Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yinan Huang, Rajender R. Aparasu, Tyler J. Varisco
Summary: This study aimed to examine the prescribing practices of opioids for pain management in older adults with and without Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The study found that around 27.19% of older adults received opioid prescriptions for pain, with 30% of them also being prescribed sedatives. ADRD was not found to be associated with opioid prescribing or co-prescribing of opioids and sedatives.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Holly Cordray, John Galvin, Addison Clark, Kristan Alfonso, Kara K. Prickett
Summary: Objectively, there has been a significant decrease in postoperative opioid prescriptions after major pediatric ear surgery. The rates of prescriptions, doses per prescription, patient-weight-standardized dose sizes, and variability have all decreased. This trend was not associated with changes in returns to the system. The implementation of a tonsillectomy-focused protocol may have influenced prescribing behaviors.
Article
Surgery
David C. Meyer, Susanna S. Hill, Richard Pavao, Adam J. Resnick, Ayan Purkayastha, Jennifer S. Davids, Paul R. Sturrock, Justin A. Maykel, Karim Alavi
Summary: This study aimed to validate a prospective institutional prescribing guideline based on previously defined opioid consumption patterns following inpatient colorectal operations. The results showed that adoption of a tiered opioid prescribing guideline significantly reduced the quantity of opioid prescriptions, with no change in patient consumption or refill rates.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Aaron Gazendam, Seper Ekhtiari, Nolan S. Horner, Nicole Simunovic, Moin Khan, Darren L. de Sa, Kim Madden, Olufemi R. Ayeni
Summary: This study evaluates the effectiveness of an opioid-sparing approach in postoperative pain management for arthroscopic shoulder or knee surgery patients, showing a significant reduction in opioid consumption postoperatively.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Emese Zsiros, Jason Ricciuti, Steven Gallo, Deanna Argentieri, Kristopher Attwood, Wenyan Ji, Alan Hutson, Paul Visco, Devon Coffey, Grazyna Riebandt, Jaron Mark, Aaron Varghese, Suzanne M. Hess, Thomas Furlani, Andrew Fabiano, Mark Hennon, Sai Yendamuri, Eric C. Kauffman, Kimberly E. Wooten, Wesley L. Hicks, Jessica Young, Kazuaki Takabe, Kunle Odunsi, Amy A. Case, Brahm H. Segal, Candace S. Johnson, Boris Kuvshinoff, Steven Nurkin, Gyorgy Paragh, Oscar de Leon-Casasola
Summary: Restricting the prescription of opioids to 3 or fewer days after surgery can effectively manage postsurgical acute pain and reduce the risk of chronic opioid use in surgical patients.
Article
Surgery
Gina N. Sacks, Katelyn G. Makar, Calista M. Harbaugh, Karen A. Cooper, Christian J. Vercler, Steven J. Kasten, Steven R. Buchman, Jennifer F. Waljee
Summary: This study investigated opioid prescribing patterns and pain control after primary cleft lip and palate repair, finding that opioids are often overprescribed and limiting prescriptions to a 3-day supply may help reduce the quantity of opioids available in the community.
PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Hailey W. Bulls, Lindsay F. Bell, Steven R. Orris, Burel R. Goodin, Jane M. Liebschutz, Antoinette Wozniak, Jessica S. Merlin, Yael Schenker
Summary: The study found that most states recognize the importance of prescription opioids in cancer-related pain management while providing exemptions for cancer patients. However, specific guidance for cancer-related pain prescribing is lacking. Drafting nuanced opioid legislation for a diverse population poses challenges and may unintentionally undermine patient-centered approaches to pain management.
Article
Orthopedics
Matthew M. Thompson, Lucas Popp, Michael J. Foster, Hassan Malik, R. Frank Henn
Summary: The study provides important information on opioid utilization after common arthroscopic procedures and recommends limiting prescription amounts postoperatively to reduce unused medications.
ORTHOPAEDIC JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Bridget L. Findlay, Cameron J. Britton, Amy E. Glasgow, Matthew T. Gettman, Mark D. Tyson, Raymond W. Pak, Boyd R. Viers, Elizabeth B. Habermann, Matthew J. Ziegelmann
Summary: The study assessed longitudinal prescribing patterns for patients undergoing urologic surgery before and after implementation of an evidence-based opioid prescribing guideline. The results showed a significant decrease in opioid quantity prescribed after guideline implementation, with overall guideline adherence at 90.7%. Despite the decrease in opioids prescribed, patients post-guideline implementation obtained fewer refills compared to pre-guideline implementation.
MAYO CLINIC PROCEEDINGS
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Maeghan L. Ciampa, Joy Liang, Thomas A. O'Hara, Constance L. Joel, William E. Sherman
Summary: In this study, a quality improvement initiative was implemented to decrease excess opioid prescriptions and improve patient satisfaction after surgery by using shared decision-making and preoperative pain management education.
SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY AND OTHER INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Douglas R. Oyler, Marcia Rojas-Ramirez, Aisaku Nakamura, Dana Quesinberry, Philip Bernard, Hilary Surratt, Craig S. Miller
Summary: Prescribing opioids after tooth extraction is common, and it is influenced by factors related to postoperative pain and provider habits. Understanding these factors can help develop tailored interventions to reduce unnecessary opioid prescribing.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
David C. Meyer, Susanna S. Hill, M. Richard Pavao, Adam J. Resnick, Janet A. McDade, Cristina R. Harnsberger, Jennifer S. Davids, Paul R. Sturrock, Justin A. Maykel, Karim Alavi
Summary: A study developed a tiered prescribing guideline based on opioid consumption patterns before discharge to reduce excessive opioid prescribing after inpatient colorectal operations. The research found that 62% of prescribed opioids were in excess, with over half of patients not consuming any opioids after discharge. Prospective validation of the guideline is necessary to potentially reduce excessive prescribing practices.
DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM
(2021)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Max Jordan Nguemeni Tiako, Frances Shofer, Abby Dolan, Erica B. Goldberg, Karin V. Rhodes, Erik P. Hess, Venkatesh R. Bellamkonda, Jeanmarie Perrone, Carolyn C. Cannuscio, Lance Becker, Melissa A. Rodgers, Michael M. Zyla, Jeffrey J. Bell, Sharon McCollum, Eden Engel-Rebitzer, Marilyn M. Schapira, Zachary F. Meisel
Summary: This study aimed to determine the impact of personalized risk communication and opioid prescribing on nonprescribed opioid use. The results showed that personalized risk communication and opioid prescribing were associated with lower odds of nonprescribed opioid use, particularly for Black participants.
ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Bin Liu, Hongtao Guo, Li Li, Qi Geng, Ning Zhao, Yong Tan, Zhixing Nie, Guilin Ouyang, Aiping Lu, Cheng Lu
Summary: This study preliminarily reveals the biological basis of deficiency pattern (DP) and excess pattern (EP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through metabolomics analysis. The unique metabolites identified may serve as potential predictors to distinguish between DP and EP. These findings are significant for further research on traditional medicine patterns in the ICD-11 and personalized precision treatment of RA.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emma K. Begley, Helen M. Poole, Harry R. Sumnall, Bernhard F. Frank, Catharine Montgomery
Summary: The study aims to improve clinical pathways for opioid weaning by exploring the prescribing of opioids in socially deprived areas of Liverpool, UK. The findings show that high dose, strong opioid prescribing is more prevalent in these deprived areas, leading to increased health inequalities. Changes in prescribing practice have been made to address the issue, but the problem of high dose opioid prescribing persists in socially deprived areas.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Nandita Kachru, Holly M. Holmes, Michael L. Johnson, Hua Chen, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: The study found no differential risk of falls/fractures and all-cause hospitalizations in older adults with dementia and OAB using nonselective and selective antimuscarinics. Further research is needed to understand the role of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in the safety profile of antimuscarinics in dementia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jagadeswara R. Earla, George J. Hutton, Douglas J. Thornton, Hua Chen, Michael L. Johnson, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: The study compared the effectiveness of oral fingolimod and conventional injectable DMAs in patients with MS, finding that oral fingolimod is equally effective as injectable DMAs in reducing the risk of relapse or treatment switch. Additional analysis among adherent patients also showed no significant difference between the two groups.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Yinan Huang, Ashna Talwar, Satabdi Chatterjee, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This review evaluated the performance of machine learning methods for predicting hospital readmission in the US, with a focus on commonly used algorithms such as tree-based methods, neural networks, regularized logistic regression, and support vector machines. Most of the studies reviewed were of high quality, and the majority reported ML algorithms with an AUC above 0.70. Further research is needed to compare the performance of different ML algorithms for hospital readmission prediction.
BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Sanika Rege, Ryan M. Carnahan, Michael L. Johnson, Hua Chen, Holly M. Holmes, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study found a 27% increased risk of antipsychotic initiation among users of rivastigmine compared with donepezil users. There was no significant difference in antipsychotic initiation between galantamine and donepezil users. Despite the study's limitations, the results suggest that donepezil or galantamine may be more suitable treatments for older patients with dementia to reduce antipsychotic use.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Prajakta P. Masurkar, Satabdi Chatterjee, Jeffrey T. Sherer, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study found that donepezil use is more likely to lead to antimuscarinic cascade than rivastigmine in older adults with dementia. Further research is needed to investigate the potential consequences of this cascade in dementia.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rajender R. Aparasu, Sanika Rege
Summary: National surveys such as NAMCS and NHAMCS are valuable resources for pharmacy researchers to evaluate outpatient care. These surveys provide important practice and policy evidence for prescribing practices in ambulatory settings. Understanding the survey content, scope, complex sampling scheme, and methodological considerations is crucial for utilizing these surveys effectively.
RESEARCH IN SOCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY
(2022)
Article
Economics
Satabdi Chatterjee, David Walker, Tomomi Kimura, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: The research evaluated the impact of anticholinergic burden on healthcare resource use and related costs among long-stay nursing home residents with overactive bladder. Results showed that all types of resource utilization were higher among those with any level of anticholinergic burden, and costs tended to increase with higher burden levels. Efforts to reduce anticholinergic burden may lead to decreases in costs and healthcare resource use for this population.
PHARMACOECONOMICS-OPEN
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Prajakta P. Masurkar, Satabdi Chatterjee, Jeffrey T. Sherer, Hua Chen, Michael L. Johnson, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: The study found that the risk of overactive bladder varies among individual ChEIs, with an increased risk for donepezil compared to rivastigmine. The findings suggest the importance of understanding and managing medication-related morbidity in older adults with dementia.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jieni Li, Soumya G. Chikermane, Jagadeswara R. Earla, George J. Hutton, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study evaluated the factors associated with switching to oral disease-modifying agents (DMA) among prevalent injectable DMA users with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study found that both demographic and clinical factors were associated with switching to oral DMA.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Prajakta P. Masurkar, Satabdi Chatterjee, Jeffrey T. Sherer, Hua Chen, Michael L. Johnson, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study found that the risk of serious adverse events (SAEs) varied among individual Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), with sex and dose moderating these effects. Therefore, these moderating effects should be carefully considered in personalizing dementia care.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jieni Li, Marjan Zakeri, George J. Hutton, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional limitations of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using national survey data. The findings showed that MS patients had lower physical and mental HRQoL and were more likely to seek assistance for daily activities compared to non-MS patients.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jagadeswara Rao Earla, Jieni Li, George J. Hutton, Michael L. Johnson, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study compared the adherence trajectories of fingolimod, teriflunomide, and dimethyl fumarate users with multiple sclerosis, and found that teriflunomide and dimethyl fumarate had poorer adherence trajectories compared to fingolimod. Further research is needed to optimize the management of multiple sclerosis.
Article
Rheumatology
Yinan Huang, Sandeep K. Agarwal, Satabdi Chatterjee, Hua Chen, Michael L. Johnson, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with the use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study used the MarketScan database to analyze data from adult RA patients who initiated DMARD treatment between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014 and had no prior history of CVD. The findings showed that there was no differential risk of CVD with the use of DMARDs in combination therapy or monotherapy compared to methotrexate monotherapy in patients with RA.
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yinan Huang, Sandeep K. Agarwal, Hua Chen, Satabdi Chatterjee, Michael L. Johnson, Rajender R. Aparasu
Summary: This study compared the effectiveness of different MTX-based DMARD combinations for patients with RA. The results showed that both non-TNFi biologics and TNFi-based combinations with MTX were equally effective, while csDMARD + MTX was less effective.
CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Fonny Cokro, Pretty Falena Kambira Atmanda, Reynelda Juliani Sagala, Sherly Tandi Arrang, Dion Notario, Elisabeth Rukmini, Rajender Aparasu
Summary: Pharmacy education in Indonesia consists of a four-year undergraduate degree and a one-year professional programme, focusing on general pharmacy skills and clinical practice. Professional programmes offer more practical training and broader career opportunities. However, challenges remain in terms of policies, agreements, competencies, and training in pharmacy education.
PHARMACY EDUCATION
(2021)