scholarly journals Initial Medication Adherence by Psychiatric Outpatients in a General Hospital and Relevant Factors

Author(s):  
Minhua Chen ◽  
Lina Zhou ◽  
Li Ye ◽  
Gelin Lin ◽  
Yongli Pang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research proposed two types of medication adherence: initial and long-term. Initial adherence is a predictor of long-term adherence and thus is a crucial metric to explore and support. This study aimed to investigate initial medication adherence by psychiatric outpatients and relevant factors. Methods: The study surveyed psychiatric outpatients using a 30-day timely return visit rate (TRVR) after the first visit to indicate initial adherence. All participants agreed to engage in the self-designed survey and assessments of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and Symptoms Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Clients who missed timely return visits received telephone follow-up to determine the main reasons. Results: The overall TRVR was 59.4%, and 40.6% of clients missed return visits. Logistic regression analysis revealed risk factors for initial adherence were work, tense family atmosphere, negative attitudes towards medication, higher EPQ psychoticism score, and lower SCL-90 phobic anxiety score. The main reasons given for non-timely return visits were improvement suggesting lack of need for a return visit, various limitations, no improvement, and side effects. Conclusion: Psychiatric outpatients had poor initial medication adherence related to multiple dimensional factors, including job, family, personality characteristics, mental status, and thoughts about mental illness and treatments.

Neurosurgery ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1059-1066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongsheng Guo ◽  
Kai Shu ◽  
Rudong Chen ◽  
Changshu Ke ◽  
Yanchang Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the microsurgical results of symptomatic sacral perineurial cysts of 11 patients and to discuss the treatment options of the past 10 years. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of 11 patients with symptomatic sacral perineurial cysts who underwent microsurgical treatment at Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from 1993 through 2006. The philosophy was to perform total or partial cyst wall removal, to imbricate the remaining nerve sheath if possible, and to repair local defect with muscle, Gelfoam (Pharmacia & Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI), and fibrin glue. Patient outcomes were assessed by comparing the preoperative and postoperative examination results. The average follow-up time obtained from return visits to the neurosurgery clinic or by telephone questionnaires ranged from 2 months to 13 years. A literature search and analysis of current treatment options were performed. RESULTS Nine of the 11 patients (82%) experienced complete or substantial relief of their preoperative symptoms. One patient (Patient 4) experienced worsening of bladder dysfunction after surgery and recovered slowly to subnormal function during the subsequent 2 months. The symptoms of Patient 9 did not resolve, and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the cyst had reoccurred. The patient underwent reoperation 3 months later without any improvement. One patient (Patient 11) experience a cerebrospinal fluid leakage complication. Neither new postoperative neurological defects nor infection were observed in our series. In the literature, there are six different treatment options under debate and controversially discussed. CONCLUSION Microsurgical treatment yielded the best long-term resolution of patient symptoms to date and should be recommended to appropriately selected patients.


Author(s):  
Alv A. Dahl ◽  
Sophie D. Fosså ◽  
Bjørn Brennhovd ◽  
Karol Axcrona

Abstract Purpose The personality trait of neuroticism represents vulnerability for mental distress to somatic health problems. There are few studies of neuroticism in prostate cancer patients. This study examines the levels of self-reported adverse effects (AEs) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP) in Norwegian men with high or low levels of neuroticism. Neuroticism is also compared to relevant factors concerning their associations with various AEs. Methods Among 982 men who had RALP at Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet between 2005 and 2010, 79% responded to a mailed questionnaire in 2011. They rated AEs by completing the EPIC-26 questionnaire, and neuroticism on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Men with < 1 year’s follow-up, treatment failure, and incomplete EPQ responses were omitted, leaving 524 men for analysis. The EPQ responses were dichotomized into low and high level of neuroticism. Stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses were used for examination of associations with the EPIC-26 domain scores. Results High neuroticism was reported by 20% (95% CI 17–23%) of the patients. On the EPIC-26 dimensions men with high neuroticism had significantly lower mean scores than men with low neuroticism. Most of these between-group differences were clinically significant. In multivariate regression analyses, high neuroticism contributed significantly to all EPIC-26 domains. Conclusion Increased levels of AEs after RALP are significantly associated with high neuroticism. A short screening test should be added to the current EPIC-26 instrument to identify patients with high neuroticism. In these patients, pre-operative counseling should take into account their risk of increased AE experiences.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira D. Glick ◽  
Daisy Zamora ◽  
Danielle Kamis ◽  
John M. Davis

ObjectiveBecause ethically and practically a randomized control trial of antipsychotics will never be done, we recently conducted and reported a 8- to 50-year, naturalistic follow-up from an academic clinic of patients with chronic schizophrenia on antipsychotic medication. We found that better medication adherence was a statistically significant predictor of better long-term global outcome and life satisfaction. Because there were important limitations on our findings, we now in this communication, using similar methodology, detail outcomes for a very different sample—inner city patients with chronic schizophrenia with a long past history of antipsychotic treatment, who were enrolled in clinical trials for new medications for schizophrenia.MethodsThis is a retrospective, naturalistic, longitudinal 6- to 49-years antipsychotic treatment (mean average, 20) follow-up of a consecutive series of patients volunteering for screening for studies with schizophrenia. Lifetime data were collected on (1) their medication adherence, (2) long-term global outcome, and (3) life satisfaction. Outcomes were rated by 2 different clinicians, 1 with information on medication adherence (nonblind rater) and 1 without (blind rater). We used linear regression models adjusted for age, family support, substance use disorder, race, marital status, and number of years in treatment to estimate the association between adherence and each outcome.ResultsA total of 34 patients were assessed. Medication adherence was positively associated with the blind clinician’s rating of global outcome (P value=0.03) and the global assessment of functioning (P value=0.05). In the nonblinded clinician rating, medication adherence was unrelated to global outcome (P value=0.26) and to patients’ report of life satisfaction (P value=0.54).ConclusionThis replication study, like our previous study, is not inconsistent with the recommendation for continuous, long-term treatment for chronic schizophrenia unless medically contraindicated.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1719-1732 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Schumacher ◽  
W. Rief ◽  
K. Klaus ◽  
E. Brähler ◽  
R. Mewes

BackgroundDSM-5 introduced a fundamental revision of the category of somatoform disorders, which resulted in the new somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and related disorders. However, prognostic validity of SSD remains unclear, while other classification proposals, such as bodily distress disorder (BDD) or polysymptomatic distress disorder (PSDD), might be promising alternatives for the new ICD-11. Therefore, the comparison of the different approaches concerning long-term prognosis of disorder-relevant factors is of special interest.MethodIn a longitudinal design (baseline, 1-year, and 4-year follow-up), the three proposals (SSD, BDD, PSDD) were compared in an age-representative sample of the German general population (N = 321). To this end, the baseline sample was divided into three independent pairs of groups (with/without SSD, with/without BDD, with/without PSDD). It was tested how well each approach differentiated with regard to medium- and long-term healthcare utilization, number of symptoms, and impairment.ResultsCriteria for BDD distinguished best with regard to future healthcare utilization resulting in a large-sized effect (f = 0.44) for the difference between persons with and without BDD, while SSD and PSDD revealed only medium-sized effects (f = 0.28 and f = 0.32) between subjects with and without diagnosis. The three proposals distinguished equally well with regard to future subjective impairment (between f = 0.39 and f = 0.41) and the number of reported symptoms (between f = 0.77 and f = 0.83).ConclusionIn accordance with our data regarding prognostic validity, the current draft of the WHO group is based on the BDD proposal. However, existing limitations and weaknesses of the present proposal for the ICD-11 are further discussed.


CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S83
Author(s):  
D. Giffin ◽  
K. Van Aarsen ◽  
M. Brine ◽  
K. Church ◽  
M. Fotheringham ◽  
...  

Introduction: Depending on the time and day of initial Emergency Department (ED) presentation, some patients may require a return to the ED the following day for ultrasound examination. Return visits for ultrasound may be time and resource intensive for both patients and the ED. Qualitative experience suggests that a percentage of return ultrasounds could be performed at a non-ED facility. Our objective was to undertake a retrospective audit of return for ultrasound usage, patterns and outcomes at 2 academic EDs. Methods: A retrospective review of all adult patients returning to the ED for ultrasound at both LHSC ED sites in 2016 was undertaken. Each chart was independently reviewed by two emergency medicine consultants. Charts were assessed for day and time of initial presentation and return, type of ultrasound ordered, and length of ED stay on initial presentation and return visit. Opinion based questions were considered by reviewers, including urgency of diagnosis clarification required, if symptoms were still present on return, and if any medical or surgical treatment or follow up was arranged based on ultrasound results. Agreement between reviewers was assessed. Results: After eliminating charts for which the return visit was not for a scheduled ultrasound examination, 328 patient charts were reviewed. 63% of patients were female and median [IQR] age was 40 years [27-56]. Abdomen/pelvis represented 50% of the ultrasounds; renal 24%; venous Doppler 15.9%. Symptoms were still present and documented in 79% of cases. 22% of cases required a medical intervention and 9% an immediate surgical intervention. 11% of patients were admitted to hospital on their return visit. Outpatient follow-up based on US results was initiated in 29% of cases. Median [IQR] combined LOS was 479.5 minutes [358.5-621.75]. Agreement between reviewers for opinion based questions was poor (63%-96%). Conclusion: Ideally, formal ultrasound should be available on a 24 hour basis for ED patients in order to avoid return visits. A percentage of return for ultrasound examinations do not result in any significant change in treatment. Emergency departments should consider the development of pathways to avoid return visits for follow up ultrasound when possible. The low incidence of surgical treatment in those returning for US suggests that this population could be served in a non-hospital setting. Further research is required to support this conclusion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-540
Author(s):  
Xiwen Qin ◽  
Joseph Hung ◽  
Tiew-Hwa Katherine Teng ◽  
Tom Briffa ◽  
Frank M. Sanfilippo

Aims: We investigated long-term adherence to renin–angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs) and β-blockers, and associated predictors, in senior patients after hospitalization for heart failure (HF). Methods: A population-based data set identified 4488 patients who survived 60 days following their index hospitalization for HF in Western Australia from 2003 to 2008 with a 3-year follow-up. Their person-linked Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme records identified medications dispensed during follow-up. Drug discontinuation was defined as the first break ≥90 days following the previous supply. Medication adherence was calculated using the proportion of days covered (PDC), with PDC ≥ 80% defined as being adherent. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of PDC < 80%. Results: In the cohort (57% male, mean age: 76.6 years), 77.4% were dispensed a RASI and 52.7% a β-blocker within 60 days postdischarge. Over the 3-year follow-up, 28% and 42% of patients discontinued RASI and β-blockers, respectively. Only 64.6% and 47.5% of RASI and β-blocker users, respectively, were adherent to their treatment over 3 years, with adherence decreasing over time (trend P < .0001 for RASI and trend P = .02 for β-blockers). Older age, increasing Charlson comorbidity score, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independent predictors of PDC < 80% for both drug groups. Conclusion: Among seniors hospitalized for HF, discontinuation gaps were common for RASI and β-blockers postdischarge, and long-term adherence to these medications was suboptimal. Where appropriate, strategies to improve long-term medication adherence are indicated in HF patients, particularly in elderly patients with comorbidities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Parthasarathy Ramamurthy ◽  
Aneesh Alexander ◽  
Susan Solomon ◽  
Pradeep Thilakan ◽  
VishnuVardhan Rudravaram

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e022927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Dillon ◽  
Susan M Smith ◽  
Paul John Gallagher ◽  
Gráinne Cousins

ObjectiveGrowing evidence suggests that older adults are at an increased risk of injurious falls when initiating antihypertensive medication, while the evidence regarding long-term use of antihypertensive medication and the risk of falling is mixed. However, long-term users who stop and start these medications may have a similar risk of falling to initial users of antihypertensive medication. Our aim was to evaluate the association between gaps in antihypertensive medication adherence and injurious falls in older (≥65 years) community-dwelling, long-term (≥≥1 year) antihypertensive users.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingIrish Community Pharmacy.ParticipantsConsecutive participants presenting a prescription for antihypertensive medication to 106 community pharmacies nationwide, community-dwelling, ≥65 years, with no evidence of cognitive impairment, taking antihypertensive medication for ≥1 year (n=938).MeasuresGaps in antihypertensive medication adherence were evaluated from linked dispensing records as the number of 5-day gaps between sequential supplies over the 12-month period prior to baseline. Injurious falls during follow-up were recorded via questionnaire during structured telephone interviews at 12 months.ResultsAt 12 months, 8.1% (n=76) of participants reported an injurious fall requiring medical attention. The mean number of 5-day gaps in medication refill behaviour was 1.47 (SD 1.58). In adjusted, modified Poisson models, 5-day medication refill gaps at baseline were associated with a higher risk of an injurious fall during follow-up (aRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.37, p=0.024).ConclusionEach 5-day gap in antihypertensive refill adherence increased the risk of self-reported injurious falls by 18%. Gaps in antihypertensive adherence may be a marker for increased risk of injurious falls. It is unknown whether adherence-interventions will reduce subsequent risk. This finding is hypothesis generating and should be replicated in similar populations.


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