Wallace Marsh

Clinical decision support tools: analysis of online drug information databases

BackgroundOnline drug information databases are used to assist in enhancing clinical decision support. However, the choice of which online database to consult, purchase or subscribe to is likely made based on subjective elements such as history of use, familiarity, or availability during professional training. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical decision support tools for drug information by systematically comparing the most commonly used online drug information databases.MethodsFive commercially available and two freely available online drug information databases were evaluated according to scope (presence or absence of answer), completeness (the comprehensiveness of the answers), and ease of use. Additionally, a composite score integrating all three criteria was utilized. Fifteen weighted categories comprised of 158 questions were used to conduct the analysis. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square were used to summarize the evaluation components and make comparisons between databases. Scheffes multiple comparison procedure was used to determine statistically different scope and completeness scores. The composite score was subjected to sensitivity analysis to investigate the effect of the choice of percentages for scope and completeness.ResultsThe rankings for the databases from highest to lowest, based on composite scores were Clinical Pharmacology, Micromedex, Lexi-Comp Online, Facts & Comparisons 4.0, Epocrates Online Premium, RxList.com, and Epocrates Online Free. Differences in scope produced three statistical groupings with Group 1 (best) performers being: Clinical Pharmacology, Micromedex, Facts & Comparisons 4.0, Lexi-Comp Online, Group 2: Epocrates Premium and RxList.com and Group 3: Epocrates Free (p < 0.05). Completeness scores were similarly stratified. Collapsing the databases into two groups by access (subscription or free), showed the subscription databases performed better than the free databases in the measured criteria (p < 0.001).ConclusionOnline drug information databases, which belong to clinical decision support, vary in their ability to answer questions across a range of categories.

Clinical Decision Support Tools : Performance of Personal Digital Assistant versus Online Drug Information Databases

Study Objectives. To evaluate personal digital assistant (PDA) drug information databases used to support clinical decision‐making, and to compare the performance of PDA databases with their online versions.

Perceptions of pharmacy students, faculty members, and administrators on the use of technology in the classroom.

Objectives. To gather and evaluate the perceptions of students, faculty members, and administrators regarding the frequency and appropriateness of classroom technology use. Methods. Third-year pharmacy students and faculty members at 6 colleges and schools of pharmacy were surveyed to assess their perceptions about the type, frequency, and appropriateness of using technology in the classroom. Upper-level administrators and information technology professionals were also interviewed to ascertain overall technology goals and identify criteria used to adopt new classroom technologies. Results. Four hundred sixty-six students, 124 faculty members, and 12 administrators participated in the survey. The most frequently used and valued types of classroom technology were course management systems, audience response systems, and lecture capture. Faculty members and students agreed that faculty members appropriately used course management systems and audience response systems. Compared with their counterparts, tech-savvy, and male students reported significantly greater preference for increased use of classroom technology. Eighty-six percent of faculty members reported having changed their teaching methodologies to meet student needs, and 91% of the students agreed that the use of technology met their needs. Conclusions. Pharmacy colleges and schools use a variety of technologies in their teaching methods, which have evolved to meet the needs of the current generation of students. Students are satisfied with the appropriateness of technology, but many exhibit preferences for even greater use of technology in the classroom.

Clinical Decision Support Tools: Personal Digital Assistant versus Online Dietary Supplement Databases

Background: Clinical decision support tools (CDSTs) on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and online databases assist healthcare practitioners who make decisions about dietary supplements. Objective: To assess and compare the content of PDA dietary supplement databases and their online counterparts used as CDSTs. Methods: A total of 102 question-and-answer pairs were developed within 10 weighted categories of the most clinically relevant aspects of dietary supplement therapy. PDA versions of AltMedDex. Lexi-Natural, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, and Natural Standard and their online counterparts were assessed by scope (percent of correct answers present), completeness (3-point scale), ease of use, and a composite score integrating all 3 criteria. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including a χ2 test, Scheffés multiple comparison test, McNemars test, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyze data. Results: The scope scores for PDA databases were: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database 84.3%, Natural Standard 58.8%, Lexi-Natural 50.0%, and AltMedDex 36.3%, with Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database statistically superior (p < 0.01). Completeness scores were; Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database 78.4%, Natural Standard 51.0%, Lexi-Natural 43.5%, and AltMedDex 29.7%. Lexi-Natural was superior in ease of use (p < 0.01). Composite scores for PDA databases were: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database 79.3, Natural Standard 53.0, Lexi-Natural 48.0, and AltMedDex 32.5, with Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database superior (p < 0.01). There was no difference between the scope for PDA and online database pairs with Lexi-Natural (50.0% and 53.9%, respectively) or Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (84.3% and 84.3%, respectively) (p > 0.05), whereas differences existed for AltMedDex (36.3% vs 74.5%, respectively) and Natural Standard (50.8% vs 80.4%, respectively) (p < 0.01). For composite scores, AltMedDex and Natural Standard online were better than their PDA counterparts (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database achieved significantly higher scope, completeness, and composite scores compared with other dietary supplement PDA CDSTs in this study. There was no difference between the PDA and online databases for Lexi-Natural and Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, whereas online versions of AltMedDex and Natural Standard were significantly better than their PDA counterparts.

The impact of a pharmacist assisted clinic upon medication adherence and quality of life in mental health patients

www.pharmacypractice.org (ISSN: 1886-3655) 122 ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine if a pharmacist assisted psychiatric clinic would improve adherence to medications and quality of life over 6 months. The primary study endpoints were the change from baseline in Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), Brief Evaluation of Medication Influences and Beliefs (BEMIB), World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scales as well as hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Secondary endpoints included metabolic and physiologic parameters. Methods: A prospective, single-center study conducted at an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Subjects were required to attend 3 clinic visits (baseline, 3 and 6 months) with the pharmacist. Subject and medication histories were obtained at each visit. Subjects’ records within the local health system were reviewed for emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Metabolic parameters were assessed at each visit. Results: Twenty-seven subjects enrolled and twenty subjects completed. Total MARS score at baseline and study end were 7.90 and 8.65, respectively. At baseline, 10 (50%) were nonadherent based on the BEMIB and 9 (45%) were nonadherent at 6 months. Statistically significant improvements were seen in 2 domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Reductions in both ER visits and hospitalizations were achieved. There were significant improvements in total cholesterol and LDL. Conclusions: Improvements were seen in two domains of the WHOQOL-BREF – physical capacity and psychological well-being over the 6 month period. While improvements were seen in various rating scales, due to small sample sizes, these were insignificant improvements. Reductions in hospitalizations and ER visits were also seen during the study and up to 6 months post study. Statistically significant improvements were also seen in both total cholesterol and LDL. The lack of improvement in many of the study outcomes reflects

Impact of Pharmacy-Generated Recommendations on Antibiotic Therapy in a Community Hospital

Purpose To examine the impact of a pharmacy-initiated antibiotic review service on the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy at a community hospital. Methods A retrospective review was conducted that assessed antibiotic prescribing before implementation of an antibiotic review service, followed by an interventional phase that assessed the impact of pharmacy-generated recommendations. Medical records were evaluated for appropriateness of antibiotic therapy. For records reviewed retrospectively, potential recommendations for improvement of antibiotic appropriateness were documented. Potential recommendations were based on evidence-based practice guidelines and pertained to organism susceptibilities, renal dosage adjustments, intravenous-to-oral conversion, duplication, duration, and indication for therapy. During the interventional phase, recommendations were directed to the prescribing physician via telephone or written communication. Patient charts were revisited regularly to assess for potential new recommendations and to determine acceptance of previous recommendations. Results At initial review, 95 (59%) orders reviewed retrospectively were considered appropriate. A total of 73 potential recommendations for improving appropriateness of retrospective orders were recorded. At completion of follow-up, overall appropriateness of retrospective orders decreased to 57%. Prospectively, 115 (57%) orders were considered appropriate at initial review. Physicians accepted 39 (71%) of the 55 recommendations generated for improving appropriateness of these orders. Pharmacy-generated recommendations were successful in improving the number of appropriate prospective orders by 13% (P = 0.004) and identified a cost savings of approximately

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the duration of clinical effect of onabotulinumtoxinA in cervical dystonia

12,000. Conclusion The pharmacy-initiated antibiotic review service has been well accepted by physicians and appears to have a positive impact on the number of appropriately prescribed antibiotic orders. Complete implementation of this review service may demonstrate greater impact.