scholarly journals Over-The-Counter Availability of Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraception in Pharmacies on Oahu

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Chin ◽  
Jennifer Salcedo ◽  
Shandhini Raidoo
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Contraception ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Pharmacy Education ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Blister Pack ◽  
Counter Medication ◽  
United States Food ◽  
The Cost

Since the United States Food and Drug Administration’s approval of over-the-counter levonorgestrel emergency contraception, access to this time-sensitive medication has improved. However, multiple barriers, including the cost of the medication and pharmacy availability, still exist. The objective of this study was to determine the over-the-counter availability of levonorgestrel emergency contraception in pharmacies on Oahu, Hawaii. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based study using in-person simulated patient encounters at all pharmacies on Oahu. Out of 109 chain pharmacies and 13 independent pharmacies, 102 (84%) pharmacies had levonorgestrel emergency contraception available over the counter. Of pharmacies in which it was available, 12.7% required an employee to unlock the medication, 37.3% required the medication to be unlocked at the register, 29.4% were packaged in a large plastic box, and 3.9% were packaged in a blister pack. Levonorgestrel emergency contraception is widely available as an over-the-counter medication in pharmacies on Oahu, yet there are packaging and display practices that make it less accessible. Many of these practices could be improved with pharmacy education or changes in store policies. Systems-based interventions are needed to improve the access to levonorgestrel emergency contraception as an over-the-counter medication.

scholarly journals Prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in Spain: higher than previously reported in other countries?

Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 2556-2562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raúl Cortés Verdú ◽  
José M Pego-Reigosa ◽  
Daniel Seoane-Mato ◽  
Mercedes Morcillo Valle ◽  
Deseada Palma Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
The United States ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Medical Visit ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Objectives Prevalence of SLE varies among studies, being influenced by study design, geographical area and ethnicity. Data about the prevalence of SLE in Spain are scarce. In the EPISER2016 study, promoted by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, the prevalence estimate of SLE in the general adult population in Spain has been updated and its association with sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle variables has been explored. Methods Population-based multicentre cross-sectional study, with multistage stratified and cluster random sampling. Participants were contacted by telephone to carry out a questionnaire for the screening of SLE. Investigating rheumatologists evaluated positive results (review of medical records and/or telephone interview, with medical visit if needed) to confirm the diagnosis. To calculate the prevalence and its 95% CI, the sample design was taken into account and weighing was calculated considering age, sex and geographic origin. Multivariate logistic regression models were defined to analyse which sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle variables included in the telephone questionnaire were associated with the presence of SLE. Results 4916 subjects aged 20 years or over were included. 16.52% (812/4916) had a positive screening result for SLE. 12 cases of SLE were detected. The estimated prevalence was 0.21% (95% CI: 0.11, 0.40). SLE was more prevalent in the rural municipalities, with an odds ratio (OR) = 4.041 (95% CI: 1.216, 13.424). Conclusion The estimated prevalence of SLE in Spain is higher than that described in most international epidemiological studies, but lower than that observed in ethnic minorities in the United States or the United Kingdom.

Intimate Partner Relationships and Health

2018 ◽  
pp. 128-142
Author(s):  
Deborah Carr ◽  
Dawne M. Mouzon
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intimate Partner Relationships ◽  
Marriage And Health

The linkages between intimate relationships and superior physical and mental health are well documented. Contemporary scholars explore under what conditions, for which outcomes, for whom, and through which pathways marriage and other intimate partnerships affect health. The chapter summarizes conceptual frameworks for understanding marriage and health, and contemporary empirical studies yielding four main discoveries: Relationship status is powerfully linked to health in cross-sectional studies, yet weaker associations are found in longitudinal studies that account for social selection; the protective effects of romantic partnerships vary based on characteristics of the union; the marriage–health nexus varies based on gender, race, and age; and (d) integrative science approaches have advanced understanding of the pathways linking social relationships to health. The review draws on population-based longitudinal studies, notably the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Implications of contemporary research on marriage and health for policy and practice are highlighted.

scholarly journals Risk and Prevention of Meningococcal Disease among Education Workers: A Review

2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe De Wals ◽  
Pierre Deshaies ◽  
Gaston De Serres ◽  
Bernard Duval ◽  
Lise Goulet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Societal Benefit ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Cost

The aims of the present study were to review the risk of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) among education workers, particularly pregnant women, and to evaluate preventive measures, in a context of endemicity, outbreak or epidemic as observed in the province of Quebec. The literature was reviewed and persons in charge of IMD surveillance in France, Quebec, the United Kingdom and the United States were interviewed. Surveys of asymptomatic carriage ofNeisseria meningitidisshow that transmission among students is higher than transmission between students and teachers. IMD incidence among education workers was analyzed in Cheshire (United Kingdom) in the period from 1997 to 1999, and the results indicated a risk six times higher than that in the general population. Overestimation of the magnitude of the risk is possible because the analysis focused on a cluster. None of the population-based studies of IMD mentioned a risk of secondary cases among education workers. Six IMD cases in education workers were identified in five clusters in schools in the United Kingdom, but not in the other countries. There is no epidemiological study on IMD risk among pregnant women, and this factor was not mentioned in any published review of IMD. Immunization of education workers at the beginning of their employment, using serogroup C glycoconjugate vaccine or a combined A, C, W-135, and Y conjugate vaccine (still under development), could reduce IMD risk, but the cost effectiveness of this measure should be evaluated. The societal benefit of excluding pregnant women from the work place during an outbreak seems to be very low, even if disease risk could be decreased for this specific group. When chemoprophylaxis is indicated for the control of an outbreak in an educational setting, treatment should be offered both to students and teachers in the group at risk.

scholarly journals Public Perception of the Range of Roles Played by Professional Pharmacists

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (15) ◽  
pp. 2787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Majchrowska ◽  
Renata Bogusz ◽  
Luiza Nowakowska ◽  
Jakub Pawlikowski ◽  
Włodzimierz Piątkowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Social Objective ◽  
Counter Medication ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Almost All

Background: Professional pharmacists should be directly involved in patient healthcare as members of therapeutic teams are not the only dispensers of medication. Public perceptions of the professional role of pharmacists is expressed through patients’ attitudes, trust, and expectations as health and illness consultants, or qualified retailers of medicines. This perception is influenced by numerous determinants, both health-related and social. Objective: This research intends to describe the range of social roles pharmacists play from the perspective of potential pharmacy customers/patients. Methods: The data presented in the article comes from cross-sectional survey-based research, undertaken in 2018, on a representative sample of 600 Polish adults. Results: Over-the-counter medication is purchased by almost all Polish adults, but they do not tend to ask for advice at pharmacies. Most respondents consider a pharmacist to be “a person qualified to sell medicines”, with some of the participants regarding pharmacists as “ordinary retailers”. A small number of respondents are interested in benefiting from pharmaceutical care, but the pharmacy is still perceived to be a point of purchase for medication. Conclusions: Respondents do not treat pharmacists as health advisors and reduce its role to that of dispensing medication. Sociodemographic variables have no significant effect on social perception of pharmacists.

scholarly journals Increasing Trends in Opioid Use From 2010 to 2018 in the Region of Valencia, Spain: A Real-World, Population-Based Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Hurtado ◽  
Aníbal García-Sempere ◽  
Salvador Peiró ◽  
Gabriel Sanfélix-Gimeno
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
World Population ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
Number Of Patients

Background: The opioid epidemic has been extensively documented in the United States and Canada, but fewer data are available for Europe.Aim: To describe the trends in opioid use—volume of prescriptions, dosage and number of patients treated—in a Spanish population with more than 4.2 million inhabitants aged 18 years and older.Patients and Methods: Population-based cross-sectional analysis of opioid prescription in adults (≥18 years) from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2018 in the region of Valencia, Spain. Outcomes were estimated on an annual basis: number of prescriptions, prescription rate per 100 inhabitants, dosage per capita (morphine mg equivalents, MME/c) and volume of patients treated (overall and by drug).Results: Over the study period, 2,107,756 unique patients were prescribed more than 35 million total treatments. The yearly number of treatments doubled, and total MME/c showed almost a threefold increase. Fentanyl MME/c more than tripled, accounting for 34.4% of the total MME/c in 2018. Oxycodone MME/c showed a 10-fold increase, while tapentadol, launched in 2011, showed the highest growth rates. The annual number of patients receiving at least one opioid prescription more than doubled, from 335,379 in 2010 to 722,838 in 2018.Conclusions: Even if proportions still seem far from epidemic, urgent research is warranted on the observed patterns of use, their appropriateness and their association with health and safety outcomes, especially for high-use and high-strength drugs.

The Effects of Four Label Design Parameters on Perceived Reliability, Efficacy and Intent to Purchase of Over-the-counter Medication

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 546-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc L. Resnick
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
Intent To Purchase ◽  
Counter Medication ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Cost

The cost of medical care has been skyrocketing for many years. One solution being promoted by both the government and medical industry is to increase the effectiveness and prevalence of self care and prevention. By managing for their own medical needs, patients can significantly reduce the cost of their medical care by replacing expensive prescription drugs with over-the-counter (OTC) products. The establishment of the Office of Alternative Medicine by the National Institutes of Health has legitimized the inclusion of herbal remedies in this plan. However, the labeling guidelines for OTC products are vague and under constant debate. This research evaluates the effects of several label content parameters regarding indication and effectiveness claims. Subjects were provided with labels for fictitious herbal and chemical medical products and asked to report their perceptions of the reliability of the claim, the products' effectiveness, and their likelihood of purchasing the product. Parameters included the originator of the claim (FDA, doctor groups, Harvard University and athletes), usability factors, product type (chemical, herbal), and disorder. The results have significant implications for the development of labeling guidelines for consumer-focused products.

scholarly journals A Healthy Diet Is Not More Expensive than Less Healthy Options: Cost-Analysis of Different Dietary Patterns in Mexican Children and Adolescents

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3871
Author(s):  
Patricia Clark ◽  
Carlos F. Mendoza-Gutiérrez ◽  
Diana Montiel-Ojeda ◽  
Edgar Denova-Gutiérrez ◽  
Desirée López-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Healthy Diet ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mexican Children ◽  
The Cost

Unhealthy diets are recognized as a major risk factor for many diseases. The decrease in costs of industrialized products, as well as the possible misinformation about a healthy diet, has led to new behaviors in the dietary patterns of the pediatric population. The costs of dietary patterns have not been estimated in our population, so the objective of this study was to determine the cost associated with dietary patterns in Mexican children and adolescents, hypothesizing that a healthy diet is not necessarily more economically expensive. This study analyzed data from a population-based cross-sectional study of healthy children and adolescents in Mexico City. Data were collected from a food frequency questionnaire and the meal cost of habitual food shopping. Eating patterns were obtained by using principal component analysis. A micro-costing technique was performed to obtain the direct costs of each pattern. When comparing the healthy pattern with the transition and non-healthy patterns, it was observed that there were no statistically significant differences between the dietary patterns (p = 0.8293). The cost of the healthy pattern only takes up 16.6% of the total biweekly income of a salaried Mexican. In this study, no differences were observed between the costs of a healthy and a less healthy diet.

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