Anderson Shaylee, Windscheffel Joe, Gunning Karen
University of Utah College of Pharmacy.
University of Utah Health.
Innov Pharm. 2021 Jan 8;12(1). doi: 10.24926/iip.v12i1.3555. eCollection 2021.
This case report details the influence of media on patients and the responsibility of health care providers to educate their patients on proper use of medications, and to be aware of potential misadventures based on messages in popular media.
The sudden rise of the COVID19 pandemic has led to media outlets reporting science without necessary peer review and has resulted in preliminary data presented as factual evidence. It is difficult for patients without an extensive medical background in science to fully understand the uncertainty of information shared in popular media. This was demonstrated when preliminary data showed potential promise of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment/prevention of COVID19. This led to patients requesting hydroxychloroquine prescriptions from their providers, as well as stockpiling medication, which led to a shortage. In addition, patients began taking chloroquine containing substances not intended for human consumption. Popular media created a belief in the general public that all antimalarial drugs may work to prevent COVID19. This case report presents an elderly patient that presented to clinic with shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Upon interviewing the patient, it was discovered that he had been taking an old supply of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride. Physical exam, and laboratory examination were evaluated to rule out any other etiology with all tests and exams being unremarkable. Two weeks after stopping atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, the patient's symptoms completely resolved.
The media provides a significant portion of the information that patients receive regarding rapidly changing treatment information in a pandemic. It is crucial for health care providers to know what information patients are exposed to, and to educate patients with evidence-based information. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers and have a key role in medication review and management. Educating patients on evidence-based use of medications may help avoid harm caused by misinformation from unreliable media sources.
本病例报告详细阐述了媒体对患者的影响，以及医疗保健提供者有责任教育患者正确使用药物，并基于大众媒体中的信息意识到潜在的意外情况。
新冠疫情的突然爆发导致媒体在未经必要同行评审的情况下报道科学内容，并将初步数据当作事实证据呈现。对于没有广泛科学医学背景的患者来说，很难完全理解大众媒体所分享信息的不确定性。这在初步数据显示羟氯喹对治疗/预防新冠有潜在前景时得到了体现。这导致患者向其医疗服务提供者索要羟氯喹处方，并囤积药物，进而造成了短缺。此外，患者开始服用含氯喹但并非供人食用的物质。大众媒体使公众相信所有抗疟药物都可能对预防新冠有效。本病例报告介绍了一名因呼吸急促和头晕到诊所就诊的老年患者。在询问患者时，发现他一直在服用旧的阿托伐醌和盐酸氯胍。进行了体格检查和实验室检查以排除任何其他病因，所有检查结果均无异常。在停用阿托伐醌和盐酸氯胍两周后，患者症状完全缓解。
在疫情期间，媒体提供了患者所获取的关于快速变化的治疗信息的很大一部分。医疗保健提供者了解患者接触到的信息并以循证信息对患者进行教育至关重要。药剂师是最容易接触到的医疗保健提供者，在药物审查和管理中起着关键作用。教育患者循证用药可能有助于避免不可靠媒体来源的错误信息造成的危害。
