Prescribing patterns

PURPOSE: Patients with lung cancer can experience significant psychological morbidities including depression. We characterize patterns and factors associated with interventions for symptoms of depression in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study using health services administrative data in Ontario, Canada of stage IV NSCLC diagnosed from January 2007 to September 2018. A positive symptom of depression score was defined by reporting at least one ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) depression score ≥ 2 following diagnosis until the end of follow-up (September 2019)...

Numerous hereditary ophthalmic diseases display significant genetic diversity. Consequently, the utilization of gene panel sequencing allows a greater number of patients to receive a genetic diagnosis for their clinical manifestations. We investigated how to improve the yield of genetic diagnosis through additional gene panel sequencing in hereditary ophthalmic diseases. A gene panel sequencing consisting of a customized hereditary retinopathy panel or hereditary retinitis pigmentosa (RP) panel was prescribed and referred to a CAP-accredited clinical laboratory...

OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial resistance is an alarming global public health concern, threatening the effective treatment of common infections. This phenomenon is driven by the improper prescription of antibiotics. This study aimed to elucidate the patterns of antibiotic prescription in implant dentistry among European dentists and their awareness of antibiotic resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous online validated questionnaire was distributed via e-mail to 6431 recipients through the European Association for Osseointegration...

Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by lacy reticular skin hyperpigmentation, bone marrow failure, nail dystrophy, and oral leukoplakia. To the best of our knowledge, only around 200 cases were reported in the medical literature, and in this report, we present another distinctive case from Syria. This case report describes a male patient with generalized reticular pigmentation and abnormal nails since childhood. The patient reported a history of recurrent urethral stenosis and corneal density...

INTRODUCTION: Prescribing practices among dermatologists play a crucial role in managing acne, particularly concerning medications like isotretinoin. In Jordan's central region, encompassing the Governorates of Amman, Balqa, Zarqa, and Madaba, dermatologists in both public and private sectors encounter diverse cases of acne. Understanding their prescription patterns and awareness regarding isotretinoin usage is essential for optimizing acne treatment outcomes and minimizing potential risks...

Introduction: There is evidence that providers often overprescribe opiates in the postoperative period. Despite an ever-growing geriatric population, there is little research detailing current opiate usage in older patients after trauma. This population presents a unique set of challenges for pain management and prescription drug dependence due to sensitivity, a narrow therapeutic window, and high rates of pre-existing polypharmacy. Objective: Assess the use of narcotics in geriatric trauma patients with various injury patterns to establish a reference point for future intervention for reduction in narcotic dependence...

AIMS: Cardioneuroablation (CNA) is a catheter-based intervention for recurrent vasovagal syncope (VVS) that consists in the modulation of the parasympathetic cardiac autonomic nervous system. This survey aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current CNA utilization in Europe. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 202 participants from 40 different countries replied to the survey. Half of the respondents have performed a CNA during the last 12 months, reflecting that it is considered a treatment option of a subset of patients...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the disease pattern and drug utilization among admitted patients in a tertiary-care hospital's neuro ICU. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted between August 2022 and January 2023. Patients of any age and gender admitted to the neuro ICU were included, but those who declined to participate were excluded. Demographics, clinical, and medication details were consistently gathered and maintained until discharge...

OBJECTIVES: Dentistry is a significant contributor to the burden of antimicrobial overprescribing and hence to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. However, antimicrobial stewardship in Canadian dentistry is nascent, with an acknowledged need for research and coordinated stewardship efforts. This study aimed to gain insights into the perspectives of Canadian dentistry sector leaders and experts on the main drivers of dental antibiotic overprescribing and potential stewardship strategies...

BACKGROUND: Drug mortality risks vary among industries, creating distinctive geographic patterns across US counties. However, less is known about how local labor market structure relates to drug overdose mortality amid the synthetic opioid era in the United States. This study investigates the relationship between industry-specific job composition and drug overdose mortality at the county level while exploring how fentanyl's presence in illicit drug supplies may moderate the relationship...

This article analyzes the "account book" of Kim Young-hoon (1882-1974), which summarizes information about patients at his Bochun Clinic in Seoul (then Gyeongseong) in 1931. Kim Young-hoon was a pivotal figure in the medical scene throughout the Korean Empire, the Japanese occupation, and the early years of the Republic of Korea. He left behind a large amount of documentation during his 60 years of practice at the Bochun Clinic, which he opened in the spring of 1909. In particular, the 1931 "account book" offers an insight into the daily life histories of his patients...

BACKGROUND: Factors associated with the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in primary care have been poorly explored. In particular, the impact of computerised decision-support systems (CDSS) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aim at investigating the uptake of CDSS and its association with physician characteristics and professional activity. METHODS: Since May 2022, users of a CDSS for antibiotic prescribing in primary care in France have been invited, when registering, to complete three case vignettes assessing clinical situations frequently encountered in general practice and identified as at risk of antibiotic misuse...

AIMS: Due to the paucity of studies in and out of India that dealt with treatment awareness of major depressive disorder (MDD), we decided to assess the awareness of MDD patients, and since adherence and awareness are linked to each other, we assessed adherence too. Prescription pattern studies identify changes in prescriptions due to poor initial response or adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which may result in dose reduction or switching medications and delay remission. Therefore, the study assessed the ADR pattern...

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain how screening for preterm birth is performed among obstetricians working in public and private practice in a middle-income country. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 265 obstetrician-gynecologists employed at public and private facilities. An online questionnaire was administered, with items designed to collect data on prematurity screening and prevention practices. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 44.5 years; 78...

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common health problems worldwide and mainly affect women. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of UTIs in pregnant women and determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from pregnant and nonpregnant women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic medical center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January to June 2022...

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts to enhance the quality of medication prescribing in outpatient settings, potentially inappropriate prescribing remains common, particularly in unscheduled settings where patients can present with infectious and pain-related complaints. Two of the most commonly prescribed medication classes in outpatient settings with frequent rates of potentially inappropriate prescribing include antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In the setting of persistent inappropriate prescribing, we sought to understand a diverse set of perspectives on the determinants of inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics and NSAIDs in the Veterans Health Administration...

Effective menopausal care constitutes a continuum of symptom management and optimization of medical health, including cardiovascular, bone, and mental health. Menopausal knowledge and prescribing patterns changed significantly after the publication of the Women's Health Initiative. A systematic review was conducted to address three key questions about disparities in menopausal care: 1) What differences in menopausal care are experienced by specific populations? 2) What disparities are there in access to preventive care and symptomatic treatment? 3) What interventions reduce disparities in menopause management? PubMed, PsychInfo, SCOPUS, and EMBASE were queried to identify relevant articles published in the United States between 2002 and 2023...

BACKGROUND: People with diabetes who inject insulin with pen devices may reuse the pen needles (PNs), a practice that can cause PN tip deformity, breakage, and contamination, and that is associated with lipohypertrophy and injection-related pain. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to estimate the extent of PN reuse among people with diabetes in two insured populations in the United States. METHODS: Using claims data for Commercial Fully Insured (CFI) and Medicare Advantage (MA) populations from 1-Oct-2018 to 31-Dec-2022, we identified adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (T1D/T2D) who had ≥1 claim for PNs and ≥2 claims for insulin from 1-Jan-2019 to 31-Dec-2021, with continuous medical/pharmacy eligibility for 3 months before first claim and 1 year after (follow-up)...

BACKGROUND: Limb preservation surgery affects more than 100,000 Americans annually. Current postoperative pain management prescribing practices of podiatric physicians in the United States are understudied. We examined prescribing practices for limb preservation surgery to identify prescriber characteristics' that may be associated with postoperative opioid-prescribing practices. METHODS: We administered an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of five patient scenarios with limb preservation surgery commonly performed by podiatric physicians...

IMPORTANCE: The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) expansion in fiscal year (FY) 2019 intended to improve access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) by adding more clinicians who could prescribe buprenorphine. However, some clinicians still face barriers to prescribing, which may vary between rural and nonrural areas. OBJECTIVE: To examine the growth in buprenorphine prescribing by NHSC clinicians for Medicaid beneficiaries during the NHSC LRP expansion and describe the challenges to prescribing that persist in rural and nonrural areas...