scholarly journals Remote psychotropic medication advice for general practitioners: a quality improvement project

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S212-S213
Author(s):  
Emily Rackley ◽  
Rosemary King
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Email Address ◽  
Initial Survey ◽  
Relative Change

AimsOur first aim was to first find out how confident general practitioners were about referring in to the Gloucester Recovery Team and managing psychotropic medications. Our second aim was to then improve general practitioner's self-rated scores of confidence in managing psychotropic medication whilst also improving general practitioner's satisfaction with waiting times for patient's referred to the Gloucester Recovery Team.MethodWe planned to introduce an email address for GPs to use to seek medication and diagnostic advice for patients known to and not known to the Recovery Team. We initially introduced this for the ‘Team 2’ catchment area consisting of five practices within Gloucester. These were then read and replied to by the Team 2 consultant, Dr Ikram, as appropriate. A further survey was then sent out.. These results provided both quantitative ordinal data through a likert scale, which was then transformed into binomial data, such as those scoring ‘extremely confident’ ‘very confident’ ‘somewhat confident’ vs ‘not so confident’ and ‘not confident at all’ which is then compared using relative risk.ResultOur response rate for our initial survey was 8 general practitioners, and for our follow-up survey 1 general practitioner and 2 nurse prescribers. Confidence in continuing psychotropic medications increased from 7 out of the 8 (78%) stating somewhat confident to extremely confident to 3 out of the 3 (100%) after the introduction of the email; a relative change of 1.14 (95% confidence interval 0.87-1.48 p = 0.318). Confidence in initiating psychotropic medications increased from 4 out of the 8 (50%) stating somewhat confident to extremely confident to 2 out of the 3 (66%) after the introduction of the email; a relative change of 1.33 (95% confidence interval 0.46-3.84 p = 0.594).ConclusionAnalysing the qualitative data showed the email address was used for a variety of requests and advice including: 1) A capacity assessment, 2) Initiating medications for depression and anxiety, 3) Medications during pregnancy, 4) Medication for those with Intellectual Disability, 5) Switching medication, 6) Medications for poor sleep and 7) Mood stabilising medication.This change appeared to be well received, however the response rate was very low which makes full analysis difficult. We also included nurse practitioners working in primary mental health in our second survey, whereas the initial survey was only sent to GPs. This initiative was also only started for 5 of the GP practices within Gloucester, and there may be a different knowledge base/confidence amongst the other practices.

Fool’s Gold: Psychologists Using Disingenuous Reasoning to Mislead Legislatures into Granting Psychologists Prescriptive Authority

2003 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-524
Author(s):  
Brent Pollitt
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
American Psychological Association ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
American Psychological ◽  
Training Requirements ◽  
Prescriptive Authority

Mental illness is a serious problem in the United States. Based on “current epidemiological estimates, at least one in five people has a diagnosable mental disorder during the course of a year.” Fortunately, many of these disorders respond positively to psychotropic medications. While psychiatrists write some of the prescriptions for psychotropic medications, primary care physicians write more of them. State legislatures, seeking to expand patient access to pharmacological treatment, granted physician assistants and nurse practitioners prescriptive authority for psychotropic medications. Over the past decade other groups have gained some form of prescriptive authority. Currently, psychologists comprise the primary group seeking prescriptive authority for psychotropic medications.The American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy (“ASAP”), a division of the American Psychological Association (“APA”), spearheads the drive for psychologists to gain prescriptive authority. The American Psychological Association offers five main reasons why legislatures should grant psychologists this privilege: 1) psychologists’ education and clinical training better qualify them to diagnose and treat mental illness in comparison with primary care physicians; 2) the Department of Defense Psychopharmacology Demonstration Project (“PDP”) demonstrated non-physician psychologists can prescribe psychotropic medications safely; 3) the recommended post-doctoral training requirements adequately prepare psychologists to prescribe safely psychotropic medications; 4) this privilege will increase availability of mental healthcare services, especially in rural areas; and 5) this privilege will result in an overall reduction in medical expenses, because patients will visit only one healthcare provider instead of two–one for psychotherapy and one for medication.

scholarly journals Implementing an Interdisciplinary Committee to Reduce Psychotropic Drug and Increase Behavioral Intervention Use

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 306-306
Author(s):  
Lauren Hess Conrad ◽  
David Portman
Keyword(s):  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
Interdisciplinary Treatment ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract In Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, the Butler VA Health Care System’s Psychotropic Medication and Behavior Management Committee was identified as a Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 Best Practice. The goal of this committee is to reduce unnecessary psychotropic medication use and polypharmacy and to increase behavioral intervention implementation among Community Living Center (CLC) Veterans. This committee meets quarterly to review Psychotropic Drug Safety Initiative data, behaviors and behavior care plans, and all psychotropic medications prescribed to Veterans. Psychiatric diagnoses, changes to psychotropic medications, and appropriate behavioral interventions are discussed. Committee members take responsibility for action items in accordance with their discipline; documentation of recommendations are made in quarterly behavioral health assessments in CPRS; and follow-up on action items is completed at twice weekly interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, weekly behavior rounds, and/or as needed. From the first quarter (Q1) of FY16 to Q1 FY20, the Butler VA CLC has seen decreased prescriptions of 2 or more anticholinergics (6.6% to 0.80%), antihistamines (12.5% to 5.9%), benzodiazepines (24.7% to 11.0%), and benzodiazepines or sedative hypnotics (23.2% to 9.0%). While prescription of antipsychotic use has increased (Q1 FY20 = 23.8%), the committee will follow Long Term Care Institute guidelines for gradual dose reductions, behavioral interventions, and as needed psychotropic medication PRN use. This committee provides an interdisciplinary forum to discuss and implement beneficial changes to pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions among all CLC Veterans. The committee is a valuable process for monitoring and reinforcing best practices that may be easily replicated across VA CLCs nationwide.

scholarly journals The Frequency of Use and Harm Perception of Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs): The 2019 Cross-Sectional Survey among Medical Students from Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3381
Author(s):  
Paulina Majek ◽  
Mateusz Jankowski ◽  
Bartłomiej Nowak ◽  
Maksymilian Macherski ◽  
Maciej Nowak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cigarette Smokers ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Medical University

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are devices for generating a nicotine aerosol by heating the tobacco sticks. This study aimed to assess (1) the prevalence of HTP and tobacco cigarette usage among medical students, (2) to characterize smoking habits and (3) to assess students’ awareness and opinions about HTPs. A cross-sectional survey on the frequency and attitudes toward cigarettes, e-cigarettes and HTP use was performed between 2019–2020 at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland). The data were obtained from 1344 students aged 21.8 ± 1.9 years (response rate: 66.9%). Current traditional tobacco use was 13.2%, e-cigarettes use 3.5%, and HTP use 2.8% of students. Duration of use was shorter among HTPs users comparing to cigarette smokers (p < 0.001) although the number of tobacco sticks used daily was similar (p = 0.1). Almost 30% of respondents have ever tried HTPs. HTPs were considered safe by 5.3% of respondents (43.2% of HTP users vs. 3.9% of non-HTP users, p < 0.001). HTP users were more likely to report that heating tobacco is not addictive (odds ratio (OR) = 8.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8–45.8) and disagreed with a public ban on HTP use (OR = 4.9, 95%CI: 2.5–9.8). Among students, HTP use was less popular than cigarette smoking, but awareness of their presence is widespread.

scholarly journals Physical activity counselling in Ireland: a survey of doctors’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah O'Brien ◽  
Lucia Prihodova ◽  
Mairéad Heffron ◽  
Peter Wright
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Royal College ◽  
Patient Preference ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Pharmaceutical Intervention ◽  
And Training ◽  
Do So

ObjectivePhysical activity (PA) counselling has been shown to raise awareness of the importance of PA and to increase the rate of PA engagement among patients. While much attention has been paid to examining the knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners in relation to PA counselling, there is less literature examining such issues in hospital-based doctors in Ireland and further afield. This study aimed to explore doctors’ PA counselling practices and to analyse how this related to their level of PA knowledge, training and attitudes.MethodsAn invitation to participate in an online survey was sent to 4692 members of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland who were listed as having an address in Ireland. Descriptive and explorative analyses of the data were performed using IBM SPSS V.22.0.ResultsA total of 595 valid responses were included (response rate 12.7%; 42.7% male, 42.6±12.1 years). The majority reported enquiring about PA levels (88.0%) and providing PA counselling (86.4%) in at least some of their patients. Doctors who saw it as their role and those who felt more effective/confident in providing PA counselling were significantly more likely to do so. A perceived lack of patient interest in PA and patient preference for pharmaceutical intervention were significant barriers to undertaking PA counselling.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the need for further education and training in PA counselling in Ireland with a particular focus on improving the attitudes and self-efficacy of doctors in this area at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Evaluating psychiatrists’ attitudes and expectations about pharmacists’ role in psychiatry in Jordan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derar H Abdel-Qader ◽  
Esraa E Al Jomaa ◽  
Jennifer Silverthorne ◽  
Walid Shnaigat ◽  
Salim Hamadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽  
Current Role ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Survey Response Rate

Abstract Objectives Evaluating Jordanian pharmacists’ roles in psychiatry from psychiatrists perspective. Methods An electronic survey was sent to 100 psychiatrists registered in the Jordanian Psychiatrists Association. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. Key findings A total of 80 psychiatrists completed the survey (response rate 80%). Most psychiatrists thought that pharmacists are unable to give individuals with mental illness enough time to discuss their medications (62/80, 77.6%) and to monitor psychotropic medications (PM) efficacy (50/80, 62.6%). Around half of respondents thought that, in the future, pharmacists would not be able to suggest PM for patients (42/80, 52.6%), nor changes in PM dosages (37/80, 46.3%). Most psychiatrists emphasized the importance of psychiatric courses to improve pharmacists’ role. Conclusion Although psychiatrists were generally not satisfied with the current role of pharmacists, they had positive expectations about pharmacists’ competency to do certain activities and to assist them in designing drug therapy plans.

PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION WITH CHILDREN: AN EVALUATION OF PROCEDURAL BIASES IN RESULTS OF REPORTED STUDIES

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 513-517
Author(s):  
Stephen I. Sulzbacher
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
Treatment Plans

A review was conducted of 753 studies on the effects of drugs on learning or behavior in children published between January 1937 and March 1971. The studies were arranged in categories based on research design, measures of behavior change, and whether clinical results were reported as significant. The analysis of these studies suggests that research design and the measure of behavior change exert a biasing influence on the degree of reported efficacy of the psychotropic medications. These factors should be taken into account when interpretations of published reports are used to decide upon treatment plans with such medications.

scholarly journals Skill mix change between general practitioners, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses in primary healthcare for older people: a qualitative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marleen H. Lovink ◽  
Anneke J. A. H. van Vught ◽  
Anke Persoon ◽  
Lisette Schoonhoven ◽  
Raymond T. C. M. Koopmans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Skill Mix

PRN Medication for Psychiatric Inpatients

1987 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Craven ◽  
Peter M. Voore ◽  
George Voineskos
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Psychotropic Drug ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatients ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
Inpatient Units

Little is known about the extent of the use of prn psychotropic medication in psychiatric inpatient units. A survey of the prn prescription and administration of psychotropic drugs in a psychiatric teaching hospital revealed that a large number of inpatients were prescribed and administered such drugs on a prn basis. Although 50% of the prescriptions were never administered, only 25% were actively discontinued by physicians. A diagnosis of personality disorder was the factor most frequently associated with the rate of prn prescriptions and of administrations. A large number of prn prescriptions had no instructions for indications, minimum time spacing between doses or maximum daily dosage. It is suggested that hospitals monitor the prn use of psychotropic medications in their inpatient units, and explore the reasons for such use. Psychotropic drug use on a prn basis should preferably be reserved for emergencies, and the instructions of prn prescriptions should be clear and detailed.

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