Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco Product Cessation: A Survey of Healthcare Providers' Opinions on Safety and Recommendation.

: This study aimed to: (1) assess healthcare providers' opinions on e-cigarette safety and compare them across professions; (2) evaluate providers' recommendations for e-cigarettes as a tobacco product cessation tool and identify any associations with their safety perceptions. : A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 760 healthcare professionals (January-March 2020). The survey included eight opinions on e-cigarette safety with five Likert-scale answers and a question on recommending them for tobacco product cessation.

Smartphone Use and Addiction among Pharmacy Students in Northern Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Thailand and worldwide, smartphone addiction among university students is a growing concern. This study aims to investigate behaviors of smartphone use, the prevalence of smartphone addiction, the duration of smartphone use, and their associated factors among pharmacy students at a university in northern Thailand. This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire to collect data from January to February 2021.

Influenza Vaccination among Patients with Diabetes or Ischemic Heart Disease in Thailand: Coverage, Knowledge and Associated Factors.

An influenza vaccination is recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) or ischemic heart disease (IHD) to prevent cardiovascular events, but the vaccination coverage remains low. This cross-sectional study sought to investigate vaccination coverage, knowledge level on influenza and factors associated with influenza vaccination in patients with DM or IHD treated at a tertiary hospital in northern Thailand. Patients were interviewed from August to October 2017.

Time to Treatment Intensification to Reduce Diabetes-Related Complications: A Post Hoc Study.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can be affected by clinical inertia, leading to abysmal results. Studies on a suitable timeframe for treatment intensification remain scarce-especially outside of developed countries. This study aimed to explore the association between time to treatment intensification and diabetes-related complications.

Smartphone Application for Smoking Cessation (Quit with US): A Randomized Controlled Trial among Young Adult Light Smokers in Thailand.

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a smartphone application named Quit with US among young adult smokers. An open-label, parallel, 2-group, randomized controlled trial with a 12-week follow-up was conducted between March and November 2020 among undergraduate students (18 to 24 years) in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. A total of 273 participants were assigned by simple randomization procedure to the Quit with US intervention group (n = 137) or the control group (n = 136).

Electronic Cigarettes in Thailand: Behaviour, Rationale, Satisfaction, and Sex Differences.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use is trending in Thailand. Electronic cigarettes are banned and illegally imported. This study aimed to investigate the behaviour, rationale, and satisfaction of e-cigarettes users and compared them between males and females.

Potentially inappropriate medications for patients with heart failure and risk of hospitalization from heart failure: A case-control study from Thailand.

Background: Thailand have developed a list of potentially inappropriate medications for patients with heart failure (PIMHF). However, its association with clinical outcomes has not been evaluated in real-world clinical practice.

Objective: To examine the association between the prescription of any PIMHF and hospitalization from heart failure (HF).

Electronic Cigarette Use and Other Factors Associated with Cigarette Smoking among Thai Undergraduate Students.

The prevalence of smoking among young adults in Thailand has gradually increased. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors associated with cigarette smoking among undergraduate students. This cross-sectional study used a self-administered, anonymous online questionnaire to gather data from undergraduate students across four universities in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Effect of Clinical Inertia on Diabetes Complications among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

: Clinical inertia is a key obstacle that leads to suboptimal care in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It can occur at any stage of T2DM treatment. However, the effect of clinical inertia on diabetes complications has not been studied sufficiently.

Factors Associated with the Dual Use of Electronic Cigarettes and Cigarettes among Thai Undergraduate Students Who Smoked Cigarettes.

This study proposed to identify factors associated with the dual use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and cigarettes among undergraduate students who smoked cigarettes. This cross-sectional study employed a self-administered, anonymous online questionnaires to collect information from undergraduate smokers in northern Thailand. Of the 494 participants, 82.

Smoking Cessation Services by Community Pharmacists: Real-World Practice in Thailand.

This study aimed to report the effectiveness of community pharmacy smoking cessation services in 13 health regions in Thailand using a retrospective data-collecting method from the Foundation of Community Pharmacy database. The participants were smokers aged at least 18 years. The outcomes were the abstinence of smoking at least 30 consecutive days by self-report only and self-report with exhaled CO level <7 ppm (if available), the number of cigarettes smoked daily, exhaled carbon monoxide (exhaled CO), and % peak expiratory flow rate (%PEFR); smokers measured these outcomes before and after receiving the smoking cessation services.

Feasibility of a Smoking Cessation Smartphone App (Quit with US) for Young Adult Smokers: A Single Arm, Pre-Post Study.

While smartphone applications (apps) have been shown to enhance success with smoking cessation, no study has been conducted among young adult smokers aged 18-24 years in Thailand. Quit with US was developed based on the 5 A's model and self-efficacy theory. This single arm, pre-post study was conducted aiming to assess results after using Quit with US for 4 weeks.

Association between medication adherence and cardiovascular outcomes among acute coronary syndrome patients.

Background: Medication adherence to guideline-recommended therapy is important and associated with a lower rate of death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate medication adherence in four classes of guideline-recommended medicines (antiplatelets, ACEIs/ARBs, beta-blockers, and statins) among patients discharged with ACS and to assess the association between patients' adherence to each medication and the occurrence of MACE including all causes of death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation or coronary revascularization.

Methods: The electronic medical records of patients with ACS admitted at a tertiary teaching hospital in northern Thailand between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015 were reviewed.

Development of a list of potentially inappropriate medications for patients with heart failure (PIMHF).

Background: Several medications are likely to be potentially inappropriate medications for patients with heart failure (PIMHF) as they may worsen heart failure (HF). A screening tool inclusive of PIMHF is lacking.

Objective: To develop an extensive list of PIMHF for HF patients.

Anticholinergics and benzodiazepines on cognitive impairment among elderly with Alzheimer's disease: a 1 year follow-up study.

Objective: Age-associated decline in central cholinergic activity makes older adults susceptible to harmful effects of anticholinergics (ACs). Evidence exists of an association between effects of AC medications on cognition. This retrospective cohort study examines how ACs affect cognition among older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who received acetylcholine esterase inhibitors (AChEIs) over the course of 12 months.

A Comparison of Gender Differences in Smoking Behaviors, Intention to Quit, and Nicotine Dependence among Thai University Students.

Background: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. In Thailand, the prevalence of smoking is about 15-20 times higher among men than women. This study aimed to investigate gender differences among university students concerning smoking behaviors, nicotine dependence, and intention to quit smoking.

A National Survey of Community Pharmacists on Smoking Cessation Services in Thailand.

Providing smoking cessation services is one role of community pharmacists in Thailand. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate activities and barriers related to smoking cessation services provided in community pharmacies in Thailand, as well as to compare these activities and barriers between those pharmacists providing and those not providing smoking cessation services. A postal questionnaire was conducted to collect information from community pharmacists across Thailand.

Daily Consumption of Virgin Coconut Oil Increases High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

This open-label, randomized, controlled, crossover trial assessed the effect of daily virgin coconut oil (VCO) consumption on plasma lipoproteins levels and adverse events. The study population was 35 healthy Thai volunteers, aged 18-25. At entry, participants were randomly allocated to receive either (i) 15 mL VCO or (ii) 15 mL 2% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) solution (as control), twice daily, for 8 weeks.

Reduction in total recurrent cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal <70 mg/dL: a real-life cohort in a developing country.

Background: For investigations into cardiovascular disease, the first problematic event (ie, nonfatal acute coronary syndrome (ACS), nonfatal stroke, or all-cause mortality) generally was considered as the primary end point; however, ACS patients often experience subsequent events, which are rarely considered. This study reports an investigation into whether achieving a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal of <70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) is associated with a reduction in total recurrent cardiovascular events in a cohort of ACS patients hospitalized in northern Thailand.

Clinical indicators for recurrent cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome patients treated with statins under routine practice in Thailand: an observational study.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are at very high cardiovascular risk and tend to have recurrent cardiovascular events. The clinical indicators for subsequent cardiovascular events are limited and need further investigation. This study aimed to explore clinical indicators that were associated with recurrent cardiovascular events following index hospitalization.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of less than 70 mg/dL is associated with fewer cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome patients: a real-life cohort in Thailand.

Background: Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or mortality; however, the LDL-C goal for therapy in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients is controversial and varies among guidelines. This study aimed to assess the effect of reaching an LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL (<1.8 mmol/L) on first composite cardiovascular outcomes in routine clinical practice in Thailand.

Statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment and effect of statin potency.

Background: Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Current guidelines recommend an LDL-C target of <70 mg/dL (<1.8 mmol/L) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, and the first-line treatment to lower lipids is statin therapy.

The need for pharmaceutical care in the prevention of coronary heart disease: an exploratory study in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Aim: To determine guideline-related pharmaceutical care issues for the prevention of coronary heart disease in hospitalised patients admitted for myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of Q-wave MI to two large teaching hospitals were studied. Relevant patient medical and drug histories, co-morbidities and total cholesterol concentrations were recorded.