The role of regulation in the care of older people with depression living in long-term care: a systematic scoping review

Background

This aim of this study was to explore the role of regulation on the quality of care of older people living with depression in LTC, which in this paper is a domestic environment providing 24-h care for people with complex health needs and increased vulnerability.

Methods

We conducted a systematic scoping review. A peer reviewed search strategy was developed in consultation with a specialist librarian. Several databases were searched to identify relevant studies including: Embase (using the OVID platform); MEDLINE (using the OVID platform); Psych info (using the OVID platform); Ageline (using the EBSCO platform); and CINHAL (using the EBSCO platform). Articles were screened by three reviewers with conflicts resolved in consultation with authors. Data charting was completed by one reviewer, with a quality check performed by a second reviewer. Key themes were then derived from the included studies.

Results

The search yielded 778 unique articles, of which 20 were included. Articles were grouped by themes: regulatory requirements, funding issues, and organizational issues.

Conclusion

The highly regulated environment of LTC poses significant challenges which can influence the quality of care of residents with depression. Despite existing evidence around prevalence and improved treatment regimens, regulation appears to have failed to capture the best practice and contemporary knowledge available. This scoping review has identified a need for further empirical research to explore these issues.

Measuring the impact of system level strategies on psychotropic medicine use in aged care facilities: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Psychotropic medication use in the elderly population is associated with significant adverse effects. Robust evidence for the efficacy of psychotropic medications for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia is lacking. Despite national bodies, governments, and policymakers employing interventions to optimise the use of psychotropic medicines in this population, there is little research on their overall impact.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and categorise system level strategies that have been implemented internationally and assess their impact on psychotropic medicine use in aged care facilities.

METHODS

A systematic search of health-related databases including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus was performed. Empirical studies published in English prior to March 2019 that reported on the impact of system level strategies on psychotropic medicine use in aged care facilities were included. Studies were mapped to the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework to measure impact and were assessed for risk of bias.

RESULTS

This review identified 36 studies which examined mandatory (n = 22) and non-mandatory (n = 14) system level strategies. The impact of strategies was highly dependent on implementation as well as organisational and patient factors. Mandatory strategies had greater evidence of impact on drug utilisation patterns compared to non-mandatory strategies which primarily focussed on adoption and implementation, rather than outcomes. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1987 (OBRA-87) in the United States of America had the greatest reach and implementation of the interventions examined, with an observed reduction in psychotropic medicine use post-implementation. There was no substantive body of evidence reporting on the sustainability of strategies or the influence of cost on outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the implementation of system level strategies, psychotropic medicine use in aged care facilities remains problematic. There is a need for revised or novel system level strategies which consider sustainability, economic influences and patient outcomes in their design and implementation.

Effect of an Interdisciplinary Educational Program on Antipsychotic Prescribing Among Residents With Dementia in Two Long-Term Care Centers

The effect of an educational program on antipsychotic prescribing was assessed in two Canadian long-term care centers (LTCC). In each center (Center A residents, n = 258 and Center B residents, n = 191, with dementia at program inception), the rate of change in the odds of using antipsychotics in residents was estimated using mixed-effects logistic regression during a 6-month program period and a 4-month postprogram period, with baseline proportions of use estimated during the 6 months prior to the program. Preprogram proportions of antipsychotic use were 41.6% and 46.2%, respectively. Antipsychotic use decreased during the program in both centers: (odds ratio with 95% CI: 0.943 per week [0.921, 0.965] and 0.969 per week [0.944, 0.994], respectively). During the postprogram period, antipsychotic use increased in Center A (1.039 per week [1.007, 1.072]) but decreased progressively in Center B. The study results suggest the need to implement an ongoing educational program in LTCC.

Fatores associados ao uso de psicofármacos em idosos asilados

INTRODUÇÃO: As instituições de longa permanência para idosos (ILPI) apresentam altas prevalências de internados em uso de psicofármacos para o controle de distúrbios comportamentais. Há, porém, poucos estudos brasileiros sobre esse aspecto de abordagem terapêutica em ILPI. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os fatores associados ao uso de psicofármacos em pacientes idosos institucionalizados. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo transversal e retrospectivo por meio de análise de prontuários de todos os idosos (60 anos ou mais) internados em um ILPI, independentemente das doenças apresentadas. Regressão logística foi realizada para verificar os fatores associados ao uso de psicofármacos na instituição. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 209 pacientes (73,2% mulheres), predominantemente portadores de síndromes demenciais, sequelas de acidentes vasculares cerebrais ou de traumas de crânio e hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Os psicofármacos estavam prescritos para 123 internados (58,9% do total), principalmente neurolépticos e antidepressivos. Após a regressão logística, encontrou-se associação entre a prescrição de neurolépticos e demência (p = 0,000), enquanto que o uso de antidepressivos esteve associado a maior número de medicamentos (p = 0,004) e presença de depressão (p = 0,000). O uso de psicofármacos em geral esteve fortemente associado com depressão (p = 0,000), presença de demência (p = 0,006) e presença de doenças psiquiátricas (p = 0,02). Não houve associação com as variáveis sexo, funcionalidade e idade. CONCLUSÃO: Há alto consumo de psicofármacos em ILPI. A associação destes com polifarmácia e depressão é significativa, e os portadores de demência foram os que mais fizeram uso dos neurolépticos. Fatores como idade e sexo, normalmente relevantes em pacientes ambulatoriais, não apresentaram associação em institucionalizados.