Reducing Adverse Self-Medication Behaviors in Older Adults with Hypertension: Results of an e-health Clinical Efficacy Trial

A randomized controlled efficacy trial targeting older adults with hypertension (age 60 and over) provided an e-health, tailored intervention with the “next generation” of the Personal Education Program (PEP-NG). Eleven primary care practices with advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) providers participated. Participants (N = 160) were randomly assigned by the PEP-NG (accessed via a wireless touchscreen tablet computer) to either control (entailing data collection and four routine APRN visits) or tailored intervention (involving PEP-NG intervention and four focused APRN visits) group. Compared to patients in the control group, patients receiving the PEP-NG e-health intervention achieved significant increases in both self-medication knowledge and self-efficacy measures, with large effect sizes. Among patients not at BP targets upon entry to the study, therapy intensification in controls (increased antihypertensive dose and/or an additional antihypertensive) was significant (p = .001) with an odds ratio of 21.27 in the control compared to the intervention group. Among patients not at BP targets on visit 1, there was a significant declining linear trend in proportion of the intervention group taking NSAIDs 21–31 days/month (p = 0.008). Satisfaction with the PEP-NG and the APRN provider relationship was high in both groups. These results suggest that the PEP-NG e-health intervention in primary care practices is effective in increasing knowledge and self-efficacy, as well as improving behavior regarding adverse self-medication practices among older adults with hypertension

Interactive voice response technology for symptom monitoring and as an adjunct to the treatment of chronic pain

Chronic pain is a medical condition that severely decreases the quality of life for those who struggle to cope with it. Interactive voice response (IVR) technology has the ability to track symptoms and disease progression, to investigate the relationships between symptom patterns and clinical outcomes, to assess the efficacy of ongoing treatments, and to directly serve as an adjunct to therapeutic treatment for chronic pain. While many approaches exist toward the management of chronic pain, all have their pitfalls and none work universally. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one approach that has been shown to be fairly effective, and therapeutic interactive voice response technology provides a convenient and easy-to-use means of extending the therapeutic gains of CBT long after patients have discontinued clinical visitations. This review summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of IVR technology, provides evidence for the efficacy of the method in monitoring and managing chronic pain, and addresses potential future directions that the technology may take as a therapeutic intervention in its own right

Prescription Drug Misuse and Arrest History

Background: Prescription drug misuse is widely acknowledged as a major public health issue in the United States. Surprisingly little research examines the association between prescription drug misuse and history of arrest among adults. Methods: We use data from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine this association. Arrest was self-reported and separated into three categories: any, property crime, or violent crime. Prescription drug misuse was defined as use without a prescription or solely for the feeling or experience caused by the drug. We looked at the misuse of any prescription drug and also separate classes of misuse (pain relievers, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants). Several multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to examine the association between prescription drug misuse and arrest. Results: Findings showed that 8.62% of respondents reported prescription drug misuse and 3.55% reported any arrest. In multivariate models that included demographic characteristics and measures of alcohol and other drug use, respondents who reported prescription drug misuse were at increased odds of arrest. Conclusions: The current research shows that prescription drug misuse is significantly associated with arrest, but more research is needed on the causal nature of this association. The criminal justice and drug treatment systems must develop treatment and rehabilitation services that understand the close association between prescription drug misuse and arrest