Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
-
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Jan 2009
Potentially inappropriate medication for emergency department visits by elderly patients in Taiwan.
The potential for adverse drug events caused by potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in elderly patients at emergency department (ED) visits is a growing concern. The objects of this study were to determine the prevalence, characteristics and risk factors of PIM use among elderly ED visits in Taiwan. ⋯ About one fifth of elderly people who visited ED received PIM annually in Taiwan. The public and physicians should be educated, and a computerized drug surveillance system might be needed to avoid PIM prescriptions to the ED elderly patients.
-
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Jan 2009
Estrogens and the risk of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Since complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) shows a clear female predominance, we investigated the association between the cumulative as well as current exposure to estrogens, and CRPS. ⋯ We did not find an association between CRPS onset and cumulative endogenous estrogen exposure or current OC or HRT use, but more powered studies are needed to exclude potential minor associations.
-
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Jan 2009
Frequency of ill-founded off-label prescribing in Dutch general practice.
The aim of this study is to quantify the extent of ill-founded off-label drug prescriptions in Dutch general practice. The study is based upon information on both the prescription itself and the patient's medical history. ⋯ Ill-founded off-label prescribing in Dutch general practice is limited for 48 relevant combinations of drugs and off-label indications. In order to overcome limitations in registration databases, it is useful to look at as much information as possible--for example, co-medication and co-morbidity--when determining off-label prescribing. Studying ill-founded off-label prescribing should be performed on a day-to-day basis, especially for recently introduced drugs.
-
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Jan 2009
Impact of a prescription monitoring program on doctor-shopping for high dosage buprenorphine.
Doctor-shopping (simultaneous use of several physicians by a patient) is one of the most frequent ways of diversion for prescription drugs. A specific method was used to assess the evolution of doctor-shopping for High Dosage Buprenorphine (HDB) in a French region from 2000 to 2005 and the impact of a prescription monitoring program for HDB implemented in 2004. ⋯ After a four-year increase of the diversion through doctor-shopping for buprenorphine the beginning of the prescription monitoring program was concomitant with a marked decrease of doctor-shopping indicators without notable impact on the access to treatment.
-
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Jan 2009
Prescribing of pain medication in palliative care. A survey in general practice.
To examine what pain and adjuvant medication is prescribed in palliative care patients at home in The Netherlands. ⋯ Weak opioids and laxatives are frequently omitted from pain regimens in palliative care at home in The Netherlands.