scholarly journals A review of features and characteristics of smart medication adherence products

Author(s):  
Sadaf Faisal ◽  
Jessica Ivo ◽  
Tejal Patel

Background: Smart medication adherence products (smart MAPs) capture and transmit real-time medication intake by using various means of connectivity, allowing for remote monitoring. Numerous such products with different features are available to address medication nonadherence. A comparison of the features of these products is needed for clinical decision-making. Therefore, the objective of this review was to compare smart MAPs available for in-home use. Methods: We searched grey and published literature and videos to identify smart MAPs. To be considered smart, products required 2 features: connectivity (the ability for collected data to exist outside the physical device) and automaticity (the ability for data to be analyzed or processed automatically). Products were excluded if product descriptions were not available in English, not for in-home use and unable to dispense medications. Results: Of the 51 products identified, 38 commercially available and 13 prototypes met the definition. Of these, 75% ( n = 38) contained alarms, 24% ( n = 12) were unit-dose, 63% ( n = 32) were multidose, 43% ( n = 22) had locking features, 41% ( n = 21) were portable and 88% ( n = 45) sent notifications to patients. The cost of marketed products, excluding subscriptions, ranged from $10 to $1500 USD. Some products required a monthly ( n = 16) or yearly ( n = 1) subscription ranging from $10 to $100 USD. Discussion: There is a growing market of smart MAPs for in-home patient use with variable features. Clinicians can use these features to identify and recommend products according to the specific needs of their patients to address medication adherence. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2021;154:xx-xx.

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (9) ◽  
pp. 3812-3820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipti Rao ◽  
Anouk van Berkel ◽  
Ianthe Piscaer ◽  
William F Young ◽  
Lucinda Gruber ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Cross-sectional imaging with CT or MRI is regarded as a first-choice modality for tumor localization in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). 123I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) is widely used for functional imaging but the added diagnostic value is controversial. Objective To establish the virtual impact of adding 123I-MIBG scintigraphy to CT or MRI on diagnosis and treatment of PPGL. Design International multicenter retrospective study. Intervention None. Patients Two hundred thirty-six unilateral adrenal, 18 bilateral adrenal, 48 unifocal extra-adrenal, 12 multifocal, and 26 metastatic PPGL. Main Outcome Measures Patients underwent both anatomical imaging (CT and/or MRI) and 123I-MIBG scintigraphy. Local imaging reports were analyzed centrally by two independent observers who were blinded to the diagnosis. Imaging-based diagnoses determined by CT/MRI only, 123I-MIBG only, and CT/MRI combined with 123I-MIBG scintigraphy were compared with the correct diagnoses. Results The rates of correct imaging-based diagnoses determined by CT/MRI only versus CT/MRI plus 123I-MIBG scintigraphy were similar: 89.4 versus 88.8%, respectively (P = 0.50). Adding 123I-MIBG scintigraphy to CT/MRI resulted in a correct change in the imaging-based diagnosis and ensuing virtual treatment in four cases (1.2%: two metastatic instead of nonmetastatic, one multifocal instead of single, one unilateral instead of bilateral adrenal) at the cost of an incorrect change in seven cases (2.1%: four metastatic instead of nonmetastatic, two multifocal instead of unifocal and one bilateral instead of unilateral adrenal). Conclusions For the initial localization of PPGL, the addition of 123I-MIBG scintigraphy to CT/MRI rarely improves the diagnostic accuracy at the cost of incorrect interpretation in others, even when 123I-MIBG scintigraphy is restricted to patients who are at risk for metastatic disease. In this setting, the impact of 123I-MIBG scintigraphy on clinical decision-making appears very limited.


Urology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1021-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G Oefelein ◽  
Adrian Feng ◽  
Michael J Scolieri ◽  
Daniel Ricchiutti ◽  
Martin I Resnick

Author(s):  
Lidia Schapira

Overview: Improving clinician-patient communication, improving clinical decision making, and eliminating mistrust have been identified as three key areas for reducing disparities in care. An important step is the training of cancer professionals to deliver culturally competent care in clinical settings as well as increasing the proportion of underrepresented minorities in the health care workforce. Providing care that is attuned to the patient's cultural preferences begins by talking to the patient about his or her cultural history and identifying the locus of decision making, preferences for disclosure of vital health information, and goals of care. Patients with low literacy and those with poor fluency of the dominant language require additional services. Language interpretation by trained professionals is fundamental to ensure that patients are able to provide informed consent for treatment. A working definition of culture involves multiple dimensions and levels and must be viewed as both dynamic and adaptive, rather than simply as a collection of beliefs and values. Effective cross-cultural education avoids stereotyping and promotes communication and negotiation to solve problems and minimize tension and conflict. Recent research has identified that unconscious biases held by clinicians affect their behavior and recommendations for treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke-Xin Sun ◽  
Bin Cui ◽  
Shan-Shan Cao ◽  
Qi-Xiang Huang ◽  
Ru-Yi Xia ◽  
...  

Background: The drug therapy of venous thromboembolism (VTE) presents a significant economic burden to the health-care system in low- and middle-income countries. To understand which anticoagulation therapy is most cost-effective for clinical decision-making , the cost-effectiveness of apixaban (API) versus rivaroxaban (RIV), dabigatran (DAB), and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), followed by vitamin K antagonist (VKA), in the treatment of VTE in China was assessed.Methods: To access the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), a long-term cost-effectiveness analysis was constructed using a Markov model with 5 health states. The Markov model was developed using patient data collected from the Xijing Hospital from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2021. The time horizon was set at 30 years, and a 6-month cycle length was used in the model. Costs and ICERs were reported in 2020 U.S. dollars. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) were used to test the uncertainties. A Chinese health-care system perspective was used.Results: In the base case, the data of 231 VTE patients were calculated in the base case analysis retrospectively. The RIV group resulted in a mean VTE attributable to 95% effective treatment. API, DAB, and VKA have a negative ICER (−187017.543, −284,674.922, and −9,283.339, respectively) and were absolutely dominated. The Markov model results confirmed this observation. The ICER of the API and RIV was negative (−216176.977), which belongs to the absolute inferiority scheme, and the ICER value of the DAB and VKA versus RIV was positive (110,577.872 and 836,846.343). Since the ICER of DAB and VKA exceeds the threshold, RIV therapy was likely to be the best choice for the treatment of VTE within the acceptable threshold range. The results of the sensitivity analysis revealed that the model output varied mostly with the cost in the DAB on-treatment therapy. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis of 1,000 patients for 30 years, RIV has 100% probability of being cost-effective compared with other regimens when the WTP is $10973 per QALY. When WTP exceeded $148,000, DAB was more cost-effective than RIV.Conclusions: Compared with LMWH + VKA and API, the results proved that RIV may be the most cost-effective treatment for VTE patients in China. Our findings could be helpful for physicians in clinical decision-making to select the appropriate treatment option for VTE.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1466-1475
Author(s):  
Lytske Bakker ◽  
Jos Aarts ◽  
Carin Uyl-de Groot ◽  
William Redekop

Abstract Objective Much has been invested in big data analytics to improve health and reduce costs. However, it is unknown whether these investments have achieved the desired goals. We performed a scoping review to determine the health and economic impact of big data analytics for clinical decision-making. Materials and Methods We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science and the National Health Services Economic Evaluations Database for relevant articles. We included peer-reviewed papers that report the health economic impact of analytics that assist clinical decision-making. We extracted the economic methods and estimated impact and also assessed the quality of the methods used. In addition, we estimated how many studies assessed “big data analytics” based on a broad definition of this term. Results The search yielded 12 133 papers but only 71 studies fulfilled all eligibility criteria. Only a few papers were full economic evaluations; many were performed during development. Papers frequently reported savings for healthcare payers but only 20% also included costs of analytics. Twenty studies examined “big data analytics” and only 7 reported both cost-savings and better outcomes. Discussion The promised potential of big data is not yet reflected in the literature, partly since only a few full and properly performed economic evaluations have been published. This and the lack of a clear definition of “big data” limit policy makers and healthcare professionals from determining which big data initiatives are worth implementing.


1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Seidenstücker ◽  
Wolfgang L. Roth

Psychotherapy can be seen as a complex decision process. First, we clarify some distinctions that have to be made in order to adequately describe and evaluate the state of affairs. Then we illustrate decisions made by clients, semi-professionals, and professionals, and mention descriptive and prescriptive studies in treatment-related decision-making. Next, we focus on questions confronting therapists before and during psychotherapy, i. e., the selection, design, and implementation of an efficient therapy offer. These questions motivate the definition of different pragmatic indication models - the selective, inventive and adaptive models. In the next to last section we describe and comment on assessment strategies and decision rules in the context of therapeutic schools (psychoanalysis, client-centered psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy). In the last section we outline contributions towards general models of decision making in psychological treatments and formulate some conclusions for further research in clinical decision-making.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 756-759
Author(s):  
Duncan Neuhauser

Are pediatric preoperative chest x-ray examinations worth doing? Sane et al. (p. 669) conclude that they are "medically and economically justified and essential." To answer this question requires at least the following information. What is the cost of the examination (dollars, radiation exposure, cost of further testing and perhaps inappropriate therapy resulting therefrom, and possible prolongation of hospital stay)? What is the benefit? What percent of patients have unsuspected findings; of these, the percent with modified treatment; and of these, what percent benefited therefrom? What was the cost per unit of benefit received? Is there some other use of these scarce resources that would have yielded greater benefits?


2017 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 280-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Legg ◽  
D Ramoutar ◽  
F Shivji ◽  
B Choudry ◽  
S Milner

INTRODUCTION Inappropriate referrals to the new patient fracture clinic unnecessarily consume hospital resources and many hospitals lack clear guidelines as to what should be referred. Many of these injuries can be definitively managed by the emergency department. Our aim was to construct and disseminate a clinical decision-making algorithm to reduce the frequency of inappropriate referrals to fracture clinics at our institution, to improve the management of patients with minor injuries and save the hospital and the patient the cost of unnecessary visits. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were prospectively collected for all new fracture clinic referrals over two separate 1-week cycles with cohorts of 94 and 74 patients, respectively. After the first cycle, the referral algorithm was disseminated both electronically (intranet) and orally (presentations to emergency department staff). The results of this intervention were examined in the second cycle, which took place 6 months after the first cycle. RESULTS The introduction of this algorithm significantly reduced inappropriate referrals by almost 20% (P = 0.0445). DISCUSSION This simple intervention highlighted a potential annual cost saving of up to £104,000. We advocate the use of this concise algorithm in improving the efficiency of the referral system to fracture clinics.


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