Communication Key to Cut Adverse Drug Events

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
BRUCE K. DIXON
Keyword(s):  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
Omotayo Fatokun

Background: While off-label drug use is common and sometimes necessary, it also presents considerable risks. Therefore, measures intended to prevent or reduce the potential exposure to off-label risks have been recommended. However, little is known about community pharmacists’ beliefs regarding these measures in Malaysia. Objectives: This study examined community pharmacists’ beliefs towards risk minimization measures in off-label drug use in Malaysia and assessed the relationship between perceived risk of off-label drug use and beliefs towards risk minimization measures. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 154 pharmacists practicing in randomly selected community pharmacies in Kuala Lumpur and the State of Selangor, Malaysia. Results: The majority agreed or strongly agreed that adverse drug events from the off-label drug should be reported to the regulatory authority (90.9%) and the off-label drug should only be used when the benefit outweighs potential risks (88.3%). Less than half (48.1%) agreed or strongly agreed that written informed consent should be obtained before dispensing off-label drugs and a majority (63.7%) agreed or strongly agreed that the informed consent process will be burdensome to healthcare professionals. Beliefs towards risk minimization measures were significantly associated with perceived risk of off-label drug use regarding efficacy (p = 0. 033), safety (p = 0.001), adverse drug rection (p = 0.001) and medication errors (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The community pharmacists have positive beliefs towards most of the risk minimization measures. However, beliefs towards written informed consent requirements are not encouraging. Enhancing risk perception may help influence positive beliefs towards risk minimization measures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S98-S98
Author(s):  
Corey J Medler ◽  
Mary Whitney ◽  
Juan Galvan-Cruz ◽  
Ron Kendall ◽  
Rachel Kenney ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Unnecessary and prolonged IV vancomycin exposure increases risk of adverse drug events, notably nephrotoxicity, which may result in prolonged hospital length of stay. The purpose of this study is to identify areas of improvement in antimicrobial stewardship for vancomycin appropriateness by clinical pharmacists at the time of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Methods Retrospective, observational cohort study at an academic medical center and a community hospital. Inclusion: patient over 18 years, received at least three days of IV vancomycin where the clinical pharmacy TDM service assessed for appropriate continuation for hospital admission between June 19, 2019 and June 30, 2019. Exclusion: vancomycin prophylaxis or administered by routes other than IV. Primary outcome was to determine the frequency and clinical components of inappropriate vancomycin continuation at the time of TDM. Inappropriate vancomycin continuation was defined as cultures positive for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant bacteria, and non-purulent skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) in the absence of vasopressors. Data was reported using descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency. Results 167 patients met inclusion criteria with 38.3% from the ICU. SSTIs were most common indication 39 (23.4%) cases, followed by pneumonia and blood with 34 (20.4%) cases each. At time of vancomycin TDM assessment, vancomycin continuation was appropriate 59.3% of the time. Mean of 4.22 ± 2.69 days of appropriate vancomycin use, 2.18 ± 2.47 days of inappropriate use, and total duration 5.42 ± 2.94. 16.4% patients developed an AKI. Majority of missed opportunities were attributed to non-purulent SSTI (28.2%) and missed MRSA nares swabs in 21% pneumonia cases (table 1). Conclusion Vancomycin is used extensively for empiric treatment of presumed infections. Appropriate de-escalation of vancomycin therapy is important to decrease the incidence of adverse effects, decreasing hospital length of stay, and reduce development of resistance. According to the mean duration of inappropriate therapy, there are opportunities for pharmacy and antibiotic stewardship involvement at the time of TDM to optimize patient care (table 1). Missed opportunities for vancomycin de-escalation Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
pp. 106002802110320
Author(s):  
Heather G. Allore ◽  
Danijela Gnjidic ◽  
Melissa Skanderson ◽  
Ling Han

Background Potentially inappropriate medication (PIMs) use is common in older inpatients and it may lead to increased risk of adverse drug events. Objectives To examine prevalence of PIMs at hospital discharge and its contribution to health care utilization and mortality within 30-days of hospital discharge. Methods This was a prospective cohort of 117 570 veterans aged ≥65 years and hospitalized in 2013. PIMs at discharge were categorized into central nervous system acting (CNS) and non-CNS. Outcomes within 30-days of hospital discharge were: (1) time to first acute care hospital readmission, and all-cause mortality, (2) an emergency room visit, and (3) ≥3 primary care clinic visits. Results The cohort’s mean age was 74.3 years (SD 8.1), with 51.3% exposed to CNS and 62.8% to non-CNS PIMs. Use of CNS and non-CNS PIMs, respectively, was associated with a reduced risk of readmission, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.93 (95% CI = 0.89-0.96) for ≥2 (vs 0) CNS PIMs and an aHR of 0.85 (95% CI = 0.82-0.88) for ≥2 (vs 0) non-CNS PIMs. Use of CNS PIMs (≥2 vs 0) was associated with increased risk of mortality (aHR = 1.37 [95% CI = 1.25-1.51]), whereas non-CNS PIMs use was associated with a reduced risk of mortality (aHR = 0.75 [95% CI = 0.69-0.82]). Conclusion and Relevance PIMs were highly common in this veteran cohort, and the association with outcomes differed by PIMs. Thus, it is important to consider whether PIMs are CNS acting to optimize short-term posthospitalization outcomes.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Hau ◽  
Penelope M. A. Brasher ◽  
Amber Cragg ◽  
Serena Small ◽  
Maeve Wickham ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Repeat exposures to culprit medications are a common cause of preventable adverse drug events. Health information technologies have the potential to reduce repeat adverse drug events by improving information continuity. However, they rarely interoperate to ensure providers can view adverse drug events documented in other systems. We designed ActionADE to enable rapid documentation of adverse drug events and communication of standardized information across health sectors by integrating with legacy systems. We will leverage ActionADE’s implementation to conduct two parallel, randomized trials: patients with adverse drug reactions in the main trial and those diagnosed with non-adherence in a secondary trial. Primary objective of the main trial is to evaluate the effects of providing information continuity about adverse drug reactions on culprit medication re-dispensations over 12 months. Primary objective of the secondary trial is to evaluate the effect of providing information continuity on adherence over 12 months. Methods We will conduct two parallel group, triple-blind randomized controlled trials in participating hospitals in British Columbia, Canada. We will enroll adults presenting to hospital with an adverse drug event to prescribed outpatient medication. Clinicians will document the adverse drug event in ActionADE. The software will use an algorithm to determine patient eligibility and allocate eligible patients to experimental or control. In the experimental arm, ActionADE will transmit information to PharmaNet, where adverse drug event information will be displayed in community pharmacies when re-dispensations are attempted. In the control arm, ActionADE will retain information in the local record. We will enroll 3600 adults with an adverse drug reaction into the main trial. The main trial’s primary outcome is re-dispensation of a culprit or same-class medication within 12 months; the secondary trial’s primary outcome will be adherence to culprit medication. Secondary outcomes include health services utilization and mortality. Discussion These studies have the potential to guide policy decisions and investments needed to drive health information technology integrations to prevent repeat adverse drug events. We present an example of how a health information technology implementation can be leveraged to conduct pragmatic randomized controlled trials. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04568668, NCT04574648. Registered on 1 October 2020.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Habib ◽  
Robyn Tamblyn ◽  
Nadyne Girard ◽  
Tewodros Eguale ◽  
Allen Huang

Abstract Background Administrative health data are increasingly used to detect adverse drug events (ADEs). However, the few studies evaluating diagnostic codes for ADE detection demonstrated low sensitivity, likely due to narrow code sets, physician under-recognition of ADEs, and underreporting in administrative data. The objective of this study was to determine if combining an expanded ICD code set in administrative data with e-prescribing data improves ADE detection. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study among patients newly prescribed antidepressant or antihypertensive medication in primary care and followed for 2 months. Gold standard ADEs were defined as patient-reported symptoms adjudicated as medication-related by a clinical expert. Potential ADEs in administrative data were defined as physician, ED, or hospital visits during follow-up for known adverse effects of the study medication, as identified by ICD codes. Potential ADEs in e-prescribing data were defined as study drug discontinuations or dose changes made during follow-up for safety or effectiveness reasons. Results Of 688 study participants, 445 (64.7%) were female and mean age was 64.2 (SD 13.9). The study drug for 386 (56.1%) patients was an antihypertensive, and for 302 (43.9%) an antidepressant. Using the gold standard definition, 114 (16.6%) patients experienced an ADE, with 40 (10.4%) among antihypertensive users and 74 (24.5%) among antidepressant users. The sensitivity of the expanded ICD code set was 7.0%, of e-prescribing data 9.7%, and of the two combined 14.0%. Specificities were high (86.0–95.0%). The sensitivity of the combined approach increased to 25.8% when analysis was restricted to the 27% of patients who indicated having reported symptoms to a physician. Conclusion Combining an expanded diagnostic code set with e-prescribing data improves ADE detection. As few patients report symptoms to their physician, higher detection rates may be achieved by collecting patient-reported outcomes via emerging digital technologies such as patient portals and mHealth applications.


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