Potentially Inappropriate Drug Prescribing in French Nursing Home Residents: An Observational Study

Older people, medication usage and long-term care pharmacists: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of the presence of a pharmacist on medication usage in long-term care facilities.

METHODS

The study followed a retrospective cohort design, with a sample of patients aged ≥65 years admitted to three long-term care facilities over 30 months. Data on age, gender, type of stay, the presence or absence of a pharmacist and pharmacotherapeutic profile at admission and discharge were obtained for study patients. Variations in the number of medicines, anticholinergic burden and potentially inappropriate medications at admission and discharge were assessed as outcome variables. Anticholinergic burden and potentially inappropriate medications were assessed using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale and the EU(7)-PIM List, respectively. One-sample t-tests were used to compare the mean values of the outcome variables. A four-way ANOVA was used to test the association between background and outcome variables. Partial eta squared (η2) was used to measure the effect size.

RESULTS

A total of 1366 patients were studied. All outcome variables showed a statistically significant increase at discharge compared with admission. The presence of a pharmacist was statistically significant in improving the number of medicines (p<0.001) and the anticholinergic burden score (p<0.001), while no statistically significant value was reached on potentially inappropriate medications (p=0.642). Small effect size values were obtained for the impact of the pharmacist on the number of medicines and anticholinergic burden scores (η2=0.021 and η2=0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the presence of a long-term care pharmacist can positively impact the use of medication associated with poor health outcomes. An integrated interprofessional approach is needed to address potentially inappropriate medications, anticholinergic burden and polypharmacy in long-term care settings, particularly at the time of discharge.

Potentially inappropriate medications in nursing homes and the community older adults using the French health insurance databases

PURPOSE

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) have become a major issue in improving prescribing practices and reducing the risk of adverse drug events in older people. However, very few studies have compared exposition to PIMs controlling for differences in demographic and health between nursing home residents (NHRs) and community-dwelling older adults (CDOAs). This study aimed to assess the prescribing pattern of PIMs between NHRs and CDOAs.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study over three months in 2019 using the French Health Insurance databases. The study population included 274 971 NHRs and 4 893 721 CDOAs aged 75 years or over. The prevalence ratio (PR) between NHRs and CDOAs of 17 PIM indicators, based on the Beers and STOPP criteria lists, was assessed using multivariable robust Poisson regression adjusted for age, sex, diseases, and polypharmacy.

RESULTS

During the study period, 54% of NHRs and 29% of CDOAs received at least one PIM. After adjustment, the prevalence of PIMs was 33% higher among NHRs compared to CDOAs (aPR = 1.33; 95% CI [1.33-1.34]). NHRs received PIMs related to benzodiazepines (aPR = 1.43; 95% CI [1.42-1.43]), anticholinergic drugs (aPR = 1.29; 95% CI [1.27-1.31]), and at least three central nervous system-active drugs (aPR = 1.94; 95% CI [1.92-1.96]) more frequently. Prevalence of PIMs related to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aPR = 0.50; 95% CI [0.48-0.52]) and long-acting benzodiazepines (aPR = 0.84; 95% CI [0.82-0.85]) was lower among NHRs.

CONCLUSION

The NHRs were at greater risk for PIM than CDOAs, although differences exist according to the category of PIMs. As the population is aging, it is essential to promote and evaluate interventions in NHs and the community to enhance medication optimization.

Prevalence of inappropriate drug dose adjustment and associated factors among inpatients with renal impairment in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

There is a high prevalence of inadequate dose adjustment among inpatients with renal insufficiency worldwide. There is, however, a paucity of studies that summarizes the topic in the African context. Therefore, this study aims to summarize the prevalence of inappropriate drug dose adjustment (IDDA) and associated factors among inpatients with renal impairment in Africa.

Methods

A literature search for English-language articles was conducted using reputable databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. The search was carried out between 3 February and 3 March of 2022. All published articles that were online at the time of data collection were considered. Observational studies that examined the prevalence of IDDA for any type of drug in renal impairment as a primary or secondary outcome were included in our analysis. Statistical software such as Open Meta Analyst and Review Manager were used to examine outcome measures. I² statistics, Logit event rate, and Der Simonian and Laird's random effect models were also used.

Results

Seven articles were qualified for the systematic review and meta-analysis. All included studies comprised a total of 1918 patients. A total of 5072 prescriptions were assessed, and 1879 (37%) of them had at least one drug that required a dose adjustment. The pooled prevalence of IDDA among adult patients with renal impairment was 13.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.9%-19.5%) in Africa. Based on the number of prescriptions containing medications that required dose adjustment, the pooled prevalence accounts for 39.3% (95% CI = 24.1%-54.4%) (932/1879). Factors associated with inappropriate drug prescribing and usage concerning renal function were the number/types of prescribed medicines (most common), age, stage of renal impairment, comorbidity, and unemployment.

Conclusions

In this study, IDDA practice appears to be a common challenge among inpatients with renal insufficiency in Africa. The number and type of medications prescribed, age, stage of renal impairment, comorbidity, and unemployment were factors associated with inappropriate drug prescribing and use. In addition to expanding such studies, hospitals across Africa must conduct research on the clinical outcomes of IDDA practices in patients with renal impairment.

A Survey of Prescription Errors in Paediatric Outpatients in Multi-Primary Care Settings: The Implementation of an Electronic Pre-Prescription System

BACKGROUND

Prescription errors impact the safety and efficacy of therapy and are considered to have a higher impact on paediatric populations. Nevertheless, information in paediatrics is still lacking, particularly in primary care settings. There exists a need to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of prescription errors in paediatric outpatients to prevent such errors during the prescription stage.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study to evaluate paediatric prescription errors in multi-primary care settings was conducted between August 2019 and July 2021. Prescriptions documented within the electronic pre-prescription system were automatically reviewed by the system and then, potentially inappropriate prescriptions would be reconciled by remote pharmacists via a regional pharmacy information exchange network. The demographics of paediatric patients, prescription details, and types/rates of errors were assessed and used to identify associated factors for prescription using logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 39,754 outpatient paediatric prescriptions in 13 community health care centres were reviewed, among which 1,724 prescriptions (4.3%) were enrolled in the study as they met the inclusion criteria. Dose errors were the most prevalent (27%), with the predominance of underdosing (69%). They were followed by errors in selection without specified indications (24.5%), incompatibility (12.4%), and frequency errors (9.9%). Among critical errors were drug duplication (8.7%), contraindication (.9%), and drug interaction (.8%) that directly affect the drug's safety and efficacy. Notably, error rates were highest in medications for respiratory system drugs (50.5%), antibiotics (27.3%), and Chinese traditional medicine (12.3%). Results of logistic regression revealed that specific drug classification (antitussives, expectorants and mucolytic agents, anti-infective agents), patient age (<6 years), and prescriber specialty (paediatrics) related positively to errors.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides the prevalence and characteristics of prescription errors of paediatric outpatients in community settings based on an electronic pre-prescription system. Errors in dose calculations and medications commonly prescribed in primary care settings, such as respiratory system drugs, antibiotics, and Chinese traditional medicine, are certainly to be aware of. These results highlight an essential requirement to update the rules of prescriptions in the pre-prescription system to facilitate the delivery of excellent therapeutic outcomes.

Telemedication Reviews to Optimize Medication Prescription for Older People in Nursing Homes

Introduction: Older people living in nursing homes (NH) are at a higher risk of preventable drug-related adverse events because of age-related physiological changes, polypathology, and polypharmacy. NH residents are particularly exposed to potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Many strategies have been developed to improve the quality and the safety of drug prescription in NH, including medication reviews (MRs). Methods: In the context of the application of telemedicine, we developed and are currently implementing a novel hospital expert-based MRs through tele-expertise (or "telemedication review," telemedication reviews hereafter [TMR]) in French NH residents. The impact of these TMR on unplanned hospitalizations 3 months after implementation is assessed. TMR consider all available sociodemographic, clinical, biological, and pharmaceutical data pertaining to the patient and are performed in accordance with their health care objectives. Results: The preliminary results for the 39 TMRs performed to date (September 2021) showed that a total of 402 PIMs were detected, and all residents had at least one PIM. We also present the feasibility and the usefulness of this novel TMR for NH, illustrating these preliminary results with two concrete TMR experiences. Among the 39 TMR performed, the average acceptance rate of expert recommendations made to general practitioners (GP) working in NH was ∼33%. Discussion and Conclusions: The success of this novel TMR depends on how the proposed prescription adjustments made by the hospital expert team are subsequently integrated into health care practices. The low acceptance rate by GP highlights the need to actively involve these professionals in the process of developing TMR, with a view to encouraging them to act on proposed adjustments.

Prescribing-Assessment Tools for Long-Term Care Pharmacy Practice: Reaching Consensus through a Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method

Medicines are the most used health technology in Long-Term Care. The prevalence of potentially inappropriate medicines amongst Long-Term Care patients is high. Pharmacists, assisted by prescribing-assessment tools, can play an important role in optimizing medication use at this level of care. Through a modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, 13 long-term care and hospital pharmacists assessed as 'appropriate', 'uncertain', or 'inappropriate' a collection of commonly used prescribing-assessment tools as to its suitability in assisting pharmacy practice in institutional long-term care settings. A qualitative analysis of written or transcribed comments of participants was pursued to identify relevant characteristics of prescribing-assessment tools and potential hinders in their use. From 24 different tools, pharmacists classified 9 as 'appropriate' for pharmacy practice targeted to long-term care patients, while 3 were classified as 'inappropriate'. The tools feature most appreciated by study participants was the indication of alternatives to potentially inappropriate medication. Lack of time and/or pharmacists and limited access to clinical information seems to be the most relevant hinders for prescribing-assessment tools used in daily practice.