scholarly journals The association between pharmacy refill‐adherence metrics and healthcare utilisation: a prospective cohort study of older hypertensive adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 459-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Dillon ◽  
Susan M. Smith ◽  
Paul Gallagher ◽  
Gráinne Cousins
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terefe Gone Fuge ◽  
George Tsourtos ◽  
Emma R Miller

Abstract ObjectivesMaintaining optimal adherence and viral suppression in people living with HIV (PLWHA) is essential to ensure both preventative and therapeutic benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Prisoners bear a particularly high burden of HIV infection and are highly likely to transmit to others during and after incarceration. However, the level of treatment adherence and viral suppression in incarcerated populations in low-income countries is unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of non-adherence and viral failure, and contributing factors amongst prisoners in South Ethiopia. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020 to compare the level of adherence and viral suppression between incarcerated and non-incarcerated PLWHA. The study involved 74 inmates living with HIV (ILWHA) and 296 non-incarcerated PLWHA. Background information (including sociodemographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, behavioural, and incarceration related characteristics) was collected using a structured questionnaire. Adherence was determined based on the participants’ self-report and pharmacy refill records. Plasma viral load measurements undertaken within the study period were prospectively extracted to determine viral suppression. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to analyse data. ResultsWhile prisoners had a significantly higher pharmacy refill adherence compared to non-incarcerated PLWHA (89% vs 75%), they had a slightly lower dose adherence (81% vs 83%). The prevalence of viral failure (VF) was also slightly higher (6%) in ILWHA compared to non-incarcerated PLWHA (4.4%). The overall dose non-adherence (NA) was significantly associated with missing ART appointments, level of satisfaction with ART services, patient’s ability to comply with a specified medication schedule and types of methods used to monitor the schedule. In ILWHA specifically, accessing ART services from a hospital compared to a health centre, an inability to always attend clinic appointments, experience of depression and a lack of social support predicted NA. VF was significantly higher in males, people of age 31to 35 years and in those who experienced social stigma, regardless of their incarceration status. ConclusionsThis study revealed that HIV-infected prisoners in South Ethiopia were more likely to be non-adherent to ART doses and to develop viral failure compared to their non-incarcerated counterparts. A multitude of factors were found to be responsible for this requiring multilevel intervention strategies focusing on the specific needs of prisoners.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e042287
Author(s):  
Andrea Nedergaard Jensen ◽  
Maria Kristiansen ◽  
Janne Schurmann Tolstrup ◽  
Hejdi Gamst-Jensen

ObjectivesSelf-rated health (SRH) is a strong predictor for healthcare utilisation among chronically ill patients. However, its association with acute hospitalisation is unclear. Individuals’ perception of urgency in acute illness expressed as degree-of-worry (DOW) is however associated with acute hospitalisation. This study examines DOW and SRH, respectively, and their association with acute hospitalisation within 48 hours after calling a medical helpline.DesignA prospective cohort study.SettingThe Medical Helpline 1813 (MH1813) in the Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen.ParticipantsAdult (≥18 years of age) patients and relatives/close friends calling the MH1813 between 24 January and 9 February 2017. A total of 6812 callers were included.Outcome measuresThe primary outcome measure was acute hospitalisation. Callers rated their DOW (1=minimum worry, 5=maximum worry) and SRH (1=excellent, 5=poor). Covariates included age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Score and reason for calling. Logistic regression was conducted to measure the associations in three models: (1) crude; (2) age-and-sex-adjusted; (3) full fitted model (age, sex, comorbidity, reason for calling, DOW/SRH).ResultsOf 6812 callers, 492 (7.2%) were acutely hospitalised. Most callers rated their health as being excellent to good (65.3%) and 61% rated their worry to be low (DOW 1–3). Both the association between DOW and acute hospitalisation and SRH and acute hospitalisation indicated a dose–response relationship: DOW 1=ref, 3=1.8 (1.1;3.1), 5=3.5 (2.0;5.9) and SRH 1=ref, 3=0.8 (0.6;1.4), 5=1.6 (1.1;2.4). The association between DOW and acute hospitalisation decreased slightly, when further adjusting for SRH, whereas the estimates for SRH weakened markedly when including DOW.ConclusionsDOW and poor SRH were associated with acute hospitalisation. However, DOW had a stronger association with hospitalisation than SRH. This suggests that DOW may capture acutely ill patients’ perception of urgency better than SRH in relation to acute hospitalisation after calling a medical helpline.Trial registration numberNCT02979457.


Author(s):  
Mika Kivimaki ◽  
Marko Elovainio ◽  
Jussi Vahtera ◽  
Marianna Virtanen ◽  
Jane E. Ferrie

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Aro ◽  
H. J. de Koning ◽  
K. Vehkalahti ◽  
P. Absetz ◽  
M. Schreck ◽  
...  

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