Using Automated Pharmacy Records to Assess the Management of Tuberculosis
Author Information
Author(s): Girish S. Subramanyan, Deborah S. Yokoe, Sharon Sharnprapai, Edward Nardell, Eugene McCray, Richard Platt
Primary Institution: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Hypothesis
Can automated pharmacy dispensing data effectively assess the quality of tuberculosis management and patient compliance?
Conclusion
Automated pharmacy data provided useful information about TB management and patient adherence, showing that most HMO cases received appropriate treatment.
Supporting Evidence
- 60% of TB cases were treated solely by HMO providers.
- 96% of HMO-treated cases received an adequate final antituberculosis regimen.
- Pharmacy records distinguished patients treated in HMOs from those treated elsewhere.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well patients with tuberculosis followed their medicine plans using pharmacy records, and found that most got the right treatment.
Methodology
The study analyzed automated pharmacy dispensing records and medical records of 45 TB cases diagnosed at an HMO.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in assessing adherence due to reliance on pharmacy records alone.
Limitations
The study may not fully represent cases treated outside the HMO or those with less than 70 days of therapy.
Participant Demographics
{"mean_age":{"HMO":39,"outside_HMO":40},"male_percentage":{"HMO":59,"outside_HMO":39},"foreign_born_percentage":{"HMO":81,"outside_HMO":83}}
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 3 to 117
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
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