Publications by authors named "Bradford Curtis"
Background: Medication nonadherence is a well-recognized challenge associated with poor health outcomes and increased utilization of health care resources. Although many different behavioral and educational strategies are available to improve patient medication adherence, technological advances, including cell phone text messaging, represent new and innovative modalities to improve adherence and overall health outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate medication adherence among patients opting to receive text message medication reminders and a well-matched control cohort.
Objectives: To examine the association between atypical antipsychotic medications and incident treatment for diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia in elderly adults without diagnoses of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Design: Two case-control studies using medical and pharmacy claims data.
Setting: United States managed care population from multiple insurance plans.
Objective: To examine medication adherence among Medicare Part D beneficiaries initiating oral anti-diabetic medications and explore whether there is any association of using mail-order pharmacy (vs. retail pharmacy) with better adherence in this patient population.
Research Design And Methods: Using administrative pharmacy claims data, we conducted a retrospective cohort study on Medicare Part D beneficiaries who newly initiated oral anti-diabetic treatment between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.
Purpose: To determine if switching from select branded to generic equivalent antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients with epilepsy is associated with adverse outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study using a large health insurance plan claims database comparing patients with epilepsy who switched from brand to generic equivalent phenytoin, lamotrigine, or divalproex after 6 months (switch cohorts) to matched patients who remained on the brand (nonswitch cohorts). Primary outcomes measured include the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of discontinuation of the index AED; change in dose of index AED or addition of another AED; and the event rate ratio (ERR) of the composite of all-cause emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations.
Background: A national pharmacy benefits management company implemented a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease therapy management (DTM) program as an enhanced offering to patients receiving specialty pharmacy services. The program was designed to improve medication adherence, maximize therapeutic outcomes, and enhance physical functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by empowering patients and improving their knowledge of RA.
Objectives: To evaluate (a) adherence to injectable RA medications for patients participating in an RA DTM program compared with nonparticipating patients receiving injectable RA medications at specialty or community pharmacies and (b) HRQOL, work productivity, and physical functioning before versus after completing the RA DTM program.