Bilateral visual acuity decline in males with choroideremia: a pooled, cross-sectional meta-analysis.

Background: Choroideremia is a rare inherited retinal disease that leads to blindness. Visual acuity (VA) is a key outcome measure in choroideremia treatment studies, but VA decline rates change with age. An accurate understanding of the natural deterioration of VA in choroideremia is important to assess the treatment effect of new therapies in which VA is the primary outcome measure.

Pharmacists' perceptions of their working conditions and the factors influencing this: Results from 5 Canadian provinces.

Introduction: Our previous study in British Columbia (BC) indicated that pharmacists have a poor perception of their working conditions. The objective of this study is to assess pharmacists' perceptions of their working conditions in 4 other Canadian provinces.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study across Alberta, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, using a survey adapted from the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.

Perinatal exposure to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in women with rheumatic disease and neonatal outcomes: a population-based study.

Objectives: Epidemiologic studies evaluating associations between specific arthritis medications and perinatal outcomes are limited. We evaluated the association between conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) use among women with rheumatic disease (RD) and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: We linked population-based data in British Columbia, Canada from 01/01/2002 to 12/31/2012 on all inpatient/outpatient visits and medications with a perinatal registry.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with biologic exposure before and during pregnancy in women with inflammatory systemic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objective: To determine the association between exposure to biologics in pregnant women with inflammatory systemic diseases and maternal and neonatal outcomes through a meta-analysis of findings from studies identified in a systematic review.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify observational studies assessing the perinatal impacts of biologic in women with inflammatory systemic disease. Findings were meta-analysed across included studies with random-effects models.

eHealth-supported decentralized multi-disciplinary care for gout involving rheumatology, pharmacy, and dietetics: proof-of-concept study.

Objective: To conduct quantitative and qualitative evaluation of an electronic health (eHealth)-supported decentralized multi-disciplinary care model for gout involving rheumatologists, pharmacist, and dietitian.

Methods: We conducted a 12-month proof-of-concept study. Gout patients with ≥ 1 flare in the past year and serum urate (SUA) ≥ 360 μmol/L within the previous 2 months were followed by participating community rheumatologists on an as-needed basis, received monthly telephone consults with a pharmacist, and one telephone consult with a dietitian.

Management of Inflammatory Arthritis in pregnancy: a National Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian rheumatologists.

Background: With improved therapies and management, more women with inflammatory arthritides (IA) are considering pregnancy. Our objective was to survey rheumatologists across Canada about their IA management in pregnancy to identify practice patterns and knowledge gaps.

Methods: We administered an online survey with questions regarding medications for IA treatment including conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and biologics/small molecules in planned and unplanned pregnancies.

Characterization of pharmacist-based medication management services in a community pharmacy.

Background: Medication management (MM) refers to all clinical activities that a pharmacist performs to ensure safe and effective medication therapy for patients.

Objective: To characterize pharmacist-driven MM services via retrospective analysis of real-world data collected in a community pharmacy in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal study from January 2014-December 2015.

Risk of congenital anomalies in infants born to women with autoimmune disease using biologics before or during pregnancy: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: To determine the association between perinatal biologic use and congenital anomalies in women with autoimmune disease.

Methods: We linked population-based administrative health data including information on all medications with a perinatal registry in British Columbia, Canada. Women with one or more autoimmune diseases who had pregnancies between January 1st, 2002 and December 31st, 2012 were included.

Use of biologics during pregnancy and risk of serious infections in the mother and baby: a Canadian population-based cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the association between exposure to biologics during pregnancy and serious infections in mothers and infants.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Population-based.

Mobile Phone Apps Targeting Medication Adherence: Quality Assessment and Content Analysis of User Reviews.

Background: With the accessibility and widespread use of mobile phones, mobile phone apps targeting medication adherence may be useful tools to help patients take medications as prescribed.

Objective: Our objectives were to (1) characterize and assess mobile phone medication adherence apps guided by a conceptual framework on the focus of adherence interventions and (2) conduct a content analysis of Web-based reviews to explore users' perspectives and experiences with mobile phone medication adherence apps.

Methods: We searched for mobile phone medication adherence apps using keyword searches in Apple and Android operating systems.

Risk of preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age births in women with autoimmune disease using biologics before or during pregnancy: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the risk of preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births in women with autoimmune diseases using biologics before or during pregnancy.

Methods: Using population-based administrative data in British Columbia, Canada, women with one or more autoimmune diseases who had pregnancies between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2012 were included. Exposure to biologics was defined as having at least one biologic prescription 3 months before or during pregnancy.

Utility of Electronic Medical Records in Community Rheumatology Practice for Assessing Quality of Care Indicators for Gout: A Feasibility Study.

Objectives: With comprehensive capture of information on patient encounters, electronic medical records (EMRs) may have utility for assessing adherence to quality indicators (QIs) in gout. Our objectives were to translate 10 previously established gout QIs into relevant EMR data and evaluate and describe the feasibility of using EMRs to assess gout QIs.

Methods: Using EMRs from 3 community rheumatology practices in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, we identified gout patients seen between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013.

Patterns of Biologics Utilization and Discontinuation Before and During Pregnancy in Women With Autoimmune Diseases: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: To characterize patterns of biologics use and discontinuation before and during pregnancy in women with autoimmune diseases in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods: Women with ≥1 autoimmune diseases, as identified by International Classification of Diseases Ninth/Tenth Revision codes, who had pregnancies ending in deliveries between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2012, and had ≥1 prescription for a biologic drug 1 year before pregnancy or during pregnancy, were included. Secular trends, patterns of biologics use, and risk of biologics discontinuation before and during pregnancy were examined.

Opinions and preferences of British Columbia pharmacists and physicians on medication management services.

Background: Medication management (MM) services are being provided by pharmacists across Canada in various forms, but pharmacist-physician collaboration is still not a routine practice in most jurisdictions. This survey aimed to gather pharmacists' and physicians' opinions and preferences for MM provision.

Methods: Two parallel, cross-sectional online surveys, including best-worst scaling tasks, were designed for pharmacists and physicians in British Columbia to capture and compare their preferences for a number of attributes of MM.

Health State Utilities and Disease Duration in Systemic Sclerosis: Is There an Association?

Objective: Health state utility values (HSUV) are used as weightings to calculate quality-adjusted life years in economic evaluations. Evidence suggests that patients' perceptions of a new diagnosis for a chronic disease, while initially poor, may improve over time. The objective of this study was to examine the association between disease duration and direct HSUV scores in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Factors associated with pharmacists' perceptions of their working conditions and safety and effectiveness of patient care.

Background: In recent years, the role of pharmacists has changed, as have various provincial legislations, which now allow pharmacists to provide additional health services to patients. With these changes comes growing concern about how well the current pharmacy working environment is adapting and whether it may also be creating work-related stress that may contribute to potentially unsafe practices of patient care.

Methods: To characterize the current working conditions of pharmacists in British Columbia, an online survey was developed and distributed to all College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC) registrants by email.

Clinical and economic review of secukinumab for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Secukinumab represents the first IL-17A antagonist among the available biologic therapies approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis management. Secukinumab demonstrated greater efficacy over placebo, etanercept and ustekinumab in patients that had limited benefit from non-biologic systemic therapies and phototherapy. Despite standard-of-care systemic therapies being more likely to be cost-effective at this time, a Canadian cost-utility analysis found secukinumab to display benefit in quality-of-life gains in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients, and greater cost-effectiveness when compared to other biologic systemic therapies.

Parents and adolescents preferences for asthma control: a best-worst scaling choice experiment using an orthogonal main effects design.

Background: The preferences of parents and children with asthma influence their ability to manage a child's asthma and achieve good control. Potential differences between parents and adolescents with respect to specific parameters of asthma control are not considered in clinical asthma guidelines. The objective was to measure and compare the preferences of parents and adolescents with asthma with regard to asthma control parameters using best worst scaling (BWS).

Perceptions of British Columbia residents and their willingness to pay for medication management services provided by pharmacists.

Background: Across Canada, pharmacists have expanded their scope of practice by performing medication management (MM) services. However, little is currently known about the opinions and attitudes of patients and the general population toward MM services.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey, including a best-worst scaling task, was designed to understand the general public's opinions, preferences and willingness-to-pay with respect to MM services in British Columbia.

Identifying relationships between the professional culture of pharmacy, pharmacists' personality traits, and the provision of advanced pharmacy services.

Background: Legislative changes are affording pharmacists the opportunity to provide more advanced pharmacy services. However, many pharmacists have not yet been able to provide these services sustainably. Research from implementation science suggests that before sustained change in pharmacy can be achieved an improved understanding of pharmacy context, through the professional culture of pharmacy and pharmacists' personality traits, is required.

Empowering pharmacists in asthma management through interactive SMS (EmPhAsIS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Medication regimens for asthma are particularly vulnerable to adherence problems because of the requirement for long-term use and periods of symptom remission experienced by patients. Pharmacists are suited to impact medication adherence given their training, skills, and frequent contact with patients. The Empowering pharmacists in asthma management through interactive SMS (EmPhAsIS) trial involves an intervention leveraging mobile health (mHealth) technology to support community pharmacy practice with the hypothesis of improved medication adherence in asthma.

Community pharmacist surveillance of hypertension in pregnancy: Are we ready for prime time?

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with serious maternal and perinatal complications. For nonsevere hypertension, there is a lack of consensus regarding treatment during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Further, there is considerable variability in guidelines for antihypertensive drug choices.

Decentralized automated dispensing devices: systematic review of clinical and economic impacts in hospitals.

Background: Technologies have been developed over the past 20 years to automate the stages of drug distribution in hospitals, including ordering, dispensing, delivery, and administration of medications, in attempts to decrease medication error rates. Decentralized automated dispensing devices (ADDs) represent one such technology that is being adopted by hospitals across Canada, but the touted benefits, in terms of improved patient safety and cost savings, are increasingly being questioned.

Objective: To summarize and evaluate the existing literature reporting the clinical and economic impacts of using decentralized ADDs in hospitals.

Quantifying preferences for asthma control in parents and adolescents using best-worst scaling.

Background: Understanding the views of parents and children is critical to designing effective asthma management programs. It was hypothesized that parents and adolescents would exhibit heterogenous preferences with regard to asthma control.

Methods: Fifty parents of children with asthma and 51 adolescents with asthma participated in a best-worst scaling study to quantify preferences regarding night-time symptoms, wheezing/chest tightening, changes in asthma medications, emergency visits and physical activity limitations.