The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy
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Am J Geriatr Pharmacother · Mar 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialMethodology of an ongoing, randomized, controlled trial to improve drug use for elderly patients with chronic heart failure.
Medications can improve the functioning and health-related quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduce morbidity, mortality, and costs of treatment. However, patients may not adhere to therapy. Patients with complex medication regimens and low health literacy are at risk for nonadherence. ⋯ Our study aims to improve patients' knowledge and self-management of their medication and to improve medication monitoring in a multilevel pharmacy-based intervention. By doing so, we intend that the intervention will improve the health outcomes of elderly patients with CHF.
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Am J Geriatr Pharmacother · Mar 2004
Comparative StudyComparison of anti-infective drug use in elderly persons in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, Canada: relationship to drug insurance reimbursement policies.
Antimicrobial drug resistance continues to be a concern. Inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents is a well-documented contributory factor in the development of resistance. Canadian publicly funded drug insurance (pharmacare) programs have various approaches to reimbursement for antimicrobial drugs and promoting the appropriate prescribing of these agents. ⋯ The reimbursement guidelines of provincial drug insurance programs are among the factors affecting the use of antimicrobial agents. Both the type of reimbursement policy and the policy implementation mechanism affected the rate of utilization. Further research is needed to link drug-use information with data such as antimicrobial resistance patterns, diagnoses, physician visits, and hospitalizations.