Blair MacDonald

May 14, 2024 | cfp.ca | Blair MacDonald |James McCormack |Ricky Turgeon

Main messageOverview of the decision aid. The decision aid is structured as 4 steps: 1) calculating risk; 2) asking what matters most to the patient; 3) selecting medication options; and 4) summarizing the discussion. These steps are intended to emulate the process of SDM and are to be used during discussions between patients and clinicians. Step 1.

Apr 25, 2024 | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | Blair MacDonald |Ricky Turgeon |James McCormack |James McCormack BSc

NARRATIVE Metformin has historically been the first-line drug option for Type 2 diabetes mellitus, likely based on the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS-34 trial), which showed benefits in mortality and myocardial infarction with metformin compared to diet control in overweight patients.1 The finding, however, was muddied by a UKPDS substudy showing metformin increased mortality when added to a sulfonylurea.

Dec 13, 2023 | cfp.ca | Blair MacDonald |Scott Garrison |Ricky Turgeon

Clinical questionDo triglyceride-lowering medications (fibrates, statins, niacin, omega-3 fatty acids) reduce the risk of pancreatitis in patients with hypertriglyceridemia? Bottom lineNo RCTs have assessed the effect of fibrates or other triglyceride-lowering medications on pancreatitis risk in patients with very high triglyceride levels (≥5.6 mmol/L).

Nov 24, 2023 | journals.sagepub.com | Blair MacDonald |Ricky Turgeon

Shared decision-making (SDM) consists of identifying a decision to be made, discussing the available options (with their associated benefits, harms and practical considerations) and eliciting patient values to arrive at a collaborative decision.1 Despite the ethical2 and empiric3 benefits of SDM, uptake of this approach remains low.4 Pharmacists are well positioned to help address such shortcomings, given their medication expertise and ever-expanding scope of practice.

Oct 13, 2023 | cfp.ca | Blair MacDonald |Michael R Kolber |Ricky Turgeon

Clinical questionDoes influenza vaccination reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events? Bottom lineFor every 100 patients vaccinated for influenza within about 1 month of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 2 fewer will experience CV events and 2 fewer will die at 1 year compared with placebo. The impact of influenza vaccination in primary CV prevention and other CV conditions is less clear.