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The relationship between biologic treatments for psoriasis (PsO) and the development of inflammatory arthritis in patients is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of biologic treatment on the development of inflammatory arthritis in patients with PsO. This retrospective study assessed patients with PsO identified in the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart database from Jan 2007 to Mar 2023 with no baseline diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. Patients were stratified based on the class of initial biologic treatment (interleukin [IL] 23, IL-12/23, IL-17, or tumor necrosis factor [TNF] inhibitor) and followed for up to 3 years or development of inflammatory arthritis. Risk of developing inflammatory arthritis was assessed using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model using IL-23 inhibitors as reference. Incidence rates of developing inflammatory arthritis expressed as events/100 person-years were 4.99, 7.29, 6.06, and 9.39 for IL-23, IL-17, IL-12/23, and TNF inhibitors, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios were significantly higher for patients receiving IL-17 (1.44; P =.0294) and TNF (1.90; P <.0001) inhibitors when compared with patients receiving IL-23 inhibitors. Limitations include those associated with medical coding errors and the potential for protopathic bias. Patients receiving IL-23 inhibitors are at lower risk of developing inflammatory arthritis or psoriatic arthritis than those receiving IL-17 and TNF inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We created and assessed an immersive instructional series of video-based activities for pharmacy student evaluation of medication errors via root cause analysis (RCA). A novel series of video vignettes showed a medication error from the perspectives of each healthcare team member involved. Students were engaged in a series of activities to guide them through RCA interspersed with the vignettes. A pre/post-assessment tool measured student-perceived skills and attitudes in medication error prevention and handling. Per item pre/post-mean scores were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction. From N = 270 students, 231 and 163 completed the anonymous pre- and post-assessment, respectively. Most students positively endorsed attitude items at both assessment intervals, with no significant changes in mean for "learning how to improve patient safety is an appropriate use of time in pharmacy school" (pre-assessment = 4.26; post-assessment = 4.23). However, there were significant improvements in the skills items "I am confident in my ability to analyze a case to find the root causes of an error" (pre = 3.44; post = 3.85) and "I can identify the key factors in systems and processes that could lead to a medication error" (pre = 3.55; post = 3.88). Pharmacy students reported significantly improved self-perceived skills in handling and preventing medication errors, but not in attitudes, following the immersive instructional activity. There are opportunities to expand such an immersive instructional series in an interprofessional setting, which may yield different findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic remains a public health problem worldwide. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to provide evidence of outcomes attained across the HCV care cascade in the era of direct-acting antivirals. Studies from North America, Europe, and Australia (January 2014 through March 2021) reporting on HCV care cascade outcomes (screening to cure) were included. When calculating the proportions of individuals completing each step, the numerator for Steps 1–8 was the number of individuals completing each step; the denominator was the number of individuals completing the previous step for Steps 1–3 and Step 3 for Steps 4–8. In 2022, random effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate pooled proportions with 95% CIs. Sixty-five studies comprising 7,402,185 individuals were identified. Among individuals with positive HCV ribonucleic acid test results, 62% (95% CI=55%, 70%) attended their first care appointment, 41% (95% CI=37%, 45%) initiated treatment, 38% (95% CI=29%, 48%) completed treatment, and 29% (95% CI=25%, 33%) achieved cure. HCV screening rates were 43% (95% CI=22%, 66%) in prisons or jails and 20% (95% CI=11%, 31%) in emergency departments. Linkage to care rates were 62% (95% CI=46%, 75%) for homeless individuals and 26% (95% CI=22%, 31%) for individuals diagnosed in emergency departments. Cure rates were 51% (95% CI=30%, 73%) in individuals with substance use disorder and 17% (95% CI=17%, 17%) in homeless individuals. Cure rates were lowest in the U.S. Despite the availability of effective all-oral direct-acting antiviral therapies, persistent gaps remain across the HCV care cascade, especially among traditionally marginalized populations. Public health interventions targeting identified priority areas (e.g., emergency departments) may improve screening and healthcare retention of vulnerable populations with HCV infection (e.g., substance use disorder populations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]