Effect of patient-specific factors on weekly warfarin dose.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of various patient-specific factors, use of concomitant medications, and weekly vitamin K intake on total weekly warfarin maintenance dose (TWD). METHODS: Information collected, via retrospective chart review, included TWD, general demographics, vitamin K consumption, target INR range, use of alcohol, tobacco, and cytochrome P450 (CYP)-inducing medications, and concomitant medications and diseases. RESULTS: The majority of patients (n = 131) were Caucasian (71%), with more females (55%) than males. Use of CYP-inducing medications resulted in the largest correlation coefficient (r = 0.30). The sample was divided into high warfarin dose (TWD >/= 50 mg) and low warfarin dose (TWD

Impact of clinical pharmacist intervention on diabetes related quality-of-life in an ambulatory care clinic.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this one-year observational study was to evaluate quality of life in patients at the Medical University of South Carolina Family Medicine clinic who were followed by a clinical pharmacist diabetes educator. METHODS: Patients who have been seen by the clinical pharmacist for diabetes education and management services were contacted by telephone and asked to complete a previously validated Diabetes-related Quality of Life (DRQL) survey. In addition, the patient's most recent hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure, fasting lipid panel and aspirin use were obtained from the electronic medical record. Correlation and logistic regression analysis was completed in order to assess the quality of life score and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients completed the survey (37%). The median overall score was 1 (1-very satisfied; 5-very dissatisfied). Patients who were more satisfied with their current treatment tended to have lower LDL, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) values (r=0.32, 0.3, 0.33; p=0.03, 0.03, 0.02). In addition, patients taking more medications were more dissatisfied with the amount of time spent managing their disease (r=0.29, p=0.04), felt more pain associated with the treatment of their disease (r=0.32, p=0.02), and were more worried that their body looked different as a result of their diabetes (r=0.32, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients in this clinic were highly satisfied with their quality of life. The authors found that trends exist for relationships between several important clinical parameters and quality of life.