Monira Alwhaibi

The outcome of pharmacist counseling at the time of hospital discharge: an observational nonrandomized study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Adverse drug events (ADEs) may occur after discharge from acute care hospitalization because of limited instruction on medications at discharge. The right instructions given to patients may reduce the risk of ADEs. The objective of our study was to assess a program involving comprehensive medication counseling provided by pharmacists at the time of discharge from a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. DESIGN AND SETTING A prospective, nonrandomized observational study over a period of 3 months in a 1000-bed tertiary hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients discharged from the internal medicine wards with more than three medications received comprehensive pharmacist counseling. The intervention pharmacist counseled patients about their discharge medications and provided written materials as needed. Topics discussed with the patients included the importance of following prescribed medication regimens and the indications, directions, and any potential side effects of discharge medications. The control group included similar patients who received routine discharge counseling by nurses. Two weeks after discharge, the same pharmacist called the patients and assessed the frequency of ADEs. Two independent clinicians reviewed each ADEs and judged its severity and preventability. RESULTS Out of 200 patients included in the study (100 patients from the intervention group and 100 patients from the control group), 175 patients (87.5%) were successfully contacted two weeks after discharge (88 patients from the intervention group and 87 patients from the control group). ADEs occurred in 2 patients (2.3%) in the intervention group and in 21 patients (24%; 23 incidents in 21 patients) in the control group (P<.001). In the control group, 14 ADEs (61%) were judged as preventable, and 9 (39%) were judged as serious. CONCLUSIONS A comprehensive medication counseling program at hospital discharge reduced the incidence of ADEs two weeks after discharge from a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Further studies assessing the long-term outcomes of such a program are needed.

Type of Multimorbidity and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Adults.

Objective. To examine the association between type of multimorbidity and CAM use among adults with multimorbidity. Methods. The current study used a cross-sectional design with retrospective data from 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Multimorbidity was classified into two groups: (1) adults with coexisting physical and mental illnesses and (2) adults with two or more chronic physical illnesses only. CAM use was measured using a set of 18 variables. Logistic regression and multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess the association between the type of multimorbidity and ever used CAM, CAM use in the past 12 months, and type of CAM. Results. Overall, 31.2% of adults with coexisting physical and mental illnesses and 20.1% of adults with only physical illnesses used CAM in the past 12 months. Adults with coexisting physical and mental illnesses were more likely to ever use CAM (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.49, 1.90), use CAM in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.52), and use mind-body therapies in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.16, 1.59) compared to adults with only physical illnesses. Conclusion. Multimorbidity of chronic physical and mental illnesses was associated with higher CAM use.

Sex Differences in the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions

Objective. To examine sex differences in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among adults with multiple chronic conditions. Methods. This study used a cross-sectional design with data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. The participants were interviewed in 2012 and the reference period for the questions in the survey varied from 1 week to 12 months prior to the interview date. The study included adults (age > 21 years) with no missing data on CAM use variables and who had multiple chronic conditions. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the association between sex and CAM use. Results. A significantly higher percentage of women compared to men had ever used CAM (51.5% versus 44.3%); women were more likely to have ever used CAM (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.35–1.65). Among CAM users, a higher percentage of women compared to men used CAM in the past 12 months (53.5% vs. 42.7%); women were more likely to use CAM in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.49–1.97). Factors associated with CAM use in the past 12 months were different for men and women; income and obesity were associated with CAM use in the past 12 months among women and not among men. Conclusion. Among adults with multiple chronic conditions, women were more likely to use CAM as compared to men.

Depression Treatment and Healthcare Expenditures among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries with Newly-diagnosed Depression and Incident Breast, Colorectal or Prostate Cancer.

Depression is associated with high healthcare expenditures, and depression treatment may reduce healthcare expenditures. However, to date, there have not been any studies on the effect of depression treatment on healthcare expenditures among cancer survivors. Therefore, this study examined the association between depression treatment and healthcare expenditures among elderly with depression and incident cancer.

Depression Treatment Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries With Incident Cases of Cancer and Newly Diagnosed Depression

OBJECTIVE Depression treatment can improve the health outcomes of elderly cancer survivors. There is a paucity of studies on the extent to which depression is treated among elderly cancer survivors. Therefore, this study estimated the rates of depression treatment among elderly cancer survivors and identified the factors affecting depression treatment. METHODS A retrospective cohort study design was adopted, and data were obtained from the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) and Medicare database. Elderly individuals (≥ 66 years) with incident cases of breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer and newly diagnosed depression (N=1,673) were followed for six months after the depression diagnosis to identify depression treatment (antidepressants only, psychotherapy only, combined treatment with both antidepressants and psychotherapy, and no depression treatment). Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regressions were used to analyze the factors associated with depression treatment. RESULTS In this study population, 46% received antidepressants only, 27% received no treatment, 18% received combined therapy, and 9% received psychotherapy only. Factors associated with depression treatment included anxiety, the percentage of psychologists at the county level, the number of visits to primary care physicians, ongoing cancer treatment, the presence of other chronic conditions, and race-ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS The study findings indicate that two-thirds of cancer survivors received depression treatment in the first six months after depression diagnosis. Our study findings indicate that racial-ethnic disparities in depression treatment persist and competing demands for cancer treatment may take priority over depression care. Also, the availability of psychologists may influence receipt of psychotherapy among cancer survivors.

Triptans Use for Migraine Headache among Nonelderly Adults with Cardiovascular Risk

Objective. To examine the association between the cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and triptans use among adults with migraine. Methods. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used. Data were derived from 2009–2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The study sample consisted of adults (age > 21 years) with migraine headache (N = 1,652). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between CV risk factors and triptans use. Results. Overall, 21% adults with migraine headache used triptans. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of adults with migraine had at least one CV risk factor. A significantly lower percentage of adults with CV risk (18.1%) used triptans compared to those without CV risk factors (25.5%). After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic status, access to care, and health status, adults with no CV risk factors were more likely to use triptans as compared to those with one CV risk factor (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.17–2.87). There were no statistically significant differences in triptans use between those with two or more CV risk factors and those with one CV risk factor. Conclusion. An overwhelming majority of adults with migraine had a contraindication to triptans based on their CV risk factors. The use of triptans among adults with migraine and multiple CV risk factors warrants further investigation.

The Use of Herbal Remedies among Mothers of Young Children Living in the Central Appalachian Region

Introduction Women often use herbal remedies as a complement or alternative to traditional medicine. Guided by the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking, this study examined use of herbal remedies among mothers of young children living in the Central Appalachian Region. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of young children (n = 178). The outcome measure of interest was the use of any herbal remedy in the past six months. Two scales were developed to measure information seeking channels and to measure beliefs about the safety/efficacy of herbal remedies. Results One-third reported using herbal remedies in the past six months, with fenugreek being the most common. Most reported using herbal remedies to increase breast milk production and to relieve cold/flu-like symptoms. Women scoring highest in information seeking channels were three times as likely to use herbal remedies. Women scoring highest in the beliefs about the safety/efficacy of herbal remedies were four times as likely to use herbal remedies. Conclusion Herbal remedies are commonly used among women living in the Central Appalachian Region, a region with lower education and income level. Therefore, public health interventions about the types, safety, and efficacy of herbal remedies may improve health within this population.

Folic acid intake for prevention of birth defects among women of childbearing age in West Virginia

Objective: Use of folic acid during the perinatal period is important to prevent birth defects. There is a scant literature assessing the factors affecting consumption of folic acid among women of childbearing age. Our study aims to assess: 1) rate of folic acid intake, and 2) factors associated with folic acid intake among women of childbearing age. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among women of childbearing age (N = 170) in West Virginia University. Results: Overall, 42.4 % of women reported taking folic acid. Factors associated with folic acid intake included awareness of folic acid use, perceived benefit of folic acid use, planning to get pregnant, and taking advice from a doctor for birth control. Conclusion: Increasing the awareness of benefits of folic acid in preventing birth defects might increase the intake of folic acid among women of childbearing age.