Re-Exposure to Culprit Medication Following Adverse Drug Event Diagnosis in Canadian Emergency Department Patients: A Cohort Study.

Purpose: The magnitude of repeat exposures to culprit medications after hospital discharge is not well studied. We combined prospective cohort data with administrative health data to understand the frequency of repeat exposures to culprit medications after discharge and the risk factors for their occurrence.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of three prospective cohorts of patients who presented to the hospital with an adverse drug event in British Columbia, from 2008 to 2015 (n = 849).

Validating use of diagnostic codes in Canadian administrative data for identification of adverse drug events.

Aims: While diagnostic codes from administrative health data might be a valuable source to identify adverse drug events (ADEs), their ability to identify unintended harms remains unclear. We validated claims-based diagnosis codes for ADEs based on events identified in a prospective cohort study and assessed whether key attributes predicted their documentation in administrative data.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 3 prospective cohorts in British Columbia, from 2008 to 2015 (n = 13 969).

Pre-job loss grief reactions and work attachment among sick-listed employees: Introduction of the imminent Job Loss Scale.

Background: With this study, we aimed to explore the emotional experiences of sick-listed employees facing imminent job loss, as this emotional distress may hinder successful job search outcomes. The study had two objectives: (1) to develop and validate the Imminent Job Loss Scale (IJLS) for assessing pre-job loss grief reactions and (2) to examine its relationship to work attachment.

Methods: Development of the 9-item IJLS was carried out using feedback from an expert panel, consisting of five academic experts in grief and labour, five re-integration specialists, and five sick-listed employees facing imminent job loss.

Validating methods used to identify non-adherence adverse drug events in Canadian administrative health data.

Aims: Medication non-adherence is a type of adverse drug event that can lead to untreated and exacerbated chronic illness, and that drives healthcare utilization. Research using medication claims data has attempted to identify instances of medication non-adherence using the proportion of days covered or by examining gaps between medication refills. We sought to validate these measures compared to a gold standard diagnosis of non-adherence made in hospital.

Revisiting the Calculation for a Novel Measure of Average Lifespan Shortened: Real-World Examples From Cervical and Ovarian Cancers in Alberta, Canada, 2000 - 2020.

In this technical note, we primarily demonstrate the computation of confidence limits for a novel measure of average lifespan shortened (ALSS). We identified women who had died from cervical and ovarian cancer between 2000 and 2020 from the Alberta cancer registry. Years of life lost (YLL) was calculated using the national life tables of Canada.

Standardization of radiograph readings during bowel management week.

Introduction: During "bowel management week," abdominal radiographs are used to monitor the amount and location of stool. A radiologist familiar with the treatment plan can provide an improved interpretation. The goal of this paper is to standardize the radiological reports during a bowel management week.

Identifying predictive factors for bowel control in patients with spina bifida and spinal cord injuries.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess our bowel management program (BMP) and identify predictive factors for bowel control in patients with Spina Bifida (SB) and Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI). Additionally, in patients with SB, we examined the impact of fetal repair (FRG) on bowel control.

Methods: We included all patients with SB and SCI seen in the Multidisciplinary Spinal Defects Clinic at Children's Hospital Colorado from 2020 to 2023.

Radiologically supervised bowel management program outcome in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze our radiologically supervised bowel management program (RS-BMP) outcomes in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. We included all patients with CIC who participated in our RS-BMP at Children´s Hospital Colorado from July 2016 to October 2022.

An audit of antibiotic prescribing in primary care 2019-2020 in Dunmanway Primary Care Centre.

Introduction: Antibiotics are often the most common medication prescribed by general practitioners (GPs) and are often expected by patients despite campaigns such as Under the Weather. Antibiotic resistance is increasing in the community. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued 'Guidelines for Antimicrobial Prescribing in Primary Care in Ireland' aiming to optimise safe prescribing.

Gender Identification Beyond the Binary and Its Consequences for Social Well-Being.

Recent societal initiatives (e.g., gender-neutral toilets, clothing, and language) highlight the ongoing shift of gender away from binary categories: "man" and "woman.

The Utility of Different Data Standards to Document Adverse Drug Event Symptoms and Diagnoses: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Existing systems to document adverse drug events often use free text data entry, which produces nonstandardized and unstructured data that are prone to misinterpretation. Standardized terminology may improve data quality; however, it is unclear which data standard is most appropriate for documenting adverse drug event symptoms and diagnoses.

Objective: This study aims to compare the utility, strengths, and weaknesses of different data standards for documenting adverse drug event symptoms and diagnoses.

Understanding implicit and explicit learning in adolescents with and without anorexia nervosa.

Background: Cognitive disturbances such as impairments in learning are thought to play a role in adult Anorexia Nervosa (AN). It is remains unclear to what extent these disturbances result from starvation of the brain, or relate to an abnormal premorbid cognitive profile. This study investigates learning processes in adolescents with AN, hypothesizing that implicit learning is intact, as found previously in explicit learning tasks.

Using ActionADE to create information continuity to reduce re-exposures to harmful medications: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Repeat exposures to culprit medications are a common cause of preventable adverse drug events. Health information technologies have the potential to reduce repeat adverse drug events by improving information continuity. However, they rarely interoperate to ensure providers can view adverse drug events documented in other systems.

Emergency department-based medication review on outpatient health services utilization: interrupted time series.

Background: One in nine emergency department (ED) visits in Canada are caused by adverse drug events, the unintended and harmful effects of medication use. Medication reviews by clinical pharmacists are interventions designed to optimize medications and address adverse drug events to impact patient outcomes. However, the effect of medication reviews on long-term outpatient health services utilization is not well understood.

Relationship between GP visits and time spent in-hospital among insulin-dependent Canadians with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To determine whether higher frequency of GP visits among insulin-dependent patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with reduced hospitalizations.

Design: Nationally representative study using data from the 2013-2014 cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey.

Setting: Canada.

Preventable adverse drug events: Descriptive epidemiology.

Aim: Our objective was to identify preventable adverse drug events and factors contributing to their development.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review combining data from three prospective multicentre observational studies that assessed emergency department patients for adverse drug events. A clinical pharmacist and physician independently reviewed the charts, extracted data and rated the preventability of each adverse drug event.

Repeat adverse drug events associated with outpatient medications: a descriptive analysis of 3 observational studies in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Adverse drug events are an important cause of preventable emergency department visits and hospital admissions. We examined repeat adverse drug events associated with outpatient medications resulting in acute care utilization.

Methods: This descriptive analysis combined data from 3 prospective multicentre observational studies, in which clinical pharmacists and physicians independently evaluated patients who visited the emergency department for adverse drug events in 3 hospitals in British Columbia.

INFOGEST static in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal food digestion.

Developing a mechanistic understanding of the impact of food structure and composition on human health has increasingly involved simulating digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract. These simulations have used a wide range of different conditions that often have very little physiological relevance, and this impedes the meaningful comparison of results. The standardized protocol presented here is based on an international consensus developed by the COST INFOGEST network.

Methods for evaluating adverse drug event preventability in emergency department patients.

Background: There is a high degree of variability in assessing the preventability of adverse drug events, limiting the ability to compare rates of preventable adverse drug events across different studies. We compared three methods for determining preventability of adverse drug events in emergency department patients and explored their strengths and weaknesses.

Methods: This mixed-methods study enrolled emergency department patients diagnosed with at least one adverse drug event from three prior prospective studies.

Prospective Validation of Clinical Criteria to Identify Emergency Department Patients at High Risk for Adverse Drug Events.

Objectives: Adverse drug events (ADEs) cause or contribute to one in nine emergency department (ED) presentations in North America and are often misdiagnosed. EDs have insufficient clinical pharmacists to complete medication reviews in all incoming patients, even though pharmacist-led medications reviews have been associated with improved health outcomes. Our objective was to validate clinical decision rules to identify patients presenting with ADEs so they could be prioritized for pharmacist-led medication review.

Incidence of clinically relevant medication errors in the era of electronically prepopulated medication reconciliation forms: a retrospective chart review.

Background: To reduce medication discrepancies (unintended differences between a patient's outpatient and inpatient medication regimens), Canadian institutions have implemented medication reconciliation forms that are prepopulated with outpatient medication dispensing data. These may prompt prescribers to reorder discontinued medications or continue newly contraindicated medications. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of medication discrepancies and errors of commission after the implementation of such forms.

Impact of early in-hospital medication review by clinical pharmacists on health services utilization.

Background: Adverse drug events are a leading cause of emergency department visits and unplanned admissions, and prolong hospital stays. Medication review interventions aim to identify adverse drug events and optimize medication use. Previous evaluations of in-hospital medication reviews have focused on interventions at discharge, with an unclear effect on health outcomes.