Preview

PDF medicines-07-00...pdf | Download (268kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: This pilot study aimed to assess whether an on-site pharmacist could influence indicators of quality use of medicines in residential aged care. Methods: A pharmacist was embedded in a residential aged care home for six months. A similar control site received usual care. Polypharmacy, drug burden index, antipsychotic and benzodiazepine use, hospital admission rates and length of stay, and emergency department presentation rates were outcomes used to indicate medication use quality. Data were extracted from participating resident health records. Results: Fifty-eight residents at the study site and 39 residents at the control site were included in the analysis. There was a reduction in the proportion of residents at the study site who had at least one hospital admission at follow-up (28% to 12%, p Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that a residential care pharmacist may positively influence indicators of medication use quality in aged care; however, further research is needed to expand on these findings.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	McDerby, N and Kosari, S and Bail, K and Shield, A and Peterson, G and Naunton, M
Keywords:	aged care, drug burden index, hospitalisation, medication, nursing home, pharmacist, polypharmacy
Journal or Publication Title:	Medicines
Publisher:	M D P I AG
ISSN:	2305-6320
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines7040020
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2020 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Related URLs:	UTAS Profile: Peterson, G
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page