[Effect of COVID-19 on dietotherapeutic prescription during the first half of 2020 in the Community of Madrid]. / Efecto de la COVID-19 en la prescripción dietoterapéutica durante el primer semestre de 2020 en la Comunidad de Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: Objectives: the aim of the study was to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on enteral nutrition prescription in the Community of Madrid during the first semester of 2020. Material and Methods: this is a descriptive study of enteral nutrition prescription in the first semester of 2020 and its comparison with the first semester of 2019. We included all the prescriptions in public hospitals of the Community of Madrid as recorded in public electronic databases. Results: there was an 8 % increase in the number of enteral nutrition prescriptions in March 2020 when compared with the previous months (p < 0.001). Then, in April and May 2020 we observed a 9 % decrease in enteral nutrition prescriptions (p < 0.001). Total costs in enteral nutrition showed a similar pattern, with an increase in March 2020 (p < 0.001) and a decrease in April and May 2020 (p < 0.001). When analyzing the data by patient age, those above 75 y.o. showed the highest decrease in enteral nutrition prescriptions (33.1 % higher than for those under 75 y.o.) in April and May 2020 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: the irruption of COVID-19 had a relevant impact on enteral nutrition prescription, especially among the elderly. Follow-up is needed to assess the long-term consequences of this in nutritional therapy.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio es analizar el impacto de la COVID-19 en el primer semestre del año 2020, con respecto a la prescripción de soportes nutricionales enterales, y su gasto en la Comunidad de Madrid. Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo y comparativo del consumo de productos de nutrición enteral prescritos en recetas oficiales electrónicas durante el primer semestre de los años 2019 y 2020 en los hospitales públicos de la Comunidad de Madrid. Resultados: al analizar la prescripción del número de envases totales durante el periodo estudiado, por meses, se observa un incremento del 8 % en la prescripción durante el mes de marzo, comparado con los meses previos (p < 0,001), seguido de un descenso del 9 % en los meses de abril y mayo (p < 0,001). El comportamiento de la evolución del gasto sigue el mismo patrón, con un incremento en el mes de marzo (p < 0.001) y un descenso en los meses de abril y mayo de similar magnitud (ambos, p < 0,001). Al analizar por grupos de edades, el grupo de edad de más de 75 años fue el grupo con la mayor caída en las prescripciones (33,1 % mayor que entre los menores de 75) en los meses de abril y mayo de 2020 (p < 0,001). Conclusiones: la COVID-19 afectó de forma importante a la prescripción del soporte nutricional, especialmente en el grupo de mayor edad. El seguimiento de la enfermedad nos permitirá profundizar en el papel de la nutrición a corto y largo plazo.

'Here to stay': changes to prescribing medication in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION The delivery of health care by primary care general practices rapidly changed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020. AIM This study explores the experience of a large group of New Zealand general practice health-care professionals with changes to prescribing medication during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We qualitatively analysed a subtheme on prescribing medication from the General Practice Pandemic Experience New Zealand (GPPENZ) study, where general practice team members nationwide were invited to participate in five surveys over 16 weeks from 8 May 2020. RESULTS Overall, 78 (48%) of 164 participants enrolled in the study completed all surveys. Five themes were identified: changes to prescribing medicines; benefits of electronic prescription; technical challenges; clinical and medication supply challenges; and opportunities for the future. There was a rapid adoption of electronic prescribing as an adjunct to use of telehealth, minimising in-person consultations and paper prescription handling. Many found electronic prescribing an efficient and streamlined processes, whereas others had technical barriers and transmission to pharmacies was unreliable with sometimes incompatible systems. There was initially increased demand for repeat medications, and at the same time, concern that vulnerable patients did not have usual access to medication. The benefits of innovation at a time of crisis were recognised and respondents were optimistic that e-prescribing technical challenges could be resolved. DISCUSSION Improving e-prescribing technology between prescribers and dispensers, initiatives to maintain access to medication, particularly for vulnerable populations, and permanent regulatory changes will help patients continue to access their medications through future pandemic disruption.

E-prescribing and access to prescription medicines during lockdown: experience of patients in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Health services internationally have been compelled to change their methods of service delivery in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, to mitigate the spread of infection amongst health professionals and patients. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, widespread electronic delivery of prescriptions (e-prescribing) was enabled. The aim of the research was to explore patients' experiences of how lockdown, changes to prescribing and the interface between general practices and community pharmacy affected access to prescription medications. METHOD: The research employed a mixed-method approach. This included an online survey (n = 1,010) and in-depth interviews with a subset of survey respondents (n = 38) during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March-May 2020). Respondents were recruited through a snowballing approach, starting with social media and email list contacts of the research team. In keeping with the approach, descriptive statistics of survey data and thematic analysis of qualitative interview and open-ended questions in survey data were combined. RESULTS: For most respondents who received a prescription during lockdown, this was sent directly to the pharmacy. Most people picked up their medication from the pharmacy; home delivery of medication was rare (4%). Survey and interview respondents wanted e-prescribing to continue post-lockdown and described where things worked well and where they encountered delays in the process of acquiring prescription medication. CONCLUSIONS: E-prescribing has the potential to improve access to prescription medication and is convenient for patients. The increase in e-prescribing during lockdown highlighted how the system could be improved, through better feedback about errors, more consistency across practices and pharmacies, more proactive communication with patients, and equitable prescribing costs.