Drug interaction microcomputer software evaluation: Therapeutic Software's Adverse Interactions.

Therapeutic Software's Adverse Interactions was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning, and technical support were rated as excellent. The ease of use and documentation for use were rated as good. The program received an excellent rating for the quality of the clinical documentation and good ratings for the scope of coverage and overall clinical performance. The frequency of updates is fair. The program is an excellent value because of its comprehensiveness, sources of the data base, and relatively low cost. It may be one of the better buys for drug interaction softwares.     

Evaluation of drug interaction microcomputer software: Dambro's Drug Interactions

Dambro's Drug Interactions was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning and use were rated excellent. The user documentation and quality of the technical support were good. The scope of coverage, clinical documentation, frequency of updates, and overall clinical performance were fair. The primary advantages of the program are the quick searching and detection of drug interactions, and the attempt to provide useful interaction data, i.e., significance and reference. The disadvantages are the lack of current drug interaction information, outdated references, lack of evaluative drug interaction information, and the inability to save or print patient profiles. The program is not a good value for the pharmacist but has limited use as a quick screening tool.     

Drug interaction microcomputer software evaluation: Drug Master 89.

Drug Master 89 was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning, and ease of use were rated excellent. The technical support, scope of coverage, and overall clinical performance were rated good. The quality of the clinical documentation and frequency of updates were fair, while the quality of the user documentation was poor. The program is valuable to the clinical dietician because of the comprehensiveness of its dietary and food interactions data base. For the practicing pharmacist, it performs reasonably well but other available programs are better values.     

Drug interaction microcomputer software evaluation: drug interaction facts on disk

Drug Interaction Facts on Disk (DIF) was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning and use, the user documentation, and the technical support were rated excellent. The scope of coverage, the quality of the clinical documentation, and overall clinical performance were also excellent. The frequency of updates is good. The program's clinical performance was compared to RxTriage and Drug Therapy Screening System using five recently reported drug interactions. The ability to screen for selected drug-food/nutrient interactions was also evaluated. Drug Interaction Facts is rated to be one of the better bargains in drug interaction software programs.     

Drug interaction microcomputer software evaluation: Drug Therapy Screening System (DTSS)

Drug Therapy Screening System (DTSS) was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning and use, the user documentation, and the technical support were rated excellent. The scope of coverage, the quality of the clinical documentation, and overall clinical performance were also excellent. The frequency of updates is good. The program is one of the best microcomputer drug interaction software packages evaluated by the authors thus far, because of its comprehensiveness, simplicity in use, and quality of its drug interaction information. The relatively high annual cost may limit its attractiveness.     

Drug interaction microcomputer software evaluation: PDR's drug interactions and side effects diskettes

The PDR's Drug Interactions and Side Effects System was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning, and ease of use were rated excellent. The user documentation and technical support were good. The quality of the clinical documentation was fair. The scope of coverage and overall clinical performance were fair. The frequency of updates is good. The primary advantage of the program is its citation of drug interactions and side effects listed in the official product labeling of numerous brand name products. The major disadvantages are that it lacks evaluative interaction information, may not include current information, and only contains brand names listed in one of the PDR compendia.     

Drug interaction micromputer software evaluation: RxTriage

RxTriage was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning and use, and technical support were rated excellent. The user documentation was good. The scope of coverage, frequency of updates and overall clinical performance were good. The quality of the clinical documentation, which included key drug interaction texts and primary references, was excellent. The primary advantages of the program are the quality of its data base and interaction information and the inclusion of decision support tables. The disadvantage is the relative high cost as compared to other available microcomputer programs.     

Evaluation of drug interaction microcomputer software: comparative study

Twelve drug interaction microcomputer software programs were evaluated and compared using general and specific criteria. This article summarizes and compares the features, ratings, advantages, and disadvantages of each program. Features of an ideal drug interaction program are noted. Recommended programs based on three price ranges are suggested.     

Improving drug usage evaluation with microcomputer database software

The use of microcomputer database software can help overcome many of the potential weaknesses of criteria-based drug usage evaluation (DUE) through the collection and assessment of drug use statistics on a broad basis. By allowing for more systematic and comprehensive data analyses, database software can target the selection of the most appropriate DUE topics; improve the accuracy, efficiency, and acceptance of DUE reports; and enhance the overall therapeutic- and cost-effectiveness of drug use in the institutional setting. The development of antibiotic use statistics in the area of surgical prophylaxis is presented as an example, with recommendations for similar applications in other therapeutic areas.     

Charleston Antidepressant Drug Interactions Surveillance Program (CADISP)

A prospective antidepressant drug interaction surveillance program was established and collected data for over 4 years in Charleston, SC (Charleston Antidepressant Drug Interactions Surveillance Program, CADISP). One hundred and seventy patients were enrolled. The plasma concentrations and/or clinical effects of drug combinations were monitored in psychiatric patients who received therapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or one of the other newer antidepressants (nefazodone, venlafaxine) when combined with other drugs metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzyme system. Patient data were evaluated to estimate the occurrence and significance of antidepressant-induced metabolic drug interactions. Plasma drug concentrations in the presence and absence of treatment with an antidepressant served as the primary assessment variable. Contrary to the hypothesis that pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions occur but go undetected, little evidence was found for occultly occurring drug interactions with newer antidepressants. The presence of commonly predicted drug interactions was documented. These data do not eliminate the need for caution when prescribing antidepressants with the potential for causing metabolic interactions, but do help allay the fear that such interactions are highly prevalent and routinely hazardous.     

Experiences of the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic's Community Based Drug Rehabilitation Program

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between need for cognition (i.e., cognitive motivation or “will”) and educational experience (i.e., cognitive ability or “skill”) to perceived improvements during treatment of probationers receiving residential treatment within the criminal justice system. Probationers were randomly assigned to either receive motivational activities developed by the authors (the “enhanced” condition), or treatment as usual (but with access to general reading materials in lieu of the motivational activities). Need for cognition and educational experience were assessed and used as blocking variables, and ratings of progress were assessed midway and toward the end of treatment. The results indicate that both need for cognition and educational experience are important predictors of improvement during treatment, and that the motivational activities developed by the authors were particularly valuable for clients with lower levels of need for cognition.