Managing medications among individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: Patient-caregiver perspectives.

Background: With changing cognitive abilities, individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia face challenges in successfully managing multidrug regimens. We sought to understand how individuals with MCI or dementia and their family caregivers manage multidrug regimens and better understand patient-to-caregiver transitions in medication management responsibilities.

Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews among patient-caregiver dyads.

Characterizing Caregiver Roles and Conflict in Health Management Support to Older People With Multiple Chronic Conditions.

Caregivers provide critical support for older adults managing multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), but few studies describe the assistance caregivers provide or identify factors influencing their provision of support. We conducted qualitative interviews with 25 caregivers to older adults with MCCs to describe caregivers' roles and identify the factors that influence caregivers' ability to carry out these roles. Transcripts were analyzed using the Framework Method.

Medication Dosing Schedules, Medication Knowledge, and Dosing Errors of Adults Taking Complex Drug Regimens.

This study examined how patients take complex medication regimens at home. Participants were primary care patients, 21 years or older, and prescribed three or more medications. Interviews assessed medication dosing schedules, medication knowledge, and dosing errors.

Barriers and facilitators of self-management behaviors among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic comorbidities: A mixed-methods investigation.

Objectives: We investigated how individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and multi-morbidity (MM) navigate barriers and facilitators to their health management.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study using semi-structured interviews and survey assessments of adults with COPD, hypertension, and/or diabetes. We recruited 18 participants with an average age of 65, with 39% being male, 50% Black, and 22% Hispanic/Latino/a.

Association between medication regimen complexity and glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and comorbid conditions require patients to take complex medication regimens. Greater regimen complexity has been associated with poorer T2DM management; however, the relationship between overall regimen complexity and glycemic control is unclear.

Objectives: Our objectives were: (1) to examine associations between regimen complexity (with the Medication Regimen Complexity Index [MRCI]) and glycemic control (A1C), and (2) to compare overall MRCI with other measures of regimen complexity (overall and diabetes-specific medication count) and diabetes-specific MRCI.

Caregiver involvement in managing medications among older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

Objective: We sought to characterize caregiver medication assistance for older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

Design: Semi-structured qualitative interviews.

Setting: Community and academic-affiliated primary care practices.

Knowledge and Behaviors of Adults with Underlying Health Conditions During the Onset of the COVID-19 U.S. Outbreak: The Chicago COVID-19 Comorbidities Survey.

Accurate understanding of COVID-19 safety recommendations early in the outbreak was complicated by inconsistencies in public health and media messages. We sought to characterize high-risk adults' knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, prevention strategies, and prevention behaviors. We used data from the Chicago COVID-19 Comorbidities (C3) survey collected between March 13 thru March 20, 2020.

Quality of Reporting on the Evaluation of Risk Minimization Programs: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Risk minimization programs are interventions mandated by regulatory agencies to ensure that benefits of pharmaceutical products outweigh risks. Many regulatory agencies require programs be evaluated for effectiveness; however, the quality of evidence has limited the ability to definitively determine if programs improve drug safety.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess and describe the current status of reporting on the effectiveness of pharmaceutical risk management programs.

A Multifaceted Intervention to Improve Patient Knowledge and Safe Use of Opioids: Results of the ED EMC Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Despite increased focus on opioid prescribing, little is known about the influence of prescription opioid medication information given to patients in the emergency department (ED). The study objective was to evaluate the effect of an Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC ) Opioid Strategy on patients' safe use of opioids and knowledge about opioids.

Methods: This was a three-arm prospective, randomized controlled pragmatic trial with randomization occurring at the physician level.

Implementation fidelity of patient-centered prescription label to promote opioid safe use.

Purpose: Patient-centered labels may improve safe medication use, but implementation challenges limit use. We assessed implementation of a patient-centered "PRN" (as needed) label entitled "Take-Wait-Stop" (TWS) with three deconstructed steps replacing traditional wording.

Methods: As part of a larger investigation, patients received TWS prescriptions (eg, Take: 1 pill if you have pain; Wait: at least 4 h before taking again; Stop: do not take more than 6 pills in 24 h).

Older Adult Preferences of Mobile Application Functionality Supporting Medication Self-Management.

Health systems and insurers alike are increasingly interested in leveraging mHealth (mobile health) tools to support patient health-related behaviors including medication adherence. However, these tools are not widely used by older patients. This study explores patient preferences for functionality in a smartphone application (app) that supports medication self-management among older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

Test-retest reliability of the Newest Vital Sign health literacy instrument: In-person and remote administration.

Objective: To determine the reliability of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) administered via telephone by examining test-retest properties of the measure.

Methods: Data were obtained from a randomized controlled trial promoting opioid safe use. Participants were 18 or older and English-speaking.

What is the quality of drug safety information for patients: An analysis of REMS educational materials.

Background: Poor-quality patient drug information has been identified as a major cause of preventable medication errors in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to require marketing authorization holders of medicinal products to implement risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) to ensure that the benefits of a drug or biological product outweigh its risks. Aside from medication guides, no research has been conducted to assess the quality of patient-targeted REMS materials, including whether, and to what extent, patients find these materials understandable and actionable.

Electronic medication complete communication strategy for opioid prescriptions in the emergency department: Rationale and design for a three-arm provider randomized trial.

Background: Thousands of people die annually from prescription opioid overdoses; however there are few strategies to ensure patients receive medication risk information at the time of prescribing.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of the Emergency Department (ED) Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC) Opioid Strategy (with and without text messaging) to promote safe medication use and improved patient knowledge as compared to usual care.

Methods: The ED EMC Opioid Strategy consists of 5 automated components to promote safe medication use: 1) physician reminder to counsel, 2) inbox message sent on to the patient's primary care physician, 3) pharmacist message on the prescription to counsel, 4) MedSheet supporting prescription information, and 5) patient-centered Take-Wait-Stop wording of prescription instructions.

A comparison of heterosexual and LGBTQ cancer survivors' outlooks on relationships, family building, possible infertility, and patient-doctor fertility risk communication.

Purpose: Little research about cancer-related infertility has examined the experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) cancer survivors. This research seeks to understand how LGBTQ survivors are similar to or different from heterosexual survivors with respect to cancer treatments' effects on relationships, plans for parenthood, and fertility preservation decision making.

Methods: Semi-structured telephone interviews conducted with adolescent or young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (n = 56) were coded for themes.