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Taking Medication (taking + medication)
Selected AbstractsASH Position Paper: Adherence and Persistence With Taking Medication to Control High Blood PressureJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 10 2010Martha N. Hill RN J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:757-764. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Nonadherence and poor or no persistence in taking antihypertensive medications results in uncontrolled high blood pressure, poor clinical outcomes, and preventable health care costs. Factors associated with nonadherence are multilevel and relate not only to the patient, but also to the provider, health care system, health care organization, and community. National guideline committees have called for more aggressive approaches to implement strategies known to improve adherence and technologies known to enable changes at the systems level, including improved communication among providers and patients. Improvements in adherence and persistence are likely to be achieved by supporting patient self-management, a team approach to patient care, technology-supported office practice systems, better methods to measure adherence, and less clinical inertia. Integrating high blood pressure control into health care policies that emphasize and improve prevention and management of chronic illness remains a challenge. Four strategies are proposed: focusing on clinical outcomes; empowering informed, activated patients; developing prepared proactive practice teams; and advocating for health care policy reform. With hypertension remaining the most common reason for office visits, the time is now. [source] How are we doing with the treatment of essential tremor (ET)?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2010Persistence of patients with ET on medication: data from 528 patients in three settings Background:, The pharmacological treatment of essential tremor (ET) is not optimal. There are only two first-line medications and troublesome side effects are common. It is not uncommon for patients to simply stop taking medication. Yet, no published data substantiate or quantify this anecdotal impression. Objectives:, To determine, amongst patients with ET who were prescribed medication for tremor, what proportion are still taking medication and what proportion have stopped? Methods:, Five hundred and twenty-eight patients with ET from three distinct study settings (clinical, brain donors, population) were interviewed. Results:, A clear pattern that emerged across settings was that the proportion of patients with ET who had stopped medication was sizable and consistently similar (nearly one-third): 31.4% (clinical), 24.3% (brain donors), 30.0% (population), 29.8% (overall). A similarly high proportion of cases with severe tremor had stopped their medication: 31.9% (clinical), 36.4% (brain donors). For the four most commonly used medications (propranolol, primidone, diazepam, topiramate), one-half or more of the treated patients had stopped the medication; amongst the less commonly used medications, the proportion who stopped was even higher. Conclusions:, Nearly one of every three patients with ET who had been prescribed medication for tremor had discontinued pharmacotherapy. Even more revealing was that a similar proportion of cases with severe tremor had stopped medication. These data make tangibly evident that there is a sizable population of patients with ET who are untreated and disabled, and underscore the inadequacy of current pharmacotherapeutic options for this common neurological disease. [source] HP23 USE OF ANTI-REFLUX MEDICATION AFTER ANTI-REFLUX SURGERYANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 2007B. P. L. Wijnhoven Purpose It is thought that a substantial number of patients who undergo anti-reflux surgery use anti-reflux medication post operatively, despite no objective evidence of reflux. This study aims to determine the prevalence and underlying reasons for anti-reflux medication usage in patients after anti-reflux surgery. Methodology A questionnaire (13 questions) on the usage of anti-reflux medication was sent to 1016 patients from a prospective database of anti-reflux surgery patients. Results 852 patients (84%), (437 males & 415 females with a mean age 58 yrs) returned the questionnaire. Mean follow up was 5.9 yrs after surgery. A single or combination of medications was being taken by 319 patients (37%): 82% proton pump inhibitors, 9% H2-blockers and 34% antacids. 54 patients (18%) had never stopped taking medication, whereas 261 patients (82%) re-started medication at a mean of 2.4 yrs after surgery. Persistent or return of the same or different symptoms was the reason for taking medication by the vast majority (85%), whereas 15% were asymptomatic or had other reasons for medication use. A response of symptoms to the medication occurred for 30% of the patients, whereas 64% noticed some improvement. Postoperative 24-hour pH studies (while off medication) were abnormal in 17/62 patients (27%) on medication and in 5/73 patients (6%) not taking medication. Conclusions Anti-reflux medication is frequently taken by patients for symptoms after surgery, despite normal pH profiles in the majority. Strategies need to be employed to lower the inappropriate use of medications after surgery and to further evaluate the mechanisms underlying postoperative symptoms, which are non-responsive to anti-reflux medication. [source] Beat the Heat: don't forget your drink , a brief public education programAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2010Tracey Oakman Abstract Background: The Beat the Heat: don't forget your drink program was initiated to enable the general public to recognise and manage heat stress. It was accompanied by a telephone survey to assess program reach and knowledge and behaviours of the general public in managing heat stress. Methods: The program was implemented in the Riverina-Murray region of New South Wales, in the summer of 2008/09, through radio and television sound bytes, newspaper announcements, distribution of posters and brochures, and public talks. Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews were conducted with 328 randomly selected participants from across the region. Results: Sixty-three per cent of participants reported hearing heat health warnings and 53% changed their heat management strategies, although only 25% recalled the program slogan. On average, participants self-rated their understanding of managing heat health at 7.9 on a 10 point scale. More than 75% of participants said they would recognise the symptoms of heat stress. Most reported exposure to heat and health information from television, radio and newspapers rather than from posters, brochures and talks. Those at greatest risk included people who worked or exercised outdoors, men and those taking medication. Conclusions: Television, radio and newspapers were successful media for the program. Knowledge and responses of the general public to heat risks were well developed, with several exceptions , people taking medications, or working or playing sports outdoors, as well as tourists and men. These exceptions should be targeted in future programs. [source] Behavioral Symptoms in Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Medication ManagementJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 10 2004Ann L. Gruber-Baldini PhD Objectives: To examine the prevalence, correlates, and medication management of behavioral symptoms in elderly people living in residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) facilities. Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: A stratified random sample of 193 RC/AL facilities in four states (Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina). Participants: A total of 2,078 RC/AL residents aged 65 and older. Measurement: Behavioral symptoms were classified using a modified version of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Additional items on resistance to care were also examined. Results: Approximately one-third (34%) of RC/AL residents exhibited one or more behavioral symptoms at least once a week. Thirteen percent exhibited aggressive behavioral symptoms, 20% demonstrated physically nonaggressive behavioral symptoms, 22% expressed verbal behavioral symptoms, and 13% resisted taking medications or activities of daily living care. Behavioral symptoms were associated with the presence of depression, psychosis, dementia, cognitive impairment, and functional dependency, and these relationships persisted across subtypes of behavioral symptoms. Overall, behavioral symptoms were more prevalent in smaller facilities. More than 50% of RC/AL residents were taking a psychotropic medication, and two-thirds had some mental health problem indicator (dementia, depression, psychosis, or other psychiatric illness). Conclusion: Integrating mental health services within the process of care in RC/AL is needed to manage and accommodate the high prevalence of behavioral symptoms in this evolving long-term setting. [source] | ||||||||||