

Patient reported tools for assessing potential medicine-related symptoms: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Medicine-related symptom assessment tools have been developed to assist healthcare professionals in detecting potential medicine-related symptoms. This systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate the measurement properties of medicine-related symptom assessment tools.

METHOD

A systematic search was conducted in Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Ovid PsychInfo, and SCOPUS databases up to March 16, 2024. The primary studies that described either the development or measurement properties of a tool for identifying medicine-related symptoms were included. Screening and data extraction was done independently by two reviewers using Covidence. The methodological risk of bias and assessment results of reported measurement properties were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.

RESULT

Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on nine unique tools. All included tools had sufficient content validity assessment results. The PHArmacotherapeutical Symptom Evaluation-20 (PHASE-20) had adequate to very good methodological quality internal consistency, construct validity, and reliability. The Patient-Reported Adverse Drug Event Questionnaire also showed adequate methodological quality with sufficient reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity but required over 30 min to complete. The PHASE-proxy exhibited adequate to very good methodological quality, with sufficient results in criterion validity, structural validity, internal consistency, and reliability. The Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Inquiry into Side-Effects showed sufficient content validity but lacked data on other measurement properties.

CONCLUSION

The majority of the identified tools were tested for one or more measurement properties. Among these tools, PHASE-20 is suitable for assessing medicine-related symptoms in elderly individuals who can participate independently, while PHASE-Proxy is for older adults with dementia or communication disabilities in nursing homes.

Exploring information technology utilization and needs in community pharmacies: a cross-sectional survey in Shanghai, China

Background

Community pharmacists are critical in managing medication therapy and ensuring patient safety. However, in many countries, including China, challenges such as limited access to real-time patient data, fragmented communication systems, and underdeveloped clinical decision-support tools hinder the effectiveness of pharmacy services. Integrating information technology (IT) into community pharmacies can improve medication management by providing timely access to patient information, enhancing medication safety, and facilitating communication with healthcare providers.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the medication management practices of community pharmacists, the existing IT support available, and their specific requirements for IT-assisted medication management in community pharmacies in Shanghai, China.

Methods

An online self-assessment survey was conducted to evaluate the utilization and needs of IT-based medication management among community pharmacists in Shanghai. Demographic data and information on pharmaceutical care practices were collected and analyzed to examine correlations between these factors and the need for IT support.

Results

963 out of 2,178 surveys were completed over 6 months. Nearly all respondents (99.3%) provided at least one type of pharmaceutical care, but only 0.93% offered all types. Regarding current utilization and needs for IT systems, community pharmacists rated access to patient/medication information and digital standardized documentation flow as poor satisfaction with the highest level of needs. Multivariate regression analysis showed that IT needs were significantly associated with time spent in clinical pharmacy practice, time dedicated exclusively to clinical pharmacy, and the number of prescriptions dispensed weekly.

Conclusion

While community pharmacists are key in providing pharmaceutical care, IT support remains inadequate. There is a pressing need for an integrated IT system that offers real-time access to patient medical information, a standardized documentation system, improved clinical decision support software, and enhanced communication with other healthcare providers.

Effect of Medication Management at Home via Pharmacist-Led Home Televisits: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Older adults are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions, be prescribed multiple medications, and be more susceptible to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to their medications. In addition, older adults often use over-the-counter medications and supplements, further complicating their medication regimens. Complex medication regimens are potentially harmful to older adults. Interventions aimed at reducing medication discrepancy in the ambulatory clinic setting, such as reviews of medication lists and the implementation of "brown bag" reconciliation, continue to be challenging, with limited success. Pharmacist-led interventions to improve appropriate medication use in older adults have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing ADRs. Video visits have the potential to provide direct visualization of medications in older adults' homes, thereby reducing medication discrepancy and increasing medication adherence. Pharmacist-led management of older adults' medication regimens may improve appropriate medication use in older adults.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of pharmacist-led medication through home televisits compared to usual care on appropriate medication use, medication discrepancies, medication adherence, and ADRs.

METHODS

We will conduct a 2-site cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT). The intervention will be a pharmacist-led home televisit including medication reconciliation and assessment of actual medication use. The cluster RCT was iteratively adapted after a pilot test. The primary outcome of medication appropriateness of the intervention will be measured using the STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions) criteria for potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) at 6 months. Medication lists obtained will be compared against electronic medical records (EMRs) by a clinician to establish discrepancies in medications. The clinician will review medications using the validated Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI).

RESULTS

This project has been peer-reviewed and selected for support by the Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research Service. The pilot phase of the study was completed December 2021 with 20 veterans and was primarily informed by the Steinman model of the prescribing process adapted to include system- and provider-level factors. The last date of enrollment was August 6, 2021. We anticipate the completion of the ongoing trial in spring 2025. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2025.

CONCLUSIONS

The cluster RCT will provide evidence on medication management through televisits. If found effective in improving the use of medications, the intervention has the potential to impact older adults with multiple chronic conditions and polypharmacy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04340570; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04340570.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/65141.

Prevalence and predictors of sub-optimal laboratory monitoring of selected higher risk medicines in Irish general practice: a 5-year retrospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence of sub-optimal monitoring for selected higher-risk medicines in older community-dwelling adults and to evaluate patient characteristics and outcomes associated with sub-optimal monitoring.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective observational study (2011-2015) using historical general practice-based cohort data and linked dispensing data from a national pharmacy claims database.

SETTING

Irish primary care.

PARTICIPANTS

625 community-dwelling adults aged ≥70 years and prescribed at least one higher-risk medicine during the 5-year study period.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the prevalence of sub-optimal laboratory monitoring using a composite measure of published medication monitoring indicators, with a focus on commonly prescribed higher-risk medicines such as diuretics and anticoagulants. Poisson regression was used to assess the patient characteristics associated with sub-optimal monitoring and explanatory variables included the number of medicines, age, sex, deprivation and anxiety/depression symptoms. Logistic regression was used to explore the association between baseline sub-optimal monitoring and the odds of adverse health outcomes (unplanned healthcare utilisation, adverse drug reactions and mortality).

RESULTS

Of 625 participants, the mean age was 77.7 years, 53% were female, the mean number of drugs was 7.3 (SD 3.3) and 499 (79.8%) had ≥1 unmonitored dispensing over 5 years. The number of drugs, deprivation and anxiety/depression symptoms were significantly associated with sub-optimal monitoring, with the strongest association seen for anxiety/depression symptoms (incidence rate ratio: 1.33, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.68). There was a small but significant association between baseline sub-optimal monitoring and emergency department visits at follow-up, but no evidence of an association with unplanned hospital admissions, mortality or adverse drug reactions.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of sub-optimal medication monitoring was high, and number of drugs, deprivation and anxiety/depression symptoms were significantly associated with sub-optimal monitoring. However, the public health impact of these findings remains uncertain, as there was no clear evidence of an association between sub-optimal monitoring and adverse health outcomes. Further research is needed to evaluate the effect of improved monitoring strategies and the optimal timing for drug monitoring of higher risk medications.

Evaluation of an enhanced depression and anxiety screening with targeted pharmacist intervention

BACKGROUND

Depression is a major source of morbidity but often goes undiagnosed. Broader screening is recommended, and pharmacists could contribute.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of community pharmacy depression and anxiety screening and describe the medication-related problems (MRPs) identified, pharmacist interventions, and provider responses for high-risk patients.

METHODS

This pilot was conducted between October 2022 and January 2023 at an independently owned community pharmacy in the Midwest United States. Patients aged 18-45 years with ready prescriptions were identified through weekly reports, and tags were placed on prescription bags. A convenience sample of patients fluent in English were offered the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ2) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD2), with follow-up PHQ9 and GAD7 for at-risk individuals. High-risk individuals met with the pharmacist for consultation and recommendations were discussed. Descriptive statistics were calculated for participant demographics, questionnaire responses, MRPs, and provider responses. Patient profiles were examined 2 months after the workup to identify medication changes.

RESULTS

A total of 29 patients volunteered to be screened for anxiety and depression; of these, 41% scored in the high-risk category for depression or anxiety and met with the pharmacist for the consultation. The pharmacist identified multiple MRPs. The most common was the need for additional therapy and inadequate dosages. Patients were reluctant for the pharmacist to follow up with their prescriber and were unreachable for telephone follow-up. Profiles reviewed 2 months after assessment showed half of the at-risk patients had one or more mental health medication changes.

CONCLUSION

Community pharmacists may have a role in the screening and management of patient mental health, although there were challenges with screening uptake and follow-up. The pharmacist identified multiple MRPs for this high-risk group for which greater routine monitoring and follow-up may be beneficial. More work seems needed to engage both patients and prescribers.

Molecular targeted therapies for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: recent developments and clinical implications

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is a common and potentially fatal type of skin cancer that poses a significant threat to public health and has a high prevalence rate. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin surface increases the risk of cSCC, especially in those with genetic syndromes like xerodermapigmentosum and epidermolysis bullosa. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cSCC is critical for developing personalized treatment approaches that are effective in cSCC. This article provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of cSCC pathogenesis, emphasizing dysregulated signaling pathways and the significance of molecular profiling. Several limitations and challenges associated with conventional therapies, however, are identified, stressing the need for novel therapeutic strategies. The article further discusses molecular targets and therapeutic approaches, i.e., epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, hedgehog pathway inhibitors, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors, as well as emerging molecular targets and therapeutic agents. The manuscript explores resistance mechanisms to molecularly targeted therapies and proposes methods to overcome them, including combination strategies, rational design, and optimization. The clinical implications and patient outcomes of molecular-targeted treatments are assessed, including response rates and survival outcomes. The management of adverse events and toxicities in molecular-targeted therapies is crucial and requires careful monitoring and control. The paper further discusses future directions for therapeutic advancement and research in this area, as well as the difficulties and constraints associated with conventional therapies.

Adverse drug reactions in geriatric psychiatry-retrospective cohort study of a 6-year period

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the frequency and characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that occurred on the gerontopsychiatric ward of Hannover Medical School over a 6-year period.

DESIGN

Retrospective monocentric cohort study.

RESULTS

Six hundred thirty-four patient cases (mean age 76.6 ± 7.1 years; 67.2% female) were analysed. In total, 92 ADRs in 56 patient cases were registered in the study population. The overall ADR prevalence, the ADR prevalence upon hospital admission, and the ADR prevalence during hospitalisation were 8.8%, 6.3%, and 4.9%, respectively. The most frequent ADRs were extrapyramidal symptoms, alterations in blood pressure or heart rate, and electrolyte disturbances. Of note, two cases of asystole and one case of obstructive airway symptoms related to general anaesthesia in the context of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were detected. The presence of coronary heart disease was associated with an increased risk of ADR occurrence (odds ratio (OR) 2.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-6.22), while the presence of dementia was associated with a decreased risk of ADR development (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.23-0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Type and prevalence of ADRs in the present study were largely in accordance with previous reports. By contrast, we did not observe a relationship between advanced age or female sex and ADR occurrence. We detected a risk signal for cardiopulmonary ADRs related to general anaesthesia in the context of ECT that warrants further investigation. Elderly psychiatric patients should be carefully screened for cardiopulmonary comorbidities before initiation of ECT.

Perspectives on deprescribing in palliative care

INTRODUCTION

Pharmacotherapy plays a critical role in the delivery of high-quality palliative care, but the intersection of palliative care and deprescribing has received little attention.

AREAS COVERED

We conducted a scoping review of English language articles using PubMed to identify relevant publications between 1 January 2000 to 31 July 2022 using search terms of deprescribing, palliative care, end of life, and hospice. We summarize current definitions and developments in palliative care and deprescribing from both clinical and research perspectives. We highlight key challenges and outline proposed solutions and needed research.

EXPERT OPINION

The future of deprescribing in palliative care requires the development and adoption of individualized approaches to medication management, including a reconsidered approach to communication about deprescribing. Evidence from high-quality clinical outcomes studies is lacking, and the field needs new approaches to coordination of care delivery. This review article will be of interest to both clinical and research-based pharmacists, physicians, and nurses interested in improving care for patients with serious illness.

Systematic Review of Psychotropic Adverse Drug Event Monitoring Tools for Use in Long-Term Care Facilities

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate properties of psychotropic adverse drug event (ADE) monitoring tools intended for use in long-term care facilities.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged 18 years and older in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

METHODS

Medline, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycInfo were searched from inception to August 2022 for studies reporting the development, validation, or application of tools to monitor psychotropic ADEs. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by 2 authors. Each tool was assessed under the domains of test-retest reliability, interrater reliability, content validity, and construct validity.

RESULTS

Eight studies that described 6 tools were included. Tools were developed in Wales (n = 2), United States (n = 1), Ireland (n = 1), Canada (n = 1), and Singapore (n = 1). Tools monitored 4 to 95 items related to antipsychotics (n = 6 tools), antidepressants (n = 4), benzodiazepines or hypnotics (n = 4), antiepileptics (n = 4), and dementia medications (n = 1). Tools commonly monitored sedation, tiredness, or sleepiness (n = 6); falls (n = 4); and tremor or extrapyramidal symptoms (n = 4). Tools were designed for application by nurses (n = 4), during family conferences (n = 1), and by general medical practitioners before repeat prescribing (n = 1). Two tools were reported to require 10 to 60 minutes to administer. Four tools were determined to have adequate content validity and 2 tools adequate interrater reliability. No tools reported test-retest reliability or construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Six published psychotropic ADE monitoring tools are heterogeneous in design and intended application. Existing tools are predominately designed for application by nurses with or without direct involvement of the wider multidisciplinary team. Further research is needed into models of care that facilitate psychotropic ADE monitoring in the long-term care facility setting, and the extent to which application of specific tools is associated with reduced medication-related harm.

Implications of Under-Reporting Medication Side Effects: Beta-Blockers in Heart Failure as a Case Example

INTRODUCTION

Perceiving medication side effects but not reporting them to a clinician is common. Patterns of "under-reporting" and their implications are not well described. We aimed to address this gap by examining patterns of under-reporting perceived side effects of beta-blockers among patients with heart failure.

METHODS

In 2016, a survey that evaluated medication-taking behavior was administered to 1114 participants (46.5% response rate) from The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort with prior adjudicated heart failure hospitalization or a heart failure Medicare claim. We examined the results of survey respondents who reported taking a beta-blocker to understand patterns of under-reporting perceived beta-blocker side effects. We defined an under-reporter as a participant who perceived experiencing a side effect from their beta-blocker but did not share it with their clinician (according to survey responses). We conducted a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify determinants of being an under-reporter. Co-variates included age, sex, race, income, level of education, geographical location, and pill burden. We also examined whether under-reporters differed in self-reported medication adherence and willingness to take additional medication to prevent a future healthcare encounter compared to participants who reported perceived side effects to their clinicians and those who did not experience side effects.

RESULTS

Among 310 respondents, 28% (n = 87) were under-reporters. Black race (odds ratio 2.11, confidence interval 1.21-3.67) and education less than college (odds ratio 2.00, confidence interval 1.09-3.67) were associated with being an under-reporter. Self-reported medication adherence was similar between groups (under-reporters: 46.3%; those who reported perceived side effects: 49.4%; those who did not experience side effects: 45.0%); under-reporters were more frequently unwilling to take additional medication to prevent a doctor's visit (18.9% vs 12.1% vs 10.8%), emergency room visit (21.6% vs 13.3% vs 9.9%), and hospitalization (17.6% vs 10.8% vs 9.0%) compared with the other groups.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that under-reporting perceived side effects of beta-blockers among adults with heart failure is common, is associated with Black race and low education, and may contribute to patient willingness to take additional medication to prevent future medical encounters.

Pharmacists' role in detection and evaluation of adverse drug reactions: Developing proactive systems for pharmacosurveillance

PURPOSE

To identify current challenges in detection of medication-related symptoms, and review technology-based opportunities to increase the patient-centeredness of postmarketing pharmacosurveillance to promote more accountable, safer, patient-friendly, and equitable medication prescribing.

SUMMARY

Pharmacists have an important role to play in detection and evaluation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The pharmacist's role in medication management should extend beyond simply dispensing drugs, and this article delineates the rationale and proactive approaches for pharmacist detection and assessment of ADRs. We describe a stepwise approach for assessment, best practices, and lessons learned from a pharmacist-led randomized trial, the CEDAR (Calling for Detection of Adverse Drug Reactions) project.

CONCLUSION

Health systems need to be redesigned to more fully utilize health information technologies and pharmacists in detecting and responding to ADRs.

A taxonomy for community pharmacy patient care services reported in Pharmacist eCare Plans

BACKGROUND

Pharmacies belonging to the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Service Networks (CPESN) are transforming their practices with support of the Flip the Pharmacy initiative. These pharmacies are submitting eCare plans that describe care that they have provided to patients.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were (1) To develop a taxonomy for services reported by community pharmacies participating in year 1 of the Flip the Pharmacy initiative and (2) to illustrate the use of the taxonomy for hypertension-related services.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study design was used. The analyzed data were extracted from eCare plans submitted by participating pharmacies during the first year of the Flip the Pharmacy initiative (October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020). Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine - Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT) codes submitted for encounter reason and for procedures were sorted into categories based on similarity of terminology in the SNOMED-CT code labels. All SNOMED-CT codes in the encounter reasons that had blood pressure or hypertension in their labels were mapped to taxonomy categories. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables.

RESULTS

A total of 368,297 eCare plans reporting 1,049,061 SNOMED-CT procedures were submitted for 133,210 patients by 526 pharmacies. Seven categories of community pharmacy patient care services were identified: medication synchronization, medication review, monitoring, immunizations, patient education, adherence, and recommendations. Over half of the encounter reasons (63.5%) and procedures (56.2%) were for medication synchronization. Both medication review and monitoring accounted for about 10% of the encounters, and medication review made up over 30% of procedures. A total of 18,307 encounters were related to hypertension. Of these, monitoring was the most frequent, with 11,285 encounters (61.6%) encounters, followed by patient education, with 5173 encounters (28.3%).

CONCLUSION

CPESN pharmacies are delivering a wide range of patient care services. This taxonomy provides a concise way to organize and report services being delivered by community pharmacies.

Role of calcium channel blockers in lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia: a literature review

Background

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the use of CCBs are common in older persons, and are also associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This review summarised and synthesised relevant information and recent advances to improve clinical knowledge on the role of CCBs in LUTS, BPH symptoms and health-related quality of life.

Main body of the abstract

A search of databases of PubMed, Web of science, Hinari, and Google scholar was performed using several keywords. Relevant studies were also extracted from references of identified studies. Selected studies were assessed for content related to CCBs, BPH and LUTS, and the most relevant reports were included. The inhibition of calcium channels by CCBs interferes with influx of extracellular Ca2+ into the detrusor muscle, which interferes with bladder contraction and relaxation. Hence, CCBs are associated with precipitation or aggravation of urinary storage and voiding symptoms, which are also common symptoms of BPH. This suggests a potential aggravation of BPH symptoms with the use of CCBs.

Short conclusion

Persons at high risk of LUTS such as in BPH, may benefit from other classes of antihypertensive drugs. Therefore, it is essential to identify persons with BPH prior to commencement of therapy with CCBs. Patients on CCBs should be routinely reviewed for any potential precipitation or aggravation of LUTS. Patients should also be counselled to notify their healthcare provider of unusual urinary symptoms during CCB use. This will facilitate enhanced quality of life in patients with BPH.

[Deaths from adverse drug events in Brazil: Mortality Information System as a source of information]

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are harmful events caused by medication, and some of which can lead to death. Death records are an important source of information when using codes from the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) suggestive of ADE. This study aimed to identify the ADEs registered in Brazililian Mortality Information System (SIM), analyzing data distribution by year, age group, and type of event. This is an ecological study with retrospective data collection, identifying ADEs in the SIM, using the ICD-10 codes. The study included deaths that occurred in Brazil from 2008 to 2016. An increase in the number of deaths associated with ADE was observed from 2008 to 2016, with a mortality rate per 1 million inhabitants ranging from 8.70 to 14.40 in the period. Most events corresponded to mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of psychotropic drugs. Most deaths (12,311) related to ADE codes were identified in several chapters of the ICD-10. Chapter XX, about adverse events, allowed the identification of a smaller number of deaths (4,893). Higher event rates were observed among individuals aged 60 years and over (39.8/1 million) and children younger than one year (22.0/1 million). The identification of ADE-related deaths on the SIM is an important strategy for addressing undesirable drug-related events. Deaths related to the use of psychotropic drugs were the most frequent ADE-related deaths and the elderly were the age group most affected by ADEs.

The impact of treatment choices on potential drug-drug interactions in hypertensive patients

AIMS

The aim of this study was to analyse potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) and their potential adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among hypertensive patients. Moreover, we investigated the possibility of reducing pDDIs with different treatment choices.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study including all outpatients with hypertension and two or more medications, treated in a university hospital in Serbia. Lexicomp Interact (Lexi-Comp, Inc., Hudson, OH) was used for identification of pDDIs and potential ADRs. Treatment choices were explored according to patient characteristics, treatment guidelines and the interacting potential of drugs. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 350 patients were included in this study, with average age (77 [36-98] years and 6.1 [2.5]) medications. The majority of patients (86.0%) had at least one clinically significant pDDI, and the average was 3.78 (3.90) (range 1-25). Suggestions for treatment change aimed mainly at eliminating drug duplications, reducing the use of thiazide diuretics, sulfonylureas, alpha-lipoic acid and pentoxifylline and increasing the use of calcium-channel blockers, when appropriate. pDDIs would have decreased to 2.10 (2.52), P <.001, yet male gender, ≥6 medications, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia, would be predictive of two or more pDDIs. The main potential adverse outcomes of pDDIs were hypotension, renal failure, hypoglycaemia, bradycardia and lactic acidosis.

CONCLUSION

Careful choice of drugs can reduce but not eliminate pDDIs and their potential ADRs in hypertensive patients. Close monitoring for hypotension, renal failure, hypoglycaemia, bradycardia and lactic acidosis is necessary.

Ambulatory drug changes in the elderly after hospital discharge: A cohort study

AIM

To describe the ambulatory changes in drug prescriptions 3 months after hospital discharge among elderly patients aged 75 and over, and to identify the reasons for these changes.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted on subjects, discharged between 09/2016 and 01/2017 from the Bordeaux University Hospital. Prescription forms were collected from patients' pharmacists. The main outcome was the occurrence of at least one significant change (SC) defined as an initiation, a discontinuation, a switch or change in drug daily dosage as regards the drugs prescribed upon hospital discharge and those prescribed 3 months after. Whenever drug SC occurred, general practitioners were requested to elicit reasons for such changes.

RESULTS

Among the 126 patients included in our study, 73 underwent a 3-month follow-up period, without death or being re-hospitalised. 87.7% of them had at least one SC 3 months after discharge, with an average of 3.1±2.5 SC per patient. Main changes involved: discontinuation or dose decrease of anxiolytics, hypnotics, antalgics, betablockers and calcium channel blockers; start or dose increase of diuretics, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. In patients with a 3-month follow-up period, 27.4% underwent at least one ADR-induced SC.

CONCLUSION

Most elderly patients experience drug prescription changes after discharge. Some, according to drug iatrogenic, could be avoided through better cooperation between hospital and ambulatory prescribers.

What I have learnt from helping thousands of people taper off antidepressants and other psychotropic medications

Although psychiatric drug withdrawal syndromes have been recognized since the 1950s - recent studies confirm antidepressant withdrawal syndrome incidence upwards of 40% - medical information about how to safely go off the drugs has been lacking. To fill this gap, over the last 25 years, patients have developed a robust Internet-based subculture of peer support for tapering off psychiatric drugs and recovering from withdrawal syndrome. This account from the founder of such an online community covers lessons learned from thousands of patients regarding common experiences with medical providers, identification of adverse drug reactions, risk factors for withdrawal, tapering techniques, withdrawal symptoms, protracted withdrawal syndrome, and strategies to cope with symptoms, in the context of the existing scientific literature.

Nobody ever questions-Polypharmacy in care homes: A mixed methods evaluation of a multidisciplinary medicines optimisation initiative

BACKGROUND

Nurse-led monitoring of patients for signs and symptoms associated with documented 'undesirable effects' of medicines has potential to prevent avoidable harm, and optimise prescribing.

INTERVENTION

The Adverse Drug Reaction Profile for polypharmacy (ADRe-p) identifies and documents putative adverse effects of medicines commonly prescribed in primary care. Nurses address some problems, before passing ADRe-p to pharmacists and prescribers for review, in conjunction with prescriptions.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated changes in: the number and nature of residents' problems as recorded on ADRe-p; prescription regimens; medicines optimisation: and healthcare costs. We explored aetiologies of problems identified and stakeholders' perspectives.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

In three UK care homes, 19 residents completed the study, December 2018 to May 2019. Two service users, three pharmacists, six nurses gave interviews.

METHODS

This mixed-method process evaluation integrated data from residents' ADRe-ps and medicines charts, at the study's start and 5-10 weeks later.

RESULTS

We recruited three of 27 homes approached and 26 of 45 eligible residents; 19 completed ADRe-p at least twice. Clinical gains were identified for 17/19 residents (mean number of symptoms 3 SD 1.67, range 0-7). Examples included management of: pain (six residents), seizures (three), dyspnoea (one), diarrhoea (laxatives reduced, two), falls (two of five able to stand). One or more medicine was de-prescribed or dose reduced for 12/19 residents. ADRe administration and review cost ~£30 in staff time. ADRe-p helped carers and nurses bring residents' problems to the attention of prescribers.

IMPLICATIONS

ADRe-p relieved unnecessary suffering. It supported carers and nurses by providing a tool to engage with pharmacists and prescribers, and was the only observable strategy for multidisciplinary team working around medicines optimisation. ADRe-p improved care by: a) regular systematic checks and problem documentation; b) information transfer from care home staff to prescribers and pharmacists; c) recording changes.

REGISTRATION

NLM Identifier NCT03955133; ClinicalTrials.gov.

Identifying Factors Leading to Harm in English General Practices: A Mixed-Methods Study Based on Patient Experiences Integrating Structural Equation Modeling and Qualitative Content Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to identify the main factors leading to harm in primary care based on the experiences reported by patients.

METHODS

We conducted a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study in 45 primary care centers in England. A random sample of 6736 patients was invited to complete the Patient-Reported Experiences and Outcomes of Safety in Primary Care questionnaire. We fitted structural equation modeling on the quantitative data (n = 1244 respondents) to identify contributory factors and primary incidents leading to harm. We conducted content analyses of responses to seven open-ended questions (n = 386) to obtain deeper insight into patient perceptions of the causes of harm experienced. Results from quantitative and qualitative analyses were triangulated.

RESULTS

Patients reported harm related to physical health (13%), pain (11%), and mental health (19%) and harm that increased limitations in social activities (14%). Physical harm was associated with incidents affecting diagnosis (β = 0.43; delayed and wrong), and treatment (0.12; delayed, wrong treatment, or dose), which were in turn associated with incidents with patient-provider communication, coordination between providers, appointments, and laboratory tests. Pain was associated with laboratory tests (0.21; caused when collecting blood or tissue samples) and with problems booking an appointment when needed (0.13; delaying treatment for pain). Harm to mental health was associated with incidents related to the following: diagnosis (0.28), patient-provider communication (0.18), appointments (0.17), coordination between different providers (0.14), and laboratory tests (0.12). Harm increasing limitations in social activities was associated with incidents related to diagnosis (0.42) and diagnostic and monitoring procedures (0.20).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest the need for patient-centered strategies to reduce harm in primary care focusing on the improvement of the quality of diagnosis and patient-provider communication.

Nurses', Pharmacists' and Family Physicians' Perceptions of Psychotropic Medication Monitoring in Australian Long-Term Care Facilities: A Qualitative Framework Analysis

BACKGROUND

Current evidence suggests that despite modest benefit in using targeted psychotropic medications in the geriatric population, there is significant iatrogenic morbidity and mortality. Monitoring of the use of psychotropic medications by health care professionals (HCPs) to reduce adverse effects is often suboptimal; however, there have been few theoretically informed studies as to why this is so.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to elucidate facilitators and barriers to psychotropic medication monitoring in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) from the viewpoint of nurses, pharmacists and family physicians. Secondly, it intended to identify targets for tailored intervention strategies to improve monitoring practices.

METHODS

A purposive sample of 31 HCPs working in LTCFs in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia was recruited. Three cohorts consisted of twelve registered nurses, ten pharmacists and nine family physicians. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, assessing perceptions of psychotropic medication monitoring in LTCFs, facilitators, barriers and proposed solutions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed through an inductive coding approach. Themes were then mapped to Ferlie and Shortell's 'Four Levels of Change' framework for improving quality in healthcare.

RESULTS

Monitoring was revealed as a multi-faceted concept, influenced by factors across individual, group, organization and system levels. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes pertinent to psychotropic monitoring in LTCFs: (1) engagement with monitoring, (2) monitoring capability, (3) opportunity to monitor, (4) roles and responsibilities, (5) communication and collaboration and (6) guidance and regulation. HCPs conceptualized monitoring differently, but consistently felt that monitoring in LTCFs was suboptimal, recognizing a need for guidance and resources to aid collaborative monitoring of psychotropic medications. HCPs internally situated within LTCFs (nurses) viewed psychotropic medication monitoring as a dynamic and ongoing phenomenon, occurring both formally and informally on a day-to-day basis. In contrast, externally situated HCPs (pharmacists and family physicians) typically associated medication monitoring with structured medication reviews and conceptualized monitoring as an intermittent and planned activity.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Psychotropic monitoring is perceived by all HCPs as a shared responsibility; however, the conceptualization of monitoring differs between HCPs. HCPs' beliefs and attitudes require consideration when designing implementation strategies for interventions to ameliorate suboptimal monitoring practices.

The Initial Use of the Home Medication Experience Questionnaire (HOME-Q) in Community-Based Pharmacy

The Home Medication Experience Questionnaire (HOME-Q) was developed to systematically gather information on the medication experience of patients. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the frequencies of medication experience issues for a sample of patients and (2) report pharmacist recommendations to address issues and patient implementation of recommendations. This study used a single-group design with 3-month follow-up. A convenience sample of patients aged 55 years and older and taking 4 or more chronic medications self-administered the HOME-Q and discussed responses with a pharmacist from 2 community pharmacies. A researcher called or visited participants at 3 months to readminister the HOME-Q and inquire about recommendations. Thirty-three patients completed questionnaires, and 30 participated in the follow-up. At 3 months, the HOME-Q median did not decrease (4 at both administrations). There were 51 pharmacist interventions/recommendations, and 47% were reported adopted. The HOME-Q prompted pharmacists to respond to medication experience issues that may not have been identified otherwise. More work is needed to test the impact of the HOME-Q and better understand medication experience discussions between patients and pharmacists.

Looking for the "Little Things": A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Medicines Monitoring for Older People Using the ADRe Resource

Advances in medicines have increased the effectiveness of treatments and the social and cultural authority of doctors. However, as prescribing has become the dominant modality of treatment, the “pharmaceuticalization” of medical practice has often resulted in treatment “at a distance”, with doctors having limited contact with patients. Older and poorer people, who are socially distanced from medical prescribers, suffer more adverse drug reactions (ADRs) than the general population. A team approach to checking patients systematically for ADRs, as detailed in manufacturers’ literature, can minimise medication errors, but regular review is rare. This paper explains the benefits of medicines monitoring to protect older patients from iatrogenic harm, such as over-sedation, falls, or drug-induced Parkinsonism. We show how multidisciplinary initiatives to optimise prescribing can be supported by using a recognised resource—the adverse drug reaction profile (ADRe). The profile identifies and documents patients’ signs and symptoms of putative ADRs. Better monitoring allows professionals to adjust prescribing and respond to identified problems with agility. Implementation of systematic monitoring will require changes to the regulatory regime and better inter-professional cooperation. Providing carers, nurses and pharmacists with a structured system to monitor patients would democratise relevant medical knowledge and help address ageism and the socio-economic health divide.

Using a Machine Learning System to Identify and Prevent Medication Prescribing Errors: A Clinical and Cost Analysis Evaluation

BACKGROUND

Clinical decision support (CDS) alerting tools can identify and reduce medication errors. However, they are typically rule-based and can identify only the errors previously programmed into their alerting logic. Machine learning holds promise for improving medication error detection and reducing costs associated with adverse events. This study evaluates the ability of a machine learning system (MedAware) to generate clinically valid alerts and estimates the cost savings associated with potentially prevented adverse events.

METHODS

Alerts were generated retrospectively by the MedAware system on outpatient data from two academic medical centers between 2009 and 2013. MedAware alerts were compared to alerts in an existing CDS system. A random sample of 300 alerts was selected for medical record review. Frequency and severity of potential outcomes of alerted medication errors of medium and high clinical value were estimated, along with associated health care costs of these potentially prevented adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 10,668 alerts were generated. Overall, 68.2% of MedAware alerts would not have been generated by the existing CDS system. Ninety-two percent of a random sample of the chart-reviewed alerts were accurate based on structured data available in the record, and 79.7% were clinically valid. Estimated cost of adverse events potentially prevented in an outpatient setting was more than $60 per drug alert and $1.3 million when extrapolating study findings to the full patient population.

CONCLUSION

A machine learning system identified clinically valid medication error alerts that might otherwise be missed with existing CDS systems. Estimates show potential for cost savings associated with potentially prevented adverse events.

Nurse-led medicines' monitoring in care homes, implementing the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADRe) Profile improvement initiative for mental health medicines: An observational and interview study

Introduction

Preventable adverse effects of medicines often pass unnoticed, but lead to real harm.

Intervention

Nurse-led monitoring using the structured Adverse Drug Reaction (ADRe) Profile identifies and addresses adverse effects of mental health medicines.

Objectives

This study investigated the implementation and clinical impact of ADRe, and barriers to and facilitators of sustained utilisation in routine practice.

Methods

Administration of ADRe was observed for 30 residents prescribed mental health medicines in ten care homes. The study pharmacist reviewed completed ADRes against medication records. Policy context was explored in 30 interviews with service users, nurse managers and strategic leads in Wales.

Results

Residents were aged 60–95, and prescribed 1–17 (median 9 [interquartile range (IQR) 7–13]) medicines. ADRe identified a median of 18 [IQR 11.5–23] problems per resident and nurses made 2 [1–2] changes to care per resident. For example: falls were reported for 9 residents, and care was modified for 5; pain was identified in 8 residents, and alleviated for 7; all 6 residents recognised as dyspnoeic were referred to prescribers. Nurses referred 17 of 30 residents to prescribers. Pharmacists recommended review for all 30. Doubts about administering ADRe, sometimes expressed by people who had not yet used it, diminished as it became familiar. ADRe was needed to bridge communication between resident, nurses and prescribers. When barriers of time, complacency, and doctors’ non-availability were overcome, reporting with ADRe made prescribers more likely to heed nurses’ concerns regarding residents’ welfare. Clinical gains were facilitated by one-to-one time, staff-resident relationships, and unification of documentation.

Implications

To our knowledge, ADRe is the only instrument that brings a full account of patients’ problems to medication reviews. This juxtaposition of signs and symptoms against prescriptions facilitates dose adjustments and de-prescribing and leads to: reduced pain and sedation; early identification of problems linked to ADRs, such as falls; and timely medication reviews e.g. for dyspnoea.

[Selected safety-relevant medication processes in Swiss nursing homes: Current state of affairs and optimization potentials]

BACKGROUND

Reducing adverse drug events in nursing homes is a central patient safety concern. The aim of this study was to assess how often selected medication processes to increase medication safety are already implemented in Swiss nursing homes and to examine how nursing homes that have not yet implemented these processes can be characterized based on their organizational features.

METHODS

Cross-sectional survey study among directors of nursing in Swiss nursing homes.

RESULTS

420 of 1,525 invited individuals participated in the survey (response rate: 27.5 %). Of these, 65.0 % stated that regular systematic medication reviews have been provided in their institution. 9.5 % of the nursing homes use a list to identify potentially inappropriate medication, and 6.7 % of the nursing homes have a standardized process to monitor side effects of medications. 66.0 % of the participating nursing homes have implemented at least one of these three processes, 34.0 % of the participating nursing homes have not implemented any of the three processes. Statistically significant differences in process implementation were found according to the geographical location of the nursing home, the type of documentation used for medications, the physician model, the number of external general practitioners, as well as the medication supply channel and the legal obligation to cooperate with pharmacists. No differences were found with regard to the nursing home size.

CONCLUSION

In Swiss nursing homes, central safety-relevant medication processes have not yet been implemented nationwide. In particular, implementation is not widespread in nursing homes where medical care for their residents is provided by many different external general practitioners. The organizational features need to be taken into account to successfully implement quality improvement measures.

Opioids for pain management in older adults: Strategies for safe prescribing

Appropriate selection and dosing of medications is essential when prescribing for older adults. Opioids are commonly employed to treat pain but must be approached with caution due to potentially dangerous adverse reactions. This article provides strategies for safely prescribing opioids for pain in older adults.

Identifying Adverse Drug Events in Older Community-Dwelling Patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate a patient-report instrument for identifying adverse drug events (ADEs) in older populations with multimorbidity in the community setting.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of 859 community-dwelling patients aged ≥70 years treated at 15 primary care practices. Patients were asked if they had experienced any of a list of 74 symptoms classified by physiologic system in the previous 6 months and if (1) they believed the symptom to be related to their medication, (2) the symptom had bothered them, (3) they had discussed it with their family physician, and (4) they required hospital care due to the symptom. Self-reported symptoms were independently reviewed by 2 clinicians who determined the likelihood that the symptom was an ADE. Family physician medical records were also reviewed for any report of an ADE.

RESULTS

The ADE instrument had an accuracy of 75% (95% CI, 77%-79%), a sensitivity of 29% (95% CI, 27%-31%), and a specificity of 93% (95% CI, 92%-94%). Older people who reported a symptom had an increased likelihood of an ADE (positive likelihood ratio [LR+]: 4.22; 95% CI, 3.78-4.72). Antithrombotic agents were the drugs most commonly associated with ADEs. Patients were most bothered by muscle pain or weakness (75%), dizziness or lightheadedness (61%), cough (53%), and unsteadiness while standing (52%). On average, patients reported 39% of ADEs to their physician. Twenty-six (3%) patients attended a hospital outpatient clinic, and 32 (4%) attended an emergency department due to ADEs.

CONCLUSION

Older community-dwelling patients were often not correct in recognizing ADEs. The ADE instrument demonstrated good predictive value and could be used to differentiate between symptoms of ADEs and chronic disease in the community setting.

Influence of polypharmacy on heart rate variability in older adults at the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Recuperation Research Center, Japan

BACKGROUND

Many studies have identified the risk of polypharmacy, but physiological evidence and methods of evaluation in these studies were poor. The relationship between polypharmacy and heart rate variability in older adults remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between polypharmacy in older adults, including atomic bomb survivors, and heart rate variability.

METHODS

We surveyed 56 older adults who did not need nursing care assistance in the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Recuperation Center. Chronic diseases, types of medication, and lifestyle were assessed, and heart rate variability at rest was measured. We calculated heart rate variability indices including standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN), total power (TP), and very low frequency (VLF) and analyzed the relationship between the number of daily medication types and heart rate variability indices in older adults. The differences in heart rate variability indices were analyzed using six medications as a cut-off point.

RESULTS

Participants included 36 atomic bomb survivors and 20 non-atomic bomb survivors. The mean number of medication types was 3.6±3.4 (mean±standard deviation). SDNN, TP, and VLF decreased with an increased number of medications in all participants (P<0.01). When the standard of polypharmacy was set to more than six types of medications, SDNN, TP, and VLF were significantly lower in older adults who took six or more medications. Additionally, the mean number of medication types among atomic bomb survivors was higher than that of non-atomic bomb survivors (P = 0.008). The SDNN was significantly lower when atomic bomb survivors took six or more medications (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that a lower heart rate variability in older adults, including atomic bomb survivors, is associated with polypharmacy. We showed physiological evidence of the influence of polypharmacy, which may be important for the healthy life expectancy and prognosis in older adults.

Pharmacotherapy in Older Adults with Cardiovascular Disease: Report from an American College of Cardiology, American Geriatrics Society, and National Institute on Aging Workshop

OBJECTIVES

To identify the top priority areas for research to optimize pharmacotherapy in older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

DESIGN

Consensus meeting.

SETTING

Multidisciplinary workshop supported by the National Institute on Aging, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Geriatrics Society, February 6-7, 2017.

PARTICIPANTS

Leaders in the Cardiology and Geriatrics communities, (officers in professional societies, journal editors, clinical trialists, Division chiefs), representatives from the NIA; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Food and Drug Administration; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, pharmaceutical industry, and trainees and early career faculty with interests in geriatric cardiology.

MEASUREMENTS

Summary of workshop proceedings and recommendations.

RESULTS

To better align older adults' healthcare preferences with their care, research is needed to improve skills in patient engagement and communication. Similarly, to coordinate and meet the needs of older adults with multiple comorbidities encountering multiple healthcare providers and systems, systems and disciplines must be integrated. The lack of data from efficacy trials of CVD medications relevant to the majority of older adults creates uncertainty in determining the risks and benefits of many CVD therapies; thus, developing evidence-based guidelines for older adults with CVD is a top research priority. Polypharmacy and medication nonadherence lead to poor outcomes in older people, making research on appropriate prescribing and deprescribing to reduce polypharmacy and methods to improve adherence to beneficial therapies a priority.

CONCLUSION

The needs and circumstances of older adults with CVD differ from those that the current medical system has been designed to meet. Optimizing pharmacotherapy in older adults will require new data from traditional and pragmatic research to determine optimal CVD therapy, reduce polypharmacy, increase adherence, and meet person-centered goals. Better integration of the multiple systems and disciplines involved in the care of older adults will be essential to implement and disseminate best practices. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:371-380, 2019.

Community-acquired and hospital-acquired medication harm among older inpatients and impact of a state-wide medication management intervention

Background

We previously reported reduction in the rate of hospitalisations with medication harm among older adults with our ‘Pharm2Pharm’ intervention, a pharmacist-led care transition and care coordination model focused on best practices in medication management. The objectives of the current study are to determine the extent to which medication harm among older inpatients is ‘community acquired’ versus ‘hospital acquired’ and to assess the effectiveness of the Pharm2Pharm model with each type.

Methods

After a 3-year baseline, six non-federal general acute care hospitals with 50 or more beds in Hawaii implemented Pharm2Pharm sequentially. The other five such hospitals served as the comparison group. We measured frequencies and quarterly rates of admissions among those aged 65 and older with ‘community-acquired’ (International Classification of Diseases-coded as present on admission) and ‘hospital-acquired’ (coded as not present on admission) medication harm per 1000 admissions from 2010 to 2014.

Results

There were 189 078 total admissions from 2010 through 2014, 7% of which had one or more medication harm codes. There were 16 225 medication harm codes, 70% of which were community-acquired, among these 13 795 admissions. The varied times when the intervention was implemented across hospitals were associated with a significant reduction in the rate of admissions with community-acquired medication harm compared with non-intervention hospitals (p=0.001), and specifically harm by anticoagulants (p<0.0001) and by medications in therapeutic use (p<0.001). The hospital-acquired medication harm rate did not change. The rate of admissions with community-acquired medication harm was reduced by 4.28 admissions per 1000 admissions per quarter in the Pharm2Pharm hospitals relative to the comparison hospitals.

Conclusion

The Pharm2Pharm model is an effective way to address the growing problem of community-acquired medication harm among high-risk, chronically ill patients. This model demonstrates the importance of deploying specially trained pharmacists in the hospital and in the community to systematically identify and resolve drug therapy problems.

Nurse-led medicines' monitoring in care homes study protocol: a process evaluation of the impact and sustainability of the adverse drug reaction (ADRe) profile for mental health medicines

INTRODUCTION

Improved medicines' management could lead to real and sustainable improvements to the care of older adults. The overuse of mental health medicines has featured in many reports, and insufficient patient monitoring has been identified as an important cause of medicine-related harms. Nurse-led monitoring using the structured adverse drug reaction (ADRe) profile identifies and addresses the adverse effects of mental health medicines. Our study investigates clinical impact and what is needed to sustain utilisation in routine practice in care homes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This process evaluation will use interviews and observations with the participants of all five homes involved in earlier research, and five newly recruited homes caring for people prescribed mental health medicines. The ADRe profile is implemented by nurses, within existing resources, to check for signs and symptoms of ADRs, initiate amelioration and share findings with pharmacists and prescribers for medication review. Outcome measures are the numbers and nature of problems addressed and understanding of changes needed to optimise clinical gain and sustain implementation. Data will be collected by 30 observations and 30 semistructured interviews. Clinical gains will be described and narrated. Interview analysis will be based on the constant comparative method.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was conferred by the National Health Service Wales Research Ethics Committee. If the ADRe profile can be sustained in routine practice, it has potential to (1) improve the lives of patients, for example, by reducing pain and sedation, and (2) assist in early identification of problems caused by ADRs. Therefore, in addition to peer-reviewed publications and conferences, we shall communicate our findings to healthcare professionals, policy-makers and sector regulators.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03110471.

Adverse Drug Reactions, Power, Harm Reduction, Regulation and the ADRe Profiles

The power and influence of healthcare systems comes largely from the ability to prescribe efficacious medicine. However, medicine can sometimes cause harm rather than bring benefits. Systematically checking patients for the adverse effects of medicines, as listed in manufacturers' literature, would protect patients from iatrogenic harm, but this is rarely undertaken. We argue for the benefits of this approach using the example of the prescription of antipsychotics to older adults. Prescribing antipsychotics to control challenging behaviours associated with dementia is a controversial matter, and regulatory intervention is under discussion. Improved regulatory systems could protect against iatrogenic harm, such as over-sedation, falls, tremor, or drug-induced Parkinsonism. However, measuring the impact and outcomes of regulatory interventions has proved difficult, not least because there are rarely systematic records of all adverse effects of medicines. We indicate how regulatory initiatives to reduce antipsychotic prescribing can be supported by systematic monitoring and documentation of patients' signs and symptoms of putative adverse drug reactions. Monitoring documentation then provides the rationale and support for professionals' responses to identified problems. Longitudinal monitoring records would improve understanding of the impact and outcomes of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) on health and wellbeing, and the many costs of ADRs.

The Electronic Pharmaceutical Record: A new method for medication reconciliation

RATIONALE, AIM, AND OBJECTIVE

There are several ways to establish an accurate medication list in the hospital admission medication reconciliation (MedRec). The challenge for MedRec lies in the availability, reliability, and completeness of the data used. In France, the Electronic Pharmaceutical Record (ePR) was developed to register each medication taken by ambulatory patients, primarily to make dispensation in community pharmacies safe. We evaluated the suitability of this tool in the MedRec when patients were admitted to the hospital.

METHOD

We conducted a 6-month pilot study of 249 MedRec files from a hospital diabetology department. The analysis was supplemented by the ePR for any patient for whom this information was recorded. The study evaluated the ePR as a new MedRec tool, as well as the clinical impact (CI) of the new data collected.

RESULTS

The ePR was contributory for 28% of the patients. Discrepancies were associated with polypharmacy, most of which had a CI = 1. Medication omission was the most frequently found discrepancy (72%), but self-medication (8%) and lack of medication adherence (9%) were also observed.

CONCLUSION

This tool provided added value for reconciliation, as it quickly identifies regular medications, adherence, and self-medication behaviour. The ePR is essential for conducting a thorough MedRec.

Defining Minimum Necessary Anticoagulation-Related Communication at Discharge: Consensus of the Care Transitions Task Force of the New York State Anticoagulation Coalition

BACKGROUND

Anticoagulated patients are particularly vulnerable to ADEs when they experience changes in medical acuity, pharmacotherapy, or care setting, and resources guiding care transitions are lacking. The New York State Anticoagulation Coalition convened a task force to develop a consensus list of requisite data elements (RDEs) that should accompany all anticoagulated patients undergoing care transitions.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of 15 anticoagulation experts voluntarily completed an iterative Delphi process. Resources were disseminated and deliberated via remote technology, with consensus achieved via blinded electronic polling.

RESULTS

The panel reached consensus on a list of 15 RDEs for anticoagulation communication at discharge (the ACDC List). Consensus was rapidly achieved by the full panel on 13 elements, while 3 (2 of which were combined into 1 element) required multiple iterations and achieved consensus with votes from 8 available panelists. The elements encompassed a range of factors, including drug use and indications, previous exposure and duration of therapy, recent drug exposure and laboratory results and expectations for subsequent administration, therapy goals, patient education and comprehension, and expectations for clinical management. Twelve of the elements are applicable to any anticoagulant, and 3 are specific to warfarin.

CONCLUSION

The ACDC List identifies specific pieces of clinical information that a panel of anticoagulant experts agree should be communicated to downstream providers for all anticoagulated patients undergoing care transitions. Additional study is needed to objectively evaluate the ability of existing care systems to communicate the elements and to assess possible relationships between communication of the elements and clinical outcomes.

Efficiency, Efficacy, and Power in the Implementation of a Medication Adherence Aid

Nonadherence to medication regimens is common, with approximately 50% of patients not taking their medications as prescribed. The Universal Medication Schedule (UMS) is a set of standardized, evidence-based, and patient-centered instructions for pill-form medications that has demonstrated improvements in adherence by promoting patient comprehension. An urban, publicly funded, integrated health care system attempted to adopt UMS labeling but had limited success at its largest pilot site, which was a safety-net health care system's outpatient pharmacy. To assess barriers to implementation, we engaged pharmacists at this site in group interviews. We thematically analyzed transcripts by integrating sociological work on standardization with grounded theory methodologies. In addition to lacking technological infrastructure, tensions among efficiency, efficacy, and effectiveness, and tension between individual/biomedical versus population health perspectives emerged as barriers to implementation. Additionally, we discovered that hierarchies of professional power impeded uptake. For successful implementation of evidence-based practices for vulnerable populations in resource-poor settings, efforts must anticipate and reconcile the tensions among conflicting demands, professional hierarchies, and divergent orientations to patient care. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2018;2(3):e128-e131.].

Meta-analysis of Interventions to Reduce Adverse Drug Reactions in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effect of interventions to optimize medication use on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in older adults.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis. EMBASE, PubMed, OVID, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar were searched through April 30, 2017.

SETTING

Randomized controlled trials.

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults (mean age ≥65) taking medications.

MEASUREMENTS

Two authors independently extracted relevant information and assessed studies for risk of bias. Discrepancies were resolved in consensus meetings. The outcomes were any and serious ADRs. Random-effects models were used to combine the results of multiple studies and create summary estimates.

RESULTS

Thirteen randomized controlled trials involving 6,198 older adults were included. The studies employed a number of different interventions that were categorized as pharmacist-led interventions (8 studies), other health professional-led interventions (3 studies), a brief educational session (1 study), and a technology intervention (1 study). The intervention group was 21% less likely than the control group to experience any ADR (odds ratio (OR) = 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.62-0.99). In the six studies that examined serious ADRs, the intervention group was 36% less likely than the control group to experience a serious ADR (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.42-0.98).

CONCLUSION

Interventions designed to optimize medication use reduced the risk of any and serious ADRs in older adults. Implementation of these successful interventions in healthcare systems may improve medication safety in older adults.

Pharmacy performance while providing continuous medication monitoring

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of continuous medication monitoring (CoMM) on: 1) total costs of care; 2) proportion of days covered (PDC) rates; and 3) use of high-risk medications by older patients.

DESIGN

Cohort design.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A reimbursed CoMM program was implemented in a community pharmacy to manage problems with medications being dispensed to beneficiaries of a commercial insurer. Pharmacists assessed medications being dispensed, interacted with patients in the pharmacy, and documented their actions. Claims data compared the pharmacy performance for 3 study groups after 12 months of CoMM: group 1, patients with prescriptions dispensed only at the study pharmacy; group 2, patients with prescriptions dispensed from the study pharmacy and other pharmacies; and group 3, patients with no prescriptions dispensed by the study pharmacy. For the analyses, individuals in group 1 (CoMM-only group) were matched with those in group 2 and group 3 by age band, gender, risk category, and utilization band.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The variables of interest were per-member per-month total health care costs, medication adherence (PDC), and the use of high-risk medications in older adults.

RESULTS

At 12 months, per-member per-month total costs of care were significantly lower (P < 0.05) for group 1 versus group 2 ($309 difference) and for group 1 versus group 3 ($298 difference). At 12 months the average PDC for group 1 was significantly higher than for group 2 (3.8% difference) and group 3 (2.6% difference). No significant differences were found in the use of high-risk medications.

CONCLUSION

A CoMM program in a community pharmacy was associated with lower total costs of care and better medication adherence. Paying pharmacists to proactively address the safety, effectiveness, and adherence of medications at the time of dispensing can support optimization of medication therapy.

Physicians' Non-Uniform Approach to Prescribing Drugs to Older Patients - A Qualitative Study

Multi-morbidity and polypharmacy are common in older patients and increase their susceptibility to adverse drug events and hospitalizations. Rational drug prescription is critical; however, little is known about physicians' perspectives on how to prescribe drugs for older patients. The aim of this study was to explore physicians' approach to prescribe drugs to older patients, including identifying the drugs that physicians perceive to be risk drugs for older patients and comparing them with established lists of potentially inappropriate medications. Short semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 medical specialists in 23 different specialities throughout Denmark who had contact with older patients. Content analysis was performed to identify the relevant themes. Regardless of their medical or surgical background and how often they prescribed drugs for older patients in daily work, all physicians expressed a cautious approach when prescribing risk drugs. Despite their shared caution, physicians had different strategies for prescribing drugs to older patients. The following strategies were identified: (1) 'Start low, go slow', (2) 'Trial and error', (3) 'Dose reduction', and (4) 'Never prescribe'. The most frequently mentioned risk drugs considered to cause hospitalization were vitamin K antagonists, opioids and diuretics; these drugs are relatively highly consistent with established lists of PIMs. Physicians were relatively knowledgeable about risk drugs. Although the physicians agreed that a cautious approach was needed when prescribing drugs for older people, there was no consensus about how to best accomplish this in practice.

Any questions? Yes, do pharmacists monitor medications at refill?

OBJECTIVES

To describe pharmacists' self-reported refill monitoring activities and test for demographic and work setting differences that contribute to variation.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional survey design. A 4-contact survey was mailed to 599 community pharmacists randomly selected from a list provided by the state board of pharmacy. Surveys were mailed in June and July 2013. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were used to characterize these data.

RESULTS

Of the 599 surveys mailed, 269 complete responses were received for a 44.9% response rate. Pharmacists reported reviewing the patient's medication profile for 40% of refills. Of the 29% of refills handed off, pharmacists asked 70% of patients if they had any questions and 23% a specific question about drug therapy. Pharmacists at mass merchandisers and those in smaller towns were least likely to examine the profile, whereas pharmacists working at independent stores, owners, and pharmacists with a BS Pharm degree were most likely to hand off refills to patients. Demographic and work-setting characteristics factors were not associated with the rate of asking specific questions about the patient's drug therapy, although pharmacists with a BS Pharm, at an independent store, or working in the smallest towns were least likely to ask "Any questions?" when handing off the prescription.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists reported reviewing patient profiles, handing off prescriptions, and asking medication-specific questions to fewer than one-half of patients picking up refills. Pharmacists were more likely to inquire if patients had any questions than to ask specific questions, and other researchers have reported that the former phrasing may inadvertently serve to reduce patient engagement.

Root Cause Analysis of Ambulatory Adverse Drug Events That Present to the Emergency Department

BACKGROUND

Adverse drug events (ADEs) among patients self-administering medications in home/community settings are a common cause of emergency department (ED) visits, but the causes of these ambulatory ADEs remain unclear. Root cause analysis, rarely applied in outpatient settings, may reveal the underlying factors that contribute to adverse events.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To elicit patient and provider perspectives on ambulatory ADEs and apply root cause analysis methodology to identify cross-cutting themes among these events.

METHODS

Emergency department clinical pharmacists screened, identified, and enrolled a convenience sample of adult patients 18 years or older who presented to a single, urban, academic ED with symptoms or diagnoses consistent with suspected ADEs. Semistructured phone interviews were conducted with the patients and their providers. We conducted a qualitative analysis. We applied a prespecified version of the injury prevention framework (deductive coding), identifying themes relating to the agent (drug), host (patient), and environment (social and health systems). These themes were used to construct a root cause analysis for each ADE.

RESULTS

From 18 interviews overall, we identified the following themes within the injury prevention framework. Agent factors included high-risk drugs, narrow therapeutic indices, and uncommon severe effects. Host factors included patient capacity or understanding of how to use medications, awareness of side effects, mistrust of the medical system, patients with multiple comorbidities, difficult risk-benefit assessments, and high health-care users. Environmental factors included lack of social support, and health systems issues included access to care, encompassing medication availability, access to specialists, and a lack of continuity and communication among prescribing physicians. Root cause analysis revealed multiple underlying factors relating to agent, host, and environment for each event.

CONCLUSION

Patient and physician perspectives can inform a root cause analysis of ambulatory ADEs. Such methodology may be applied to understand the factors that contribute to ambulatory ADEs and serve as the formative work for future interventions improving home/community medication use.