scholarly journals Prescribing safely in elderly psychiatric wards: survey of possible drug interactions

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 417-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshya Vasudev ◽  
Richard Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Drug Prescriptions ◽  
National Formulary ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pharmaceutical Society ◽  
Multiple Drugs ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Aims and MethodA cross-sectional survey of patient drug prescriptions on two elderly psychiatric wards was carried out to estimate the potential of drug–drug interactions. Two standardised databases, British National Formulary (BNF; British Medical Association & Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 2007) and Upto Date (www.uptodate.com/), were employed.ResultsA majority (96%) of drug prescriptions in our study could potentially cause drug–drug interactions. Most patients were on multiple drugs (on average eight drugs per patient). There was poor concordance between the two databases: BNF picked up fewer cases of potential drug–drug interactions than Upto Date (43 v. 152 instances) and they also estimated the potential for hazardousness differently.Clinical ImplicationsPolypharmacy is common in elderly psychiatric patients and this increases the possibility of a drug–drug interaction. Estimating the risk of interactions depends on a sound knowledge in therapeutics and/or referring to a standardised source of information. the results of this study question the concordance of two well-referenced databases.

scholarly journals Assessment of Physician's Knowledge of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions: An Online Survey in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yuan ◽  
Chunying Shen ◽  
Chengnan Wang ◽  
Gang Shen ◽  
Bing Han
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Source Of Information

Background: Drug interactions are the most common preventable cause of adverse drug reaction, which may result in drug toxicity or undesired therapeutic effect with harmful outcomes to patients. Given the rising use of combination therapies, the main objectives of this study were to estimate the degree to which physicians can identify potential drug-drug interactions (PDDIs) correctly and to describe the common source of information used by physicians when they need to check PDDIs.Methods: A cross-sectional survey utilizing a self-administered online questionnaire was conducted among physicians in China. Participants were asked to classify 20 drug pairs as “no interaction,” “may be used together with monitoring,” “contraindication,” and “not sure.” We also collected data on the physician's source of information and altitude toward the PDDIs. An ordinary least square regression model was performed to investigate the potential predictors of PDDI knowledge.Results: Eligible questionnaires were obtained from 618 physicians. The respondents classified correctly 6.7 out of 20 drug pairs, or 33.4% of the drug interactions investigated. The number of drug pairs recognized by respondents was ranged from 0 to 16. The percentage of physicians who recognized specific drug pairs ranged from 8.3% for no interactions between conjugated estrogens and raloxifene, to 64.0% for the interaction between dopamine and phenytoin. When the respondents want to check PDDI information, the most commonly used source of information was package inserts (n = 572, 92.6%), followed by the Internet or mobile Apps (n = 424, 68.6%), consultation with clinical pharmacists (n = 384, 62.1%), medical textbooks (n = 374, 60.5%), knowledge base in Chinese (n = 283, 45.8%), and other physicians (n = 366, 59.2%). In the multiple regression analysis, the significant predictors of a higher number of recognized drug pairs were years of practice and altitudes toward PDDIs.Conclusion: In this online survey accessing physician's ability to detect PDDIs, less than half of the drug pairs were recognized, indicating unsatisfactory level of knowledge about the clinically significant drug interactions. Continuing education and accessible electronic database can help physicians detecting PDDIs and improve drug safety.

scholarly journals Over-the-Counter Drugs and Complementary Medications Use among Children in Southern Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Pileggi ◽  
Valentina Mascaro ◽  
Aida Bianco ◽  
Maria Pavia
Keyword(s):  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Source Of Information

The use of nonprescription medicines (NPDs) for children illnesses without a doctor’s suggestion can lead to unnecessary medication use and is not free of risks. The aim of our study was to examine attitudes and practice of parents towards NPDs use for their children. We also investigated the conditions that may predict NPDs use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on parents of children attending Community Based Pediatrician (CBP) consultation and data were collected through structured interviews. Positive attitude on NPDs use was reported by 71.4% of parents, and 61.5% of them had administered NPDs in the previous 6 months. Antipyretic drugs were the most frequently used medication class without the supervision of the CBP. A positive attitude towards NPDs was significantly more frequent in parents who did not use the CBP as the sole source of information about drugs. The study demonstrated a widespread use of NPDs in children in our context, supported by a substantial positive attitude towards their safety. However, considering potential harms related to some NPDs and the finding that most parents rely on CBP advice, role of CBP on appropriate use of NPDs by parents should be emphasized.

scholarly journals POTENTIAL DRUG INTERACTIONS IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN LIWA DISTRICT HOSPITAL, LAMPUNG BARAT, INDONESIA

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Erna Yanti ◽  
Erna - Kristin ◽  
Alfi Yasmina
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Antihypertensive Agents ◽  
Potential Interaction ◽  
Multiple Drug ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Multiple Drugs ◽  
Potential Interactions

Objective: Patients with hypertension often suffer from other comorbidities, resulting in prescriptions of multiple drugs to treat the conditions. Multiple drug treatment is potentially associated with drug interactions. This aim of the study was to assess potential drug interactions in hypertensive patients in Liwa District Hospital.Methods: The design of the study was cross-sectional. The prescriptions for in-patients with essential hypertension in the Internal Medicine Unit in Liwa District Hospital during April-December 2012 were collected. Potential drug interactions were analyzed with the Drug Interaction Facts version 4.0, and classified into minor, significant, and serious.Results: A total of 60 hypertensive patients were included. They were prescribed 265 prescriptions, with a median total of 6 (range 1-21) drugs prescribed per prescription. There were 1616 potential drug interactions, with 6 (1-31) potential interactions per prescription. Most interactions (75.6%) were classified as significant. Serious potential interactions were most common in the combinations of diltiazem-amlodipine and spironolactone-potassium chloride, while significant potential interaction may occur most often with the combinations of calcium chloride-amlodipine and bisoprolol-amlodipine.Conclusion: Numerous potential drug interactions might occur in hypertensive patients, and most interactions were significant in severity. The largest proportion of the interactions occurred between antihypertensive agents and other drugs. 

scholarly journals Relationship of Anxiety and Depression with Respiratory Symptoms: Comparison between Depressed and Non-Depressed Smokers in Singapore

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrus SH Ho ◽  
Elysia LY Tan ◽  
Roger CM Ho ◽  
Marcus YL Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

The rising prevalence of smokers in the community, specifically psychiatric patients, necessitates smoking cessation as an important strategy for reducing the harmful effects of tobacco. This study aims to compare the profiles of depressed and non-depressed smokers and evaluate how psychiatric symptoms influence respiratory symptoms. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 276 non-depressed adult smokers in the community and 69 adult smokers who had been formally diagnosed with depression in the outpatient clinic of a University Hospital in Singapore. Participants were administered questionnaires on smoking attitudes and perceptions, psychiatric symptoms, and respiratory symptoms. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The mean age of smokers in the study was 35.32 ± 13.05 years. Smokers in the community and psychiatric samples were largely similar on all of the sociodemographic factors, except that fewer depressed people were employed (χ2 = 8.35, p < 0.01). Smokers with depression also reported more attempts to quit smoking (χ2 = 7.14, p < 0.05), higher mean depressive, anxiety, and stress symptom (DASS) scores (t = −10.04, p < 0.01), and endorsed more respiratory symptoms than smokers in the community (t = −2.40, p < 0.05). The DASS scores, number of cigarettes smoked daily, years of smoking, general perception of smokers getting heart disease, and presence of lung disease were positively and significantly correlated with respiratory symptoms. On multiple regression, only anxiety symptoms (β = 0.26, p < 0.05) and the presence of lung disease (β = 0.22, p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with respiratory symptoms. Depressed smokers reported greater difficulty in quitting tobacco use, and they perceived more severe respiratory symptoms compared to non-depressed counterparts. Anxiety symptoms were positively associated with the severity of respiratory symptoms. Smoking cessation campaigns need to specifically target psychological symptoms in smokers and focus more psychoeducation on the risk of cardiovascular disease in the middle-aged population.

scholarly journals Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) among Pediatric Dentists during Lockdown Period

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni ◽  
Sivakumar Nuvvula ◽  
Jaya Chandra Bhumireddy ◽  
Ahmad Faisal Ismail ◽  
Priya Verma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Private Practitioners ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pediatric Dentists ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Source Of Information

Aim: To assess the knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 among pediatric dentists based on their dependent source of information. Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire with 23 questions was sent via Google forms to pediatric dentists. All participants were divided into three groups [postgraduate residents (PGs), private practitioners (PP), and faculty (F)]. The comparison of knowledge and perception scores was made based on occupation, source of information, and descriptive statistics used for the analysis using SPSS 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: A total of 291 pediatric dentists completed the survey, and the majority of them were females (65%). Overall, good mean scores were obtained for knowledge (9.2 ± 1.07) and perceptions (5.6 ± 1.5). The majority of the participants used health authorities (45%) to obtain updates on COVID-19, while social media (35.1%) and both (19.6%) accounted for the next two. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found among different pediatric dentists groups for relying on the source of information. Conclusion: Overall good pediatric dentists showed sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19. The pediatric dentists’ age, occupation, and source of information influenced knowledge regarding COVID-19, whereas perceptions were influenced by age and gender of the participants. Health authorities successfully educated pediatric dentists than the social media

scholarly journals Prescription for psychiatric patients in a Brazilian public hospital: cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 0362
Author(s):  
Maria R. Fernandes ◽  
Laura J. Lopes ◽  
Milla P. Rocha ◽  
Laís P. Almeida ◽  
Tânia R. Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Public Hospital ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Inappropriate Prescriptions

Background: The growing use of psychotropic drugs has been attributed to a higher frequency of psychiatric disorders diagnosed, interaction of new drugs on the pharmaceutical market, and new therapeutic indications of existing drugs. Given this scenario, the adequacy of the use of psychotropic drugs needs to be analyzed considering the scientific evidences. Objectives: To assess the appropriateness of drug prescriptions used by psychiatric patients in a public hospital in Sorocaba, according to the best available scientific evidence, and to describe the profile of this population. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from clinical records of patients with psychiatric disorders hospitalized in the psychiatric sector of the Sorocaba Hospital Complex, state of São Paulo, Brazil, between August 2015 and December 2016. The outcomes measured were: inappropriate use, presence of contraindication and serious or contraindicated drug interactions, according to the information available on the Dynamed® and Micromedex® 2.0 databases. Results: Patients were predominantly adults, and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder. Antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and lithium accounted for 84.0% (n=2,938) of the 3,500 drugs prescribed for mental disorders. There were 2,157 (61.6%) inappropriate prescriptions, of which 81.9% corresponded to antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and lithium. There were 1,712 prescriptions with drug combinations that risked causing drug interactions, predominantly involving antipsychotic use (67.0%). Conclusion: The study revealed a high number of inappropriate prescriptions, pointing to a need for greater prescription adequacy to ensure effective safe treatment for psychiatric patients.

scholarly journals Iodine Content of Salt in Retail Shops and Retailers’ Knowledge on Iodized Salt in Wa East District, Upper West Region, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Prince Kubi Appiah ◽  
Georgina Agartha Fenu ◽  
Francis Wadga-Mieza Yankey
Keyword(s):  
Educational Level ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Iodine Content ◽  
Iodized Salt ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Salt Iodization ◽  
Source Of Information

Background. There are laws to enforce the universal iodization of salt to check the consequences of iodine deficiency in Ghana. These laws are to ensure that there are production and sales of iodized salt in the country. Yet, the availability of iodized salt in the county's households is still not encouraging, with data indicating that 93.8% of children have urine iodine <100 μg/dl. Hence, the study investigated the iodine content of salt in retail shops and knowledge of iodized salt among retailers in the Wa East District. The study will help the informed decision on strengthening and enforcing laws to achieve the universal salt iodization and the consumption of adequate iodized salt. Method. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. We used a questionnaire to collect quantitative data from participants and a rapid field test kits to determine the iodine content of salt. STATA version 14.2 was used to analyse data. Chi-squared and logistic regression models were used to examine the association between the dependent and independent variables and considered p value <0.05 as statistically significant. Findings. The retailers’ primary source of information about iodized salt was health workers (46.2%), with the majority (52.8%) of them having low knowledge of iodized salt. Notwithstanding the high knowledge of iodized salt, as high as 53.8% of the salts do not have adequate iodine (<15 ppm). Retailer’s sex (p=0.014), educational level (p=0.006), primary source of information about iodized salt (p=0.012), texture of salt being sold (p=0.023), and mode of displaying salt in the shop (p=0.003) were associated with knowledge of iodised salt. Again, retailer’s educational level (p=0.036), knowledge of iodized salt (p=0.034), texture of salt being sold (p=0.021), and method of displaying the salt being sold (p=0.004) were associated with an iodine content of the salt in the shop. Conclusions. Though policies have been implemented to promote production and consumption of iodized salt, the iodine content of salt in retail shops in the Wa East are not encouraging. We recommend the establishment of checkpoints along the production and distribution chain to ensure salt with adequate iodine reaches the consumer. Again, traders of iodized salt should have regular training on ways to preserve salt to maintain its iodine content.

Stigma and attitudes towards mental illness: Gender differences in a sample of Italian medical students

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S739-S739 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pascucci ◽  
M. La Montagna ◽  
D. Di Sabatino ◽  
E. Stella ◽  
R. Nicastro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Students Attitudes

Introductionstigma in mental illness is characterized by discrimination towards people affected by mental disorder. Consequence of the paradigm “stigma-injury-discrimination” is the social exclusion of these patients and the denial of their rights. Medical students, those who should be important reference points for psychiatric patients, are instead one of the categories that contribute to their stigmatization.ObjectivesTo study the attitudes of medical students towards psychiatric patients.AimsThe present study analyzes gender differences in a sample of Italian medical students towards mental illness.MethodsA total of 339 Italian medical students completed a cross-sectional survey, in Rome and Foggia (Italy). We used the Italian version of Community Attitude towards the Mentally Ill test (CAMI) to analyze the students’ attitudes.ResultsThere is a substantial difference among the attitudes towards mental disorders in female and male students. Female students have obtained less stigmatizing results in 9 of the CAMI test items (P < 0.05), in Benevolence (P = 0.001) and Social Restrictiveness subscales (P = 0.043) and in the total score (P = 0.013).ConclusionsThese results are in line with those achieved in scientific literature, confirming that women tend to show more humanitarian attitude towards the mentally ill. Even in the original article of the validation of the CAMI test, the authors found better attitudes in women in all subscales, with the exception of Social Restrictiveness subscale (that in our analysis also correlates with the female gender).Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The Differential Impact of Lockdown Measures Upon Migrant and Female Psychiatric Patients – A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Psychiatric Hospital in Berlin, Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Moran ◽  
Joachim Bretz ◽  
Johanna Winkler ◽  
Stefan Gutwinski ◽  
Eva J. Brandl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
Media Consumption ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Differential Vulnerability ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Effects Of Media

The COVID-19 pandemic could have major effects on already vulnerable individuals with psychiatric disorders. It is important to assess how different patient groups respond to stress related to the pandemic, and what additional factors influence it, including family-related stress, migration background, and sex. We conducted a survey in a sample of 294 psychiatric patients in a large outpatient clinic in Berlin, measuring level of distress in relation to COVID-19 lockdown as well as family-related distress. We also measured potential influencing factors such as media consumption and medical support. In the migration background group, we found that women had more lockdown related psychological distress than men. This was not apparent in those patients with a German background. We found that females were more strongly affected by family-related distress, particularly those with a migration background. People with PTSD were most strongly affected by family-related distress, whereas people with psychotic disorders and addiction reported the least distress. There were no effects of media consumption. There were no differences in ability to abide by the lockdown related restrictions across diagnoses. Our results support earlier findings on differential vulnerability of diagnostic groups to these stressors. Thus, clinicians can optimize treatment by taking family-related stressors into account particularly for females and people with a migrant background.

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