Nature and frequency of drug therapy alerts generated by clinical decision support in community pharmacy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the nature, frequency, and determinants of drug therapy alerts generated by a clinical decision support system (CDSS) in community pharmacy in order to propose CDSS improvement strategies.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of dispensed drugs and drug therapy alerts generated by a CDSS in community pharmacies.

Results: Data were extracted from the CDSS of 123 community pharmacies.

NSAID-antihypertensive drug interactions: which outpatients are at risk for a rise in systolic blood pressure?

Background: Management guidelines for drug-drug interactions between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihypertensives recommend blood pressure monitoring in hypertensive patients. We measured the short-term effect of initiating NSAIDs on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in users of antihypertensives, aiming to investigate which outpatients are at risk for an increase in SBP in daily clinical practice.

Design: A cohort study with a nested case-control design in Dutch community pharmacies.

The evaluation of an intervention based on the application of patient self-completion concordance forms in Dutch community pharmacies and the effect on adherence to chronic medication.

Objective: To evaluate the use of patient self-completion concordance forms and to determine the effect of patient counselling by using concordance forms on adherence to chronic medication.

Methods: Patients with a prescription for new chronic treatment were randomised in an intervention or control group. The intervention group received a concordance form to fill in at home and to discuss during a consultation 2 weeks later in the pharmacy.