Assessing the Appropriateness of Antimicrobial Prescribing in the Community Setting: A Scoping Review.

Background: This scoping review examined the concept and scope of appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing in the community setting and how it has been measured.

Methods: Utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology, we appraised peer-reviewed articles and unpublished studies, focusing on the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, with no limit to date.

Results: Four basic components of antimicrobial prescribing to be evaluated during assessment of antimicrobial appropriateness in the community setting were identified: diagnosis for infection or indication for antimicrobial therapy, choice of antimicrobial therapy, dosing, and duration of therapy.

Assessment of inhaler technique among fourth-year pharmacy students: Implications for the use of entrustable professional activities.

Introduction: It is unknown when and how often competency assessments should occur in pharmacy education. Using inhaler technique as an example competency, the study objectives were to measure the proportion of near-graduation students demonstrating correct technique approximately one year after initial training and to measure reliability between assessors.

Methods: A sample of 45 near-graduation pharmacy students with prior education on correct inhaler technique participated in this direct observation study at the University of Otago.

Tapering Biologic Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Qualitative Study of Patient Perspectives.

Background And Objective: Biologic therapies are cost effective for active rheumatoid arthritis but have adverse effects and are costly. Tapering of biologics is emerging as an important consideration when sustained remission is achieved. Recent trials have highlighted the clinical feasibility of tapering, but there is little evidence on how proposed tapering would be received by patients.

An overview of pharmacoepidemiology in New Zealand: medical databases, registries and research achievements.

Pharmacoepidemiology is an eclectic blend of epidemiology, clinical pharmacology and biostatistics. In New Zealand there have been recent advances in pharmacoepidemiology to examine drug utilisation, monitor adverse drug events and complement pharmacovigilance. This paper attempts to describe the past, present and future of pharmacoepidemiology, particularly in the area of translational research with a particular focus on medicine use and safety.

Glucose monitoring in new users of second-generation antipsychotics in older people.

Objective: Treatment guidelines published world-wide have highlighted concerns of increased metabolic risks associated with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). The aim of the study was to evaluate blood glucose monitoring rates for SGA new users in older people aged 65 years and above during the study period 2006-2012, and investigate the pre-post 2007 Best Practice Advocacy Centre's (bpac) glucose monitoring recommendation in New Zealand.

Methods: The study was a population-based retrospective cohort of SGA new users (365days without pre-exposure to antipsychotics).

Quality use of antipsychotic medicines inresidential aged care facilities in New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION Antipsychotic medicines are used regularly or when required in residential aged care facilities to treat symptoms of dementia, but have been associated with several adverse effects. AIM The aim of this study was to examine 'quality use' of antipsychotic medicines in residential aged care facilities in New Zealand, by surveying nurse managers. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was mailed to 318 nurse managers working in a nationally representative sample of aged care facilities.

Time-to-First Discontinuation, Adherence and Persistence in New Users of Second-Generation Antipsychotics.

Consensus guidelines which are applicable in New Zealand and worldwide recommend that the duration of exposure to antipsychotics not exceed 12 weeks, unless justified for mental illnesses like schizophrenia and severe psychotic symptoms which require longer treatment. There has been limited information on time-to-first discontinuation (TTFD) for second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) in a real world population setting in older people. The study objective was to compare TTFD, adherence, and persistence for individual SGA new users among people 65 years and older.

Geographic variation in psychotropic drug utilisation among older people in New Zealand.

Aim: To examine psychotropic drug utilisation in older people in New Zealand by age, sex, health board domicile and deprivation status.

Methods: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of population-based drug utilisation data stratified by age, sex, ethnicity, health board and deprivation status was conducted from 2005 to 2013.

Results: Psychotropic utilisation increased between 2005 and 2013 (ranging from 7.

Donepezil Adherence, Persistence and Time to First Discontinuation in a Three-Year Follow-Up of Older People.

Background: Donepezil is indicated for the management of mild to moderate dementia, particularly in Alzheimer's disease. Several studies have described low adherence rates with donepezil.

Aim: To examine and measure donepezil adherence, persistence and time to first discontinuation in older New Zealanders.

Temporal trends for donepezil utilization among older people.

To examine and characterize overall donepezil and concomitant utilization with β-blockers, yearly, in older New Zealanders. Deidentified data from the Pharmaceutical claims database and the National Minimum Dataset were obtained for 2011 to 2013 from the Ministry of Health. Population-level data were extracted for donepezil and β-blockers utilization, measured by defined daily dose (DDD) per thousand older people per day (TOPD).

Psychotropic medicine utilization in older people in New Zealand from 2005 to 2013.

Background: Psychotropic medicine utilization has increased worldwide among older people (aged 65 years or older), in relation to utilization of other medicines.

Objective: The aim of this population-level study was to describe and characterize the national utilization of psychotropic medicines in older people in New Zealand between 2005 and 2013.

Methods: Repeated cross-sectional analysis of population-level dispensing data was conducted from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2013.