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Introduction: Advancements in vascularized composite allotransplantation have made hand transplants possible for persons living with upper limb loss. Hand transplantation is not a life-saving procedure, but rather a quality-of-life enhancing procedure; hence the risk of morbidity and mortality must be weighed against improvements in function and appearance. This study explored the decision-making process of patients evaluated for hand transplantation., Methods/approach: A qualitative case series study using retrospective chart data of evaluations was conducted between January 1, 2011 and February 28, 2020. Notes were extracted and read by three reviewers. Each case was summarized noting similarities and differences., Findings: Nine patients underwent evaluation. Eight were no longer under evaluation and did not receive transplant; one was still undergoing evaluation. Patient motivations for evaluation were dissatisfaction with prostheses or self-image, chronic pain, performing activities of daily living, occupation, burden placed on caregivers, and concerns about overuse of non-affected limbs. Patients chose not to pursue transplantation due to rehabilitation time, immunosuppression, alternative treatments, and social and financial challenges. The clinical team discontinued evaluations due to unmet evaluation requirements, medical contraindications, or treatment alternatives. Different modes of shared decision-making were present depending on the party most heavily featured in the charts as driving decisions., Discussion: This was an examination of shared decision-making with hand transplant candidates who did not proceed to transplant. Reasons for choosing alternative strategies for management were multifactorial. Lessons learned regarding patient motivations and shared decision-making can inform future interventions to better support patients.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is complex and has high propensity for medication error and drug-drug interactions (DDIs). We evaluated the clinical utility of pharmacist prescreening for DDIs, adherence to ART and medicines reconciliation prior to HIV outpatient appointments. A pharmacist took detailed medication histories and ART adherence assessments, then screened medication for DDIs. A template detailing current medication, potential DDIs and adherence was filed in the clinical notes and physicians were asked for structured feedback. Potential DDIs were observed in 58% of 200 patients, with 22 (9%) potential DDIs occurring with medication that was not previously recorded in the patients' notes. Of 103 physician responses, 61.2% reported that the pharmacist consultation told them something they did not know, and pharmacist consultants led to change in management in 13.6% of cases. Pharmacist consultations were more likely to add benefit in patients taking two or more concomitant medications in addition to ART (P = 0.0012).

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) estimations are done routinely in some HIV clinics, irrespective of patient symptoms. We studied patients attending the Worcestershire HIV clinic between 1987 and 2001 to identify whether routine elevations in serum levels of CPK in patients with HIV were associated with clinical features of muscle disease (CFMD), and whether such elevations influenced patient management. There was no association between CFMD and a rise in CPK. Major rises of CPK >400 IU/L were significantly associated with CFMD. No individual had a persistent CPK rise >200 IU/L without CFMD. In the great majority of cases, there was no change in management consequent to enzyme rises. In patients with HIV infection and no CFMD, the chance of finding a major and persistent CPK rise is low. This study does not support the practice of routine monitoring of CPK in asymptomatic patients attending HIV clinics.

Objective: To examine persistence with methylphenidate (MPH) therapy among children and youth in the general population., Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis of longitudinally organized, individual-specific anonymous data from linked prescription and health databases covering the population of British Columbia for 1990 through 1996. No prescriptions being filled for 4 months indicated cessation of one bout of therapy., Results: Among 16,945 identified MPH patients aged 19 years or under, overall duration of therapy was 584 days, and the average number of prescriptions received was 6.6. One-third of patients received 2 or fewer prescriptions, while 18% followed a chronic, continuous course. Among patients receiving more than 2 prescriptions, 50% of discrete therapy bouts lasted 4 months or less, and one-third of cases had multiple bouts of therapy (range 2 to 6 bouts). Younger age (that is, children aged 0 to 8 years, vs those aged 10 to 19 years), male sex, and receipt of initial prescription from a psychiatrist were associated with greater persistence., Conclusions: Enormous variability in persistence with MPH therapy and often-occurring low rates of persistence raises questions about the diligence with which MPH patients are selected, prepared, and followed in the general population. Special attention to the needs of older children and to the needs of girls is required, and discontinuities during children's therapy courses require explication.