1.Construction Case with an Electronic Hospital Formulary to Be Able to Do Rapid Retrieval Using a Portable Terminal iPhone®
Atsuro Sato ; Tetsushi Amano ; Atsushi Suzuki ; Hiroshi Sakata ; Kenichi Nomura ; Yukari Itakura
Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2011;13(1):8-12
Objective: The hospital is changing its formulary reference from paper-based to intranet. There was concern that both paper-based and intranet versions of the formulary would be necessary. Revising the paper-based hospital formulary each time package inserts are revised is difficult. For your review we report on the creation of the iPhone® electronic formulary which enables rapid off-line formulary retrieval and easy updates while at the same time providing low cost service in a light device.
Methods: The CSV (Comma Separated Value) of the hospital formulary dictionary was made using a standard personal computer. The CSV data file was converted using JAMES2DIC into a HTML file format. Next, the converted HTML file is transformed into the EPWING (Electronic Publishing WING) format using EBStudio. Finally, we forward the EPWING dictionary file from the personal computer to the iPhone®. The retrieval becomes possible by using EBPocket for iOS of EPWING/electronic book viewer software for the iPhone®. The number of items was assumed to be 29 items thought for a lot of inquiries to exist.
Results: We compared the paper-based formulary with the iPhone® electronic formulary. As a result, the iPhone4® electronic formulary shortened the retrieval time, was smaller, lighter, and excellent at a lower price.
Conclusion: The iPhone4® electronic formulary enables the user to perform complex full-text searches and retrieve information at a much higher speed than is possible with paper based formularies. It has the additional advantage of seamless integration and deployment of formulary additions or reference material revisions. We believe we have successfully created a practical electronic formulary.
2.Evaluation of the effect of analgesics for cancer patients using their pain descriptions
Kikuyo Nishida ; Yukio Toyama ; Kumi Kuno ; Shigeki Hirano ; Yuko Deguchi ; Yuiko Matsuda ; Takashi Watanabe ; Chie Yamazeki ; Yukari Itakura ; Hiroko Saito ; Takaaki Hasegawa
Palliative Care Research 2009;4(1):207-213
Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of analgesics in cancer patients based on their pain descriptions. Methods: The relationship between the words that patients used to describe their pain due to cancer and the efficacy of treatment with analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioids was evaluated. Results: We recorded 529words that were used by 164patients to describe their pain and pain quality and classified them into 108types of pain.For patients who used the actual word 'dull' or one with a similar meaning, treatment with opioids was effective. However, treatment with opioids was less effective in patients who used words such as "numb" and "tingling". Conclusion: We were able to gain a good understanding of cancer pain by listening to the actual words that patients used when complaining of pain. These findings suggested that we could choose a suitable medication through evaluation of the actual words cancer patients used to describe their pain and successfully relieve their pain. Palliat Care Res 2009: 4(1): 207-213