Medication Use and Storage, and Their Potential Risks in US Households

Nurse delivered medication safety screening program for home care visits

Home care clients have safety barriers related to medication storage, disposal, and safe use of opioids. Limited research is available regarding medication safety initiatives in the home care setting. This study evaluates a medication safety initiative, linked with opioid misuse and overdose prevention screening, for home care clients with different levels of service. Training and screening tools designed for community pharmacies by the Opioid & Naloxone Education (ONE) Program were modified for use by home health nurses. All new admits to the home health services were screened for medication storage, medication disposal, and use of pain medications. Patients taking opioids were screened for opioid-specific risks. Interventions based on screening results included education, provision of medication lock boxes, drug disposal packets, and/or naloxone. Most home care clients (85%) are properly storing their medication and 38% were not properly disposing unused medications. Higher levels of care had greater pain medication needs, including the provision of naloxone. This study demonstrates the opportunity to incorporate medication safety screening into nursing home health visits.