Dried blood spot analysis of gabapentin as a valid alternative for serum: a bridging study.

We evaluated the applicability of a validated GC-MS method for the determination of gabapentin in dried blood spots (DBS). Important for the acceptance of DBS sampling as an alternative sampling strategy is the possibility to base solid conclusions on the quantification. Therefore, bridging studies -studies in which the correlation between both DBS and a reference matrix (e.

Microwave-assisted on-spot derivatization for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry based determination of polar low molecular weight compounds in dried blood spots.

Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling and analysis is increasingly being applied in bioanalysis. Although the use of DBS has many advantages, it is also associated with some challenges. E.

Attitudes of physicians and pharmacists towards International Non-proprietary Name prescribing in Belgium.

International Non-proprietary Name (INN) prescribing is the use of the name of the active ingredient(s) instead of the brand name for prescribing. In Belgium, INN prescribing began in 2005 and a major policy change occurred in 2012. The aim was to explore the opinions of Dutch-speaking general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists.

Operational rules for the implementation of INN prescribing.

Purpose: The aim is to describe the process, principles and results of the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) prescribing project in Belgium. The purpose of this project was to operationalize electronic INN prescribing for outpatient care in daily medical practice and to develop a factual database which can be used in electronic INN prescribing applications.

Methods: The operationalization process consisted of three phases: (1) expert consultation, (2) review by regulatory authorities and (3) test phase with stakeholders and end-users.

Ramadan fasting and diabetes: an observational study among Turkish migrants in Belgium.

Aims: To investigate (i) Ramadan participation, (ii) provision of Ramadan-related advice by healthcare providers, (iii) medication use during Ramadan fasting among Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium.

Methods: This pilot observational study was conducted among a convenience sample of 52 Turkish migrants with diabetes in Belgium. Two questionnaires collected information on socio-demographic characteristics, diabetes-related characteristics, current hypoglycaemic medication with dosing regimen, participation in the past Ramadan, reasons for (non-)participation, use of hypoglycaemic medication during the past Ramadan, advice from their healthcare providers about fasting during Ramadan and follow-up of this advice.