RESUMO
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is used to adjust dosage based on measured drug concentration in blood interpreted with reference to a therapeutic range. The clinical pharmacist has an important role in TDM. The objectives of TDM are to increase the probability of a therapeutic response and minimize the toxicity. The measurement of drug concentration should be based on appropriate sample sending indications, optimal timing and interpretation. The Total Testing Process (TTP) is the sequence of 11 steps of laboratory testing. It starts with a clinical question and ends with the effect on patient care. The application of TTP to TDM is an ideal format for organizing the system-related and patient centered variables used in the outcome assessment of TDM.
RESUMO
The severe effect of depression is a suicidal commitment. The pharmacist can play a key role in decreasing depression. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and counseling outcomes of depression in population of Takonyang. Patients who had depression were randomized into a study group or a control group. The study was performed during December 2006 to March 2007 at Takonyang. A total of 171 persons were screened in the study. The result found that 31 persons had signs of mood disorder and 4 persons had signs of depression (2.34%). Thirty-four mood disorder or depression patients were randomly assigned into the study group or control group. There were 16 patients and 18 patients in the study group and control group, respectively. Both groups were assessed before and after 2 months of counseling. Baseline characteristics and depression score were not significantly different between the study group and control group (p \> 0.05). After counseling, the depression score in the study group was significantly decreased (3.25±1.73 vs 0.81±2.48, p=0.004). The total depression score of patients in the study group was significantly lower than the control group (0.81±2.48 and 2.33±1.97, p=0.002). The results of this study showed that pharmacist counseling can decrease scores of depression and promoted the right behavior and good mental health of the patients. Pharmacist care in patients with depression should be continuously provided as well as for patients with other chronic diseases.
RESUMO
This study was randomized controlled trial. The objectives of this study were to assess the outcome of pharmaceutical care by counseling aids for outpatient who had heart operation within six months and received medication with warfarin from 7 January to 14 February 2008 at Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast Khon Kaen University. The patients were randomized into two groups, intervention and control groups. The intervention group received pharmaceutical care from a researcher and received video compact disk (VCD), which give an instruction about warfarin use self-care and warfarin-taking calendar. The control group received the standard intervention from pharmacists without receiving the VCD. Patient’s knowledge score and their International normalize ratio (INR) were accessed at the second visit. One hundred and eight patients enrolled into the study, they were randomized into 2 groups, 54 patients in both of the intervention and control groups. The results demonstrated that percentage of patients who achieved INR target goal in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group (p=0.02). Patients’ knowledge in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group. Patient’s satisfaction score of the intervention group were higher than the control group. Pharmaceutical care with counseling aids with the VCD of patient’s instruction, knowledge chart and warfarin-taking calendar are important factor to improve INR controlling and knowledge of patient.