International journal of clinical pharmacy
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Background For stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the decision-making around antithrombotic therapy has been complicated by older age, multiple comorbidities, polypharmacy and the different pharmacological properties of warfarin and the nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). The complexity of decision-making has been associated with a reluctance by health professionals to use antithrombotic therapy, leading to poor clinical outcomes. In order to improve stroke prevention in patients with AF, the contemporary perspectives of health professionals on the decision-making around antithrombotic therapy needs exploration. ⋯ Health professionals mostly focused on stroke risk assessment, not on the bleeding risk and medication safety issues. (2) Health professionals from different disciplines have different preferences for antithrombotic therapies. Although the majority of health professionals considered warfarin as the first-line therapy, NOACs were preferred by neurologists and haematologists. (3) Health professionals focused on different aspects of the decision making process: GPs and specialists were concerned about the appropriate prescription of antithrombotics, while pharmacists and nurses focused on daily medication management by patients. Conclusion The decision-making process appears to be partially preference based rather than systematic, and health professionals from various disciplines focus on different parts of the decision-making process.
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Comparative Study
Free phenytoin assessment in patients: measured versus calculated blood serum levels.
Total serum drug levels are routinely determined for the therapeutic drug monitoring of selected, difficult-to-dose drugs. For some of these drugs, however, knowledge of the free fraction is necessary to adapt correct dosing. Phenytoin, with its non-linear pharmacokinetics, >90 % albumin binding and slow elimination rate, is such a drug requiring individualization in patients, especially if rapid intravenous loading and subsequent dose adaptation is needed. In a prior long-term investigation, we showed the excellent performance of pharmacy-assisted Bayesian forecasting support for optimal dosing in hospitalized patients treated with phenytoin. In a subgroup analysis, we evaluated the suitability of the Sheiner-Tozer algorithm to calculate the free phenytoin fraction in hypoalbuminemic patients. ⋯ In absence of a free phenytoin plasma concentration measurement also in hypoalbuminemic patients, the Sheiner-Tozer algorithm represents a useful tool to assist therapeutic monitoring to calculate or control free phenytoin by using total phenytoin and the albumin concentration.
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Organizational climate relates to how employees perceive and describe the characteristics of their employing organization. It has been found to have an impact on healthcare professionals' and patients' experiences of healthcare (e.g. job satisfaction, patient satisfaction), as well as organizational outcomes (e.g. employee productivity). This research used organizational theory to explore dynamics between health care professionals (pharmacists, doctors and nurses) in mental health outpatients' services for patients taking clozapine, and the perceived influence on patient care. ⋯ Our findings suggest deficiencies within the clinics that may be manifestations of the wider culture of the NHS. The implications for mental health outpatient clinics are that local initiatives are crucial to the implementation of recovery models; clear guidance should be provided on the skill mix required in clozapine clinics and interprofessional learning should be encouraged to reduce role conflict.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Potentially inappropriate drug prescribing in elderly hospitalized patients: an analysis and comparison of explicit criteria.
The management of therapy in elderly is a critical aspect of primary care. The physio-pathological complexity of the elderly involves the prescription of multiple drugs, exposing them to a higher risk of adverse reactions. ⋯ The number of potentially inappropriate medications globally increased during hospitalization. Statistical analysis showed that the comorbidity affects the level of inappropriate prescriptions. Specific tools can guide clinicians toward a more rational use of medicines and minimize probable complications related to multi-treatments.
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From 20 to 65 % of older adults receiving polypharmacy take at least one potentially inappropriate medication (PIM), leading to a high risk of adverse drug reactions. The term deprescribing was coined to describe a process of optimization of drug regimens through the withdrawal of PIMs. There is a paucity of evidence on the attitudes, beliefs and willingness of hospitalized patients towards deprescribing. ⋯ The majority of hospitalized older adults with polypharmacy think they are taking a lot of drugs and would like to reduce this number. Older adults should not be considered a major limitation on deprescribing interventions. Future research should examine this issue with qualitative studies in order to gain a more in-depth understanding and explore how these findings can be translated into a multidisciplinary deprescribing process.