Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Beliefs About Medication in Patients With First Treatment Psychosis

Objective: Cannabis use is common among patients with psychosis, and along with negative beliefs about medication, it has been found to predict poor adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment. Such lack of adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment increases the risk of poor clinical outcomes and relapse in patients with first treatment for psychosis (FTP). However, to date, it is unclear whether cannabis use may be related to negative perceptions about antipsychotic drug treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 265 FTP patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder underwent extensive clinical assessments. Three measures of cannabis use were obtained: lifetime, current and meeting diagnostic criteria for abuse or addiction. For the primary analyses we focused on lifetime cannabis use. The Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) was employed to assess the patients' specific concerns and perceptions of antipsychotic medications, as well as general beliefs about pharmacotherapy. The relationship between lifetime cannabis use and BMQ scores was investigated with general linear model (GLM) analyses, controlling for age and sex. Results: Patients with lifetime use of cannabis ≥10 times were more likely to be male, younger at the age of onset of psychosis and with higher levels of alcohol use and daily tobacco smoking, as compared to the non-users (p < 0.05). Neither lifetime use of cannabis, current use nor a cannabis abuse diagnosis was associated with negative beliefs about medicines as measured by the BMQ questionnaire. Conclusion: Use of cannabis is not linked to negative perceptions about antipsychotic medicines in patients with FTP. Other reasons for poor compliance to antipsychotic drug treatment in cannabis users need to be further investigated.publishedVersio

Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Beliefs About Medication in Patients With First Treatment Psychosis

Objective: Cannabis use is common among patients with psychosis, and along with negative beliefs about medication, it has been found to predict poor adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment. Such lack of adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment increases the risk of poor clinical outcomes and relapse in patients with first treatment for psychosis (FTP). However, to date, it is unclear whether cannabis use may be related to negative perceptions about antipsychotic drug treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 265 FTP patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder underwent extensive clinical assessments. Three measures of cannabis use were obtained: lifetime, current and meeting diagnostic criteria for abuse or addiction. For the primary analyses we focused on lifetime cannabis use. The Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) was employed to assess the patients' specific concerns and perceptions of antipsychotic medications, as well as general beliefs about pharmacotherapy. The relationship between lifetime cannabis use and BMQ scores was investigated with general linear model (GLM) analyses, controlling for age and sex. Results: Patients with lifetime use of cannabis ≥10 times were more likely to be male, younger at the age of onset of psychosis and with higher levels of alcohol use and daily tobacco smoking, as compared to the non-users (p < 0.05). Neither lifetime use of cannabis, current use nor a cannabis abuse diagnosis was associated with negative beliefs about medicines as measured by the BMQ questionnaire. Conclusion: Use of cannabis is not linked to negative perceptions about antipsychotic medicines in patients with FTP. Other reasons for poor compliance to antipsychotic drug treatment in cannabis users need to be further investigated

Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Beliefs About Medication in Patients With First Treatment Psychosis

Objective: Cannabis use is common among patients with psychosis, and along with negative beliefs about medication, it has been found to predict poor adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment. Such lack of adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment increases the risk of poor clinical outcomes and relapse in patients with first treatment for psychosis (FTP). However, to date, it is unclear whether cannabis use may be related to negative perceptions about antipsychotic drug treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 265 FTP patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder underwent extensive clinical assessments. Three measures of cannabis use were obtained: lifetime, current and meeting diagnostic criteria for abuse or addiction. For the primary analyses we focused on lifetime cannabis use. The Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) was employed to assess the patients' specific concerns and perceptions of antipsychotic medications, as well as general beliefs about pharmacotherapy. The relationship between lifetime cannabis use and BMQ scores was investigated with general linear model (GLM) analyses, controlling for age and sex. Results: Patients with lifetime use of cannabis ≥10 times were more likely to be male, younger at the age of onset of psychosis and with higher levels of alcohol use and daily tobacco smoking, as compared to the non-users (p < 0.05). Neither lifetime use of cannabis, current use nor a cannabis abuse diagnosis was associated with negative beliefs about medicines as measured by the BMQ questionnaire. Conclusion: Use of cannabis is not linked to negative perceptions about antipsychotic medicines in patients with FTP. Other reasons for poor compliance to antipsychotic drug treatment in cannabis users need to be further investigated

Innføring av kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme ved Asker og Bærum legevakt

Tema/problemstilling: Etter et EU-direktiv fra 2010 med mål om blant annet å redusere antallet stikkskader blant helsepersonell fulgte det en norsk forskrift om ble vedtatt i 2013. Av denne forskriften, Forskrift om utførelse av arbeid, bruk av arbeidsutstyr og tilhørende tekniske krav (forskrift om utførelse av arbeid) sin § 6-5; Vernetiltak mot biologiske faktorers smitterisiko, heter det at «Ved håndtering av spisse eller skarpe gjenstander som kan forårsake skade og eller infeksjon fra biologiske faktorer, skal det benyttes utstyr med sikkerhetsmessige beskyttelsesmekanismer, der slikt utstyr er tilgjengelig og egnet for formålet.» Ved Asker og Bærum legevakt er kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme derimot ikke innført, til tross for pålegg fra denne forskriften. Kunnskapsgrunnlag: Med bakgrunn i følgende PICO-spørsmål: «Reduserer kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme forekomsten av stikkskader og blodsmitte for helsepersonell ved venøs blodprøvetaking, sammenlignet med kanyler uten sikkerhetsmekanismer? Emosjonell belastning og livskvalitet vil også bli tatt med i betraktning.», viser det seg at evidensgrunnlaget for reduksjon av stikkskader ved bruk av kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme er svakt, men viser en statistisk signifikant reduksjon. Det finnes ingen sterke anbefalinger for bruk av kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme. Tiltak/kvalitetsindikator: Det letteste og mest effektive tiltaket vil være å fjerne gamle kanyler uten sikkerhetsmekanisme, og kun la de nye kanylene med sikkerhetsmekanisme være tilgjengelige. Informasjon og opplæring av ansatte vil også være nødvendig. Aktuelle tiltak her vil være muntlig informasjon i plenum og skriftlig informasjon i form av plakater og utsendelse av fellesmail til ansatte. Tilgang på kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme vil være den relevante strukturindikatoren. Et fortsatt fokus på gode opplæringsrutiner er også viktig å opprettholde. Ledelse/organsiering: Vi ønsker å opprette en prosjektgruppe med mikrosystemet med ansvar for å anskaffe og innføre nytt utstyr i daglig bruk. Det skal følges en tilnærming slik det er beskrevet i PUKK-sirkelen: Planlegge, utføre, kontrollere, korrigere. Vi forventer motstand først og fremst fra ledelsen, da vi i vår kontakt med mikrosystemet har fått opplyst at det ikke er blitt rapportert stikkskader ved bruk av kanyler de to siste årene. Deler av denne mostanden forventer vi at skyldes økonomi, da gjennomføringen av prosjektet og eventuelle økte kostander ved nytt utstyr kan oppleves som for dyrt til å veie opp for redusert forekomst av stikkskader. Konklusjon: I følge vår kontaktperson ved Asker og Bærum legevakt er det ikke blitt rapportert noen stikkskader ved bruk av kanyler de siste to årene. Kunnskapsgrunnlaget viser heller ingen stor gevinst av å innføre kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme. Vi vurder allikevel kunnskapsgrunnlaget som godt nok, da det faktisk er vist statistisk signifikant effekt av slikt utstyr. Det viktigste argumentet for å gjennomføre vårt prosjekt vil uansett være forskriften fra 2013, da denne kan tolkes slik at kanyler med sikkerhetsmekanisme er påbudt. Prosjektet er i stor grad gjennomførbart, både organisatorisk og med tanke på ressursbruk

Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Not Associated With Negative Beliefs About Medication in Patients With First Treatment Psychosis

Objective: Cannabis use is common among patients with psychosis, and along with negative beliefs about medication, it has been found to predict poor adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment. Such lack of adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment increases the risk of poor clinical outcomes and relapse in patients with first treatment for psychosis (FTP). However, to date, it is unclear whether cannabis use may be related to negative perceptions about antipsychotic drug treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 265 FTP patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder underwent extensive clinical assessments. Three measures of cannabis use were obtained: lifetime, current and meeting diagnostic criteria for abuse or addiction. For the primary analyses we focused on lifetime cannabis use. The Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) was employed to assess the patients' specific concerns and perceptions of antipsychotic medications, as well as general beliefs about pharmacotherapy. The relationship between lifetime cannabis use and BMQ scores was investigated with general linear model (GLM) analyses, controlling for age and sex. Results: Patients with lifetime use of cannabis ≥10 times were more likely to be male, younger at the age of onset of psychosis and with higher levels of alcohol use and daily tobacco smoking, as compared to the non-users (p < 0.05). Neither lifetime use of cannabis, current use nor a cannabis abuse diagnosis was associated with negative beliefs about medicines as measured by the BMQ questionnaire. Conclusion: Use of cannabis is not linked to negative perceptions about antipsychotic medicines in patients with FTP. Other reasons for poor compliance to antipsychotic drug treatment in cannabis users need to be further investigated.publishedVersio