An Association Between Prophylactic Hypervolemia-Augmented Blood Pressure and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Who Underwent Delayed Clipping.

Background: The prior trials investigating triple-H therapy for preventing delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) enrolled patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) who underwent early aneurysm therapy within 3 days. However, surgical clipping might be performed during 4-7 days that high incidence cerebral vasospasm is likely. We examined effects of hypervolemia-augmented blood pressure (HV-ABP) protocol on DCI prevention when clipping was delayed.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of endovascular coiling and neurosurgical clipping for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Thailand.

Background: For patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), the Universal Coverage Scheme in Thailand covers the full costs of surgical and endovascular procedures except for those of embolization coils and assisting devices. Costs and effectiveness were compared between endovascular coiling and neurosurgical clipping to inform reimbursement policy decisions.

Methods: Costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were compared between coiling and clipping using the decision tree and Markov models.

Effects of a national policy advocating rational drug use on decreases in outpatient antibiotic prescribing rates in Thailand.

Objective: This study examined the effects of a national policy advocating rational drug use (RDU), namely, the 'RDU Service Plan', starting in fiscal year 2017 and implemented by the Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), on trends in antibiotic prescribing rates for outpatients. The policy was implemented subsequent to a voluntary campaign involving 136 hospitals, namely, the 'RDU Hospital Project', which was implemented during fiscal years 2014-2016.

Methods: Hospital-level antibiotic prescribing rates in fiscal years 2014-2019 for respiratory infections, acute diarrhea, and fresh wounds were aggregated for two hospital groups using equally weighted averages: early adopters of RDU activities through the RDU Hospital Project and late adopters under the RDU Service Plan.

Effect of a Rational Drug Use Policy on the prescribing safety in outpatient settings in Thailand.

Objective: In Thailand, the 'Rational Drug Use (RDU) policy' has been implemented in the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) hospitals since October 2016. This study aimed to explore the effects of the RDU policy on prescribing safety indicators for elderly patients and those with common chronic diseases.

Method: Electronic outpatient databases were obtained from 15 MOPH hospitals.

Effects of restrictive reimbursement on the prescribing and expenditures on non-essential lipid-lowering drugs.

Background: The rapid cost escalation of the government employee scheme in Thailand was driven by the overprescription of non-essential drugs (NEDs), which were not listed in the National Lists of Essential Medicines. A restrictive reimbursement policy implemented in October 2012 required prescribers to base the prescription of NEDs on six criteria, including A and B for safety, C for effectiveness, D for availability, and E and F for costs, hence known as the A-F policy.

Objective: The A-F policy was examined in terms of its outcomes regarding the prescription volume and reimbursement expenditure for lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs).

Cognitive impairment, quality of life and healthcare utilization in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3 to 5.

Aim: This study aimed to examine associations between cognitive impairment and quality of life and healthcare utilization in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 to 5.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 379 outpatients with a mean age of 65.7 years at tertiary care hospitals in Thailand.

Coprescription of QT interval-prolonging antipsychotics with potentially interacting medications in Thailand.

Background: The US FDA has designated pimozide, thioridazine, and ziprasidone as contraindicated for patients at risk of QT interval prolongation, and assigned haloperidol, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, and risperidone as associated with a significant risk of QT prolongation. This study aimed to examine trends and hospital variations in concomitant prescribing among these eight selected antipsychotics, and coprescription with interacting drugs known to increase QT prolongation risk.

Methods: Data on outpatient antipsychotic prescriptions during 2012-2015 were obtained from 16 general hospitals and 10 university hospitals nationwide.

Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb761), Cholinesterase Inhibitors, and Memantine for the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and memantine have been reported to provide modest benefits for cognition and aspects of functioning in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761), a phytomedicine, is widely used and expected to be well-tolerated. A few trials have compared EGb761 with ChEIs, and the results were inconclusive.

Access to and price trends of antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antilipidemic drugs in outpatient settings of the Universal Coverage Scheme in Thailand.

Under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) with payment per capita for outpatient (OP) services, hospitals' financial risks will rise if access to essential drugs increases. This study examined trends in access to and price of essential drugs for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and an overall purchasing price index (PPI) for an OP drug basket from public hospitals. To examine drug access, OP prescription data from 2010-2012 were obtained from the UCS.

Trends and variations in outpatient coprescribing of simvastatin or atorvastatin with potentially interacting drugs in Thailand.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess trends and variations in coprescribing of simvastatin or atorvastatin with interacting drugs in Thailand.

Methods: Outpatient prescriptions between 2013 and 2015 in 26 tertiary care hospitals were analyzed for statin coprescribing. The proportion of patients exposed to coprescribing was estimated for semi-annual changes, using a time-series analysis and for hospital variations, using an interquartile range (IQR).

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Thai Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation and a High Risk of Bleeding.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the cost effectiveness of direct-acting oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in Thai patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and a HAS-BLED score of 3.

Methods: Total costs (US$) in 2017 and quality-adjusted life-years were estimated over 20 years using a Markov model. A base-case analysis was conducted under a societal perspective, which included direct healthcare, non-healthcare and indirect costs in Thailand.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of policy options on first-line treatments for advanced, non-small cell lung cancer in Thailand.

Objectives: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown to be better for progression-free survival than chemotherapy as the first-line treatment for advanced, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (EGFR M+). This study evaluates under the Thai health system context, cost-effectiveness of (A) the use of platinum doublets for all without EGFR testing, and (B) an EGFR test followed by TKIs or platinum doublets conditional on test results.

Materials And Methods: A decision analysis model was constructed to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and total cost for each option.

The brief serenity scale: a psychometric analysis of a measure of spirituality and well-being.

Purpose: This article describes a factor analysis of a 22-item version of the Serenity Scale, a tool that measures spirituality and well-being.

Method: A sample of 87 participants, enrolled in a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial examining the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction on symptom management post-solid organ transplantation, completed the abbreviated instrument.

Findings: Exploratory factor analysis yielded three subscales: acceptance, inner haven, and trust.

Group behavior therapy versus individual behavior therapy for healthy dieting and weight control management in overweight and obese women living in rural community.

Objective: To compare group behavior therapy with individual behavior therapy for promoting healthy dieting behavior and weight control in overweight and obese women in rural community.

Methods: This parallel group, open labeled, randomized non-inferiority trial was conducted from March 2005 to April 2006. A total of 132 overweight and obese women with a mean (S.