Browsing by Author "Chue, Pierre"

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    Health resource utilization and cost before versus after initiation of second-generation long-acting injectable antipsychotics among adults with schizophrenia in Alberta, Canada: a retrospective, observational single-arm study
    (2022-07-02) Wong, Kai O.; Klarenbach, Scott W.; Martins, Karen J. B.; Chue, Pierre; Dursun, Serdar M.; Snaterse, Mark; Guigue, Alexis; So, Helen; Luu, Huong; Vu, Khanh; Richer, Lawrence
    Abstract Background Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, along with community treatment orders (CTOs), are used to improve treatment effectiveness through adherence among individuals with schizophrenia. Understanding real-world medication adherence, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs in individuals with schizophrenia overall and by CTO status before and after second generation antipsychotic (SGA)-LAI initiation may guide strategies to optimize treatment among those with schizophrenia. Methods This retrospective observational single-arm study utilized administrative health data from Alberta, Canada. Adults (≥ 18 years) with schizophrenia who initiated a SGA-LAI (no use in the previous 2-years) between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2016, and had ≥ 1 additional dispensation of a SGA-LAI were included; index date was the date of SGA-LAI initiation. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was determined, and paired t-tests were used to examine mean differences in all-cause and mental health-related HRU and costs (Canadian dollars), comprised of hospitalizations, physician visits, emergency department visits, and total visits, over the 2-year post-index and 2-year pre-index periods. Analyses were stratified by presence or absence of an active CTO during the pre-index and/or post-index periods. Results Among 1,211 adults with schizophrenia who initiated SGA-LAIs, 64% were males with a mean age of 38 (standard deviation [SD] 14) years. The mean overall antipsychotic MPR was 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36, 0.41) greater during the 2-year post-index period (0.84 [SD 0.26]) compared with the 2-year pre-index period (0.45 [SD 0.40]). All-cause and mental health-related HRU and costs were lower post-index versus pre-index (p < 0.001) for hospitalizations, physician visits, emergency department visits, and total visits; mean total all-cause HRU costs were $33,788 (95% CI -$38,993, -$28,583) lower post- versus pre-index ($40,343 [SD $68,887] versus $74,131 [SD $75,941]), and total mental health-related HRU costs were $34,198 (95%CI -$39,098, -$29,297) lower post- versus pre-index ($34,205 [SD $63,428] versus $68,403 [SD $72,088]) per-patient. Forty-three percent had ≥ 1 active CTO during the study period; HRU and costs varied according to CTO status. Conclusions SGA-LAIs are associated with greater medication adherence, and lower HRU and costs however the latter vary according to CTO status.
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    Reducing readmission rates for individuals discharged from acute psychiatric care in Alberta using peer and text message support: Protocol for an innovative supportive program
    (2022-03-12) Eboreime, Ejemai; Shalaby, Reham; Mao, Wanying; Owusu, Ernest; Vuong, Wesley; Surood, Shireen; Bales, Kerry; MacMaster, Frank P.; McNeil, Diane; Rittenbach, Katherine; Ohinmaa, Arto; Bremault-Phillips, Suzette; Hilario, Carla; Greiner, Russ; Knox, Michelle; Chafe, Janet; Coulombe, Jeff; Xin-Min, Li; McLean, Carla; Rathwell, Rebecca; Snaterse, Mark; Spurvey, Pamela; Taylor, Valerie H.; McLean, Susan; Urichuk, Liana; Tzeggai, Berhe; McCabe, Christopher; Grauwiler, David; Jordan, Sara; Brown, Ed; Fors, Lindy; Savard, Tyla; Grunau, Mara; Kelton, Frank; Stauffer, Sheila; Cao, Bo; Chue, Pierre; Abba-Aji, Adam; Silverstone, Peter; Nwachukwu, Izu; Greenshaw, Andrew; Agyapong, Vincent I. O.
    Abstract Background Individuals discharged from inpatient psychiatry units have the highest readmission rates of all hospitalized patients. These readmissions are often due to unmet need for mental health care compounded by limited human resources. Reducing the need for hospital admissions by providing alternative effective care will mitigate the strain on the healthcare system and for people with mental illnesses and their relatives. We propose implementation and evaluation of an innovative program which augments Mental Health Peer Support with an evidence-based supportive text messaging program developed using the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. Methods A pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial, where daily supportive text messages (Text4Support) and mental health peer support are the interventions, will be employed. We anticipate recruiting 10,000 participants at the point of their discharge from 9 acute care psychiatry sites and day hospitals across four cities in Alberta. The primary outcome measure will be the number of psychiatric readmissions within 30 days of discharge. We will also evaluate implementation outcomes such as reach, acceptability, fidelity, and sustainability. Our study will be guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance framework. Data will be extracted from administrative data, surveys, and qualitative methods. Quantitative data will be analysed using machine learning. Qualitative interviews will be transcribed and analyzed thematically using both inductive and deductive approaches. Conclusions To our knowledge, this will be the first large-scale clinical trial to assess the impact of a daily supportive text message program with and without mental health peer support for individuals discharged from acute psychiatric care. We anticipate that the interventions will generate significant cost-savings by reducing readmissions, while improving access to quality community mental healthcare and reducing demand for acute care. It is envisaged that the results will shed light on the effectiveness, as well as contextual barriers and facilitators to implementation of automated supportive text message and mental health peer support interventions to reduce the psychological treatment and support gap for patients who have been discharged from acute psychiatric care. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05133726 . Registered 24 November 2021