The Result of Drug Related Problem Solving in Elderly Diabetic Patients Observed on Home Visits by a Pharmacist

The objective of this study was to determine the result derived from prescribed drug related problem (DRPs) solving among elderly diabetic patients being observed by home visits carried out by a pharmacist. The design being used for this study was a one-group pretest-posttest experimental study and it was applied to 21 elderly diabetic patients. The results showed that nineteen DRPs were found with 11 patients during the first home visit. Number of DRPs gradually decreased during the second and third home visits. The most common DRPs found were related to the failure to receive medication (42.10%). Mean numbers of DRPs per patient in each pair of home visit were also compared by paired t-test. It was found that mean numbers of DRPs per patient were statistically significant for the first (mean = 0.90± 1.04) and second home visits (mean = 0.33± 0.48). However, they were not significantly found between the first and third visits and also between second and third visits. Therefore, home visits by a pharmacist provided high beneficial effect in elderly diabetic patients.

Factors Affecting the Blood Concentration of Cyclosporine in Renal Transplant Patients

Determining factors affecting the blood concentration of Cyclosporine by multivariate analysis found that the factors that correlated with blood concentration of cyclosporine were hematocrit (Hct, %), albumin (Albumin (Alb, g/dL), SGOT (IU/L), cholesterol (Chol, mg/dL), cyclosporine dose (Dose, mg/kg), and interaction of SGOT and albumin. This can expressed as:Cyclosporine blood level (mcg/L) = -899.19-2.61* (Hct) + 239.18* (Alb) + 37.66* (SGOT) + 0.32* (Chol) + 25.45* (Dose)-8.48* (SGOT*Alb). It may be summarized that the CsA level is associated with many tests particularly with the liver function. It may be necessary to incorporate routine liver function with the therapeutic drug monitoring of CsA.

Effects of Counseling on People at High Risk Group of Type 2 Diabetes in Ruampattanasrimongkoln Community, Mukdaharn Province

This study is of one group pretest-posttest experimental design. Its aims were to compare (1) the level of fasting blood sugar, (2) the controllable risk factors, and (3) knowledge about disease and behavior in people at high risk of type 2 diabetes pre and post counseling. Sixty-eight people at high risk of type 2 diabetes were recruited between the first January and 28th February, 2008 at Ruampatanasrimong Community, Mukdaharn Province. Results indicate that the level of fasting blood sugar (from 110.103±6.0435 to 100.45±11.73 mg/dL) and frequency of carbohydrate consumption, stress, and exercise improved significantly after receiving counseling (p=0.001 and p \< 0.001, respectively). In addition, knowledge of diabetes and behavior improved significantly after counseling from 12.38±2.70 score to 15.5±0.74 score (p \< 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in smoking and alcohol drinking. From this study, we can conclude that 2-month counseling is beneficial for people in high risk groups for type 2 diabetes. It can improve knowledge about disease and behavior, the level of fasting blood sugar and food consumption behavior, stress and exercise. The effect of counseling on smoking and alcohol drinking behavior is still unclear, however. Therefore, future studies should focus on smoking and alcohol drinking behavior.

Effects of Counseling for Stress and Depression in Pharmacy Students at Mahasarakham University

The aims of this study were to evaluate the stress and depression screening scores, and the quality of life in the part of physical and mental health scores after counseling and follow-up between the study group (the counseller was educated) and the control group (regular system). The first to fifth year students in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University were screened between July 2007-Febuary 2008, using questionnaires from the Mental Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, and the Short Form-12. Students who had stress and/or depression were divided into 2 groups: the study (n=34) and the control (n=57) groups. Most of them were female both in the study group (73.5%) and in the control group (84.5%). The average age was 19.8±1.54 years in the study group and 19.9±1.54 years in the control group. The screening stress and depression scores in both groups were significantly reduced from baseline (p \< 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between two groups. The physical health scores did not improve from baseline in both groups and there was no significant difference between the two groups. The scores of stress were positively related with the scores of depression. The scores of stress and depression were negatively related with the scores of quality of life both in physical and mental parts. This study proposes that the university should arrange an effective counseling system and continue to follow-up the students, establish a mental counseling center and hot-line to help and resolve problems for students.