Generic Samples

Related Articles Measuring medicine prices in Peru: validation of key aspects of WHO/HAI survey methodology. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2010 Apr;27(4):291-9 Authors: Madden JM, Meza E, Ewen M, Laing RO, Stephens P, Ross-Degnan D OBJECTIVES: To assess the possibility of bias due to the limited target list and geographic sampling of the World Health Organization (WHO)/Health Action International (HAI) Medicine Prices and Availability survey used in more than 70 rapid sample surveys since 2001. METHODS: A survey was conducted in Peru in 2005 using an expanded sample of medicine outlets, including remote areas. Comprehensive data were gathered on medicines in three therapeutic classes to assess the adequacy of WHO/HAI’s target medicines list and the focus on only two product versions. WHO/HAI median retail prices were compared with average wholesale prices from global pharmaceutical sales data supplier IMS Health. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in overall availability or prices of target list medicines by retail location. The comprehensive survey of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, anti-diabetic, and anti-ulcer products revealed that some treatments not on the target list were costlier for patients and more likely to be unavailable, particularly in remote areas. WHO/HAI retail prices and IMS wholesale prices were strongly correlated for higher priced products, and weakly correlated for lower priced products (which had higher estimated retailer markups). CONCLUSIONS: The WHO/HAI survey approach strikes an appropriate balance between modest research costs and optimal information for policy. Focusing on commonly used medicines yields sufficient and valid results. Surveyors elsewhere should consider the limits of the survey data as well as any local circumstances, such as scarcity, that may call for extra field efforts. PMID: 20512232 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Measuring medicine prices in Peru: validation of key aspects of WHO/HAI…

Related Articles Primary care summary of the British Thoracic Society Guidelines for the management of community acquired pneumonia in adults: 2009 update. Endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK. Prim Care Respir J. 2010 Mar;19(1):21-7 Authors: Levy ML, Le Jeune I, Woodhead MA, Macfarlaned JT, Lim WS, INTRODUCTION: The identification and management of adults presenting with pneumonia is a major challenge for primary care health professionals. This paper summarises the key recommendations of the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Guidelines for the management of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in adults. METHOD: Systematic electronic database searches were conducted in order to identify potentially relevant studies that might inform guideline recommendations. Generic study appraisal checklists and an evidence grading from A+ to D were used to indicate the strength of the evidence upon which recommendations were made. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides definitions, key messages, and recommendations for handling the uncertainty surrounding the clinical diagnosis, assessing severity, management, and follow-up of patients with CAP in the community setting. Diagnosis and decision on hospital referral in primary care is based on clinical judgement and the CRB-65 score. Unlike some other respiratory infections (e.g. acute bronchitis) an antibiotic is always indicated when a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia is made. Timing of initial review will be determined by disease severity. When there is a delay in symptom or radiographic resolution beyond six weeks, the main concern is whether the CAP was a complication of an underlying condition such as lung cancer. PMID: 20157684 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Primary care summary of the British Thoracic Society Guidelines for the…