A prospective, multi-center cohort study: investigating the ability of warfarin-treated patients to predict their INR.

Background: In practice, warfarin-treated patients may share insight regarding their international normalized ratio (INR) value before it is measured. The accuracy and potential utility of these predictions have not been evaluated.

Objective: To (1) test how accurately patients can predict their INR; (2) identify demographic factors associated with their ability to predict their INR accurately; and (3) identify demographic factors associated with the patient's INR being in the therapeutic range.

Retrospective Evaluation of ASCVD Risk and Statin Therapy Need in Nondiabetic Patients Based on the 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guidelines.

Purpose: Study goal was to assess the impact of the 2013 American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Cholesterol Guidelines on patients in the fourth statin benefit group which included patients aged 40 to 75 years, without diabetes or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and have an ASCVD score ≥7.5%. These patients could benefit from treatment interventions by a pharmacist.

A Retrospective Evaluation of Response to Vitamin D Supplementation in Obese Versus Nonobese Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on vitamin D status following ergocalciferol therapy.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation of patients aged 18 years and older with a baseline serum 25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL who received prescription ergocalciferol 50 000 IU at any dose between July 2009 and November 2011 was conducted. Patients were included if pre- and posttreatment 25(OH)D levels were available within 3 months of therapy.

Medication therapy management in the primary care setting: a pharmacist-based pay-for-performance project.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of medication therapy management on chronic disease management and generic drug prescribing in the clinic setting.

Methods: Private insurer initiates Pay-for-Performance (PFP) project for clinic-based pharmacists in Iowa and South Dakota (n = 9 clinics) in 2009. Each pharmacist was assigned ∽300 patients with at least 1 of 4 disease states (diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and asthma).

Management of common opioid-induced adverse effects.

Opioid analgesics are useful agents for treating pain of various etiologies; however, adverse effects are potential limitations to their use. Strategies to minimize adverse effects of opioids include dose reduction, symptomatic management, opioid rotation, and changing the route of administration. Nausea occurs in approximately 25 percent of patients; prophylactic measures may not be required.