American Pharmacists Association

About: American Pharmacists Association is a other organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Pharmacist & Pharmacy. The organization has 2413 authors who have published 1969 publications receiving 30470 citations. The organization is also known as: APhA & American Pharmaceutical Association.

Assessing pharmacist-led annual wellness visits: Interventions made and patient and physician satisfaction

Abstract: Objectives To quantify the nature and frequency of interventions made by pharmacists during a Medicare annual wellness visit (AWV), to determine the association between the number of medications taken and the interventions made, and to assess patient and physician satisfaction with pharmacist-led AWVs. Setting Large, teaching, multidisciplinary family medicine practice in North Carolina. Practice description Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) is a large academic practice that serves rural, western North Carolina. There is a heavy emphasis on team-based care. Practice innovation Pharmacist-led AWV. Evaluation Between April 2012 and January 2013, the following were evaluated for 69 patients: the nature and frequency of interventions made, the association between the number of medications taken and the interventions made, and patient and physician satisfaction scores. Results A total of 247 medication-related interventions and 342 nonmedication interventions were made during the pharmacist-led AWVs. The majority of medication interventions (69.6%) involved correcting medication list discrepancies. The number of medications taken was positively associated with the total number of medication interventions (r = 0.37, P Conclusion Pharmacists addressed both medication and nonmedication interventions during AWVs. Patients taking a greater number of medications required more medication interventions than patients taking fewer medications. Patients and physicians reported satisfaction with the pharmacist-led AWV.

Dental prescribing in Wales and associated public health issues.

Abstract: Dental prescribing data in Wales have not been studied in detail previously. The analysis of national data available from Health Solutions Wales showed that dental prescribing in Wales accounted for 9% of total antibacterial prescribing in primary care in 2008. Penicillin and metronidazole constituted the bulk of antibiotics prescribed by dentists. Since the publication of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance (March 2008) on prophylaxis against infective endocarditis, dental prescriptions for amoxicillin 3g sachets and clindamycin capsules have decreased. Dental prescriptions for fluoride preparations increased in number from 2007 to 2008. Dental prescribing of controlled drugs raises no concern. The figure for antibiotic prescribing in Wales is similar to that of England. Nevertheless, the figure seems a little high, indicating potential inappropriate prescribing behaviour among dentists. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue and many patients each year die from infections from bacterial strains that are resistant to one or more antibiotics. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major cause of antibiotic resistance and every effort should be made to reduce the number of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions in dental practice.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers for the Prevention of Migraines

Abstract: Objective:To evaluate the literature examining the efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) for migraine prophylaxis.Data Sources:MEDLINE (1966–October 2009) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched using the terms migraine, headache, renina-ngiotensin system, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, aldosterone antagonist, and the individual agents in these classes.Study Selection and Data Extraction:English-language human clinical trials, case reports, and systematic reviews were evaluated for efficacy and safety data. The references of reviewed articles were examined to identify additional sources.Data Synthesis:Preventative trials evaluating ACE inhibitors consist of a case series, 2 open-label trials, and a placebo-controlled trial. Lisinopril reduced headache hours 20%, headache days 17%, and migraine days 21% versus placebo In the controlled trial (p 50%) reduct...

Characteristics of Individuals Who Fell While Receiving Home Health Services

Abstract: Background and Purpose. Many patients receiving home health services are at risk for falling, but fall risk factors have not been previously investigated in this population. A retrospective record review was used to describe individuals who fell while being served by a home health agency. Subjects. The 98 individuals who fell while receiving home health services were compared with a random sample of 98 subjects served by the home health agency during the same period who did not report falling. Methods. Subjects were compared by age, sex, days of receiving home health services, number of falls prior to admission to the home health agency, diagnosis, medication category, home health services received, and type of health care coverage. In the group with falls, causes of falls and interventions were described. Results. The group with falls had comorbidities of neurological and cardiovascular impairment, took more medications associated with increased risk of falling, and had almost 3 times the number of falls prior to admission than the group without falls. Discussion and Conclusion. Home care providers should consider medical history, medication usage, and fall history as risk factors for falls in the home environment.