Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 104 in total

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  1. Venkatason P, Zubairi YZ, Hafidz I, Wan WA, Zuhdi AS
    Ann Saudi Med, 2016 5 30;36(3):184-9.
    PMID: 27236389 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2016.184
    BACKGROUND: The administration of evidence-based pharmacotherapy and timely primary percutaneous coronary intervention have been shown to improve outcome in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, implementation remains a challenge due to the limitations in facilities, expertise and funding.

    OBJECTIVES: To investigate adherence to guideline-based management and mortality of STEMI patients in Malaysia.

    DESIGN: Retrospective analysis.

    SETTINGS: STEMI patients from 18 participating hospital across Malaysia included in the National Cardiovascular Database-Acute Coronary Syndrome (NCVD-ACS) registry year 2006 to 2013.

    PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were categorized into four subgroups based on the year of admission (2006 to 2007, 2008 to 2009, 2010 to 2011 and 2012 to 2013). Baseline characteristics and clinical presentation, in-hospital pharmacotherapy, invasive revascularization and in-hospital/30-day mortality were analysed and compared between the subgroups.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Rate of in-hospital catheterization/percutaneous coronary intervention.

    RESULTS: The registry contained data on 19483 patients. Intravenous thrombolysis was the main reperfusion therapy. Although the overall rate of in-hospital catheterisation/PCI more than doubled over the study period, while the use of primary PCI only slowly increased from 7.6% in 2006/2007 to 13.6% in 2012/2013. The use of evidence-based oral therapies increased steadily over the years except for ACe-inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers. The adjusted risk ratios (RR) for in-hospital mortality for the four sub-groups have not shown any significant improvement. The 30-day adjusted risk ratios however showed a significant albeit gradual risk reduction (RR 0.773 95% CI 0.679-0.881, P < .001).

    CONCLUSION: Adherence to evidence-based treatment in STEMI in Malaysia is still poor especially in terms of the rate of primary PCI. Although there is a general trend toward reduced 30-day mortality, the reduction was only slight over the study period. Drastic effort is needed to improve adherence and clinical outcomes.

    LIMITATION: Retrospective registry data with inter-hospital variation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence/trends*
  2. Chia YC, Lim HM, Ching SM
    BMC Fam Pract, 2014;15:172.
    PMID: 25388219 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-014-0172-y
    BACKGROUND: Initiation of statin therapy as primary prevention particularly in those with mildly elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors is still being debated. The 2013 ACC/AHA blood cholesterol guideline recommends initiation of statin by estimating the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk using the new pooled cohort risk score. This paper examines the use of the pooled cohort risk score and compares it to actual use of statins in daily clinical practice in a primary care setting.
    METHODS: We examined the use of statins in a randomly selected sample of patients in a primary care clinic. The demographic data and cardiovascular risk parameters were captured from patient records in 1998. The pooled cohort risk score was calculated based on the parameters in 1998. The use of statins in 1998 and 2007, a 10-year interval, was recorded.
    RESULTS: A total of 847 patients were entered into the analysis. Mean age of the patients was 57.2 ± 8.4 years and 33.1% were male. The use of statins in 1998 was only 10.2% (n = 86) as compared to 67.5% (n = 572) in 2007. For patients with LDL 70-189 mg/dl and estimated 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5% (n = 190), 60% (n = 114) of patients were on statin therapy by 2007. There were 124 patients in whom statin therapy was not recommended according to ACC/AHA guideline but were actually receiving statin therapy.
    CONCLUSIONS: An extra 40% of patients need to be treated with statin if the 2013 ACC/AHA blood cholesterol guideline is used. However the absolute number of patients who needed to be treated based on the ACC/AHA guideline is lower than the number of patients actually receiving it in a daily clinical practice. The pooled cohort risk score does not increase the absolute number of patients who are actually treated with statins. However these findings and the use of the pooled cohort risk score need to be validated further.
    Study site: Primary care clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data*
  3. Nor Saleha IT, Noor Hassim I
    Ind Health, 2006 Oct;44(4):584-91.
    PMID: 17085919
    Noise is one of the hazards faced by workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among industries in Negeri Sembilan with the objective to assess their compliance to Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP). The other objectives of this study were to determine the factors influencing it and to show the industries' compliance to each element of the programme. It was also to identify the association between compliance to HCP and the prevalence of hearing impairment and standard threshold shift. Data for this study were collected using questionnaires sent by mail and also the results of the latest audiometric tests. A total of 167 industries were analysed for this study. It was found that 41.3% of these industries fully complied to the programme. It was also found that the industries preferred to provide hearing protection device (92.8%) and least complied to noise control (61.1%). There were significant associations (p<0.05) between compliance and number of employees, status of ownership and the presence of officer in charge of hearing conservation programme. Having at least 150 employees actually raised the compliance to HCP in two folds (beta = 0.717, OR = 2.048, C.I 95% = 1.063 to 3.944). The prevalences of hearing impairment and standard threshold shift were 23.9% and 5.2% respectively. There was no significant association between the prevalence for hearing impairment and compliance to HCP. The prevalence for standard threshold shift was inversely related to compliance. This study showed that compliance percentage need to be improved as an effort to prevent the hearing problems among workers exposed to noise.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data*
  4. Ramli AS, Lakshmanan S, Haniff J, Selvarajah S, Tong SF, Bujang MA, et al.
    BMC Fam Pract, 2014;15:151.
    PMID: 25218689 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-15-151
    Chronic disease management presents enormous challenges to the primary care workforce because of the rising epidemic of cardiovascular risk factors. The chronic care model was proven effective in improving chronic disease outcomes in developed countries, but there is little evidence of its effectiveness in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMPOWER-PAR intervention (multifaceted chronic disease management strategies based on the chronic care model) in improving outcomes for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension using readily available resources in the Malaysian public primary care setting. This paper presents the study protocol.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  5. Oh AL, Goh LM, Nik Azim NA, Tee CS, Shehab Phung CW
    J Infect Dev Ctries, 2014 Feb;8(2):193-201.
    PMID: 24518629 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.3076
    INTRODUCTION: The widespread and inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in surgical prophylaxis has led to reduced treatment efficacy, increased healthcare costs, and antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to explore the adherence of antibiotic usage in surgical prophylaxis to the national antibiotic guideline and the incidences of surgical site infection (SSI).
    METHODOLOGY: A three-month prospective observational study has been conducted in the surgical wards of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) using a standardized surveillance form. Each patient was reviewed for up to 30 days post-operatively to determine the occurrence of SSI.
    RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included within the study period. The majority of the cases were clean-contaminated wounds (60.9%). Most were hepatobiliary cases (37.9%), followed by colorectal cases (19.5%). The most preferred antibiotic used was cefoperazone (63.2%). The choices of antibiotics in 78.2% of the cases were consistent with the guideline. Around 80% of prophylactic antibiotics were given within one hour before operation and 27.6% were omitted from intraoperative re-dosing. Prophylactic antibiotics were discontinued within 24 hours post-operatively in 77% of the cases. Of those continued for > 24 hours, the majority (60%) were administered for unknown reasons. SSI was documented in 13.8% of the total cases studied. However, there was no significant association between choices of antibiotics and timing of surgical prophylaxis with SSI (p = 0.299 and p = 0.258 respectively).
    CONCLUSION: Overall guideline adherence rate was more than 70%. Areas of non-concordance to the guideline require further investigation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  6. Liew SM, Blacklock C, Hislop J, Glasziou P, Mant D
    Br J Gen Pract, 2013 Jun;63(611):e401-7.
    PMID: 23735411 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp13X668195
    BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and the Quality Outcomes Framework require practitioners to use cardiovascular risk scores in assessments for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
    AIM: To explore GPs understanding and use of cardiovascular risk scores.
    DESIGN AND SETTING: Qualitative study with purposive maximum variation sampling of 20 GPs working in Oxfordshire, UK. Method Thematic analysis of transcriptions of face-to-face interviews with participants undertaken by two individuals (one clinical, one non-clinical).
    RESULTS: GPs use cardiovascular risk scores primarily to guide treatment decisions by estimating the risk of a vascular event if the patient remains untreated. They expressed considerable uncertainty about how and whether to take account of existing drug treatment or other types of prior risk modification. They were also unclear about the choice between the older scores, based on the Framingham study, and newer scores, such as QRISK. There was substantial variation in opinion about whether scores could legitimately be used to illustrate to patients the change in risk as a result of treatment. The overall impression was of considerable confusion.
    CONCLUSION: The drive to estimate risk more precisely by qualifying guidance and promoting new scores based on partially-treated populations appears to have created unnecessary confusion for little obvious benefit. National guidance needs to be simplified, and, to be fit for purpose, better reflect the ways in which cardiovascular risk scores are currently used in general practice. Patients may be better served by simple advice to use a Framingham score and exercise more clinical judgement, explaining to patients the necessary imprecision of any individual estimate of risk.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  7. Valayatham V
    Med J Malaysia, 2012 Aug;67(4):399-401.
    PMID: 23082449 MyJurnal
    AIM: We audited indications and outcomes of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) screening in the pregnant population at our centre.
    METHOD: Prospective and observational. All APS test results returned were audited for validity of indication and subsequent outcome.
    RESULT: 24 of a total of 146 (16%) of requests for the antiphospholipid antibodies and lupus anticoagulant were not indicated. Two positive results returned for a total of 116 "indicated" requests (1.7%).
    CONCLUSION: There needs to be increased awareness among obstetricians on the indications for screening for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The prevalence of antiphospholipid syndrome with obstetric manefestations in the study population is lower than rates published in the literature.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  8. Neoh CF, Hassali MA, Shafie AA, Awaisu A, Tambyappa J
    Curr Drug Saf, 2009 Sep;4(3):199-203.
    PMID: 19534650
    Good medicine labelling practice is vital to ensure safe use of medicines. Non-compliance to labelling standards is a potential source of medication errors. This study was intended to evaluate and compare compliance towards labelling standard for dispensed medications between community pharmacists and general practitioners in Penang, Malaysia. A total of 128 community pharmacies and 26 general practitioners' clinics were visited. Using 'Simulated Client Method' (SCM), data were collected on the medications dispensed upon presentation of hypothetical common cold symptoms. The medications dispensed were evaluated for labelling adequacy. Result revealed that majority of the dispensed medications obtained were not labelled according to regulatory requirements. However, general practitioners complied better than community pharmacists in terms of labelling for: name of patient (p<0.001), details of supplier (p<0.001), dosage of medication (p=0.023), frequency to take medication (p=0.023), patient's reference number (p<0.001), date of supply (p<0.001), special instructions for medication (p=0.008), storage requirements (p=0.002), and indication for medication (p<0.001). Conversely, community pharmacists labelled dispensed medications with the words "Controlled Medicine" more often than did general practitioners (p<0.001). Although laws for labelling dispensed medicines are in place, most community pharmacists and general practitioners did not comply accordingly, thereby putting patients' safety at risks of medication errors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  9. Eid M, Mafauzy M, Faridah AR
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Jun;59(2):177-84.
    PMID: 15559167 MyJurnal
    The study was conducted to determine whether the clinical targets for the control of diabetes recommended by American Diabetes Association can be met in the context of routine diabetes practice. This cross-sectional study was undertaken on 211 type 2 diabetic patients at the Outpatients Diabetes Clinic, Hospital Universisti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Kubang Kerian, Kelantan between the year 2001-2002. Patients' physical examination and their medical history as well as their family history were obtained by administering a structured questionnaire. Samples of patients' venous blood during fasting were taken and analysed for plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin and lipid profile. Analysis showed that many patients had comorbidities or complications. A large number of them had poor glycaemic control (73%). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 75% and 85% subjects were > or = 130 and > or = 80 mmHg, respectively. Body Mass Index (BMI) values of 66% of the patients were outside the clinical target (BMI > or = 25 in male and > or = 24 kg/m2 in female). The lipid profile showed that 96% of the patients had at least one lipid value outside the clinical target level. In this study, 70% of the patients had total cholesterol > or = 5.2 mmol/L, 87% had LDL cholesterol > or = 2.6 mmol/L, 57% had HDL cholesterol less than the normal range, < or = 1.15 mmol/L in men and < or = 1.4 mmol/L in women, while 46% had triglycerides > or = 1.71 mmol/L. Complications of diabetes were observed in 48% of the total number of patients. As for the patients' systolic blood pressure, age and duration of diabetes were found to have significant effects. Older subjects with a longer duration of diabetes were more hypertensive. Variables that had significant effects on BMI were age, duration of diabetes, glycaemic control and gender. Younger females and newly diagnosed subjects with better glycaemic control (A1C < 7%) were found to have higher BMI values. The overall clinical targets were suboptimal. The prevalence of hyperlipidaemia and hypertension was high. It is imperative that better treatment strategies and methods be adopted to enhance diabetes control and reduce long-term complications of the disease.

    Study site: Outpatients Diabetes Clinic, Hospital Universisti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  10. Chan PWK, Norzila MZ
    Med J Malaysia, 2003 Oct;58(4):475-81.
    PMID: 15190621
    The treatment preferences of 109 general practitioners (GPs) for childhood asthma were determined. Availability and adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the treatment of childhood asthma was also assessed. Ninety eight (90%), 60 (55%) and 33 (30%) GPs considered nocturnal symptoms > 2 times/week, exercise induced wheeze and cough respectively as indications for preventer therapy. An oral preparation was preferred for relief medication [72 (66%) for 2-5 years, 60 (55%) for > 5 years]. An inhaled preparation was however preferred for preventer medication [60 (55%) for 2-5 years, 85 (78%) for > 5 years]. The oral form was more likely prescribed for asthmatic children 2-5 years (p < 0.001). Corticosteroids and ketotifen were the commonest inhaled and oral preventer treatment prescribed respectively. Only 36(33%) GPs have a CPG copy for reference. Children with asthma symptoms that require preventer therapy may not always be identified in general practice. The oral route remains important for asthma medication especially in young children. The accessibility to the CPG among GPs is disappointing.
    Study site: General practitioners attending a pharmaceutical industry sponsored asthma management workshop
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  11. Abubakar U, Syed Sulaiman SA, Adesiyun AG
    PLoS One, 2019;14(3):e0213395.
    PMID: 30845240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213395
    BACKGROUND: Inappropriate and excessive use of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis are associated with the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic prophylaxis malpractices are common in obstetrics and gynecology settings and antibiotic stewardship is used to correct such malpractice.

    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of antibiotic stewardship interventions on compliance with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis practice in obstetrics and gynecology surgeries.

    METHOD: A prospective pre- and post-intervention study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals between May and December 2016. The duration of the each period was 3 months. Antibiotic stewardship interventions including development of a protocol, educational meeting and audit and feedback were implemented. Data were collected using the patient records and analyzed with SPSS version 23.

    RESULTS: A total of 226 and 238 surgical procedures were included in the pre- and post-intervention periods respectively. Age, length of stay and estimated blood loss were similar between the two groups. However, specialty and surgical procedures varied significantly. There was a significant increase in compliance with timing (from 14.2% to 43.3%) and duration (from 0% to 21.8%) of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis after the interventions. The interventions significantly reduced the prescription of third generation cephalosporin (-8.6%), redundant antibiotic (-19.1%), antibiotic utilization (-3.8 DDD/procedure) and cost of antibiotic prophylaxis (-$4.2/procedure). There was no significant difference in the rate of surgical site infection between the two periods. Post-intervention group (OR: 5.60; 95% CI: 3.31-9.47), elective surgery (OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 2.51-8.47) and hospital attended (OR: 9.89; 95% CI: 5.66-17.26) were significant predictors of compliance with timing while elective surgery (OR: 12.49; 95% CI: 2.85-54.71) and compliance with timing (OR: 58.55; 95% CI: 12.66-270.75) were significantly associated with compliance to duration of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis.

    CONCLUSION: The interventions improve compliance with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis and reduce antibiotic utilization and cost. However, there is opportunity for further improvement, particularly in non-elective surgical procedures.

    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  12. Azarisman SM, Hadzri HM, Fauzi RA, Fauzi AM, Faizal MP, Roslina MA, et al.
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Nov;49(11):886-91; quiz 892-6.
    PMID: 19037555
    INTRODUCTION: Malaysia has a high rate of smoking prevalence and the figure is increasing. Although there has been many local and regional studies on the prevalence and symptomatology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, data is lacking on the degree of compliance to national management guidelines in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
    METHODS: 86 patients who attended the respiratory outpatient clinic of the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were enrolled into a prospective, observational study.
    RESULTS: 88 percent of the patients were male and the majority was ethnically Chinese (65 percent). The majority of patients were in the moderate to very severe categories, with a mean FEV1 of 0.97 +/- 0.56 L/sec and predicted mean FEV1 percentage of 43.1 +/- 21.3 percent. 58 percent of the patients were on long-acting beta-agonist, 65 percent were on inhaled steroids, and only 16 percent were on scheduled pulmonary rehabilitation.
    CONCLUSION: The low uptake rate for long-acting beta-agonist and pulmonary rehabilitation could be attributed to several factors. Financial cost, the need for strict compliance to a structured rehabilitation regime, lack of significant social support and clear up-to-date guidelines are possible reasons.
    Study site: Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  13. Hamid MZ, Aziz NA, Anita AR, Norlijah O
    PMID: 21073041
    This study aimed to assess the knowledge of blood-borne diseases transmitted through needle stick injuries amongst health-care workers in a tertiary teaching hospital. We also aimed to assess the practices of universal precautions amongst these workers and its correlation with the facts. We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to July 2008 involving various levels of health-care workers in Serdang Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge of blood-borne diseases and universal precautions, and actual practice of universal precautions was used. Two hundred fifteen respondents participated in this study; 63.3% were staff nurses. The mean knowledge score was 31.84 (SD 4.30) and the mean universal practice score was 9.0 (SD 2.1). There was a small, positive correlation between knowledge and actual practice of universal precautions (r = 0.300, n = 206, p < 0.001) amongst the cohort studied. Factors such as age and years of experience did not contribute towards acquisition of knowledge about blood-borne illnesses or the practice of universal precautions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  14. Loch A, Lwin T, Zakaria IM, Abidin IZ, Wan Ahmad WA, Hautmann O
    Postgrad Med J, 2013 Jun;89(1052):335-9.
    PMID: 23524989 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2012-131174
    INTRODUCTION: Achieving target door-needle times for ST elevation myocardial infarction remains challenging. Data on emergency department (ED) doctor-led thrombolysis in developing countries and factors causing delay are limited.
    OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect on door-needle times by transferring responsibility for thrombolysis to the ED doctors and to identify predictors of prolonged door-needle times.
    METHODOLOGY: Data on medical on-call team-led thrombolysis at a tertiary Asian hospital were prospectively collected from May 2007 to Aug 2008 (1st study period). In September 2008, ED doctors were empowered to perform thrombolysis. The practice change was accompanied by new guidelines, tick chart implementation, and training sessions. Data were then consecutively collected from September 2008 to May 2009 (2nd study period). Door-to-needle times for the 1st and 2nd study periods were compared. All cases were analysed for factors of delay by multiple logistic regression.
    RESULTS: 297 patients were thrombolysed, 169 by the medical on-call team during the 1st study period and 128 by the ED doctors during the 2nd study period. Median door-needle times were 54 and 48 min, respectively (p=0.76). Significant delays were predicted by 'incorrect initial ECG interpretation' (adjusted OR (aOR) 14.3), 'inappropriate triage' (aOR 10.4) and 'multiple referrals' (aOR 5.9). No cases of inappropriate thrombolysis were recorded.
    CONCLUSIONS: Transfer of responsibility for thrombolysis to the ED doctors did not improve door-needle times despite measures introduced to facilitate this change. Key causative factors for this failure were identified.
    KEYWORDS: Accident & Emergency Medicine; Quality improvement
    Study site: Emergency department, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  15. Keat CH, Sooaid NS, Yun CY, Sriraman M
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(1):69-73.
    PMID: 23534806
    BACKGROUND: An increasing trend of cytotoxic drug use, mainly in cancer treatment, has increased the occupational exposure among the nurses. This study aimed to assess the change of nurses' safety-related knowledge as well as attitude levels and subsequently to assess the change of cytotoxic drug handling practices in wards after a series of pharmacist-based interventions.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective interventional study with a before and after design requested a single group of 96 nurses in 15 wards actively providing chemotherapy to answer a self-administered questionnaire. A performance checklist was then used to determine the compliance of all these wards with the recommended safety measures. The first and second assessments took 2 months respectively with a 9-month intervention period. Pharmacist-based interventions included a series of technical, educational and administrative support measures consisting of the initiation of closed-system cytotoxic drug reconstitution (CDR) services, courses, training workshops and guideline updates.

    RESULTS: The mean age of nurses was 32.2∓6.19 years. Most of them were female (93.8%) and married (72.9%). The mean knowledge score of nurses was significantly increased from 45.5∓10.52 to 73.4∓8.88 out of 100 (p<0.001) at the end of the second assessment. Overall, the mean practice score among the wards was improved from 7.6∓5.51 to 15.3∓2.55 out of 20 (p<0.001).

    CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacist-based interventions improved the knowledge, attitude and safe practices of nurses in cytotoxic drug handling. Further assessment may help to confirm the sustainability of the improved practices.

    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  16. Henderson-Smart DJ, Lumbiganon P, Festin MR, Ho JJ, Mohammad H, McDonald SJ, et al.
    PMID: 17892586
    Disorders related to pregnancy and childbirth are a major health issue in South East Asia. They represent one of the biggest health risk differentials between the developed and developing world. Our broad research question is: Can the health of mothers and babies in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia be improved by increasing the local capacity for the synthesis of research, implementation of effective interventions, and identification of gaps in knowledge needing further research?
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  17. Lee L, Liew NC, Gee T
    Int Angiol, 2012 Dec;31(6):526-33.
    PMID: 23222930
    This survey was conducted to determine the opinions and practices of peri-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis among surgical and intensive care specialists in Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  18. Swarna Nantha Y
    Fam Pract, 2015 Oct;32(5):514-9.
    PMID: 26251026 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmv066
    BACKGROUND: The quality of anticoagulation management in atrial fibrillation patients is reflected by the concept of time spent in therapeutic range (TTR). In a primary care setting, the implementation of a dose nomogram could help increase the mean TTR among these patients.
    OBJECTIVE: This study compares the influence of a dose algorithm with an integrated recall on TTR prior to standard care and after the implementation of the protocol.
    PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a purposive sample of patients with AF, an uncontrolled 'before' and 'after' study design was utilized to measure the effects of the protocol on TTR. Demographic data, TTR levels, frequency of international normalized ratio (INR) within therapeutic range, clinician adherence to dose nomogram and warfarin dose changes were captured from consultations at the anticoagulation clinic.
    RESULTS: A total of 152 patients with AF were entered into the final analysis. The increment in mean TTR in the 'after' intervention phase (2.9%) was not statistically significant (57.5-60.4%, P=0.252). The increase in the frequency of INR values within therapeutic range in the 'after' intervention phase was significant (50.0-56.0%, P<0.05) but with a very low effect size (r=0.04).
    CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a dose nomogram has the potential of reducing unnecessary dose changes for minor fluctuations in INR levels. The findings in this study needs to be confirmed in a future study involving other indications for anticoagulation, various regional primary care clinics and a larger population size.
    KEYWORDS: Atrial fibrillation; TTR; dose nomogram; predictors; primary care; warfarin.
    Study site: Klinik Kesihatan Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
  19. Hassan Y, Al-Ramahi RJ, Aziz NA, Ghazali R
    Ann Pharmacother, 2009 Oct;43(10):1598-605.
    PMID: 19776297 DOI: 10.1345/aph.1M187
    Appropriate drug selection and dosing for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important to avoid unwanted drug effects and ensure optimal patient outcomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Guideline Adherence
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