Estudio de utilización de fármacos antipsicóticos en el hospital psiquiátrico Manuel Piti Fajardo de Manzanillo

Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, longitudinal y retrospectivo del tipo prescripción- indicación y estudio cuantitativo de consumo, con el objetivo de identificar los patrones de prescripción de antipsicóticos en pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia y trastornos relacionados hospitalizados en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Manuel Piti Fajardo de Manzanillo en el periodo comprendido de enero de 2013 a enero de 2015. Los datos se obtuvieron de las historias clínicas. La mayoría de los pacientes se encontraban en el rango de edad comprendido entre los 18 y 40 años de edad, del sexo femenino y soltero. Un mayor porcentaje tenía un tiempo de enfermedad mayor a cinco años, un tiempo de hospitalización mayor a un mes, y no tenía hospitalizaciones previas. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue el de esquizofrenia. Un pequeño grupo de pacientes presentó alguna comorbilidad psiquiátrica, como el trastorno depresivo. El antipsicótico más empleado, sea como monoterapia o en combinación con otro antipsicótico, fue clorpromazina. En general estos medicamentos fueron empleados dentro del rango terapéutico, con buena respuesta al tratamiento; las reacciones adversas medicamentosas que se presentaron fueron principalmente trastornos extrapiramidales y sedación; la asociación de antipsicóticos con depresores del sistema nervioso central fue la interacción medicamentosa potencial más frecuente.

An observational, descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study of the prescription-indication type and quantitative study of consumption was carried out, with the aim of identifying the patterns of prescription of antipsychotics in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and related disorders hospitalized at the Manuel Piti Fajardo Psychiatric Hospital of Manzanillo in the period from January 2013 to January 2015. The data were obtained from medical records. Most of the patients were in the 18 to 40 year age range, female, and single. A higher percentage had a time of illness greater than five years, a hospital stay greater than one month, and had no previous hospitalizations. The most frequent diagnosis was schizophrenia. A small group of patients presented some psychiatric comorbidity, such as depressive disorder. The most widely used antipsychotic, either as monotherapy or in combination with another antipsychotic, was chlorpromazine. In general, these drugs were used within the therapeutic range, with a good response to treatment; the adverse drug reactions that occurred were mainly extrapyramidal disorders and sedation; the association of antipsychotics with central nervous system depressants was the most frequent potential drug interaction.

Foi realizado um estudo observacional, descritivo, longitudinal e retrospectivo da prescrição-indicação e estudo quantitativo do consumo, como objetivo de identificar os padrões de prescrição de antipsicóticos em pacientes diagnosticados com esquizofrenia e transtornos relacionados internados no Hospital Psiquiátrico Manuel Piti Fajardo, em Manzanillo, no período de janeiro de 2013 a janeiro de 2015. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de prontuários. A maioria dos pacientes estavan afaixa etária entre 18 e 40 anos, do sexo feminino e solteiro. O percentual maior apresentou tempo de doença superior a cinco anos, tempo de internação superior a um mês, não com internações anteriores. O diagnóstico mais frequente foi a esquizofrenia. Um pequeno grupo de pacientes tinha alguma comorbidade psiquiátrica, como transtorno depressivo. O antipsicótico mais usado, seja como monoterapia ou em combinação com outro antipsicótico, foi a clororomazina. Em geral, esses fármacos foram utilizados dentro da faixa terapêutica, com boa resposta ao tratamento; as reações adversas de drogas que ocorreram foram principalmente distúrbios extrapiridais e sedação; a associação de antipsicóticos com depressores do sistema nervoso central foi a interação potencial mais frequente de drogas.

Los médicos y la industria farmacéutica: impacto sobre actitudes y hábitos de prescripción / Physicians and the pharmaceutical industry: impact on prescription attitudes and habits

Resumen Introducción: La relación médico-industria farmacéutica (IF) se ha identificado como un problema ético por favorecer conflictos de interés derivados de los beneficios que reciben los médicos y que pueden afectar su juicio clínico. Objetivo: Identificar la frecuencia de participación de médicos en actividades financiadas por la IF, las actitudes de estos profesionales hacia los representantes de la IF, su conducta prescriptiva y la asociación de sus características y del trabajo con la participación en actividades financiadas por la IF. Método: Encuesta transversal a médicos internistas y cardiólogos. El cuestionario incluyó características de los médicos y centro de trabajo, participación en actividades financiadas por la IF, actitudes hacia los representantes y conducta de prescripción. Resultados: Se analizaron 455 cuestionarios, 78.5 % de los encuestados tuvo conocimiento de la relación médico-IF, la mayoría respondió reunirse con representantes de la IF, 30 % indicó haber recibido subsidios financieros y 10 % consideró que los obsequios afectan su prescripción. Tener conocimiento previo de la relación médico-IF se asoció con menor participación en actividades educativas financiadas por por la IF. Conclusión: Las prácticas y preferencias hacia la IF muestran la necesidad de diseñar estrategias para evitar la prescripción inapropiada.

Abstract Introduction: The physician-pharmaceutical industry relationship has been identified as an ethical problem, due to conflicts of interest motivated by the benefits that doctors receive and that can affect their clinical judgment. Objective: To identify the frequency of physicians participation in activities financed by the pharmaceutical industry (PI), their attitudes towards PI representatives (PIRs), their prescriptive behavior and the association between their characteristics and their workplace with their participation in activities financed by the PI. Method: Cross-sectional survey to internists and cardiologists. The questionnaire included characteristics of the doctors and their workplace, participation in activities financed by the PI, attitudes towards PIRs, and prescription behavior. Results: 455 questionnaires were analyzed; 78.5 % of surveyed subjects were aware of the physician-PI relationship, the majority acknowledged meeting with PIRs, 30 % indicated having received financial subsidies and 10 % considered that gifts affect their prescription. Having prior knowledge of the physician-PI relationship was associated with less participation in PI-financed educational activities. Conclusion: Practices and preferences towards the PI show the need to design strategies to avoid inappropriate prescription.

Physicians and the pharmaceutical industry: impact on prescription attitudes and habits.

INTRODUCTION: The physician-pharmaceutical industry relationship has been identified as an ethical problem, due to conflicts of interest motivated by the benefits that doctors receive and that can affect their clinical judgment. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of physicians participation in activities financed by the pharmaceutical industry (PI), their attitudes towards PI representatives (PIRs), their prescriptive behavior and the association between their characteristics and their workplace with their participation in activities financed by the PI. METHOD: Cross-sectional survey to internists and cardiologists. The questionnaire included characteristics of the doctors and their workplace, participation in activities financed by the PI, attitudes towards PIRs, and prescription behavior. RESULTS: 455 questionnaires were analyzed; 78.5 % of surveyed subjects were aware of the physician-PI relationship, the majority acknowledged meeting with PIRs, 30 % indicated having received financial subsidies and 10 % considered that gifts affect their prescription. Having prior knowledge of the physician-PI relationship was associated with less participation in PI-financed educational activities. CONCLUSION: Practices and preferences towards the PI show the need to design strategies to avoid inappropriate prescription. INTRODUCCIÓN: La relación médico-industria farmacéutica (IF) se ha identificado como un problema ético por favorecer conflictos de interés derivados de los beneficios que reciben los médicos y que pueden afectar su juicio clínico. OBJETIVO: Identificar la frecuencia de participación de médicos en actividades financiadas por la IF, las actitudes de estos profesionales hacia los representantes de la IF, su conducta prescriptiva y la asociación de sus características y del trabajo con la participación en actividades financiadas por la IF. MÉTODO: Encuesta transversal a médicos internistas y cardiólogos. El cuestionario incluyó características de los médicos y centro de trabajo, participación en actividades financiadas por la IF, actitudes hacia los representantes y conducta de prescripción. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 455 cuestionarios, 78.5 % de los encuestados tuvo conocimiento de la relación médico-IF, la mayoría respondió reunirse con representantes de la IF, 30 % indicó haber recibido subsidios financieros y 10 % consideró que los obsequios afectan su prescripción. Tener conocimiento previo de la relación médico-IF se asoció con menor participación en actividades educativas financiadas por por la IF. CONCLUSIÓN: Las prácticas y preferencias hacia la IF muestran la necesidad de diseñar estrategias para evitar la prescripción inapropiada.

Estudio de utilización de antibióticos en el servicio de consulta externa de un hospital público en Bogotá, D.C. / Study of the use of antibiotics in the outpatient service of a public hospital in Bogotá, D. C.

Se realizó un estudio de utilización de medicamentos sobre hábitos y calidad de la prescripción, con el fin de describir las características y potencial uso no adecuado de los antibióticos en el servicio de consulta externa de un hospital de segundo nivel de la ciudad de Bogotá, D.C. En las 8077 prescripciones analizadas se encontraron 613 (8%) con al menos un antibiótico de uso sistémico. Los antibióticos más dispensados fueron: Amoxicilina, Cefalexina, Ciprofloxacina, Dicloxacilina, Doxiciclina. Se prescribieron combinaciones de dos antibióticos en el 3% de las fórmulas, siendo la más frecuente macrólido-penicilina. Todas las prescripcion esanalizadas cumplieron con los requisitos de calidad y el 0,4% de los tratamientos no tenían el tiempo de duración del tratamiento. La frecuencia de uso de los antibióticos en el servicio de consulta externa fue más baja que en otros estudios. Se identificaron potenciales usos no adecuados como la falta de diagnóstico infeccioso, combinación de antibióticos no documentada, interacciones de medicamentos y falta de información adecuada en la administración de tetraciclinas.

A study on drug use habits and quality of prescribing was conducted to describe the characteristics and potential inadequate use of antibiotics in the outpatient service of one of the Bogota's second-level hospitals. In 8077 prescriptions analyzed it was found 613 (8%) with at least one antibiotic for systemic use. Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Ciprofloxacin, Dicloxacillin, and Doxycycline were the most dispensed antibiotics. Combinations of two antibiotics were prescribed for 3% of the formulas; the most common of these was macrolide-penicillin. All prescriptions analyzed met the quality requirements and only 0.4% of the treatments did not have the time duration of treatment. The found frequency of use of antibiotics in outpatient services was lower than in other studies. Potential not suitable uses as the lack of infectious diagnosis, antibiotic combination unreported, drug interactions and lack of adequate information on the administration of tetracyclines were identified.

Clinical characteristics of bipolar disorder: a comparative study between Argentina and the United States.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder presents with diverse clinical manifestations. Numerous investigators have sought to identify variables that may predict a more severe illness course. METHODS: With the objective of studying the clinical characteristics of bipolar patients between South and North America, a comparison was performed between a sample from Argentina (n = 449) and a sample from the United States (n = 503) with respect to demographics and clinical characteristics, including presence of comorbidities. RESULTS: The Argentinian sample had more unfavorable demographics and higher rates of prior psychiatric hospitalization and prior suicide attempt but a better social outcome. However, the sample from the United States had a higher rate of prior year rapid cycling, as well as younger bipolar disorder onset age (mean ± SD, 17.9 ± 8.4 vs. 27.1 ± 11.4 years) and more severe clinical morbidity, though there was no significant difference in terms of the total duration of the illness. Argentinian compared to American patients were taking more mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines/hypnotics, but fewer antipsychotics and other psychotropic medications, when considering patients in aggregate as well as when stratifying by illness subtype (bipolar I versus bipolar II) and by illness onset age (≤21 vs. >21 years). However, there was no significant difference in rate of antidepressant prescription between the two samples considered in aggregate. CONCLUSIONS: Although possessing similar illness durations, these samples presented significant clinical differences and distinctive prescription patterns. Thus, though the Argentinian compared to North American patients had more unfavorable demographics, they presented a better social outcome and, in several substantive ways, more favorable illness characteristics. In both samples, early onset (age ≤ 21 years) was a marker for poor prognosis throughout the illness course, although this phenomenon appeared more robust in North America.

Antimicrobial prescription and usage in the neonatal intensive care units of a Caribbean country: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prescribing patterns and usage of antimicrobials in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of Trinidad & Tobago. METHODS: A 3-month prospective observational study was conducted at the three NICUs at the major public hospitals. Data included antimicrobials prescribed, route of administration, culture and sensitivity reports, leukocyte count, length of stay and outcome of patients. RESULTS: 353 patients were studied, 57.5% of the patients were males. Mean birth weight was 2.96 ± 0.94 (Standard Deviation) kg. Admission diagnoses included meconium stained liquor, preterm, respiratory distress, sepsis, etc. Length of stay ranged between 1 to 76 days, (median 4, Interquartile Range 1-8). The mean leukocyte count was 15.7 ± 8.5 × 103 per µL. Overall, 645 culture specimens were sent; umbilical swab (27.6%), throat swab (27.0%) and blood (16.4%) being the most common specimens. 310 (48.1%) showed no bacterial growth. Overall, 16 different antimicrobials were used. First line antibiotic of choice was a combination of ampicillin and gentamicin (85.8 %). Second line antibiotic of choice was cefotaxime. The overall mortality was 7.6%. CONCLUSION: The choice of antimicrobials in the NICUs of major public hospitals is mostly empirical and not primarily dictated by the culture and sensitivity reports, emphasizing the need for antibiotic stewardship programme in Trinidad & Tobago.