Author:
Furniss Lee,Burns Alistair,Craig Sarah Kathryn Lloyd,Scobie Susan,Cooke Jonathan,Faragher Brian
Abstract
BackgroundOlder people in nursing and residential homes often have complex disabilities and behavioural disturbances. Recent publicity has highlighted the dangers of medication in this group, and controls over prescribing have been suggested.AimsTo investigate the effect of a review of medication by a pharmacist.MethodAn 8-month prospective trial of an active medication review by a pharmacist was carried out on 330 residents in nursing homes in Manchester.ResultsThe intervention group experienced greater deterioration in cognitive function and behavioural disturbance than the control group, but the changes in depression and quality of life were similar for both groups. The number of drugs prescribed fell in the intervention group, but not in the control group, with a corresponding saving in drug costs. The number of deaths was significantly smaller in the intervention homes during the intervention period (4 v. 14) but not overall during the study period as a whole (26 v. 28).ConclusionThis clinical intervention reduced the number of medicines prescribed to elderly people in nursing homes, with minimal impact on their morbidity and mortality.
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health
Reference24 articles.
1. Geriatric Depression Scale;Yesavage;Psychopharmacology Bulletin,1988
2. Changes in behavioural characteristics of elderly populations of local authority homes and long-stay hospital wards, 1976-7.
3. Residential care for elderly people: a decade of change.
4. Effectiveness of drug-regimen review in eliminating unnecessary drugs;Obenchain;Consultant Pharmacist,1991
Cited by
163 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献