Government policies on job satisfaction of radiographers in tertiary hospitals, Gauteng.

Background: The National Department of Health has different operational policies to monitor the performance of its employees and to reward them accordingly. These policies could have a direct bearing on job satisfaction and career advancement for radiographers employed by the public sector, as there are previous reports that show that these policies affect the job satisfaction of other healthcare professionals negatively. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the influence of government policies on the job satisfaction of radiographers employed by public tertiary hospitals in the Gauteng province. Setting: The study was conducted in two public tertiary hospitals in the Gauteng province. Methods: The study used a primary exploratory qualitative research design, with a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through individual and focus group interviews. The researcher recorded and transcribed the interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Three government policies had a negative impact on job satisfaction for radiographers. These were the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD), the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) and the Employment Equity Act (EEA). The failure to effectively implement these policies also had a negative bearing on career pathing. Conclusion: The implementation and structure of these three government policies have resulted in job dissatisfaction amongst radiographers employed by public tertiary hospitals and reduced the structure of career pathing. Contribution: The study highlighted three government policies that negatively affect job satisfaction in Gauteng.

Statins use amidst the pandemic: prescribing, dispensing, adherence, persistence, and correlation with COVID-19 statistics in nationwide real-world data from Poland.

Background: Adherence to medications presents a significant challenge in healthcare. Statins, used in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, are of particular importance for public health. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in additional healthcare system-related barriers impeding the execution of therapies. This study aimed to assess the use of as well as adherence and persistence to statins in a national cohort of 38 million of Polish citizens during pandemic. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prescription and dispensation data for all statins users from the national payer organization covering the years 2020-2022 was conducted. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Possession Ratio, for persistence the 30-day cut-off was accepted. National data on COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 related deaths were obtained from ECDC. Results: The analysis identified 7,189,716 Polish citizens (approximately 19% of Polish population) who were dispensed at least 1 pack of statins within the study period. Over that time, there was a continuous significant increasing trend in prescribing and dispensing of statins. Despite a total increase of 18.9% in the number of prescribed tablets, the percentage of tablets dispensed remained similar, averaging 86%. Overall percentage of adherent patients was 48.2%. For a random sample of 100,000 patients, the mean period of continuous therapy in 2022 was 6.2+/- 5.3 months. During the lockdown period, the mean number of prescribed and dispensed tablets was lower by 6.8% and 5.9%, respectively (p < 0.05). However, fluctuations in the number of COVID-19 cases or COVID-19-related deaths per week had no major impact on the prescribing and dispensing of statins. Conclusion: Over the time of pandemic, there was a continuous increase in the number of statin tablets prescribed and dispensed in Poland. This suggests that, despite the potential limitations posed by COVID-19, access to statins remained easy, which may be attributed to the mass-scale implementation of the national e-prescription system. However, it is crucial to realise that approximately 1/7 of prescribed statin doses were never dispensed, and the overall levels of adherence and persistence were low. This underscores the necessity for concerted efforts to change this scenario in Poland.

The Community Pharmacy as a Study Center for the Epidemiological Analysis of the Population Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2: Evaluation of Vaccine Safety and Pharmaceutical Service.

We conducted a monocentric observational study aimed at evaluating the vaccine safety and the pharmaceutical service provided at a community pharmacy (C.PHARM) in the Puglia Region in the period from 29 December 2021 to 12 March 2022 using data from 550 patients of various ages and sexes and with concomitant diseases. We collected anamnestic data, the number of hospitalizations, and any post-vaccination adverse reactions. Interviews using the integrated EQ5 method were also performed to evaluate the quality of the service offered and any therapy preference. As expected, the vaccines were reactogenic after the first dose in the patients with mild-moderate reactions, with younger age and female gender as risk factors. Immune-allergic reactions of a moderate-severe degree were observed in adult females. In the elderly, the vaccination was well tolerated. Comirnaty® showed a favorable O.R. < 1 vs. other vaccines. No cardiovascular events or hospitalizations were observed up to May 2023. Regional data indicate that all treatments during May 2023 were correlated with the viremia. PaxlovidTM was prescribed in 3% of the patients in our center and in 1.46% in the region, and distributed/dispensed on behalf of third parties in accordance with a novel distribution/dispensation protocol of the C.PHARM that resulted in a safe vaccination center providing appropriate patient inclusion during vaccination.

[Drug dispensation at both community and hospital pharmacy, the highly active antiretrovirals example]. / Le double circuit de dispensation, exemple des traitements antirétroviraux : quelle pertinence ?

OBJECTIVES: Highly active antiretroviral therapies against the human immunodeficiency virus are available for patients in France in community pharmacy or in hospital pharmacy. More than 20 years after the implementation of the dual delivery system, it seems necessary to question the relevance of the dual dispensing circuit both in terms of service provided to patients and expenditure for health insurance. METHODS: The health insurance files were used to quantify the delivery of antiretrovirals therapies in the community pharmacy and in the hospital pharmacy. A survey was performed involving patients to find out their point of view on dispensing in hospital pharmacy and were the patients came from. The differential cost from the health insurance point of view between the two delivery system was calculated on the basis of the quantities delivered and the purchase prices at the hospital center in 2018. RESULTS: More than 80% of the quantities of antiretrovirals therapies are now delivered by community pharmacies. The arguments in favor of the antiretrovirals therapies dispensation by hospital pharmacy forwarded by patients are the anonymity and constant medicines availability. Health insurance is required to refund a drug at different prices depending on the delivery place, for about 37€ per box in favour of hospital dispensing. CONCLUSION: This study presents a complete inventory of the dual delivery system for antiretroviral therapies. Hospital and community therefore remain complementary to welcome outptients who will seek different delivery methods there. Little known to patients and professionals, this dual delivery system generates complexities at the stages of prescription, dispensing and reimbursement. It only concerns a minority of patients and its benefit for health insurance seems uncertain.

Defining opioid naïve and implications for monitoring opioid use: A population-based study in Alberta, Canada.

PURPOSE: Reducing initial exposure of "opioid naïve" patients to opioids is a public health priority. Identifying opioid naïve patients is difficult, as numerous definitions are used. The objective is to summarize current definitions and evaluate their impact on opioid naïve measures in Alberta. METHODS: An exploratory data analysis of the literature was conducted over the last 10 years to identify definitions commonly used in the literature to define opioid naïve. Then, using these definitions as a guide, we descriptively report the proportion of patients in Alberta between 2017 and 2021 who would be considered as opioid naïve using these definitions and all opioid dispensing data. RESULTS: Three categories of definitions were broadly identified: (1) no opioid use within the previous 30 days/6 months/1 year, based on dispensation date; (2) no opioid use based on dispensation date plus days of supply; and, (3) exclusion of codeine from Definitions 1 and 2. Applying these definitions to the Alberta population showed a very wide range in the proportion who would be considered as opioid naïve. Overall, 36.4% of Albertans (n = 1 551 075) had an opioid dispensation in 2017-2021. The average age was 46.6 ± 18.8 and 52.8% were female. The proportion of opioid naïve were most affected by the "opioid free" period, with 97.4%, 83.2%, and 65.6% being classified as opioid naïve using time windows from Definition 1 (30 days, 6 months, 1 year of no prior opioid use). Definitions 2 and 3 did not materially change the results. Further extending the "opioid free" period to 2 years showed only 35% were opioid naïve. CONCLUSIONS: The most convenient definition for "opioid naïve" was the use of an "opioid free" period. The choice of window would depend on how the information may be used to assistant in clinical decisions with longer windows more likely to reflect true opioid naïve patients. Irrespective of definition used, a large proportion of opioid users would be considered opioid naïve in Alberta.

[Existing report of the health care of detainees and of the organization of the drug circuit in prisons in France]. / État des lieux de la prise en charge sanitaire des détenus et de l'organisation du circuit médicamenteux en milieu carcéral en France.

Since the healthcare system reform in prisons by the law of 18 January 1994, health care for prisoners has depended on the public hospital service. Since the application of this law, hospital pharmacists have been responsible for the health product circuit in the prison. In order to reassess the overall health care of detainees in prison in 2022, a study is being carried out. This study also aims to carry out an inventory of the organization of the drug circuit in prisons in France. In June 2022, a questionnaire was sent by email to pharmacists in charge of supplying health products to one or more prison health units in France. The response rate to the questionnaire is 34 %. The average number of full-time equivalent (FTE) somatic doctors is 1.25. The average FTE pharmacist and pharmacy technician are respectively 0.4 and 0.96. Prescriptions are computerized in 84 % of cases. Therapeutic education and pharmaceutical interviews are carried out in 24 % and 20 % respectively. This study showed an overall improvement in the care of prisoners and the organization of the medication circuit in France compared to the last study. Pharmacists are more present in prisons. However, clinical pharmacy and health promotion actions are insufficiently deployed.

Exploring comorbidity and pharmacological treatment patterns in psoriasis - a retrospective population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Individuals with psoriasis face an increased risk of suffering from various comorbid conditions. However, there haven´t been any studies conducted in Sweden to examine the frequency of comorbidities and the corresponding treatment for these conditions among psoriasis patients. Methods: The Cosmic electronic medical record represents a comprehensive repository of medical information including all residents of Region Jönköping. To conduct a population-based retrospective cross-sectional study, all individuals diagnosed with psoriasis between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2016, were identified via the electronic medical records using ICD-10 codes. Data on comorbidity and dispensation of prescribed drugs against these comorbid conditions were analyzed. Results: During the study period, 1.7% of the population (4,587 individuals) were diagnosed with psoriasis, with 74.3% of cases classified as mild to moderate psoriasis and 25.7% as severe. The remaining 268,949 individuals did not receive a psoriasis diagnosis. The study showed that psoriasis patients had higher odds of experiencing the majority of the comorbid conditions examined. Arthritis other than psoriasis arthritis was found to be the most prevalent comorbid diagnosis among psoriasis patients (adjusted OR 7.2, CI 95% 6.4-8.2, p < 0.001), followed by obesity (OR 2.4, CI 95% 1.9-3.1, p < 0,001). There was no significant difference in drug prescription for comorbid diseases between patients with psoriasis and patients without psoriasis except for arthritis and smoking cessation treatment. Conclusions: Individuals with psoriasis are more susceptible to experiencing multiple comorbid conditions compared to the general population, particularly those with severe psoriasis. There is no evidence of undertreatment of comorbidity except for arthritis among psoriasis patients.

Factors associated with long-term benzodiazepine and Z-drug use across the lifespan and 5-year temporal trajectories among incident users: a Swedish nationwide register-based study.

PURPOSE: Despite being discouraged by guidelines, long-term use of benzodiazepines and related Z-drugs (BZDR) remains frequent in the real-world. An improved understanding of factors associated with the transition from new to long-term BZDR use and of temporal BZDR use trajectories is needed. We aimed to assess the proportion of long-term BZDR use (> 6 months) in incident BZDR-recipients across the lifespan; identify 5-year BZDR use trajectories; and explore individual characteristics (demographic, socioeconomic and clinical) and prescribing-related factors (pharmacological properties of the initial BZDR, prescriber's healthcare level, and concurrent dispensing of other medications) associated with long-term BZDR use and distinct trajectories. METHODS: Our nationwide register-based cohort included all BZDR-recipients in Sweden with first dispensation in 2007-2013. Trajectories of BZDR use days per year were built using group-based trajectory modelling. Cox regression and multinomial logistic regression were fitted to assess the predictors of long-term BZDR use and trajectories' membership. RESULTS: In 930,465 incident BZDR-recipients, long-term use increased with age (20.7%, 41.0%, and 57.4% in 0-17, 18-64, and ≥ 65-year-olds, respectively). Four BZDR use trajectories emerged, labelled 'discontinued', 'decreasing', 'slow decreasing' and 'maintained'. The proportion of the 'discontinued' trajectory members was the largest in all ages, but reduced from 75.0% in the youths to 39.3% in the elderly, whereas the 'maintained' increased with age from 4.6% to 36.7%. Prescribing-related factors, in particular multiple BZDRs at initiation and concurrent dispensing of other medications, were associated with increased risks of long-term (vs short-term) BZDR use and developing other trajectories (vs 'discontinued') in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of raising awareness and providing support to prescribers to make evidence-based decisions on initiating and monitoring BZDR treatment across the lifespan.

[Pharmaceutical regulations in Chad: assessment of drug dispensing practices in private pharmacies in N'Djamena]. / Règlementation pharmaceutique au Tchad: état de lieux des pratiques de délivrance des médicaments dans les officines privées de N'Djaména.

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to evaluate drug dispensing practices in private pharmacies in the city of N'Djamena and, specifically, (I) to describe the characteristics of dispensaries, (ii) describe dispensing practices and (iii) assess regulatory compliance when dispensing on the basis of a prescription and an advice. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional survey from June to December 2020. Data were collected in two stages, through interviews with pharmacists and participant observation in drug delivery practices in pharmacies. Results: in total, 26 pharmacies, or 50% of pharmacies in N'Djamena, were surveyed. The main survey findings were: private pharmacies in the city of N'Djamena employed two categories of staff, namely pharmacists and auxiliary staff (pharmacy technicians, nurses and salespeople or staff with "no health qualifications". These had not been trained in a health school recognised by the Ministry of Health) to dispense medicines. Very few pharmacies (8%) had a customer confidentiality area and a order book. The three modes of delivery were observed in more or less equal proportions (30 to 40% of dispensations). Dispensing at the patient's request was slightly predominant (40%) and the majority of medicines dispensed at the patient's request and based on dispenser's advice belonged to the different tables of toxic substances (over 70%). The noted absence of the pharmacist from the pharmacy justified why 84% of patients' requests were addressed to the pharmacy assistants. Conclusion: this study shows low compliance of pharmacies with pharmaceutical regulations for proper dispensing of medicines in the city of N'Djamena. Factors related to pharmaceutical sector governance and human resources management as well as therapeutic patient education could explain this gap.

Antecedents of fatal overdose in an adult cohort identified through administrative record linkage in Indiana, 2015-2022.

BACKGROUND: The United States continues to experience unprecedented rates of overdose mortality and need to identify effective policies or practices that can be implemented. This study aims to measure the prevalence, frequency, timing, and rate of touchpoints that occurred prior to a fatal overdose where communities might intervene. METHODS: In collaboration with Indiana state government, we conducted record-linkage of statewide administrative datasets to vital records (January 1, 2015, through August 26, 2022) to identify touchpoints (jail booking, prison release, prescription medication dispensation, emergency department visits, and emergency medical services). We examined touchpoints within 12-months prior to a fatal overdose among an adult cohort and explored variation over time and by demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Over the 92-month study period there were 13,882 overdose deaths (89.3% accidental poisonings, X40-X44) in our adult cohort that were record-linked to multiple administrative datasets and revealed nearly two-thirds (64.7%; n=8980) experienced an emergency department visit, the most prevalent touchpoint followed by prescription medication dispensation, emergency medical services responses, jail booking, and prison release. However, with approximately 1 out of every 100 returning citizens dying from drug overdose within 12-months of release, prison release had the highest touchpoint rate followed by emergency medical services responses, jail booking, emergency department visits, and prescription medication dispensation. CONCLUSION: Record-linking administrative data from routine practice to vital records from overdose mortality is a viable means of identifying where resources should be situated to reduce fatal overdose, with potential to evaluate the effectiveness of overdose prevention efforts.

Evaluation of the Care Pathway in the Context of the Dispensing of Emicizumab (Hemlibra) in Community Pharmacies in France: Protocol for a Cross-sectional Study Based on the Kirkpatrick Model.

BACKGROUND: Commercialized since 2019, emicizumab (Hemlibra) was available only in French hospital pharmacies for prophylaxis of hemophilia A with or without inhibitors. Since June 15, 2021, patients can choose between a hospital and community pharmacy. These changes in the care pathway have important organizational consequences for patients, their relatives, and health professionals. Two training programs are available for community pharmacists: the "HEMOPHAR" training program proposed by the national reference center for hemophilia and the Roche training program proposed by the laboratory that markets the product. OBJECTIVE: The PASODOBLEDEMI study aims to evaluate the direct impact of the training programs provided to community pharmacists in the context of the dispensing of emicizumab, and to evaluate patients' satisfaction with their treatment whether they choose dispensation from a community pharmacy or retained dispensation from the hospital pharmacy. METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional study based on the 4-level Kirkpatrick evaluation model: the immediate reaction of community pharmacists following training (Reaction), the knowledge acquired during the training (Learning), the professional practice of community pharmacists during dispensing of the product (Behavior), and patients' satisfaction related to the treatment whether it is dispensed from a hospital or from a community pharmacy (Results). RESULTS: Considering that single outcome measures cannot adequately reflect the complexity of this new organization, the Kirkpatrick evaluation model provides 4 distinct outcomes: the immediate reaction after the HEMOPHAR training program, the level of knowledge acquired after the HEMOPHAR training program, the impact of training on professional practice, and patient satisfaction with access to emicizumab. We developed specialized questionnaires for each of the 4 levels of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. All community pharmacists involved in dispensing emicizumab, whether they have followed the HEMOPHAR or the Roche training program or neither, were eligible for inclusion. All patients with severe hemophilia A were eligible, irrespective of inhibitor use, age, treatment with emicizumab, and whether they chose dispensation from a community pharmacy or retained dispensation from a hospital pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: The new organization for dispensing emicizumab to patients with hemophilia A in French community pharmacies must be accompanied by optimal safety and quality conditions due to the risk of serious and urgent bleeding situations in the management of rare bleeding diseases. The elaboration of the PASODOBLEDEMI protocol has already a positive impact with the commitment of all health professionals, physicians, hospital and community pharmacists, and the patient community. The results will be disseminated among the French authorities and will enable, if necessary, proposing this access model to other rare diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05449197, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05449197?term=NCT05449197; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05450640, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05450640?term=NCT05450640. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/43091.

[What is the impact of changes in the drug circuit on dispensing activity during pharmaceutical duty?] / Quel impact des évolutions du circuit du médicament sur l'activité de dispensation durant la permanence pharmaceutique ?

INTRODUCTION: Pharmaceutical permanence (PP), outside the working hours of an in-house pharmacy (PUI), allows to guarantee the continuity of care in health-care institutions. A retrospective review of urgent drug dispensing was carried out in the light of changes in the drug circuit. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The analysis of drug dispensations was performed over a period from 2011 to 2019. The average number of drugs dispensed per shift, annual dispensations, and their variation by day of the week were studied. The increase is statistically significant and is found on both weekdays and weekends. Each drug was identified according to its Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. Data on the activities of our institution (number of hospitalizations, average length of stay) were also collected. RESULTS: In 2011, an average of 36 medications were dispensed per on-call period, compared with 77 in 2019 (a doubling of activity). The increase is statistically significant and is found on both weekdays and weekends. Neurological drugs and anti-infectives represent on average 43 % of the drugs dispensed. At the same time, there was a decrease in average length of stay and an increase in hospitalizations (-10 % and +16 % respectively). DISCUSSION: The increase in the average number of medications dispensed per shift is notable. It reflects a strong and gradual increase in activity, which was increased when the full vacuum cabinets (FVCs) were introduced, which improved the quality and safety of the pharmaceutical circuit. The revision of the allocations and the information of prescribers on the drug circuit will optimize the activity and refocus it on the pharmaceutical analysis of urgent needs.

[Preparation of doses to be administered: There is automated machine and automated machine]. / Préparation des doses à administrer : il y a automate et automate.

The new reference system of the national council of the order of pharmacists, relating to pharmacies for internal use, endorses the use of deconditioning machines. The authors express their disagreement by promoting the use of over-conditioning automatons and explain the reasons for this. They call for a debate.

Dispensação de medicamentos no sistema prisional: garantia de assistência farmacêutica? / Medicine dispensation in the prison system: Is pharmaceutical care assured?

Resumo Este artigo objetiva analisar o processo de dispensação de medicamentos em unidades prisionais. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo, em sete penitenciárias do estado da Paraíba, sendo entrevistados 13 profissionais de saúde e 43 pessoas privadas de liberdade em uso de medicamentos essenciais/estratégicos, no período compreendido entre os meses de fevereiro a agosto de 2016. Os resultados foram categorizados na perspectiva da análise de conteúdo de Bardin e três categorias emergiram: armazenamento de medicamentos no sistema penitenciário, processo de dispensação de medicamentos no sistema penitenciário e responsabilidades sanitárias para garantir a assistência farmacêutica. Conclui-se que a inexistência de farmácias, o não cumprimento legal no que se refere a presença do profissional com habilidade e competência técnica para realizar a dispensação primando pelos padrões de qualidade/segurança e pela relevância das orientações relacionadas ao uso e armazenamento, associado a falta de clareza na definição das responsabilidades sanitárias dos gestores a partir da instância de governo, são fatores que comprometem a política uma vez que incrementam o investimento, mas não garantem a assistência farmacêutica no sistema prisional.

Abstract This paper aims to analyze the process of medicine dispensation in prisons. A qualitative study was conducted in seven penitentiaries in Paraíba with 13 health professionals and 43 people deprived of liberty using essential/strategic medicines from February to August 2016. The results were categorized from the perspective of Bardin's content analysis. Three categories emerged: medicine storage location in the prison system, delivery process in the prison system, and health-related responsibilities with pharmaceutical care. We can conclude that the lack of pharmacies, the legal non-compliance regarding the availability of skilled professionals with technical competencies to perform the dispensation, focusing on the quality/safety standards and relevance of the use and storage guidelines associated with the lack of clarity in the definition of health responsibilities of managers from a government authority, are factors that compromise the policy since they increase the investment, but do not ensure pharmaceutical care in the prison system.

[Aging population, dematerialization, a new deal for the pharmacy]. / Vieillissement de la population, dématérialisation, une nouvelle donne pour la pharmacie.

Home delivery has expanded across all retail sectors. During the first waves of the Covid-19 pandemic, pharmacists were approached by many of their patients who wanted to receive their medications at home. The question is whether this development is sustainable or merely cyclical.

[Implementation of a territorial hospital pharmacy (PUI) ensuring a robotized nominative dispensation of treatments for two external sites: A dependent old people's home (EHPAD) and a follow-up care institution (SSR)]. / Carnet de bord pour la mise en place d'une PUI territoriale assurant une dispensation nominative robotisée des traitements pour deux sites extérieurs : Un EHPAD et un SSR.

The territorial hospital pharmacy (PUI) of the West of Paris, dispenses treatments for a follow-up care instituion (SSR) and a dependent old people's home (EHPAD) via a hospital pharmacy equipped with an automatic machine producing dry oral forms packaged in labeled pillboxes. This project was completed with the support of the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and aims to secure the medication circuit. The methodology for qualifying the computer system and production, the implementation of the medication circuit and the inter-site logistical organization are presented. The prescription software was interfaced with the management software, which is itself interfaced with the robot's, and with the automatic machine's software. Tests and developments allowed to convert dispensing units into prescription units over a period of time. Also, the drugs consumed by these two institutions allowed to establish the therapeutic booklet and drug provision as well as anticipating the automaton filling. Medical devices, solutions and narcotics are exclusively managed as supplies with a specific circuit. Treatments are dispensed weekly (pillboxes and off-robot). For the SSR, an additional daily production concerns the entries of new patients and the modifications of treatment. Automation saves time and security, but human intervention is involved on a daily basis. The institutions have adopted the new organization over about 6 months and the production activity is now smoothed out. In the next few weeks, two other EHPADs with 100 patients will be integrated into the PUI territorial. One of the main challenges is to integrate them into our pre-existing organization, while maintaining their habits.

HIV Care in the Times of COVID-19 Pandemic in Urban South Gujarat: An Operational Overview.

In India, the nationwide lockdown was implemented from March to May 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 2020, there were 13.08 lakh PLHIV availing ART free of cost from Government run ART centres, To maintain the continuum of care, National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) of India adopted Multi Months Dispensation (MMD) through ART centres and Community Dispensation of ART through the various Targeted Interventions (TI) and Community Based Organizations (CBO). A mixed methods study was designed, with desk review of programmatic data, semi qualitative interviews of 250 PLHIV and 15 In-Depth Interviews of ART centre and TI/CBO staff to document the process, strengths and challenges of these strategies in Surat city of South Gujarat. While administrative, technical and networking strengths were documented, manpower constraints, interrupted laboratory services, migration and relatively passive role of PLHIV in availing services were major challenges described in this study among several others.

Patterns and Predictors of Outpatient Antibiotic Dispensation Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the month-to-month prevalence of antibiotic dispensation in the 12 months before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to identify factors associated with antibiotic dispensation in the month immediately following the surgical procedure. METHODS: In total, 4,115 THAs and TKAs performed between April 2013 and June 2019 from a state-wide arthroplasty referral center were analyzed. A cross-sectional study used data from an institutional arthroplasty registry, which was linked probabilistically to administrative dispensing data from the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to identify patient and surgical risk factors for oral antibiotic dispensation. RESULTS: Oral antibiotics were dispensed in 18.3% of patients following primary TKA and 12.0% of patients following THA in the 30 days following discharge. During the year after discharge, 66.7% of TKA patients and 58.2% of THA patients were dispensed an antibiotic at some point. Patients with poor preoperative health status were more likely to have antibiotics dispensed in the month following THA or TKA. Older age, undergoing TKA rather than THA, obesity, inflammatory arthritis, and experiencing an in-hospital wound-related or other infectious complications were associated with increased antibiotic dispensation in the 30 days following discharge. CONCLUSION: A high rate of antibiotic dispensation in the 30 days following THA and TKA has been observed. Although resource constraints may limit routine wound review for all patients by a surgeon, a select cohort may benefit from timely specialist review postoperatively. Several risk factors identified in this study may aid in identifying appropriate candidates for such changes to follow-up care.

Patient satisfaction, needs, and preferences concerning information dispensation at the emergency department: a cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of emergency care quality and has been associated with information dispensation at the emergency department (ED). Optimal information dispensation could improve patient experience and expectations. Knowing what kind of information patients want to receive and the preferred way of information dispensation are essential to optimize information delivery at the ED. The purpose of this cross-sectional observational study was to evaluate patient satisfaction concerning information dispensation (including general, medical, and practical information), the need for additional information, and preferences with regard to the way of information dispensation at the ED of a teaching hospital in the Netherlands. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-three patients (patients ≥ 18 years with Glasgow Coma Scale 15) were enrolled (response rate 79%). The median patient satisfaction score concerning the overall information dispensation at the ED was 7.5 on a rating scale 0-10. Shorter length of ED stay was associated with higher patient satisfaction in multivariate analysis (P < 0.001). The majority of respondents were satisfied regarding medical (n = 328; 78%) and general information (n = 233; 55%). Patients were less satisfied regarding practical information (n = 180; 43%). Respondents who indicated that they received general, medical and practical information were significantly more often satisfied compared to patients who did not receive this information (P < 0.001). Two thirds (n = 260; 62%) requested more general information. Half of the respondents (n = 202; 48%) requested more practical information and a third (n = 152; 36%) requested more medical information. The preferred way for receiving information was orally (n = 189; 44.7%) or by leaflets (n = 108; 25.5%). CONCLUSION: The majority of respondents were satisfied concerning information dispensation at the ED, especially regarding medical information. Respondents requested more general and practical information and preferred to receive the information orally or by leaflets.

Defining the duration of the dispensation of oral anticoagulants in administrative healthcare databases.

PURPOSE: In clinical practice, warfarin therapy requires frequent dose adjustments. In pharmacy claims, the days supplied value may not reflect the true duration of warfarin dispensation. This may affect the measures of association comparing the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus warfarin. METHODS: Using Quebec healthcare administrative databases, we formed a cohort of 55 230 patients newly treated with oral anticoagulants between 2010 and 2016. The duration of dispensations was defined using two approaches: the recorded days supplied value, and the longitudinal coverage approximation (data-driven) that may account for individual variation in drug usage patterns. Propensity scores adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of major bleeding with dabigatran or rivaroxaban versus warfarin. RESULTS: Using the days supplied, the mean (and standard deviation) dispensation durations for dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and warfarin were 19 (15), 19 (14), and 13 (12) days, respectively. Using the data-driven approach, the durations were 20 (16), 19 (15), and 15 (16) days, respectively. The choice of the approach had no impact on the HR estimates. CONCLUSIONS: In our settings, the data-driven approach closely approximated the recorded days supplied value for the standard dose therapies such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban. For warfarin, the data-driven approach captured more variability in the duration of dispensations compared to the days supplied value, which may better reflect the true drug-taking behavior of warfarin. Both approaches may provide valid estimates when comparing the safety of DOACs versus warfarin.