Every week, we will provide a brief summary and a link to the published abstract of newly published papers selected from the worldwide literature as being of particular interest to the SelfCare community.
SELF-MEDICATION AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
By: G Pfaffenbach, F S V Tourinho, F Bucaretchi.
Current Drug Safety, 2010 Oct 5(4), 324-8
Summary: Self-medication includes several forms through which the individual him/herself or the ones responsible for him/her decide, without medical evaluation, which drug they will use and in which way, for the symptomatic relief and “cure” of a condition. It involves sharing drugs with other members of the family and social group, using leftovers from previous prescriptions or disrespecting the medical prescription either by prolonging or interrupting the dosage and the administration period prescribed. This review describes the global pattern of self-medication in children and adolescents, and discusses public policies aiming to promote health interventions, and strategies to prevent self-medication.
Abstract.
THE NEW PATIENT AND RESPONSIBLE SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES: A CRITICAL REVIEW.
By: A Talevi.
Current Drug Safety, 2010 Oct 5(4), 342-3
Summary: Due to a wide range of factors, such as increasing access to health information and government policies to promote self-care during the past 20-30 years, the “new patient” or ‘expert patient’ has become information strong, information seeking, increasingly demanding (or even aggressive) and skeptical of expert knowledge. In this paper, the causes behind the changes in the patients’ behavior and their consequences on the self-medication phenomena are analysed, and the known models of patient/health-care professional relationship (from the paternalistic to the deliberative model) discussed.
Abstract.
CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT FOR DIABETES TECHNOLOGY: EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
By: D Gruber.
Journal of diabetes science and technology, 2010 May, 4, (3): 754-8
Summary: Direct spending on diabetes, already exceeding $118 billion, is forecast to reach $336 billion in 2034, driven by newly diagnosed cases secondary to an ageing, increasingly sedentary, obese population and the advent of comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular complications affecting more than one-third of persons with diabetes. Consumer-centric healthcare, enabled by digital media and technology, is integral to engagement, self-management, behavior change, and outcomes. It is time for the health care establishment to consider the “other” 360 days per year when a patient is not being seen by a physician.
Abstract.
AN INTERVENTION TO PROMOTE PATIENT PARTICIPATION AND SELF-MANAGEMENT IN LONG TERM CONDITIONS: DEVELOPMENT AND FEASIBILITY TESTING.
By: J Protheroe, T Blakeman, P Bower et al.
BMC health services research, 2010, 10, 206
Summary: There is worldwide interest in managing the global burden of long-term conditions. Current health policy places emphasis on self-management and supporting patient participation as ways of improving patient outcomes and reducing costs. However, achieving genuine participation is difficult. This paper describes the development of an intervention designed to promote participation in the consultation, and facilitate self-management in long-term conditions.
SELF-MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCES IN ADULTS WITH MILD-MODERATE PSORIASIS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR IMPROVED SUPPORT.
By: S J Ersser, F C Cowdell, S M Latter et al.
British Journal of Dermatology, 2010 November, 163, 5, 1044-49
Summary: Psoriasis is a long-term condition affecting 2-3% of the population. The mainstay of treatment for mild-moderate disease is the regular application of topical medication by the individual. At present little is known about how people with psoriasis self-manage and how they may best be supported. A qualitative investigation found that people with mild-moderate psoriasis continue to find self-management problematic; however, they can identify strategies that could enable them to become more effective in self-managing. There is a need to incorporate these strategies in self-management plans in order to support individuals to self-manage as effectively as possible to help improve their skin condition and quality of life.
THE USE OF NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS AND THEIR NEED FOR PHARMACIST INTERVENTIONS.
By: K Guirguis.
Consultant Pharmacist 2010 July 25(7): 433-439
Summary: The use of over-the-counter (OTC) products and complementary medicines (CM) often results in adverse events. Little is known about the type of pharmacist interventions needed by elderly patients to optimize their use of such products. This study examines the prevalence of OTC/CM products used among chronically ill elderly patients and the types of pharmacist interventions the patients need. Elderly patients in this study used OTC/CM products, often without a proper understanding of the management principles of their condition or the dosing regimens of the products they use. Men may need more pharmacist interventions in relation to their use of OTC/CM products. Pharmacists should offer comprehensive advice on managing presenting ailments and requests for OTC/CM products.
NEXT-DAY RESIDUAL SEDATIVE EFFECT AFTER NIGHTTIME ADMINISTRATION OF AN OVER-THE-COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE SLEEPAID, DIPHENHYDRAMINE, MEASURED BY POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY.
By: D Zhang, M Tashiro, K Shibuya, N Okamura.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2010 December, 30,(6): 694-701
Summary: Antihistamines often are self-administered at night as over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study using positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate the residual effect the next day after nighttime administration of diphenhydramine, a commonly used OTC sleep aid, compared with bepotastine, a second-generation antihistamine. The next-day residual sedative effect after nighttime administration of diphenhydramine was verified for the first time by direct PET measurement of H1RO. Taking into account the possible hangover effect of OTC antihistamine sleep aids, care needs to be taken during their administration.