The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Medicare Part D coverage on medication adherence and health outcomes in dialysis patients. A retrospective analysis (2006-2010) using the United States Renal Data System was conducted for Medicare-eligible dialysis patients. Cardiovascular disease morbidity, healthcare utilization and expenditures, medication adherence, and mortality rates were compared, categorized based on patients’ Part D coverage in 2007 for those who: 1) did not reach the coverage gap (cohort 1); 2) reached the coverage gap but not catastrophic coverage (cohort 2); 3) reached catastrophic coverage (cohort 3); and 4) did not reach the coverage gap but received a low-income subsidy (cohort 4). Cox proportional hazards models, Kaplan-Meier methods, logistic regressions, generalized linear models, and generalized estimating equations were used. A total of 11,732 patients were included as meeting inclusion criteria: 1) cohort 1: 3,678 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs <$799; 2) cohort 2: 4,349 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs between $799 and $3,850; 3) cohort 3: 1,310 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs > $3,850; and 4) cohort 4: the remaining 2,395 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs <$799 but received a low-income subsidy. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, patients in cohort 2 and cohort 3 had 42 percent and 36 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio (OR)=1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.20-1.67; OR=1.38, 95% CI:1.10-1.72); and had 36 percent and 37 percent higher death rates compared to those in cohort 4, respectively (hazard ratio (HR)=1.36, 95% CI:1.27-1.44; HR=1.37, 95% CI:1.27-1.48). Patients in cohort 2 were more likely to be nonadherent to medications for diabetes (OR=1.72, 95% CI:1.48-1.99), hypertension (OR=1.69, 95% CI:1.54-1.85), hyperlipidemia (OR=2.01, 95% CI:1.76-2.29), hyperphosphatemia (OR=1.74, 95% CI:1.55-1.95), and hyperparathyroidism (OR=2.08, 95% CI:1.66-2.60) after reaching the coverage gap. These patients had total health care costs that were $2,644 higher due to increased rates of hospitalization and outpatient visits, despite $2,419 lower pharmacy costs compared to patients in cohort 4 after controlling for covariates (p<0.0001). Reaching the Part D coverage gap was associated with decreased medication adherence and unfavorable clinical and economic outcomes in dialysis patients. / text

Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) and colitis, with the causative agent being the Gram-positive anaerobe, Clostridium difficile, are some of the most important hospital-acquired infections and significant burdens to healthcare services worldwide. Treatment of the infection is often ineffective and currently no vaccine is available against C. difficile infection (CDI). Research to identify novel virulence factors potentially leads to the development of new therapeutic and prophylactic drugs. As lipoproteins have been shown to play key roles in the virulence of several pathogens, the aim of this project was to investigate whether lipoproteins are involved in the virulence of C. difficile. Lipoproteins are anchored to the extracellular side of the cytoplasmic membrane in Gram-positive bacteria. Two enzymes are involved in the biosynthesis of lipoproteins: lipoprotein diacylglycerol transferase (Lgt) attaches lipoproteins to the membrane, and lipoprotein signal peptidase (Lsp) cleaves the signal peptide from the amino-terminus of lipoproteins. In order to study lipoprotein processing in C. difficile, lgt and lsp mutants of the C. difficie 630Δerm strain were generated using the ClosTron system. Antibody reactivity of 14 C. difficile lipoproteins was also investigated. It was shown in this study that lgt mutation caused changes in the lipoproteome of C. difficile. Therefore, inactivation of the lgt gene allowed investigation of the global contribution of lipoproteins to bacterial processes. The physiology and virulence of the lgt mutant was studied in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly, many of the assayed phenotypes were not significantly affected by disruption of the lgt gene. Nevertheless, the ability of the lgt mutant to adhere to Caco-2 cells was markedly reduced. In addition, the phenotype of the lgt mutant observed in mice suggests that the faecal shedding of C. difficile is affected by Lgt inactivation. In further studies, the CD0873 lipoprotein as a potential adhesin of C. difficile was identified by in silico approach. Contribution of the CD0873 lipoprotein to the adherence of C. difficle was investigated by several different assays and the results strongly suggest that the CD0873 lipoprotein is directly involved in adhesion

This article reports the findings of a grounded theory study of the processes involved in adherence and treatment seeking delay for febrile neutropenia in chemotherapy patients. Interviews were conducted with 12 patients. Six theoretical constructs were generated, namely ‘Recall of Treatment Advice’, ‘Impact of Emotions’, ‘Influence of Social Networks’, ‘Symptom Monitoring Behaviour’, ‘Symptom Interpretation’, and ‘Preparation and Journey Time’. A model was developed to reflect the complex interplay between these theoretical constructs. Data extracts are presented to illustrate the grounding of the model in patients’ accounts, and the model is discussed with reference to previous theory and research.

Treatment integrity—the extent to which a treatment is delivered as it was intended—has long been recognized as critically important in treatment evaluation research, but has garnered increased attention in recent years within the context of dissemination and implementation science. However, the field’s development has been hindered by inadequate measurement tools. This project is focused on developing and evaluating the psychometric strength of two measures of treatment integrity. To evaluate the psychometric strength of the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth Anxiety Therapist Adherence Scale (CBAY-A)and the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth Anxiety Therapist Competence Scale (CBAY-C), 954 psychotherapy sessions from two treatment evaluation studies were coded. Analysis of the evidence for reliability and validity of the item scores for each measure provide substantial support for each measure, while also highlighting areas in need of further evaluation. The discussion focuses on interpreting the psychometric strength of the CBAY-A and CBAY-C compared to other measures of treatment integrity, next steps for evaluating the psychometric strength of the two measures, and potential applications of the CBAY-A and CBAY-C.

Despite strong evidence that screening for Colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce cancer incidence and mortality, screening adherence remains low. Racial differences in CRC incidence and mortality are well documented in the literature. Racial differences in CRC screening use remain mixed with most studies using race as an independent variable and focusing on racial differences in CRC screening rates. Few studies have examined correlates of CRC screening use, stratifying by race. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are racial differences in correlates of CRC screening, using the Health Belief Model as the theoretical framework. Data analyzed in this study came from the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of the National Cancer Institute. White (n=1988) and non-white (562) respondents age ≥50 years, without a history of cancer were interviewed by phone. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of FOBT and endoscopy adherence stratified by race and screening test. Independent variables included age, gender, education, income, insurance status, regular care visit frequency, perceived risk of CRC, family history of cancer, CRC knowledge, cancer worry, perceptions of screening benefits, and perceptions of expense as a barrier. Predictors of adherence to FOBT for whites included being older and having at least 1 regular car visit. Predictors of FOBT adherence for non-whites included having health insurance. Endoscopy adherence for whites was significantly associated with being older, being female, and agreeing with perceptions of benefits to CRC screening. Predictors of endoscopy adherence for non-whites included being older, and disagreeing with perceptions of benefits to CRC screening. Such differences, if confirmed in future studies, may inform race-specific interventions to increase CRC screening utilization.

Objective: To evaluate the level of agreement between two self-reported medication adherence scales and prescription refill records in older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Imperial Plaza; a retirement community located in Richmond, Virginia. Participants: 32 independent-living older adults, taking anti-hypertensive medications and filling their prescriptions at on-site Plaza Professional Pharmacy were recruited in the study. Methods: Participants’ 6 months refill records were obtained and Medication Possession Ration (MPR) was calculated. Participants were interviewed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) & Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ). Kappa statistics was used to evaluate the level of agreement. Results: Poor level of agreement was found between refill records and MMAS (k=-0.004), refill records and BMQ belief screen (k=-0.09), regimen screen (k=-0.09), and recall screen (k =-0.004). Strong agreement was found between MMAS and BMQ regimen screen (k=0.79) and recall screen (k=0.87) respectively. Conclusion: Self-reported measure of adherence exhibited poor agreement with prescription refill records.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are notably underserved by national HIV programmes globally due to their unique needs. Of particular concern is limited access to and availability of adolescent-friendly ART services, which contributes to poor ART adherence and retention in care in many sub-Saharan African countries. Poor adherence in adolescents has been associated with medicine side effects, pill fatigue, non-disclosure of status to the child, inadequate information on HIV, caregiver-child communication, caregiver’s health beliefs and stigma, and lack of knowledge on the rationale of taking medicines. Several interventions have been developed to improve ART adherence and retention in care amongst ALHIV through peer groups and psychosocial support. The Teen Club intervention was introduced in 2010 at Intermediate Hospital Katutura Paediatric ART clinic in Windhoek to improve ART adherence and retention in care amongst ALHIV by providing psychosocial support in a group environment. However, to date no formal evaluation of the effectiveness of the Teen Club intervention in Namibia has been conducted. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of the Teen Club intervention against standard care on treatment outcomes for ART (i.e. adherence, retention in care and viral suppression) in adolescents at Intermediate Hospital Katutura Paediatric ART clinic in Namibia. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of HIV positive adolescents aged 10-19 years, who were accessing ART between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2017 was conducted. Patient data was extracted from the electronic Patient Monitoring System (ePMS), individual Patient Care Booklets and the teen club attendance register. Adherence to ART was measured through pill counts; and retention by kept clinic visits. Viral load results were assessed to measure levels of viral suppression. Adolescents with viral loads ≥ 1000 copies/ml were classified as not virally suppressed whilst those with viral loads <1000 are virally suppressed (with those <40 fully suppressed). Results: The total sample was 385 participants; with 78 of them in the Teen Club (exposed) and 307 adolescents in standard care (unexposed).

MPH, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010 / INTRODUCTION Although much focus has been placed towards rapid scale-up of antiretroviral treatment programmes and interventions for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), very little is known about adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and loss to follow-up of pregnant women in antiretroviral treatment programmes in the developing world. In this retrospective cohort analysis, we described the baseline characteristics of adult women who were pregnant at the time of HAART initiation (pregnant at start) as well as women who became pregnant during follow-up after starting HAART (pregnant after) and women who never had a pregnancy (not pregnant) during the study period. We evaluated the association of pregnancy status with adherence and loss to follow-up in these three groups of women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Themba Lethu Clinic is an urban public-sector antiretroviral rollout facility in Johannesburg, South Africa. A retrospective analysis was conducted of all adult women initiating HAART at this clinic between January 2005 and December 2007. Clinical data from these patients was analysed for differences in rates of loss to follow-up, and measured adherence rates based on CD4 cell count response and virologic suppression. Regression models were performed to determine independent predictors of adherence and loss to follow-up and compared between the three groups. Survival analysis, in the form of Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank tests, was used to compare the time to becoming lost to follow up. RESULTS Between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2007, 5129 women initiated HAART at Themba Lethu Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa. Of these women, 521 (10.0%) were pregnant at the time of HAART initiation (pregnant at start) and 291 (5.6%) became pregnant during follow-up (pregnant after). Women who were pregnant at start (16.6%) of HAART had less-advanced HIV disease than the not pregnant women and pregnant women after HAART initiation 4608 (89.9%). Overall pregnant women were significantly younger than the not pregnant women and fewer pregnant women had a CD4 <100 cells/mm3 and a WHO stage III of HIV disease. There was no significant difference in the CD4 cell count response and virological suppression between the three groups of women based on pregnancy status at 6 months and 12 months (X2=2.1, p=0.347 and X2=4.4, p=0.111 respectively). However, women pregnant at start were more likely to become lost to follow-up (X2=15.8, P=<.0001) during follow up. In the multivariate Cox logistic regression model, independent predictors of loss to follow-up were pregnancy, baseline CD4 cell count and age at initiation. Being pregnant was significantly associated with being loss to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy is significantly associated with defaulting treatment and becoming lost to follow-up from HAART treatment programmes. Together with being pregnant, young age and a low CD4 at baseline are high risk factors for non adherence and loss to follow-up in this sub-group of the population. Early initiation of HAART with adequate pre-treatment counselling and ongoing adherence support could help improve adherence and retention in care for patients in treatment programmes in resource-limited settings. Interventions to trace patients immediately upon missed appointments would help to reduce the number of patients’ loss to follow-up. Moreover, integration of tuberculosis (TB), antenatal care (ANC) and HIV treatment services may maximize the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing the loss to follow-up rate. The initiation of HAART in pregnancy requires strengthened antenatal and HIV services that target women with advanced stage disease.

No description available.

Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares constituem a principal causa de morbimortalidade nacional e apresentam-se principalmente na forma de doença arterial coronariana, cujas principais manifestações se caracterizam pelas síndromes coronarianas agudas: angina instável e infarto agudo do miocárdio. Nesse sentido, realizou-se um estudo com o objetivo de caracterizar o perfil bio-psico-social dos pacientes após síndromes coronarianas agudas, identificando os fatores que possam interferir na adesão ao tratamento no que diz respeito ao não comparecimento às consultas, interrupção do tratamento e controle de pressão arterial, além de associar o perfil bio-psico-social dos pacientes com fatores relacionados à adesão. Casuística e Método: Estudo descritivo e exploratório, realizado em um hospital universitário da cidade de São Paulo, analisou 85 pacientes com diagnóstico de síndromes coronarianas agudas. Após receberem alta, os pacientes foram entrevistados em ambulatórios para obtenção de dados estruturais, socioeconômicos, hábitos de vida, conhecimento da doença e do tratamento. Com o intuito de avaliar o bem estar psicológico dos pacientes, o questionário de saúde geral de Goldberg foi aplicado. Os dados foram processados no sistema SPSS v.7.5. O nível de significância adotado foi 0,05. Resultados: Foram estudados 85 pacientes, 56% homens, 69% com companheiro, 59±9,6 anos, 85% pertencentes à etnia branca, 52% com ensino fundamental, 54% com renda entre 2 e 5 salários, 79% com antecedentes de hipertensão arterial, 62% com dislipidemia e 40% para infarto agudo do miocárdio. Cerca de 35% relataram o não comparecimento às consultas e a interrupção do tratamento. Em relação à atitude frente à necessidade de tomar medicamentos, 63% dos pacientes relatou esquecimento esporádico ou constante dos remédios. A análise de regressão logística indicou a associação independente para as seguintes variáveis (OD Odds ratio, IC intervalo de confiança a 95%): 1- não comparecimento às consultas, etnia branca (OR=0,27 IC 95% 0,08-0,86) e hábitos alimentares inadequados (OR=1,07 IC 1,00-1,45); 2- interrupção do tratamento associado com faltas às consultas (OR=6,09 IC 1,81-20,49), consumo de bebida alcoólica (OR=5,05 IC 1,61-15,76) e automedicação (OR=7,89 IC 2,39-26,05); 3- pressão arterial não controlada (=140/90 mmHg) com acompanhamento no ambulatório de coronária (OR=2,78, IC 1,01-7,65). A maior freqüência de alteração no quarto percentil nos domínios do questionário de saúde geral de Goldberg foram associados às seguintes variáveis: 1- estresse associado à automedicação (OR=6,09 IC 1,32-14,5) e HDLc =40mg/dL (OR=1,04 IC 1,00-1,08); 2- auto-eficácia com acompanhamento no ambulatório de coronária (OR=2,78 IC 1,19-12,23), automedicação (OR=4,62 IC 1,46-14,95) e HDLc =40mg/dL (OR=1,04 IC 1,19-12,23); 3- distúrbios do sono associados com referência de ansiedade (OR=5,61 IC 1,65-19,09), e colesterol total = 200 mg/Dl (OR=4,42 IC 1,36- 14,38); 4- distúrbios psicossomáticos associados ao sexo feminino (OR=6,57 IC 1,96-22,0) e relato de ansiedade (OR=4,06 IC 1,24-13,3); 5- severidade da ausência de saúde mental associado ao sexo feminino (OR=3,96 IC 1,26- 12,43) e automedicação (OR=3,39 IC 95% 1,07-10,70). Conclusão: Características estruturais e psicológicas, hábitos de vida inadequados e atitudes frente ao tratamento medicamentoso influenciaram aspectos da adesão ao tratamento, tais como o não comparecimento às consultas e a interrupção do tratamento. Em face dos dados obtidos, os profissionais de saúde devem implementar estratégias para atender os pacientes com síndrome coronariana aguda, visando à prevenção secundária. / Introduction: The cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of mortality in the country and show mainly in the form of coronary arterial disease, which the main manifestations are characterized by the acute coronary syndrome: instable angina, acute attack of the myocardium. In this way, a study was made with the aim to characterized the bio-psychosocial profile of the patients after the acute coronary syndrome, recognizing the factors which could interfere in the adherence to the treatment about the non attendance to the appointments, interruption of the treatment and the control of the blood pressure, besides the association of the bio-psychosocial profile of the patients to the factors connected to the adherence. Method and Casuistic: A descriptive and exploring study, made in a University hospital in the city of São Paulo that analyzed 85 patients with the diagnostics of the acute coronary syndrome. After receiving the doctor’s avail to leave the hospital, the patients were interviewed in ambulatories in order to collect structure, socioeconomic, habits of life, knowledge of the disease and of the treatment data. The main purpose was to evaluate the psychological welfare state of the patients; the questionnaire of general health was used. The results were run in the system SPSS v. 7.5. and the significance level adopted was 0,05. Results: 85 patients were studied, 56% men, 69% ith companion, 59+-9,6 years old, 85% white, 52% finished the elementary school, 54% with the income of between 2 and 5 salaries, 79% with the precedents of high blood pressure, 62% with high blood cholesterol and 40% for the acute myocardium attack. About 35% of them spoke about the non attendance to the appointments and the interruption of the treatment. About the attitude towards the necessity to take medicines, 63% of the patients spoke about the constant or periodical carelessness of the medicines. The analysis of logistic regression indicated the independent association to the following varieties: (OD odds ratio, IC confidence break around 95%): 1 – non attendance to the appointments, white ethnic (OR = 0,27 IC 95% 0,08- 0,86) and bad eating habits (OR=1,07 IC 1,00-1,45); 2 – interruption of the treatment associated to the non attendance to the appointments (OR=6,09 IC 1,81-20,49), the alcoholic drinks consumption (OR=5,05 IC 1,61-15,76), and auto medication (OR=7,89 IC 2,39-26,05); 3 – high blood pressure out of control (=140/90 mmHg) with the accompaniment in the coronary ambulatory (OR=2,78, IC 1,01-7,65). The higher frequency of the alterations in the percentage board in the Goldberg’s general health questionnaire dominions was associated to the following variations: 1 – Stress associated to auto medication (OR=6,09 IC 1,32-14,5) and HDLc =40mg/dL (OR=1,04 IC 1,00-1,08); 2 – auto efficiency with accompaniment in the coronary ambulatory (OR=2,78 IC 1,19-12,23), auto medication (OR=4,62 IC 1,46-14,95) and HDLc =40mg/dL (OR=1,04 IC 1,19-12,23); 3 – Sleeping disturbance associated to anxiety reference (OR=5,61 IC 1,65- 19,09) and total cholesterol total = 200 mg/Dl (OR=4,42 IC 1,36-14,38); 4 – psychosomatic disturbances associated to the female genre (OR=6,57 IC 1,96-22,0) and the report of anxiety (OR=4,06 IC 1,24-13,3); 5 – health general rate of evaluation associated to the female genre (OR=3,96 IC 1,26-12,43) and auto medication (OR=4,06 IC 1,24-13,3); Conclusion: The structural and psychological characteristics, inadequate life habits and attitudes facing the medicine treatment influence the aspects of adherence to the treatment, such as the non attendance to the appointments and the interruption of the treatment. Facing all the searched data, the health professionals must implement strategies to support the patients with acute coronary syndrome, looking for the secondary prevention.