Biomedical subjects

J B Plein

Publications and source records attributed to J B Plein.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1985

Medication usage in an elderly population.

One hundred eighty-three independently living elderly residents of two federally subsidized, urban high-rise apartment buildings were interviewed in their homes to determine the numbers and types of medications they used and stored and their utilization of pharmacy services. From these interviews and observations, the frequencies of use of medications and pharmacy services and the prevalence of potential problems were determined. Results showed that 75% of interviewees used a prescription drug regularly, and 82% used a nonprescription drug regularly. Fifty-one percent had stored noncurrent prescription drugs, while 67% had noncurrent nonprescription drugs in their homes. The most common problems encountered were discrepancies between labeled dosage and dosage actually used, potential drug interactions, and underuse of medication. Findings that may contribute to the risk of future medication problems were the prevalence of noncurrent medications stored in homes, the respondents' lack of knowledge about recognition and management of adverse drug reactions, and the underutilization of pharmacists as drug therapy consultants.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

Cost of drugs wasted in the multiple-dose drug distribution system in long-term-care facilities.

The potential cost of discarding unused drugs packaged in multiple-dose containers for patients in long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) was studied. Data were collected during 1982-83 for patients in 12 LTCFs in the state of Washington that used modified unit dose drug distribution systems. When drugs were supplied in multiple-dose containers--by the Veterans Administration, a health maintenance organization, or another pharmacy--for patients in the LTCFs, the pharmacy providing services to the LTCFs routinely repackaged these drugs for unit dose distribution to these patients. The number of drug doses per month administered to all patients in each LTCF was recorded. The numbers of patients with multiple-dose prescriptions and the numbers of those whose medications were changed or discontinued were recorded, and the dollar value of the unused drugs, which would have been wasted if these patients' medications had been dispensed in multiple-dose containers, was calculated based on average wholesale prices. Based on approximately 100 patients per month for whom one or more medications were supplied in multiple-dose containers, annual average wholesale costs of drugs that would have been wasted were $56.50 per patient in 1982 and $67.57 per patient in 1983. Based on the 1983 average number of drug doses per patient in the 12 LTCFs and the pharmacy's cost of $0.02 per dose for unit-of-use packaging, the average cost of unit-of-use packaging per patient was $50.37.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

PubMed1983

The effect of denture cleansers on temporary soft liners.

Circular samples of commonly used liners were prepared and immersed in solutions of nine cleansers. Solutions were changed daily for a period of 1 month. Six properties were tested: color change, porosity, surface distortion, size change, water sorption, and solubility. Statistical analysis was applied to measurements to evaluate performance of both cleansers and liners. The results demonstrate that selection of a liner cannot be based on a single property. Changes in resiliency of the liners were not tested in this experiment, but it is recognized that this could be an important factor in liner selection. The liners found to be least affected by the cleansers were Lynal, Tissuedyne, F.I.T.T., and Hydro-Cast, in that order. Viscogel, Softone, and Veltec were most affected. Clorox/Calgon and Miller demonstrated the same overall average performance, tying for first place for four of the liners. Clorox/Calgon was compatible with most liners (six of eight). Mersene and Duo tied for third and fourth places. The thickness of liner materials made little difference on the effects of the cleansers on the properties evaluated.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed1983