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Reduced Quality of Life in Veterans at Risk for Drug‐Related Problems
Author(s) -
Okano Gary J.,
Malone Daniel C.,
Billups Sarah J.,
Carter Barry L.,
Sintek Charles D.,
Covey Douglas,
Mason Barbara,
Jue Sandra,
Carmichael Jannet,
Guthrie Kelly,
Dombrowski Robert,
Geraets Douglas R.,
Amato Mary G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.21.13.1123.34620
Subject(s) - veterans affairs , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , drug , medical record , mental health , pharmacotherapy , psychiatry , nursing
The relationships between drug therapy and health‐related quality of life in 1054 patients who received care from Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs) were assessed. Patients at high risk for drug‐related problems were enrolled into a pharmaceutical care study at nine VAMCs. On enrollment, the short form (SF)‐36 was completed and medical records were examined for evidence of coexisting illness. Drug therapy in the year before enrollment was analyzed in relation to SF‐36 scores. Mean ± SD SF‐36 scores ranged from 37.99 ± 41.70 for role physical to 70.78 ± 18.97 for mental health domains, with all domain scores significantly below age‐adjusted national norms (p<0.05). Patients taking a drug that required therapeutic monitoring had significantly lower SF‐36 scores (p=0.0001 to p=0.0033) across all domains except for bodily pain and mental health, compared with patients not taking these agents.