An Ontology-Based Approach to Improving Medication Appropriateness in Older Patients: Algorithm Development and Validation Study.

Inappropriate medication in older patients with multimorbidity results in a greater risk of adverse drug events. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) are intended to improve medication appropriateness. One approach to improving CDSSs is to use ontologies instead of relational databases.

OntoPharma: ontology based clinical decision support system to reduce medication prescribing errors.

Background: Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have been shown to reduce medication errors. However, they are underused because of different challenges. One approach to improve CDSS is to use ontologies instead of relational databases.

Improvement of outpatient pharmacy through patient participation and Lean methodology.

Objective: To improve the quality of the dispensing process and  pharmaceutical care in the Outpatient Pharmacy through patient participation and Lean methodology, and to analyse the results obtained in  terms of efficiency and patient satisfaction.

Method: Prospective observational single-centre study. A working group was  organized with the health care staff involved in outpatient care to apply Lean  methodology and detect improvement opportunities.

Dose banding of intravenous ganciclovir: Banding scheme proposal and audit of toxicity and efficiency.

What Is Known And Objective: Dose banding is a strategy to optimize processing without reducing patient safety. Prescribed doses are rounded up or down to predetermined standard doses. Although it has been mostly used in chemotherapy, other drugs are suitable for this strategy, such as the antiviral ganciclovir.

Selection of interventions aimed at improving medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity.

Objectives: To select interventions aimed at improving medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity by means of a standardised methodology.

Methods: A modified Delphi methodology was used to reach consensus. Interventions that had demonstrated their efficacy in improving medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity or in similar populations were identified from a literature search of several databases (PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Center for Reviews and Dissemination, and Web of Science).

Patient-Centered Prescription Model to improve therapeutic adherence in patients with multimorbidity.

To date, interventions to improve medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity have shown modest and inconsistent efficacy among  available studies. Thereby, we should define new approaches aimed at improving medication adherence tailored to effective prescribing, with a multidisciplinary approach and patient-centered.In this regard, the Patient-Centered Prescription Model has shown its usefulness on improving appropriateness of drug treatments in patients with clinical complexity.

[Spanish translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the ARMS-scale for measuring medication adherence in polypathological patients].

Aim: Translate the ARMS scale into Spanish ensuring cross-cultural equivalence for measuring medication adherence in polypathological patients.

Design: Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and pilot testing.

Location: Secondary hospital.

Design and validation of a predictive model for 1-year hospital admission in HIV patients on antiretroviral treatment.

Objectives: To develop and validate a model for predicting the risk of hospital admission within 1 year in the HIV population under antiretroviral treatment.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study. Patients receiving antiretroviral treatment for at least 1 year who were followed by the pharmacy service in a Spanish-speaking hospital between January 2008 and December 2012 were included.

Influence of treatment complexity on adherence and incidence of blips in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Background: The addition of antihepatitis C therapy to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients leads to an increase in the treatment complexity that may result in decreased adherence. Blips, defined as intermittent episodes of detectable low-level HIV viremia, may be an indication of poor adherence to HAART.

Objectives: To (a) determine the influence of adding anti-HCV therapy to HAART on complexity index, adherence, and incidence of blips and (b) determine complexity index and adherence in patient subgroups based on anti-HCV therapy.

High quantity but limited quality in healthcare applications intended for HIV-infected patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate, through the creation of a specific questionnaire, the information quality in mobile applications (apps) aimed at human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. We also established a quality rating and identified the main strengths and weaknesses of this kind of health app.

Materials And Methods: Smartphone apps specifically related to HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were searched.

Antiviral regimen complexity index as an independent predictor of sustained virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects more than 170 million people worldwide, and one-third of them have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. Multiple studies have been conducted in order to identify the factors that may explain different responses to treatment among patients. However, the reasons why HIV-HCV coinfected patients have lower responses to treatment are not clear.