Evaluating regional and temporal variations in quality indicators for opioid initiation and pharmacist medication reviews in Ontario: A population-based repeated cross-sectional study.

Background: Quality indicators (QIs) are measures used to evaluate quality of services but are often underused in pharmacy practice. This study examines trends in 2 established QIs in community pharmacy.

Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study in Ontario using administrative data collected between 2013 and 2023.

Opioid-containing antitussives in Switzerland: a descriptive cross-sectional time-series analysis of pharmacy sales 2013-2022.

Background: Opioid-containing antitussives are used to symptomatically treat a dry, irritative cough but bring a risk of misuse as recreational drugs. Since the update of the Swiss Therapeutic Products Act in 2019, opioid-containing antitussives are regulated more strictly, being available only on prescription and no longer over the counter.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the sales trends of opioid-containing antitussives in Switzerland between 2011 and 2022 to assess the impact of the regulation change.

Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions and Drug Shortages on Drug Utilization: A Scoping Review.

Purpose: Drug shortages are a growing challenge in health systems across the world. A better understanding of the impacts of shortages on patient drug access and use will guide policies aimed at mitigating shortages. This scoping review aims to summarize observational literature assessing the impact of drug shortages on drug utilization trends.

Trends in Opioid and Gabapentinoid Utilization: A Time-Series Analysis Across 72 Countries From 2012 to 2023.

Purpose: We compare trends in gabapentinoid and opioid utilization overall and by economic development category. We also sought to predict future trends and assess correlations in gabapentinoid and opioid utilization.

Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional analysis of retail prescriptions for 72 countries from Q1 2012 to Q3 2023.

Predicting patent challenges for small-molecule drugs: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The high cost of prescription drugs in the United States is maintained by brand-name manufacturers' competition-free period made possible in part through patent protection, which generic competitors must challenge to enter the market early. Understanding the predictors of these challenges can inform policy development to encourage timely generic competition. Identifying categories of drugs systematically overlooked by challengers, such as those with low market size, highlights gaps where unchecked patent quality and high prices persist, and can help design policy interventions to help promote timely patient access to generic drugs including enhanced patent scrutiny or incentives for challenges.

Changes in doxylamine-pyridoxine dispensation in Ontario following media attention: Time-series analysis.

Objective: To understand the possible association between media coverage and changes in the dispensation of doxylamine-pyridoxine in Canada.

Design: Cross-sectional time-series analysis using data from the IQVIA CompuScript database.

Setting: Ten Canadian provinces.

Prevalence and nature of manufacturer-sponsored patient support programs for prescription drugs in Canada: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Globally, pharmaceutical companies offer patient support programs in tandem with their products, which aim to enhance medication adherence and patient experience through education, training, support and financial assistance. We sought to identify the proportion and characteristics of such patient support programs in Canada and to describe the nature of supports provided.

Methods: We conducted a crosssectional study to identify and characterize all marketed prescription drugs available in Canada as of Aug.

Impact of the COVID-19 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act exemption on pharmacist prescribing of opioids, benzodiazepines and stimulants in Ontario: A cross-sectional time-series analysis.

Background: Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Health Canada issued an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) on March 19, 2020, enabling pharmacists to act as prescribers of controlled substances to support continuity of care. Our study investigates utilization of the CDSA exemption by Ontario pharmacists with the intent to inform policy on pharmacist scope of practice and to improve future patient outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a time-series analysis of pharmacist-prescribed opioid, benzodiazepine and stimulant claims data using Ontario Narcotics Monitoring System (NMS) data between January 2019 and December 2021.