Americans are using more prescription drugs than ever. Consequently, they’re worrying about side effects, drug interactions, and cost, especially if they’re using multiple medications. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) scientists are on the forefront of answering questions about these concerns. We’re studying the beneficial and harmful effects of medications in real-world settings, and innovating better ways to manage and monitor drug use.
“We can dramatically improve health care by making sure people get the right medicines at appropriate doses,” said Denise Boudreau, PhD, KPWHRI senior investigator. “The institute contributes to this effort by participating in national initiatives to monitor medication safety. At the personal level, we’re providing information to doctors and patients for weighing the risks and benefits of various prescription drugs.”
Funders of KPWHRI medication use and patient safety research include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and other sources. A few projects include:
“Our work gives patients and providers evidence about the outcomes of medication use—both harmful and beneficial—to help them make informed personal decisions about prescription drug use,” said senior investigator Sascha Dublin, MD, PhD.
Gray SL, Anderson ML, Hanlon JT, Dublin S, Walker RL, Hubbard RA, Yu O, Montine TJ, Crane PK, Sonne JA, Keene CD, Larson EB. Exposure to strong anticholinergic medications and dementia-related neuropathology in a community-based autopsy cohort. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018 Jul 21. pii: JAD171174. doi: 10.3233/JAD-171174. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Casillas A, Moreno G, Grotts J, Tseng CH, Morales LS. A digital language divide? the relationship between internet medication refills and medication adherence among limited English proficient (LEP) patients. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2018 Mar 29. pii: 10.1007/s40615-018-0487-9. doi: 10.1007/s40615-018-0487-9. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Dublin S, Von Korff M. Prescription Opioids and Infection Risk: Research and Caution Needed. Ann Intern Med. 2018;168(6):444-445. doi: 10.7326/M18-0001. Epub 2018 Feb 13. PubMed
Martin D, Gagne JJ, Gruber S, Izem R, Nelson JC, Nguyen MD, Ouellet-Hellstrom R, Schneeweiss S, Toh S, Walker AM. Sequential surveillance for drug safety in a regulatory environment. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2018 Jul;27(7):707-712. doi: 10.1002/pds.4407. Epub 2018 Mar 5. No abstract available. PubMed
Thakral M, Walker RL, Saunders K, Shortreed SM, Dublin S, Parchman M, Hansen RN, Ludman E, Sherman KJ, Von Korff M. Impact of opioid dose reduction initiatives on chronic opioid therapy patients at higher risk for opioid-related adverse outcomes. Pain Med. 2017 Dec 6. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx293. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
![]() Denise M. Boudreau, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Sascha Dublin, MD, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Jessica Chubak, PhD, MBHLSenior Investigator |
![]() Andrea J. Cook, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Michael L. Jackson, PhD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPHVice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington; Executive Director and Senior Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute |
![]() Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, MACPSenior Investigator and former Executive Director, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; Former Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington |
![]() Jennifer C. Nelson, PhDDirector of Biostatistics; Senior Investigator |
![]() David E. Arterburn, MD, MPHSenior Investigator, KPWHRI; Physician, Washington Permanente Medical Group, Internal Medicine |
![]() Susan M. Shortreed, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Lisa A. Jackson, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Karen Wernli, PhDAssociate Investigator |
![]() Onchee Yu, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Rod L. Walker, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Robert D. Wellman, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Gaia Pocobelli, PhDResearch Associate |
![]() David S. Carrell, PhDAssociate Investigator |
![]() Laura Harrington, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
![]() Jennifer F. Bobb, PhDAssociate Investigator |
![]() Weiwei Zhu, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Paige D. Wartko, PhD, MPHResearch Associate |
![]() Maricela Cruz,Assistant Investigator |
Susan Heckbert, MD, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Epidemiology; UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit
David Siscovick, MD, MPH
UW Department of Medicine; UW Department of Epidemiology; UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit
Leslie Spangler, PhD
Amgen