Pharmacotherapy
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Effect of self-efficacy and social support on adherence to antihypertensive drugs.
To determine the relationship between poor adherence and self-efficacy or social support after a pharmacist intervention. ⋯ Social support and self-efficacy improved significantly in the intervention group at the end of the pharmacist intervention. Drug adherence was correlated with self-efficacy even though drug adherence did not improve significantly in the intervention group. The fact that social support and self-efficacy improved as a function of duration of study participation suggests that participation in a research study may have had a positive influence on these measures. Even though the changes in social support, self-efficacy, and drug adherence were modest, there was significantly better blood pressure control in the intervention group compared with the control group. These findings indicate that changes in drug adherence, self-efficacy, or social support probably played a minor role in the blood pressure outcomes in these studies.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Erythropoietic response to two epoetin alfa regimens in critically ill patients: a pilot study.
To compare the erythropoietic responses and tolerability of two recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) regimens. ⋯ Although the study had limitations, it suggested that EPO 40,000 U twice/week did not increase or sustain stimulation of the erythropoietic response compared with EPO 40,000 U/week in critically ill patients.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Outcomes associated with vasoactive therapy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.
To describe the clinical management of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in patients receiving intravenous treatment with dobutamine, milrinone, or nesiritide, and to evaluate differences, based on treatment received, in the in-hospital mortality rate, length of stay (LOS), total health care costs, and 30-day hospital readmission rate. ⋯ Nesiritide therapy was associated with a lower in-hospital mortality rate and shorter LOS compared with dobutamine and milrinone. In addition, total health care costs with nesiritide were decreased compared with milrinone. These observations need to be validated by a randomized controlled trial.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Absence of electrocardiographic findings and improved function with once-daily tiotropium in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To examine electrocardiographic findings after short- and long-term tiotropium therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to establish previously reported symptomatic efficacy. ⋯ Tiotropium provided spirometric and symptomatic benefits in patients with COPD and was not associated with evidence of electrocardiographic changes in heart rate, rhythm, QT intervals, or conduction.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Analgesic and hemodynamic effects of a single 7.5-mg intravenous dose of morphine in patients with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain.
To evaluate the analgesic and hemodynamic effects of a single dose of intravenous morphine 7.5 mg in patients experiencing moderate-to-severe postoperative pain, and to determine any gender differences in analgesic response. ⋯ A single 7.5-mg intravenous bolus dose of morphine did not appear to provide adequate reduction in perceived pain intensity in patients with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. In addition, in contrast to the findings of other experimental pain studies, our data suggest that women are more tolerant of postoperative pain than are men.