Deprescribing initiative of NSAIDs (DIN): Pharmacist-led interventions for pain management in a federal correctional setting.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely prescribed for management of pain and inflammation. However, these medications are associated with adverse outcomes such as dyspepsia and acute myocardial infarction, especially with long-term uses. Objective: We sought to determine the effect of a pharmacist-led deprescribing intervention on oral NSAID use among patients in federal custody. Methods: Clinical pharmacists from Correctional Services Canada (CSC) conducted a prospective case series of adult patients with chronic noncancer pain who were on long-term NSAIDs (defined as >90 days supply in the past 120 days) in 3 CSC institutions in British Columbia, Canada. CSC clinical pharmacists met with patients to perform medication reviews and identify drug-related problems, with a focus on analgesic therapy. Pharmacist-led interventions were implemented in consultation with the primary care team to address these drug-related problems. Patient progress was monitored weekly for 3 months. Function, quality of life and pain severity scores (modified SPAASMS, Patient-Specific Functional Scale [PSFS] and visual analog scale [VAS] scores) were compared at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months postintervention. Patient satisfaction survey results were also collected at 3 months. Results: A total of 53 patients received clinical pharmacist interventions. Modified SPAASMS, PSFS and VAS scores were collected at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months from 38 patients (some were lost to follow-up when released back into the community). All 38 patients demonstrated clinically significant improvements to all 3 pain scales at 3 months (mean SPAASMS scores decreased by 7 points, mean PSFS scores increased by 2 points, mean VAS scores decreased by 2 points). Twenty-four of 31 patients who completed the patient satisfaction survey agreed that their overall health and well-being improved because of the visit they received from the pharmacist. Conclusion: Clinical pharmacist-led interventions in CSC have shown to reduce oral NSAID use as well as contribute positively to patient pain scores.

Psychosis in Parkinson's disease in a Southeast Asian cohort: prevalence and clinical correlates.

Introduction: Psychosis is a prominent neuropsychiatric symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) and is associated with negative outcomes, such as poorer quality of life and greater rate of functional impairment. Early identification of patients with PD at risk of developing psychosis facilitates appropriate management to improve outcomes. However, this phenomenon has not been examined locally. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of PD-associated psychosis in the local setting, identify any associated risk factors, as well as characterise the cognitive trajectory of patients with PD with psychosis. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 336 patients with PD, who presented to the National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, in 2006 and 2007 and attended follow-up visits through to 2013 was analysed. The data analysed included scores from clinician assessments of cognitive function, disease severity and presence of psychotic symptoms, conducted when clinically appropriate during patients' medical visits. Survival analysis and logistic and linear regression analysis were performed. Results: Psychosis was diagnosed in 63 patients with PD, indicating a prevalence of 18.8% for PD-associated psychosis. Incidence of psychosis in PD was calculated to be 40 per 1,000 person-years. No significant association was found between demographic variables and the odds of developing psychosis in PD. Regression analyses found that the presence of psychosis significantly predicted greater cognitive decline and disease severity. Conclusion: Psychosis has a significant presence among the PD population in Singapore, possibly serving as an indicator of more rapid cognitive decline and progression of PD severity.

A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Caregivers of Community Dwelling Persons with Severe Dementia (PISCES): Study Protocol.

Although many persons with severe dementia (PWSDs) are cared for at home by their family caregivers, few studies have assessed end of life (EOL) care experiences of PWSDs. We present the protocol for the PISCES study (Panel study Investigating Status of Cognitively impaired Elderly in Singapore) which aims to describe the clinical course, health care utilization, and expenditures for community-dwelling PWSDs; and perceived burden, coping, resilience, anticipatory and prolonged grief among their caregivers. This ongoing multi-center prospective longitudinal study is recruiting primary informal caregivers of 250 PWSDs from major restructured public hospitals, community hospitals, home care foundations, and hospices in Singapore. Caregivers are surveyed every four months for two years or until the PWSD passes away and then at eight weeks and six months post-death to assess the bereavement of the caregiver. Survey questionnaires included validated tools to assess PWSDs' quality of life, suffering, behaviors, functional status, resource utilization; and caregiver's satisfaction with care, awareness of prognosis, care preferences, resilience, coping, perceived burden, distress, positive aspects of caregiving, anticipatory grief, and bereavement adjustment. We also conduct qualitative in-depth interviews with a sub-sample of caregivers. The survey data is being linked with medical and billing records of PWSDs. The study has been approved by an ethics board. Results from the study will be disseminated through publications and presentations targeting researchers, policy makers and clinicians interested in understanding and improving EOL care for PWSDs and their caregivers.