scholarly journals Five-year follow-up of an evidence-based prescribing intervention

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 183-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Meagher ◽  
Ananth Pullela ◽  
Marek Meisinger ◽  
Niamh Geaney ◽  
Sinead O'Brien

Aims and MethodWe studied the impact of an evidence-based multidisciplinary intervention to reduce six sub-optimal aspects of psychotropic prescribing, combined as a Prescribing Practice Quality (PPQ) score over a 5-year follow-up period in a community mental health service.ResultsSub-optimal prescribing practices were significantly reduced after 1 year and these improvements were sustained at 5-year follow-up. The PPQ scores were significantly reduced (P<0.001) in both the overall population attending at each follow-up point as well as in the ever-present population (n=163). Use of high-dose antipsychotics and thioridazine ceased entirely; use of sedative hypnotic agents was less amenable to reduction.Clinical ImplicationsMultifaceted interventions can achieve sustained improvements in prescribing practices in real-world settings.

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Moran ◽  
Bangaru Raju ◽  
Jean Saunders ◽  
David Meagher

Aims and MethodPrescribing in everyday practice frequently deviates from evidence-based guidelines. Previous work compared practice in a community mental health service with evidence-based guidelines and identified factors related to suboptimal prescribing. This study reports the impact of a multifaceted intervention on prescribing practice. A Prescribing Practice Quality (PPQ) score was generated from six key aspects of prescribing at initial assessment and again 1 year later after an intervention to reduce suboptimal prescribing practices.ResultsA total of 264 patients were attending the service at both the initial and follow-up phase and were thus exposed to the prescribing intervention. In this population, PPQ scores were significantly lower at follow-up (0.96v.0.67,P<0.001). Improved prescribing practice was predicted by receipt of adjunctive supportive inputs, such as anxiety management (P=0.003).Similarly, mean PPQ scores substantially decreased when the total patient population was considered at each time point (0.75 in 2001 and 0.52 in 2002). These results suggest a reduction in both the initiation and continuation of suboptimal practices.Clinical ImplicationsPrescribing in real-world settings can be improved by interventions that target multiple aspects of service activity. The provision of supportive inputs is a key factor in improving practice.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dion Alperstein ◽  
Jan Copeland

Background: While there is considerable evidence that brief motivational and skills-based interventions for substance use are effective, little is known regarding the transfer of knowledge from research to practice. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two half-day didactic clinical training workshops for allied health workers, which did not incorporate feedback or supervision, via independent follow-up three months post training.Methods: In total, 1322 participants attended either or both of the evidence-based treatment workshops run by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre. Of those participants, 495 (37%) completed an online follow-up evaluation three months later regarding their use of the newly learnt intervention(s).Results: At follow-up, 270 (54.5%) participants had an opportunity to use the skills and 144 (53.3%) of those participants reported having used the clinical skills taught in the workshop. Of those who used one of the interventions, 90 (62.5%) participants reported their clients had reduced or quit their cannabis use. Furthermore, 43 (30%) of these participants had attempted to train others in the workplace in the techniques learnt in the workshop.Conclusion: Even a half-day didactic clinical training workshop on evidence-based brief cognitive–behavioural techniques delivered to clinicians working in the field can improve knowledge and confidence among clinicians and outcomes among their clients with cannabis use related problems.


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 418-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Harrington ◽  
Paul Lelliott ◽  
Carol Paton ◽  
Maria Konsolaki ◽  
Tom Sensky ◽  
...  

Aims and MethodA 1-day census provided an opportunity to examine the variation between 44 mental health services in the frequency of prescribing high doses and polypharmacy of antipsychotic drugs to in-patients on acute psychiatric wards.ResultsThe proportion of patients prescribed a high dose ranged 0–50% and simultaneous use of more than one antipsychotic drug ranged 12–71%. A number of case-mix variables explained 26% and 40%, respectively, of the variance between services on these two indicators of prescribing practice.Clinical ImplicationsServices with high rates of prescription of high dose or polypharmacy might consider a review of clinical practice and of service-level factors that might affect prescribing.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 130-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Brown ◽  
Navjyoat Chhina ◽  
Stephen Dye

Aims and methodTo describe the psychotropic medication given to 332 patients admitted consecutively to seven English psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) by prospective, multicentre case-note analysis.ResultsOverall, 104 (32%) patients received rapid tranquillisation or zuclopenthixol acetate by intramuscular injection; 72 (23%) received more than one regular antipsychotic drug simultaneously. It was reported that 20 patients received high-dose antipsychotic medication, which was probably an underestimate. The use of these interventions varied significantly between different units.Clinical implicationsPotentially risky treatments such as forcible intramuscular medication are a standard part of PICU activity. Further work is needed to clarify the reasons behind the differences in prescribing practices between different PICUs.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 1769-1778
Author(s):  
Joanna G Katzman ◽  
Kathleen Gygi ◽  
Robin Swift ◽  
George Comerci ◽  
Snehal Bhatt ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of Pain Skills Intensive trainings (PSIs) as a complement to the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Chronic Pain and Opioid Management TeleECHO Program (ECHO Pain) collaboration. Design On-site PSIs conducted over two to three days were added to complement ECHO Pain at various IHS areas to enhance pain skills proficiency among primary care teams and to expand the reach of ECHO collaboration to ECHO nonparticipants. Setting This evaluation focuses on two PSI trainings offered to IHS clinicians in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Spokane, Washington, in 2017. Methods The mixed-methods design comprises CME surveys and focus groups at the end of training and 12 to 18 months later. Quality of training and perceived competence were evaluated. Results Thirty-eight participants attended the two PSI workshops. All provided CME survey results, and 28 consented to use of their postsession focus group results. Nine clinicians participated in the virtual follow-up focus groups. IHS clinicians rated the PSIs highly, noting their hands-on and interdisciplinary nature. They reported above-average confidence in their skills. Follow-up focus groups indicated they were pursuing expanded options for their patients, consulting other clinicians, serving as pain consultants to their peers, and changing prescribing practices clinic-wide. However, rurality significantly limits access to ancillary and complementary services for many. Clinicians reported the need for additional training in integrating behavioral health into their practice. Conclusions Hands-on pain skills and information on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are critical to the successful treatment of chronic pain and opioid use disorder. The PSIs provide clinicians with critical competencies in assessment and screening, pain management, and communication skills, complementing required IHS training and telementoring from ECHO Pain.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2891-2891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luznik Leo ◽  
Chen R. Allen ◽  
Kaup Michele ◽  
Bright C. Emilie ◽  
Bolanos-Meade Javier ◽  
...  

Abstract Prolonged pharmacologic immunosuppression is a major obstacle to early immunologic recovery after allogeneic BMT. Based on our results in animal models, we studied whether properly timed high-dose Cy post-HLA matched related and unrelated BMT is an effective strategy for limiting GVHD; we hypothesized that avoiding prolonged immunosuppression would speed immune recovery and reconstitution of regulatory T cells (T regs) thereby decreasing post-transplant complications. We are reporting results on 46 consecutive patients (median age 41, range 1–64) with high-risk hematologic malignancies (20 AML, 12 ALL, 6 NHL, 3 HD, 2 MM, 2 CML, 1 CMMoL); 28 received related and 18 unrelated unmanipulated HLA-matched BM (median of 2.2 x 108 MNC per kg) after conditioning with busulfan on days -7 to -3 and Cy (50 mg/kg/day) on days -2 and -1, and followed by Cy (50 mg/kg/day) on days +3 and +4 as the sole GVHD prophylaxis. All the patients had advanced disease (20 in advanced remission with the rest having refractory disease), and the median follow-up is 13 (range 6–24) months. All but two patients had sustained engraftment. The cumulative incidence of acute grades II–IV and grades III–IV GVHD were 41% and 9%, respectively. All patients with GVHD responded fully to standard therapy (steroids ± tacrolimus) or therapy per BMT CTN0302, and all except 2 patients were rapidly weaned from all immunosuppressive agents. Of the thirty-six patients alive after day 100, only 1 of the 23 patients that received HLA-matched related, and 3 of 13 patients that received unrelated allografts, developed chronic GVHD. Twenty-six (56%) patients are alive, of whom 21 (45%) are in complete remission. There were no deaths secondary to infection or GVHD. CMV reactivation was detected in 11 of 36 (31%) patients, of whom 9 had GVHD. There was no CMV infection. Median (± SEM) CD4+ T cell counts were 99 ± 16/mL and 209 ± 49/mL on days 60 (n = 23) and 180 (n= 8), respectively. Corresponding values for CD8+ T cells were 248 ± 132/mL and 228 ± 161/mL on days 60 and 180, respectively. Patients with grade II–IV GVHD had significantly fewer peripheral blood (PB) CD4+Foxp3+ T cells compared to patients with grade 0–I GVHD (p<0.05). Development of grade II–IV GVHD negatively correlated with the expression of the Foxp3 (p<0.05) and was associated with relatively higher expression of interferon-γ mRNA (p=0.08) in PB, suggesting higher effector function in the absence of Tregs in patients with grade II–IV GVHD. No differences in IL-10 mRNA expression between patients with or without GVHD were found, while significantly higher expression of interleukin-2 mRNA was detected in patients with grade II–IV GVHD (p<0.025). These results indicate that high-dose post-transplantation Cy is effective as a single agent strategy for limiting acute and chronic GVHD after myeloablative HLA-matched related and unrelated allografting; this approach also limits the need for prolonged immunosuppression, resulting in favorable immunoreconstitution with few opportunistic infections in this unfavorable group of patients. Longer follow-up and larger numbers of patients are needed to assess the impact of this strategy on survival.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 1223-1223
Author(s):  
Alessandro Corso ◽  
Silvia Mangiacavalli ◽  
Luciana Barbarano ◽  
Annalisa Citro ◽  
Paola Brasca ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1223 Poster Board I-245 Introduction This study aimed at evaluating the impact of three different pre-transplant therapies on the outcome of patients (pts) eligible for high-dose therapy. Methods two-hundred sixty eight newly diagnosed MM pts aged £65 years, Durie-Salmon stage III, II, or I in progression, were consecutively enrolled from 2000 to 2007 in three different protocols, with three different pre-transplant therapy: Group 1: (145 pts) 3 pulse-VAD cycles; Group 2: (67 pts) 3 pulse-VAD cycles plus 3 Thal-Dex cycles (thalidomide at the dose of 100 mg/day orally at bedtime, continuously for 3 months, oral dexamethasone at the dose of 20 mg on days 1-4 and 14-17 every 28 days); Group 3: (57pts) 4 Vel-Dex courses (Bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1, 4, 8, 11; oral Dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1-4 and 8-11 every 3 weeks). After induction all pts received two DCEP-short cycles as mobilization (oral Dexamethasone 40 mg/day on days 1-4 + Cyclophosphamide 700 mg/m2/day i.v., Etoposide 100 mg/ m2/day i.v., cisPlatin 25 mg/m2/day for 2 days) with peripheral blood stem-cell (PBSC) collection prompted by G-CSF followed by one or two transplants (Tx) with melphalan 200 mg/m2 as conditioning regimen. Response was defined according to IMWG uniform criteria. Pts were considered responsive when obtaining at least a PR. Results pts in the three group were similar for age, gender, Ig type, ISS stage. A significant higher percentage of Durie and Salmon stages III was found in group 3 (83% vs 68% in group 1 and 67% in group 2, p=0.0002). The median follow-up was 46 (1-150) months for group 1, 43 (1-68) months for group 2, and 29.7 (1-79) months for group 3. At the time of this analysis in the three groups 51%, 65%, 90% of transplanted pts respectively were still alive, and progression after transplant was registered in 84%, 80%, 50% respectively. Patient flow before Tx was similar (p=0.45): 19% in group 1, 27% in group 2, 23% in group 3. In group 1, 2% of pts went off-study after VAD, and 17% after mobilization phase. In group 2, patient flow was equally distributed: 7% after pulse VAD, 10% after thal-dex, 9% after DCEP. In group 3, 12% of the pts went off-study after Vel-Dex, 11% after DCEP. Table 1 summarized responses. In group 3 (Vel-Dex) response was better along all protocol phases with respect to group 1 or 2 (p<0.00001). The number of responsive pts progressively increased from 87% after Vel-Dex (CR 31%), to 96% after transplant (CR 38%). Response rates of group 1 and 2 patients were not significantly different either after induction (p=0.6), after DCEP (p=0.5), and after Tx (p=0.65). On intention to treat basis, vel-dex induction produced a better, although not significant, PFS (34.6 months vs 29 in group 1 and 26.8 in group 2, p=0.56). OS were not statistically different among the three groups, event though the different follow-up could affect the analysis (median OS 110 in group 1, 66 months in group 2, and not reached in group 3, p=0.37). In multivariate analysis PFS was improved only by the achievement of CR (p=0.001). No significant difference was observed between VGPR or PR (p=0.43). Conclusion In this study, only CR not VGPR impacts on the outcome. Vel-Dex producing a significant high CR rate after TX (38%), seems to improve survival of MM patients candidate to high-dose therapy with respect to conventional pre-transplant strategies. Disclosures Morra: Roche:.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 2854-2854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Stilgenbauer ◽  
Florence Cymbalista ◽  
Véronique Leblond ◽  
Alain Delmer ◽  
Dirk Winkler ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2854 Alemtuzumab (A) proved to be efficacious in CLL patients (pts) with very poor prognosis, either due to fludarabine (F) refractoriness or due to unfavorable cytogenetics (17p-). However, rate and duration of remissions still remain unsatisfactory. Therefore, the French and German CLL study groups jointly embarked on this trial, trying to achieve higher overall response rates (ORR) by adding high-dose dexamethasone (D) to A and, simultaneously, investigating the consolidation effect of prolonged A maintenance or allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (allo-SCT), respectively. Induction treatment consisted of subcutaneous A 30 mg weekly × 3 for 28 days, combined with oral D 40 mg on days 1–4 and 15–18, and prophylactic pegfilgrastim 6 mg on days 1 and 15. Depending on the remission status, pts were treated for up to 12 weeks. If CR was documented at 4 or 8 weeks, or at least SD was achieved at 12 weeks, consolidation was scheduled with either allo-SCT or A maintenance with 30 mg every 14 days for up to 2 years (y), at the discretion of pt and physician. Between January 2008 and July 2011, 124 pts were recruited at 26 centers, 120 of whom were eligible. Pts were generally subdivided into three cohorts: 55 pts were refractory (i.e. no response or relapse within 6 months) to regimens containing F or a similar drug (i.e. pentostatin, cladribine, bendamustine). Non-refractory pts all exhibited 17p- and had either untreated (n=39) or relapsed CLL (n = 26) requiring therapy. The median age was high with 66/64/66 y in 17p- 1st line, 17p- relapse, and F-refractory pts, respectively. The three cohorts had 46/54/75% Binet C disease, 41/35/27% B symptoms, 38/42/53% reduced performance status (ECOG 1/2), median thymidine kinase levels of 35/49/24 U/L, median ß2MG levels of 3.8/5.5/4.6 mg/L, and IGHV was unmutated in 89/96/87%. In the F-refractory group, 53% exhibited 17p deletion and 22% had 11q deletion. Pretreated patients had received a median of 3 (F-refractory) or 2 prior lines (17p- relapse). 5 pts had previously undergone autologous and 1 pt allo-SCT. Treatment and efficacy data are currently available for 87 pts who completed induction therapy :17p- 1st-line (n=30), 17p- relapse (n=17), and F-refractory (n=40). Of these, 80/53/55% received the full induction of 12 weeks. ORR (best observed status) was generally high with 97/76/70%. CR was achieved in 20/0/5%. After a median follow-up of 11.8 months (mo), median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.9/10.4/8.4 mo. Deaths are recorded in 13/27/36% of pts, with median overall survival (OS) not yet reached (>24 mo) in the 17p- 1st line group, and 15/12 mo in 17p- relapse/F-refractory pts. Consolidation treatment was performed as maintenance A (median duration 32 weeks, range 2 – 89) in 34%, and allo-SCT in 30%, with a median age of 66 and 61 y in these subgroups. The main reasons for going off-study without consolidation were death due to infection (14%, n=11, of these 6 without response, and 10 in the F-refractory cohort), CLL progression (12%), and other toxicity (5%). Among the 28 pts not receiving consolidation, there were 19 (68%) deaths, 15 of them in the F-refractory cohort. When comparing A maintenance and allo-SCT for consolidation, there were 9 (35%) and 7 (30%) PD events, respectively and there was so far no significant difference in PFS (median 17 mo in both groups) or OS. During induction, grade 3/4 hematotoxicity consisted of anemia in 28%, neutropenia in 47%, and thrombopenia in 44%. Grade 3/4 non-CMV infection occurred in 29% of 17p- 1st-line, 15% of 17p- relapsed, and 56% of F-refractory pts. CMV reactivation was observed in 54/25/40%, without severe sequelae recorded. During A maintenance, grade 3/4 toxicity consisted of neutropenia in 39% pts and thrombopenia in 4% pts with 6 SAEs (ITP, diarrhea, infection, erythema, tachycardia, and thrombosis). Conclusions: The combination of A and D shows high response rates in ultra high-risk CLL, with promising preliminary findings for PFS and OS, despite the high median age of the pts. The results compare favorably to ORR/CR of 68%/5%, and median PFS of 11.3 mo in the 17p- subgroup of the CLL8 study treated with FCR, consisting of younger pts (median 61 y). In F-refractory CLL however, when compared to the preceding CLL2H study with single agent A, the improved initial response by adding dexamethasone does not seem to translate into improved long-term results. More mature follow-up is needed, especially with respect to the impact of allo-SCT. Disclosures: Stilgenbauer: Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Alemtuzumab in 1st line CLL treatment. Cymbalista:Roche (d) Mundipharma (e) Genzyme (e): Honoraria, Research Funding. Hinke:WiSP (CRO): Employment.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 5492-5492
Author(s):  
Victor H Jimenez-Zepeda ◽  
Peter Duggan ◽  
Paola Neri ◽  
Ahsan Chaudhry ◽  
Joanne Luider ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Preclinical and clinical data suggest that bortezomib in combination with high-dose melphalan (Bor-HDM) provides with a synergistic effect able to improve response for MM patients undergoing auto-SCT. In the present study, patients receiving Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib and Dexamethasone (CyBorD) induction followed by ASCT with Bor-HDM and HDM alone were evaluated. Methods All consecutive patients treated with CyBorD induction at our center from 01/2010 to 01/2015 were evaluated. All patients received induction chemotherapy before undergoing auto-SCT. Patients received conditioning with either HDM at 200 mg/m2 (or adjusted as per renal failure) or HDM with Bortezomib (Bor-HDM). Definitions of response and progression were used according to the EBMT modified criteria. MRD negativity was assessed by flow cytometry at day-100 post-ASCT. Results Clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1. Among 66 cases receiving CyBorD induction, 42 were conditioned with Bor-HDM and 24 with HDM. At the time of analysis, 90.5% and 91.7% of patients in the Bor-HDM and HDM group are still alive and 4 and 5 patients have already progressed, respectively. At day-100 post ASCT, ORR of 97%, with CR/VGPR rate of 81% was seen in the Bor-HDM group compared to 91% and 70% in the HDM group (p=0.2). MRD negativity was higher in the Bor-HDM group (29.2%) compared to HDM (9%) (p=0.04). Median OS and PFS was similar for Bor-HDM and HDM (p=0.8) with a median follow-up of 12 months. In conclusion, CyBorD is an efficacious regimen for patients with MM and overall seemed to be well tolerated. Our data is one of the first to show the impact of this regimen on MRD negativity rates after receiving HDM or Bor-HDM conditioning, suggesting that higher rates of MRD negativity are seen with Bor-HDM. Further evaluation on a prospective manner and longer follow-up is required to assess the impact of Bor-HDM on OS and PFS. Table 1. Clinical Characteristics of patients with MM undergoing single auto-ASCT treated with CyBorD induction at our Institution Characteristic HDM (n=24) Bor-HDM (42) Age (median) 55 57 GenderMaleFemale 19 (79.1%)5 (20.9%) 25 (59.5%)17 (40.5%) Hb (g/L) 104 (75-157) 106 (76-139) Calcium (µmol/L) 2.3 (1.92-3.28) 2.3 (1.97-3.12) Creatinine (µmol/L) 86 (60-426) 84 (49-950) B2microglobulin (µmol/L) 2.73 (1.55-14.7) 3.41 (1.47-8.47) Albumin (g/L) 32 (21-43) 31 (16-42) Stage IStage IIStage III 7 (29.1%)14 (58.3%)3 (12.5%) 6 (14.2%)25 (59.5%)11 (26.1%) LDH (IU/L) 172 (71-448) 192 (103-669) BMPC (%) 32% (5-84%) 38% (5-90%) Heavy chain:IgGIgAIgDBiclonalIgMFLC oncly 17(70.8%)4 (16.6%)01 (4.1%)0 (1.5%)2 (8.3%) 22 (52.3%)10 (23.8%)01 (2.3%)1 (2.3%)8 (19%) Light chain:KappaLambdaBiclonal 17 (77.2%)5 (20.8%)1 (2%) 21 (50%)20 (47.6%)1 (2.3%) High risk (t(4;14), t(14;16), p53 del, del 13q by CCStandard risk 9 (37.5%)15 (62.5%) 11 (26.1%)31 (73.9%) BMPC: Bone marrow plasma cells; FLC: Free-light chains only; CC: Conventional cytogenetics Disclosures Jimenez-Zepeda: J&J: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Duggan:Jansen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Neri:Celgene: Research Funding. Bahlis:Johnson & Johnson: Speakers Bureau; Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.


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