Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25258516›Full record

ArticlePatient preference and adherence2014

Effects on caregiver burden of a donepezil hydrochloride dosage increase to 10 mg/day in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Kazuhito Nakamura, Norio Watanabe, Hiroshi Ohkawa, Michiyasu Ando, Yukio Ogura, Sumito Funabiki, Akito Kume, Kimihiko Urano, Takashi Osada, Keiko Yamamura

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Patient preference and adherence, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Kazuhito NakamuraDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, Aichi, Japan ; Koyo Pharmacy, Aichi, Japan.
Norio WatanabeDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, Aichi, Japan.
Hiroshi OhkawaOhkawa Clinic, Aichi, Japan.
Michiyasu AndoAndo Clinic, Aichi, Japan.
Yukio OguraTotal Support Clinic, Aichi, Japan.
Sumito FunabikiFunabiki Clinic, Aichi, Japan.
Akito KumeKume Clinic, Aichi, Japan.
Kimihiko UranoDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, Aichi, Japan.
Takashi OsadaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, Aichi, Japan.
Keiko YamamuraDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, Aichi, Japan.
Aichi Gakuin University · JPAichi Institute of Technology · JPKuma Hospital · JPOno Clinic · JPOSG (Japan) · JP

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn this study, we evaluated changes in functioning and caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients after a dosage increase that was made based on pharmacists' evaluation of AD patients' behavior in daily life.

methodsPharmacists used a checklist, a questionnaire, and the Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test (RSST) to gather data on the daily life of AD patients taking donepezil 5 mg/day and their caregivers. In 27 cases, pharmacists suggested a dosage change to 10 mg/day to AD patients' physicians. Pharmacists then evaluated these patients for 16 weeks after the increase to determine changes in functional assessment staging, caregiver burden, and swallowing function.

resultsDuring the 16-week study, 20 of the 27 patients showed at least one-stage improvement in relation to the five assessed aspects of daily life (time/place, speech, bathing, dressing, and toileting). The mean score for caregiver burden due to personal strain was significantly lower after the dosage increase than before (5.15±3.76 at baseline; from 3.89±3.42 at week 4 to 3.59±3.90 at week 16; P<0.05), as was the mean score due to role strain (2.19±2.80 at baseline; 1.56±2.64 at week 8; P<0.05). After the dosage increase, the impaired swallowing function that accompanies AD was improved in the patients with swallowing problems, as indicated by a higher mean RSST score (1.22±0.67 at baseline; from 2.78±1.72 at week 4 to 2.78±1.79 at week 16; P<0.05).

conclusionThe dosage increase not only decreased caregiver burden, but also appeared to improve impaired swallowing function. Medication therapy management by pharmacists of AD patients, including the use of a checklist, contributed to the correct use of donepezil and improved quality of life for caregivers.

Indexed as

Alzheimer’s diseasebehavior in daily lifecaregiver burdenchecklistpharmacistsswallowing function

Identifiers

PMID25258516
PMCPMC4172203
OpenAlexW2113514781

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.