COMPUS Communiqué — Vol. 5, No. 4

July 28, 2009

In This Issue

Final Recommendations on Blood Glucose Test Strips

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) has released the final Optimal Therapy Recommendations for the prescribing and use of blood glucose test strips:

This report contains eight recommendations to optimize the use of blood glucose test strips for the self-monitoring of blood glucose in individuals with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Key discussion points from the deliberative process are also provided to help health care professionals, patients, and policy decision-makers interpret and apply these recommendations.

CADTH thanks all of the individuals and organizations that provided valuable feedback throughout the consultation process for this report. Next steps include the identification of knowledge and practice gaps, and the development of key messages to encourage the uptake of these recommendations across the country.

CADTH Protocol for the New COMPUS Topic: Second-line Therapy for Patients with Diabetes when Inadequately Controlled on Metformin — Now Available

To provide stakeholders with a clear outline of the project to identify optimal second-line therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes who are not adequately controlled on metformin monotherapy, CADTH has posted the project protocol:

This protocol outlines the steps involved in the development of optimal therapy recommendations and intervention tools to influence the prescribing and use of second-line therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes who are not adequately controlled on metformin monotherapy. To date, CADTH has received input from a variety of stakeholders on the list of randomized controlled trials that will be included in the systematic review for this project. Visit our website for more information about this project.

Recorded Webinar on Insulin Preparations

The University of British Columbia’s Division of Continuing Professional Education recently partnered with CADTH to present Insulin Preparations: Which Types for Which Patients— a webinar that reviewed the evidence supporting the use of human insulin and insulin analogues in the management of diabetes. More than 350 participants registered for the two sessions, held June 18 and 23, 2009. Visit our website to view a recording of the webinar.

New Members Appointed to the COMPUS Expert Review Committee

CADTH is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Canadian Optimal Medication Prescribing and Utilization Service (COMPUS) Expert Review Committee (CERC) — an advisory body that makes evidence-based recommendations regarding the identification, evaluation, and promotion of optimal drug prescribing and use in Canada.

Dr. Jim Silvius, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, at the University of Calgary and the current Senior Medical Director, Seniors' Health at Alberta Health Services, has been appointed for a two-year term as a Core Member. (View full bio)

Dr. Robyn Houlden, a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, a consultant in adult endocrinology at the Kingston General Hospital, and a medical advisor for the Diabetes Education and Management Centre at the Hotel Dieu Hospital, has been appointed for a two-year term as a Specialist Member. (View full bio)

Core Members are appointed to CERC to serve for all topics under consideration during their term and Specialist Members are appointed to provide their expertise for a specific topic. Specialist members for the current COMPUS topics are experts in the area of diabetes management.

CADTH would also like to recognize the significant contributions of two departing CERC members — Dr. Heather J. Dean (Specialist Member) and Dr. Marilyn Caughlin (Core Member). We sincerely appreciate the expertise and guidance they provided to CADTH.

CADTH also re-appointed the following members to CERC:

  • Dr. Lisa Dolovich (Chair) (Associate Professor of Pharmacy, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University)
  • Dr. Michael Evans (Vice-Chair)(Family Physician, Toronto Western Hospital and Director, Health Media Lab, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute)
  • Dr. Scott Klarenbach, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Alberta)
  • Ms. Cathy MacNutt, Public Member

Dr. Jill M. Sanders Appointed to the Board of Directors of Two International HTA Organizations

Dr. Jill M. Sanders, President and Chief Executive Officer of CADTH, has been elected to the Board of Directors of two international Health Technology Assessment organizations, recognizing her significant contributions to the evolution of health technology assessment around the world.

Effective June 22, 2009, Dr. Sanders was elected as Vice-President of the Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) board for a two-year term. HTAi is an international society for the promotion of health technology assessment. Dr. Sanders was a member of the HTAi Founding Board of Directors and served as a Director from 2003 to 2008.

Effective June 23, 2009, Dr. Sanders was elected as Chair of the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) for a two-year term. A non-profit organization, INAHTA provides a forum for HTA agencies around the world to identify and pursue common interests. INAHTA includes 50 member agencies hailing from approximately 25 countries.

CADTH Employment Opportunities

CADTH is seeking candidates for a variety of positions that are posted on the Careers page.

Feedback

We welcome your feedback. Tell us what you think of the COMPUS Communiqué.