Publications by authors named "Gregory M Peterson"
Aim: To evaluate the effect of a computerized decision support prompt regarding high-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy on prescribing and medication costs.
Methods: A prompt activated on dispensing high-dose esomeprazole or pantoprazole was implemented in 73 of 185 pharmacies. Anonymized prescription data and a patient survey were used to determine changes in prescribing and associated medication costs.
Objective: To review literature evaluating the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects of lasofoxifene (CP-336156), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is not approved for use in the US.
Data Sources: Literature was accessed through the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1985-June 2010) using the terms lasofoxifene and selective estrogen receptor modulators. Reference lists from retrieved articles were also manually reviewed.
Objective: To estimate the frequency, nature and impact of violent incidents in Australian community pharmacies.
Setting: A sample of Australian community pharmacists.
Method: A survey of Australian pharmacists sought to estimate the frequency of exposure to an array of violent incidents in the preceding 12 months.
Background: Warfarin remains a high-risk drug for adverse events, especially following discharge from the hospital. New approaches are needed to minimize the potential for adverse outcomes during this period.
Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a collaborative, home-based postdischarge warfarin management service adapted from the Australian Home Medicines Review (HMR) program.
Background: Shorter periods of hospitalisation and increasing warfarin use have placed stress on community-based healthcare services to care for patients taking warfarin after hospital discharge, a high-risk period for these patients. A previous randomised controlled trial demonstrated that a post-discharge service of 4 home visits and point-of-care (POC) International Normalised Ratio (INR) testing by a trained pharmacist improved patients' outcomes. The current study aims to modify this previously trialled service model to implement and then evaluate a sustainable program to enable the smooth transition of patients taking warfarin from the hospital to community setting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study aimed to enhance adherence to national guidelines for managing community-acquired pneumonia in Australian emergency departments by promoting the use of appropriate antibiotics and the pneumonia severity index (PSI).
- - A quality improvement methodology was used, which included data collection, evaluation, feedback, and educational initiatives like presentations and prescribing prompts across 37 hospitals, with 26 completing the study phases.
- - Results showed significant improvement in the use of PSI (from 6% to 22-25%) and antibiotic prescribing concordance (from 20% to 29-30%) following the interventions, indicating better alignment with the guidelines.
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. Community pharmacist intervention studies have demonstrated clinical effectiveness for improving several leading individual CVD risk factors. Primary prevention strategies increasingly emphasise the need for consideration of overall cardiovascular risk and concurrent management of multiple risk factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly occurring arrhythmia, and is a condition of both significant clinical and economic importance. An antithrombotic agent is considered mandatory as part of the management in most patients with AF. It has been conclusively demonstrated that long-term anticoagulation therapy can significantly reduce the risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular AF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the development, implementation and outcomes of an anticoagulation education program for pharmacists participating in a community-based post-discharge warfarin management service.
Setting: Australian community pharmacy practice.
Method: Three education modules were developed in collaboration with medical experts and delivered electronically and via hands-on training sessions to pharmacists in three Australian states.
Objective: To assess the suitability of Australian community pharmacies as cardiovascular disease risk profile screening centres and evaluate whether community pharmacists can play an important role in detecting, educating and referring screened individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Setting: 14 Australian community pharmacies.
Method: Opportunistic cardiovascular disease risk profiling for members of the public aged greater than 30 years with no existing cardiovascular diseases was performed.
Background: The majority of patients using antihypertensive medications fail to achieve their recommended target blood pressure. Poor daily adherence with medication regimens and a lack of persistence with medication use are two of the major reasons for failure to reach target blood pressure. There is no single intervention to improve adherence with antihypertensives that is consistently effective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: In Australia, accredited pharmacists perform medication reviews for patients to identify and resolve drug-related problems. We analysed the drug-related problems identified in reviews for both home-dwelling and residential care-facility patients. The objective of this study was to examine the number and nature of the drug-related problems identified and investigate differences between each type of review.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess the impact of an intervention initiated by community pharmacists, involving the provision of educational material and general practitioner (GP) referral, on asthma knowledge and self-reported asthma control and asthma-related quality of life (QOL) in patients who may have suboptimal management of their asthma, as evidenced by pharmacy dispensing records. Setting Community pharmacies throughout Tasmania, Australia.
Methods: Forty-two pharmacies installed a software application that data mined dispensing records and generated a list of patients with suboptimal asthma management, as indicated by having three or more canisters of inhaled short-acting beta-2-agonists dispensed in the preceding 6 months.
Objectives: To use community pharmacy medication records to identify patients whose asthma may not be well managed and then implement and evaluate a multidisciplinary educational intervention to improve asthma management.
Design, Setting And Participants: We used a multisite controlled study design. Forty-two pharmacies throughout Tasmania ran a software application that "data-mined" medication records, generating a list of patients who had received three or more canisters of inhaled short-acting beta(2)-agonists in the preceding 6 months.
Unlabelled: What is already known about this subject. Computerized prompts and reminders have been shown to be effective in changing the behaviour of health professionals in a variety of settings. There is little literature describing or evaluating electronic decision-support for pharmacists.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To evaluate the accuracy of the CoaguChek XS international normalised ratio (INR) monitor compared with the laboratory method.
Methods: The accuracy and ease of use of the recently marketed CoaguChek XS portable INR monitor was evaluated in 17 patients involved in a trial of warfarin home monitoring. INR results from the monitor were compared with those from the laboratory method.
The use of warfarin in the elderly, particularly for stroke prevention in chronic atrial fibrillation, is steadily increasing. Although the benefits of warfarin are greatest in the elderly, so are the risk of adverse outcomes and the difficulties of anticoagulant management. Clinical systems need to improve to counter this therapeutic dilemma, as warfarin is likely to remain the only widely available oral anticoagulant for the foreseeable future.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Many assays have investigated GPx activity but there are few reports of immunoreactive methods of GPx plasma determinations and their relationship with plasma selenium.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of selenium and GPx was carried out on 170 adults randomly selected from the electoral role. Blood samples were collected and analysed for plasma GPx using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and plasma selenium using magnetic sector ICP-MS.
Background: Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed, and rural communities often have limited technical resources for the assessment of osteoporosis.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist, trained in the use of a portable heel ultrasound device, in screening elderly rural women for risk of osteoporosis and determine whether those found to be at risk seek further help and treatment from their general practitioner (GP) following screening.
Methods: Following promotion of the service, 345 women were recruited from 6 rural community pharmacies in Tasmania, Australia, and underwent quantitative heel ultrasound screening.