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Wabe N, Urwin R, Seaman K, Westbrook JI. Longitudinal cohort study of discrepancies between prescribed and administered polypharmacy rates: implications for National Aged Care Quality Indicator Programs. BMJ Qual Saf 2024:bmjqs-2023-017042. [PMID: 39013597 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2023-017042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polypharmacy is frequently used as a quality indicator for older adults in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and is measured using a range of definitions. The impact of data source choice on polypharmacy rates and the implications for monitoring and benchmarking remain unclear. We aimed to determine polypharmacy rates (≥9 concurrent medicines) by using prescribed and administered data under various scenarios, leveraging electronic data from 30 RACFs. METHOD A longitudinal cohort study of 5662 residents in New South Wales, Australia. Both prescribed and administered polypharmacy rates were calculated biweekly from January 2019 to September 2022, providing 156 assessment times. 12 different polypharmacy rates were computed separately using prescribing and administration data and incorporating different combinations of items: medicines and non-medicinal products, any medicines and regular medicines across four scenarios: no, 1-week, 2-week and 4-week look-back periods. Generalised estimating equation models were employed to identify predictors of discrepancies between prescribed and administered polypharmacy. RESULTS Polypharmacy rates among residents ranged from 33.9% using data on administered regular medicines with no look-back period to 63.5% using prescribed medicines and non-medicinal products with a 4-week look-back period. At each assessment time, the differences between prescribed and administered polypharmacy rates were consistently more than 10.0%, 4.5%, 3.5% and 3.0%, respectively, with no, 1-week, 2-week and 4-week look-back periods. Diabetic residents faced over two times the likelihood of polypharmacy discrepancies compared with counterparts, while dementia residents consistently showed reduced likelihood across all analyses. CONCLUSION We found notable discrepancies between polypharmacy rates for prescribed and administered medicines. We recommend a review of the guidance for calculating and interpreting polypharmacy for national quality indicator programmes to ensure consistent measurement and meaningful reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Wabe
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rachel Urwin
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karla Seaman
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Johanna I Westbrook
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Pedersen AKB, Skinner MS, Sogstad M. Needs assessment in long-term care: expression of national principles for priority setting in service allocation. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:530. [PMID: 38671489 PMCID: PMC11046954 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10889-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term care services for older adults are characterised by increasing needs and scarce resources. Political strategies have led to the reorganisation of long-term care services, with an increased focus on "ageing in place" and efficient use of resources. There is currently limited research on the processes by which resource allocation decisions are made by service allocators of long-term care services for older adults. The aim of this study is to explore how three political principles for priority setting in long-term care, resource, severity and benefit, are expressed in service allocation to older adults. METHODS This qualitative study uses data from semi-structured individual interviews, focus groups and observations of service allocators who assess needs and assign long-term care services to older adults in Norway. The data were supplemented with individual decision letters from the allocation office, granting or denying long-term care services. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS The allocators drew on all three principles for priority setting when assessing older adults' long-term care needs and allocating services. We found that the three principles pushed in different directions in the allocation process. We identified six themes related to service allocators' expression of the principles: (1) lowest effective level of care as a criterion for service allocation (resource), (2) blanket allocation of low-cost care services (resource), (3) severity of medical and rehabilitation needs (severity), (4) severity of care needs (severity), (5) benefit of generous service allocation (benefit) and (6) benefit of avoiding services (benefit). CONCLUSIONS The expressions of the three political principles for priority setting in long-term care allocation are in accordance with broader political trends and discourses regarding "ageing in place", active ageing, an investment ideology, and prioritising those who are "worse off". Increasing attention to the rehabilitation potential of older adults and expectations that they will take care of themselves increase the risk of not meeting frail older adults' care needs. Additionally, difficulties in defining the severity of older adults' complex needs lead to debates regarding "worse off" versus potentiality in future long-term care services allocation. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Katrin Blø Pedersen
- Centre for Care Research, Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Teknologivegen 22, 2815, Gjøvik, Norway.
| | - Marianne Sundlisæter Skinner
- Centre for Care Research, Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Teknologivegen 22, 2815, Gjøvik, Norway.
| | - Maren Sogstad
- Centre for Care Research, Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Teknologivegen 22, 2815, Gjøvik, Norway.
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Tingvold L, Melby L. Three ways of organising general practitioner's medical services in sheltered housing. A qualitative study. Scand J Prim Health Care 2023; 41:400-410. [PMID: 37706637 PMCID: PMC11001341 DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2023.2256381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Explore care providers' experiences with the organisation of the medical services for residents in round-the-clock staffed sheltered housing. DESIGN Qualitative study and thematic analysis of individual interviews after strategic sampling of participants. SETTING Round-the-clock staffed sheltered housing in seven municipalities, inhabited by various user groups, and GPs in various locations in Norway. SUBJECTS In-depth interviews with 18 participants: 11 managers or employees in sheltered housing and seven GPs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Main themes and subthemes reporting participants' experiences of medical provision to sheltered housing residents. RESULTS Three main models of organizing medical services for round-the-clock staffed sheltered housing were identified: (i) the 'multiple GP' model, where each resident has their own individual GP; (ii) the 'single GP' model, where all residents in the sheltered housing have one common GP; (iii) the 'hybrid' model, where a few dedicated GPs follow up the residents. CONCLUSION Residents in round-the-clock staffed sheltered housing constitute a varied group that generally has substantial medical assistance needs. Given that many residents lack autonomy to manage their own care needs and make decisions, models with fewer GPs like models ii and iii seem to provide a better medical professional offer. Moving towards such an organising of the medical services for sheltered housing residents could have implications for GPs' workload and competence needs. Future studies are needed to test models and assess implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Tingvold
- Centre for Care Research East, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Line Melby
- Centre for Care Research East, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
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Mardani A, Paal P, Weck C, Jamshed S, Vaismoradi M. Practical Considerations of PRN Medicines Management: An Integrative Systematic Review. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:759998. [PMID: 35496317 PMCID: PMC9039188 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.759998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives: Highly widespread use of pro re nata (PRN) medicines in various healthcare settings is a potential area for improper medication prescription and administration leading to patient harm. This study aimed to summarize and integrate the findings of all relevant individual studies regarding the practical considerations of PRN medicines management including strategies and interventions by healthcare professionals for safe prescription, dispensing, administration, monitoring, and deprescription of PRN medicines in healthcare settings. Methods: An integrative systematic review on international databases were performed. Electronic databases including Web of Knowledge, Scopus, PubMed (including MEDLINE), and Cinahl were searched to retrieve articles published until end of May 2021. Original qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies written in English were included with a focus on PRN medicines management in healthcare settings. Research synthesis using the narrative method was performed to summarise the results of included studies. Results: Thirty-one studies on PRN medicines in healthcare settings by different healthcare providers were included after the screening of the databases based on eligibility criteria. They were published from 1987 to 2021. The majority of studies were from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and were conducted in psychiatric settings. Given variations in their purposes, methods, and outcomes, the research synthesis was conducted narratively based on diversities and similarities in findings. Eight categories were developed by the authors as follows: "PRN indications and precautionary measures," "requirements of PRN prescription," "interventions for PRN administration," "monitoring and follow up interventions," "deprescription strategies," "healthcare professionals' role," "participation of patients and families," and "multidisciplinary collaboration." Each category consists of several items and describes what factors should be considered by healthcare professionals for PRN medicines management. Conclusion: The review findings provide insights on the practical considerations of PRN medicines management in clinical practice. The suggested list of considerations in our review can be used by healthcare professionals for optimal PRN medicines management and safeguarding patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Mardani
- Nursing Care Research Center, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Piret Paal
- Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christiane Weck
- Palliative Care, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.,Department of Neurology, Klinikum Agatharied, Hausham, Germany
| | - Shazia Jamshed
- Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia
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Nilsen MK, Blix BH, Sletvold H, Olsen RM. Older Adults Living in Sheltered Housing's Experiences of Involvement in Pro Re Nata Decisions. A Narrative Positioning Analysis. Glob Qual Nurs Res 2021; 8:23333936211056930. [PMID: 34841007 PMCID: PMC8611287 DOI: 10.1177/23333936211056930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Decisions regarding pro re nata medications might be challenging due to the complex
nature of the practice. The aim of this study was to expand our understanding of the
experiences of older people living in sheltered housings with regard to shared
decision-making concerning pro re nata medications. In this study, we conducted in-depth
interviews with residents living in Norwegian sheltered housings. The analysis was
inductive, based on a narrative positioning analysis. Twelve residents were interviewed,
and three narratives representing participants’ variation are presented. People take
different positions in shared decision-making of pro re nata medication, and they position
themselves variously at different levels and situations. Prevailing master narratives
affect the residents’ positions in shared decision-making. Contrasts in older adults’
experiences indicate that shared decision-making is not straightforward and is highly
reliant on the context. Seemingly, they wish to be involved and not involved at the same
time, a contradiction that healthcare providers need to consider.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bodil H Blix
- Department of Health and Care Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway
| | - Hege Sletvold
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Namsos, Norway
| | - Rose Mari Olsen
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Namsos, Norway.,Centre for Care Research Mid-Norway, Nord University, Namsos, Norway
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Vaismoradi M, Fredriksen Moe C, Vizcaya-Moreno F, Paal P. Ethical Tenets of PRN Medicines Management in Healthcare Settings: A Clinical Perspective. PHARMACY 2021; 9:174. [PMID: 34707079 PMCID: PMC8552074 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy9040174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prescription and administration of pro re nata (PRN) medications has remained a poorly discussed area of the international literature regarding ethical tenets influencing this type of medication practice. In this commentary, ethical tenets of PRN medicines management from the clinical perspective based on available international literature and published research have been discussed. Three categories were developed by the authors for summarising review findings as follows: 'benefiting the patient', 'making well-informed decision', and 'follow up assessment' as pre-intervention, through-intervention, and post-intervention aspects, respectively. PRN medicines management is mainly intertwined with the ethical tenets of beneficence, nonmaleficence, dignity, autonomy, justice, informed consent, and error disclosure. It is a dynamic process and needs close collaboration between healthcare professionals especially nurses and patients to prevent unethical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Vaismoradi
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway;
| | | | - Flores Vizcaya-Moreno
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain;
| | - Piret Paal
- WHO Collaborating Centre, Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
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Nilsen MK, Sletvold H, Olsen RM. ‘Sometimes we just have to trust our gut feeling and hope the reporting is good’. TIDSSKRIFT FOR OMSORGSFORSKNING 2021. [DOI: 10.18261/issn.2387-5984-2021-03-01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Nyande FK, Avor WMK, Dartey AF. Ghanaian midwives' perspective of muddling through challenges with use of non-adjustable delivery beds: A descriptive exploratory study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AFRICA NURSING SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijans.2021.100291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Vaismoradi M, Jordan S, Vizcaya-Moreno F, Friedl I, Glarcher M. PRN Medicines Optimization and Nurse Education. PHARMACY 2020; 8:E201. [PMID: 33114731 PMCID: PMC7712763 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy8040201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Medicines management is a high-risk and error prone process in healthcare settings, where nurses play an important role to preserve patient safety. In order to create a safe healthcare environment, nurses should recognize challenges that they face in this process, understand factors leading to medication errors, identify errors and systematically address them to prevent their future occurrence. ''Pro re nata'' (PRN, as needed) medicine administration is a relatively neglected area of medicines management in nursing practice, yet has a high potential for medication errors. Currently, the international literature indicates a lack of knowledge of both the competencies required for PRN medicines management and the optimum educational strategies to prepare students for PRN medicines management. To address this deficiency in the literature, the authors have presented a discussion on nurses' roles in medication safety and the significance and purpose of PRN medications, and suggest a model for preparing nursing students in safe PRN medicines management. The discussion takes into account patient participation and nurse competencies required to safeguard PRN medication practice, providing a background for further research on how to improve the safety of PRN medicines management in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Vaismoradi
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway
| | - Sue Jordan
- Department of Nursing, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;
| | - Flores Vizcaya-Moreno
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain;
| | - Ingrid Friedl
- Hospital Graz II, A Regional Hospital of the Health Care Company of Styria, 8020 Graz, Austria;
| | - Manela Glarcher
- Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
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