Psychotropic drug use in Sydney nursing homes

More action needed: Psychotropic prescribing in Australian residential aged care

OBJECTIVE

For at least two decades, concerns have been raised about inappropriate psychotropic prescribing in Australian residential aged care facilities, due to their modest therapeutic benefit and increased risk of falls and mortality. To date, the majority of prevalence data has been collected in Sydney exclusively and it is not known if recent initiatives to promote appropriate psychotropic prescribing have impacted utilisation. Thus, we aimed to comprehensively analyse psychotropic use in a large national sample of residential aged care facility residents.

METHOD

A cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study of residents from 150 residential aged care facilities distributed nationally during April 2014-October 2015. Antipsychotic, anxiolytic/hypnotic and antidepressant utilisation was assessed, along with anticonvulsant and anti-dementia drug use. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to examine variation in psychotropic use.

RESULTS

Full psychotropic prescribing data was available from 11,368 residents. Nearly two-thirds (61%) were taking psychotropic agents regularly, with over 41% prescribed antidepressants, 22% antipsychotics and 22% of residents taking benzodiazepines. Over 30% and 11% were charted for 'prn' (as required) benzodiazepines and antipsychotics, respectively. More than 16% of the residents were taking sedating antidepressants, predominantly mirtazapine. South Australian residents were more likely to be taking benzodiazepines ( p < 0.05) and residents from New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory less likely to be taking them ( p < 0.01), after adjustment for rurality and size of residential aged care facility. Residents located in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory were also significantly less likely to take antidepressants ( p < 0.01), as were residents from outer regional residential aged care facilities ( p < 0.01). Antipsychotic use was not associated with State, rurality or residential aged care facility size.

CONCLUSION

Regular antipsychotic use appears to have decreased in residential aged care facilities but benzodiazepine prevalence is higher, particularly in South Australian residential aged care facilities. Sedating antidepressant and 'prn' psychotropic prescribing is widespread. Effective interventions to reduce the continued reliance on psychotropic management, in conjunction with active promotion of non-pharmacological strategies, are urgently required.

Use of medicines in nursing homes for older people

The National Health Service (NHS) spent £10 billion (40%) of its total budget on people aged 65 and over in 1998/1999. The profile of the health and social care of older people has been raised recently by the publication of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People (Department of Health, 2001). The NSF contains standards that older people can expect when they receive health and social care (Box 1). The document also discusses in detail medication management issues in older people. Its two aims in this area are to ensure that older people gain the maximum benefit from their medication in order to maintain or improve quality and duration of life, and do not suffer unnecessarily from illness caused by excessive, inappropriate or inadequate consumption of medicines.

Patterns of psychotropic medication use in nursing homes: surveys in Sydney, allowing comparisons over time and between countries

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore changes in patterns of use of psychotropic medication in Sydney nursing homes over recent years, and to compare current usage rates with those reported from other countries.

METHODS

Data were obtained from 44 of the 48 nursing homes in a central Sydney health area. Researchers noted details from medication cards concerning residents' age, gender and all currently prescribed drugs, checking whether medication had been given as prescribed. Frequency of administration of "as required" drugs in the previous four weeks was noted.

RESULTS

The pattern of use of psychotropic medication changed considerably between 1993 and 2009. The number of residents taking regularly administered antipsychotics increased by 24% during 1998-2009, though mean dosages decreased. In 2009, fewer residents took hypnotic and/or anxiolytic medications than in the 1990s, and fewer than in countries from which equivalent data have been reported. Antidepressant use increased over the 16 years but only to 25.6%. Only 3% of residents in Sydney nursing homes in 2009 took cognition-enhancing drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to other countries, rates of use of hypnotic, anxiolytic and antidepressant medication in Sydney nursing homes are low. Benefits and disadvantages of these differences merit analysis. Antipsychotic medications were administered to similar percentages of survey residents in 1993 and 2009, but at lower mean dosages in 2009 compared to previous surveys, and with a change to using mainly atypical antipsychotic drugs. Compared to various other countries, cognition-enhancing and antidepressant medications are administered to proportionally fewer residents in Sydney nursing homes. Outcome analysis regarding the use and benefits of such drugs in nursing homes is desirable.

Changes to psychotropic medications in the six months after admission to nursing homes in Melbourne, Australia

BACKGROUND

Nursing home residents are often prescribed large numbers of psychotropic medications. Previous studies suggest that antipsychotic medications are often unnecessary and can be withdrawn without ill effects. Depression, in contrast, is believed to be under-recognized and under-treated.

METHOD

A six-month audit was carried out of the antipsychotic, antidepressant, anxiolytic and hypnotic medications prescribed to 166 newly admitted residents of a convenience sample of seven nursing homes in Melbourne, Australia.

RESULTS

Over the six-month period, antidepressants were started in 6% of all cases and stopped in 2% of treated cases. Antipsychotics were added in 5% of all cases and stopped in 15% of treated cases. Residents were switched from one antidepressant to another in 5% of treated cases and from one antipsychotic to another in 4%. Benzodiazepine use was relatively modest.

CONCLUSIONS

Judging from epidemiological data, treatment revisions were almost certainly insufficient to address residents' mental health needs. We discuss ways of harnessing existing nursing and pharmacy resources to ensure better care for aged residents.

Perceptions of nurses in nursing homes on the usage of benzodiazepines

AIM

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study on how nurses perceive their own role in the use of benzodiazepines in nursing homes and to identify the factors that have an impact on the nurses' role in the use of benzodiazepines.

BACKGROUND

The use of benzodiazepines in nursing homes is of particular concern, as nursing-home residents receive considerably more benzodiazepines than non-institutionalised older persons. Evidence of their long-term effectiveness is lacking. Nurses are important partners in the decision-making process of starting and discontinuation of benzodiazepines.

DESIGN

Qualitative descriptive.

METHOD

Three focus group interviews and 10 additional semi-structured interviews were used with 33 registered nurses. The interviews were thematically analysed.

FINDINGS

Nurses' main concern is to work towards the comfort of the patient. Benzodiazepines are an easy option with not too many side effects and administration of benzodiazepines is experienced as a routine action. When prescribed they will almost automatically lead to chronic usage as there is no evaluation of their effect. There are three aspects that have an impact on nurse's perceptions of their role in benzodiazepine usage: their own individual attitude and perceptions, their knowledge and organisational factors.

CONCLUSION

Nurses do not see benzodiazepines as a problem drug and once a prescription is initiated it will almost automatically lead to chronic usage. Nurses should work towards a pro-active promotion of addressing sleeping problems and they can play a key role in non-pharmacological interventions.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses can play a key role in suggesting non-pharmacological alternatives. Education to provide more insight into the problems of insomnia and anxiety may positively influence their attitudes and behaviour. All caregivers in nursing homes should be informed about the relevance of this issue.

Psychotropic prescribing in long-term care facilities: impact of medication reviews and educational interventions

The objective of this literature review was to evaluate the evidence pertaining to the impact of medication reviews and/or educational interventions on psychotropic drug use in long-term care facilities. A computerized search was conducted using MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials, CINAHL, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and PsycINFO, from January 1980 to April 2007. Controlled studies or randomized controlled studies were included for review. The authors identified 26 studies evaluating the impact of medication reviews and/or educational interventions on psychotropic drug use in long-term care facilities. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for this review and the data from six of these studies were included in a meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) from five studies on hypnotic prescribing showed a decrease in use postintervention (OR = 0.57, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.41-0.79). The pooled OR from five studies on prevalence of antipsychotic prescribing postintervention was not significant (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.63-1.04). Medication reviews and/or educational interventions are effective at reducing psychotropic drug prescribing. However, research on the benefits of these interventions in reducing psychotropic drug use on total health care costs and resident health outcomes is lacking.

Does Organisational Culture Influence Prescribing in Care Homes for Older People?

Prescribing in care homes for older people has been the focus of much research and debate because of inappropriate drug choice and poor monitoring practices. In the US, this has led to the implementation of punitive and adversarial regulation that has sought to improve the quality of prescribing in this healthcare setting. This approach is unique to the US and has not been replicated elsewhere. The literature has revealed that there are limitations as to how much can be achieved with regulation that is externally imposed (an 'external factor'). Other influences, which may be categorised as 'internal factors' operating within the care home (e.g. patient, physician and care-home characteristics), also affect prescribing. However, these internal and external factors do not appear to affect prescribing uniformly, and poor prescribing practices in care homes continue to be observed. One intangible factor that has received little attention in this area of healthcare is that of organisational culture. This factor has been linked to quality and performance within other health organisations. Consideration of organisational culture within care-home settings may help to understand what drives prescribing decisions in this particularly vulnerable patient group and thus provide new directions for future strategies to promote quality care.

Factors influencing psychotropic prescription by non-psychiatrist physicians in a nursing home for the elderly in Brazil

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

Although psychotropics are one of the classes of medications most prescribed in nursing homes for the elderly, studies examining prescribing patterns are limited in both number and scope. The present study was undertaken to investigate factors associated with general psychotropic use in a nursing home in Brazil.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective observational study at the Nursing Home for the Elderly, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista.

METHODS

Information on prescriptions was retrieved from the medical records of 108 elderly residents in a nursing home. Sixty-five of these patients, with mean age 74.5 years (+/-standard deviation 9.4 years), who were taking medications on a regular basis, comprised the sample. The effects of demographic and clinical variables on the psychotropic prescription pattern were examined.

RESULTS

Females were more likely to receive psychotropics (p = 0.038). Individuals on medicines for cardiovascular diseases received psychotropics less frequently (p = 0.001). The number of prescribed psychotropics correlated negatively with both age (p = 0.009) and number of non-psychotropic drugs (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Although preliminary, the present results indicated that cardiovascular disease was the clinical variable that most influenced psychotropic prescription. Physicians' overconcern regarding drug interactions might at least partially explain this result. Further investigations involving larger sample sizes from different regions are warranted to confirm these findings.

Audits of medication use in Sydney nursing homes

BACKGROUND

most nursing home residents take several different medications. Reports have shown considerable variation in the frequency and types of prescriptions between nursing homes and between countries.

OBJECTIVE

to record the current pattern of medication use in Sydney nursing homes to allow comparison with patterns observed 5 and 10 years previously, and in other countries.

METHODS

data were recorded from the medication cards and clinical files of all 3,054 residents in 50 nursing homes in the Central Sydney Health Area and were compared with data recorded in 1993 and 1998.

RESULTS

the mean number of medications prescribed per resident in 2003 was 6.84, while the mean number consumed regularly (rather than 'as necessary') was 5.42. These numbers were higher than 5 and 10 years previously, though there had been reductions in use of diuretics, anticonvulsants, hypnotics and anxiolytics. There had been increased prescription of antidepressants, anti-diabetes drugs, calcium and (among women) thyroid hormones. Prescription rates for laxatives, cardiovascular medication and analgesics remained high.

CONCLUSIONS

the pattern of medication prescription has changed. This may be attributable to improved education of clinicians and nursing home staff, involvement of pharmacists and altered or increased prevalence of medical and mental disorders in nursing homes.

Drug Use in a Geriatric Long-Term Care Setting

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Advanced age, co-morbid diseases, functional dependence and frailty are associated with polypharmacy and overall high health expenditures. Polypharmacy is commonly defined as the concomitant ingestion of four or more medications, particularly in community-dwelling patients, but the number of drugs being taken by institutionalised and hospitalised patients may be as high as ten. The aim of this study was to compare drug use in newly admitted patients (AP) to a geriatric medical centre for long-term care (LTC) with that of institutionalised patients (IP) at the centre.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted, between January 2001 and December 2002, in 324 functionally dependent and cognitively impaired elderly patients (> or = 65 years of age), consisting of 167 IP (127 females, 40 males) staying at the centre for > or = 3 months and 157 (117 females, 40 males) consecutive new admissions for LTC. All patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, which included a structured medical history, history of drug use, physical examination and functional and cognitive examinations. Overall drug use, drug categories and the basis of use (regular and/or as needed) were compared between the two groups of patients. The pattern of drug use was defined as use of drugs either on a 'regular' basis or on an 'as needed' basis at any time during the 3 weeks preceding the comprehensive geriatric assessment.

RESULTS

IPs were younger, more dependent, more cognitively impaired, had more co-morbidity and had nonsignificantly higher overall drug use than APs. APs used drugs mainly on a 'regular' basis. All of the IPs and most (97%) of the APs were taking drugs according to regular regimens. However, advanced age in IPs was associated with lower overall drug use, predominantly of medications taken on a 'regular' basis, and higher use of drugs taken on an 'as needed' basis, whereas in APs, advanced age was associated with higher use of both types of medications.

CONCLUSION

IPs used more drugs on an 'as needed' basis, probably because of closer medical supervision of these patients than those in the community. Better knowledge of the patient's medical condition and treatment, together with better monitoring in the community through patient caregiver instruction, on the one hand, and computerisation of medical data accessible to all healthcare providers, on the other hand, might reduce drug use on a regular basis and, consequently, the costly and adverse effects of polypharmacy.

Use of Sleep-Promoting Medications in Nursing Home Residents

This paper reviews the use of sleep-promoting medications in nursing home residents with reference to risks versus benefits. Up to two-thirds of elderly people living in institutions experience sleep disturbance. The aetiology of sleep disturbance includes poor sleep hygiene, medical and psychiatric disorders, sleep apnoea, periodic limb movements and restless leg syndrome. One key factor in the development of sleep disturbance in the nursing home is the environment, particularly with respect to high levels of night-time noise and light, low levels of daytime light, and care routines that do not promote sleep. Clinical assessment should include a comprehensive medical, psychiatric and sleep history including a review of prescribed medications. Nonpharmacological interventions for insomnia are underutilised in many clinical settings despite evidence that they are often highly effective. International studies suggest that 50-80% of nursing home residents have at least one prescription for psychotropic medication. Utilisation rates vary dramatically from country to country and from institution to institution. The most commonly prescribed medications for sleep are benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (Z-drugs). The vast majority of studies of these medications are short-term, i.e. < or =2 weeks, although some longer extension trials have recently been carried out. Clinicians are advised to avoid long-acting benzodiazepines and to use hypnotics for as brief a period as possible, in most cases not exceeding 2-3 weeks of treatment. Patients receiving benzodiazepines are at increased risk of daytime sedation, falls, and cognitive and psychomotor impairment. Zaleplon, zolpidem, zopiclone and eszopiclone may have some advantages over the benzodiazepines, particularly with respect to the development of tolerance and dependence. Ramelteon, a novel agent with high selectivity for melatonin receptors, has recently been approved in the US. Use of the antidepressant trazodone for sleep in nondepressed patients is somewhat controversial. Atypical antipsychotics should not be used to treat insomnia unless there is also evidence of severe behavioural symptoms or psychosis.

Use of Psychotropic Drugs in Elderly Nursing Home Residents with and without Dementia in Helsinki, Finland

OBJECTIVE

Use of psychotropic medication is very common in nursing home residents. Our objective was to describe the use of psychotropic drugs in all long-term nursing home residents > or =65 years of age with and without dementia in Helsinki, Finland.

METHOD

The study was a cross-sectional assessment of the nursing home population. The residents' health status was assessed and data on their demographic factors, health and medication use were collected from medical charts in February 2003.

RESULTS

Of all nursing home residents in Helsinki, 82% (n = 1987) participated in the study. The nursing home residents' mean age was 83.7 (SD 7.7) years, 80.7% were female, and 69.5% were diagnosed with dementia. The mean number of drugs [corrected] given regularly was 7.9 (SD 3.6) per day per resident[corrected] Of the participants, 79.7% were regularly taking psychotropic medication. Conventional antipsychotics were administered to 18.9% of residents and atypical antipsychotics to 27.0%. Of the residents, 26.7% were on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), 3.1% on tricyclic antidepressants and 17.6% on other antidepressants. Altogether, 44.6% of residents were taking one or more antidepressant. More than a quarter (26.3%) were taking at least one anxiolytic drug. Hypnotics were used by 27.5%. However, only moderate dosages of psychotropic drugs were being taken. Only 10.4% of individuals with dementia were regularly taking cholinesterase inhibitors and four residents were taking memantine.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of psychotropic drugs is very common in nursing homes in Helsinki, Finland, with four of five nursing home residents regularly receiving psychotropic drugs. Only one in ten residents were receiving cholinesterase inhibitors. Physicians caring for nursing home residents require further education on the benefits and adverse effects of psychotropic drugs in frail elderly people.

Administrative Initiatives for Reducing Inappropriate Prescribing of Psychotropic Drugs in Nursing Homes

The quality of nursing home care has been subject to intense investigation and scrutiny, particularly in the US. In particular, there has long been concern about the extensive use of psychotropic agents, notably antipsychotics, hypnotics and anxiolytics, in this setting. These drugs have been described as 'chemical restraints', in that they were used to sedate and subdue patients, partly to compensate for poor staffing levels and to minimise staff contact with patients. However, following a damning Institute of Medicine report to the US Congress, use of such drugs became regulated under a unique administrative initiative: the Nursing Home Reform Act, embedded within the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1987 (OBRA 87). Research has indicated that psychotropic drug use in nursing homes has declined markedly following the implementation of this regulation. In addition, explicit criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use were incorporated within the guidelines for nursing home inspectors from 1 July 1999. Because regulations have targeted poor prescribing, rather than promoting the use of effective drugs in older residents, it has been difficult to determine whether outcomes have improved for nursing home residents as a result. However, US government agencies have responded to continuing concerns about nursing home care through the implementation of quality indicators which are used to guide and plan inspections of such facilities and to compare nursing homes within the same state. Although there are a limited number of quality indicators relating to prescribing, this represents a move away from adversarial regulation, which focuses on poor practice, and attempts to improve quality of care. An important role for educational initiatives and interventions has been advocated by some commentators and these have proved to be successful in the nursing home environment. Other countries have not implemented such restrictive prescribing regulation in nursing homes. Exemplars of innovative prescribing models, involving pharmacists and encouraging resident-centred care, may offer a more palatable approach to improving drug use in this vulnerable population.

Which organizational characteristics are associated with increased management of depression using antidepressants in US nursing homes?

BACKGROUND

There is universal agreement that organizational characteristics of nursing facilities can and do influence the quality of care and resident outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the relation between organizational characteristics and management of depression using antidepressants.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study of Medicare/Medicaid certified nursing homes in 6 states in 2000.

SUBJECTS

We studied 87,907 residents with depression in 2,128 facilities.

MEASURES

Minimum Data Set (MDS) provided information regarding use of antidepressants and resident factors. On-line Survey and Certification of Automated Records (OSCAR) provided facility characteristics information including structural, resource, and staffing levels. Adjusted estimates of organizational effects on antidepressant drug use were derived from generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

Increased treatment of depression with antidepressants was associated with facilities with a higher percentage of residents from payer sources other than Medicare/Medicaid (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.06) and more professional nursing staff (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05-1.26). Decreased treatment tended to be related to larger homes (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.68-0.84) or if the home employed full-time physicians (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.96). Once the decision to treat was made, treatment with tricyclics tended to be inversely related to larger homes, for-profit facilities, and homes with more Medicare residents.

CONCLUSIONS

Facilities that are required to be more fiscally conservative, be it larger facilities with fewer private pay patients or for profit facilities, have lower rates of pharmacologic treatment. Resource and structural characteristics influence the type of antidepressant being prescribed; resident characteristics may not be the over-riding factor in prescribing.

Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial of a clinical pharmacy intervention in 52 nursing homes

AIMS

To evaluate whether a year long clinical pharmacy program involving development of professional relationships, nurse education on medication issues, and individualized medication reviews could change drug use, mortality and morbidity in nursing home residents.

METHODS

A cluster randomised controlled trial, where an intervention home was matched to three control homes, was used to examine the effect of the clinical pharmacy intervention on resident outcomes. The study involved 905 residents in 13 intervention nursing homes and 2325 residents in 39 control nursing homes in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, Australia. The outcome measures were: continuous drug use data from government prescription subsidy claims, cross-sectional drug use data on prescribed and administered medications, deaths and morbidity indices (hospitalization rates, adverse events and disability indices).

RESULTS

This intervention resulted in a reduction in drug use with no change in morbidity indices or survival. Differences in nursing home characteristics, as defined by cluster analysis with SUDAAN, negated intervention-related apparent significant improvements in survival. The use of benzodiazepines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, laxatives, histamine H2-receptor antagonists and antacids was significantly reduced in the intervention group, whereas the use of digoxin and diuretics remained similar to controls. Overall, drug use in the intervention group was reduced by 14.8% relative to the controls, equivalent to an annual prescription saving of A64 dollars per resident (approximately 25 pound sterling).

CONCLUSIONS

This intervention improved nursing home resident outcomes related to changes in drug use and drug-related expenditure. The continuing divergence in both drug use and survival at the end of the study suggests that the difference would have been more significant in a larger and longer study, and even more so using additional instruments specific for measuring outcomes related to changes in drug use.

Determinants for the use of psychotropics among nursing home residents

PURPOSE

To characterise the prescription pattern of psychotropics in Danish nursing homes and to identify diagnostic, behavioural, cognitive and performance characteristics associated with prevalent psychotropic drug use.

METHODS

Prescribed daily medication was recorded from nurses' files. Based on the Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical (ATC) classification index, psychotropics were categorised into neuroleptics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Two hundred and eighty-eight residents were diagnosed using the GMS-AGECAT. One hundred and eighteen staff members were interviewed about the residents's Activities of Daily Living (ADL), behavioural problems (Nursing Home Behavior Problem Scale), orientation, communication skills and if the resident had any psychiatric disorder. Multiple logistic regression was used to select the items that determined the use of psychotropics.

RESULTS

Fifty-six percent of the residents received a psychotropic, 21% received neuroleptics, 38% received benzodiazepines and 24% received antidepressants. In the multivariate analysis, staff assessment of the resident's mental health was a determinant for the use of all types of specific psychotropics, whereas a GMS-AGECAT diagnosis only determined the use of neuroleptics. Behavioural problems were a determinant for the use of neuroleptics and the use of benzodiazepines irrespective of the psychiatric diagnosis of the resident. Use of antidepressants was associated with male gender and increasing age.

CONCLUSIONS

Staff perceptions of psychiatric morbidity and norms have a greater impact on the prescription of psychotropics than standardised clinical criteria.

A follow-up survey of psychotropic drug use in Sydney nursing homes

OBJECTIVE

To review the pattern of use of psychotropic drugs in Sydney nursing homes.

DESIGN

Repeat survey of data from medication cards.

SETTING

Central Sydney Health Area, February to June 1998.

SUBJECTS

All residents of 38 of the 39 nursing homes in the western sector of the health area.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Psychotropic drugs used regularly or as required.

RESULTS

In 1998, 48.5% of residents (95% confidence interval [CI], 46.3%-50.7%) were taking one or more psychotropic drugs regularly and another 4.5% (95% CI, 3.6%-5.4%) had been given "as required" doses at least once in the preceding 4 weeks. Corresponding figures in 1993 were 58.9% (95% CI, 56.9%-60.9%) and 7.0% (95% CI, 6.0%-8.0%). A significantly smaller proportion of residents were taking regular doses of neuroleptics (22.6%), hypnotics (17.0%) and anxiolytics (6.2%) than in 1993. Moreover, dosages of conventional neuroleptics (particularly haloperidol) tended to be lower than in 1993, and 2.4% were prescribed new-generation neuroleptics. The proportion prescribed antidepressants was similar to that in 1993, but fewer (40% v. 64%) were given doses regarded as inadequate for treatment of depression; about half were taking the newer antidepressants. Some 13% were taking anticonvulsants, but these were not categorised as psychotropic in the 1993 or 1998 surveys.

CONCLUSIONS

There have been considerable reductions in prescribing of neuroleptic, hypnotic and anxiolytic medication in central Sydney nursing homes. Changes may be attributable to educational initiatives and publicity about perceived overuse.

The epidemiology of serious adverse drug reactions among the elderly

Although the incidence and prevalence of serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the elderly cannot be accurately stated, published estimates appear to be unchanged since the earliest reports in the 1960s. Whereas heightened awareness of the problem may weigh in favour of a reduction in ADR frequency, the dramatic increase in the number and availability of therapeutic agents has undoubtedly contributed to the observed high proportion of drug-induced morbidity among acute geriatric hospital admissions. No single drug or drug class is of particular concern since none appears to cause serious morbidity out of proportion with its use. Although numerous studies have sought to identify risk factors for ADRs, the only truly independent predictor is the absolute number of concurrently used medications. However, other studies indicate that there is poor doctor-patient agreement regarding a patient's drug regimen, and interventions that aim to reduce the incidence of ADRs have failed to demonstrate a positive effect. Thus at present the most rational approach would appear to be to establish an accurate knowledge of the patients drug regimens: once this is known one can attempt to rationally minimise the number of medications without compromising therapeutic goals.

Resident characteristics and organizational factors influencing the quality of drug use in Swedish nursing homes

Appropriateness of drug use is an important indicator of the quality of care in nursing homes. In this study, we analyzed the influence of resident characteristics and selected organizational factors on the appropriateness of psychotropic drug use in 33 Swedish nursing homes. Specific criteria based on published guidelines and recommendations were developed to measure appropriateness. Residents diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and younger residents had more deviations from the criteria; however, resident mix did not explain variations in appropriateness of drug use at the facility level. Facilities with better nurse staffing and drug intervention teams had fewer deviations from the criteria, but only 15-20% of the variation in drug prescribing was explained by these predictors.

Medication use in nursing homes for elderly people

Residents of nursing and residential homes are often prescribed medication for physical and mental ill-health with resultant polypharmacy and the possibility of iatrogenic disorders. Sometimes drugs are prescribed inappropriately and a number of studies have highlighted the overuse of psychotropic drugs. Legislation in the USA has been effective in controlling their use in that neuroleptic prescriptions for the treatment of behavioural disturbances have been significantly reduced and non-pharmacists have a role to play in the appropriate management of medicines in elderly residents; they can improve patient care and be cost-effective. Identification of methods by which to improve awareness of inappropriate medication prescription and to avoid certain types of drugs is required. This review critically evaluates medication use in this population with specific reference to psychotropics and aims to raise awareness of the issue.

Psychogeriatrics and general practice in Australia

We describe the interface between general practice and psychogeriatrics in Australia. While aged care services are complex and there are serious deficiencies in the management of the elderly, several initiatives appear set to improve the level of care. Economic considerations, mutual education of general practitioners and psychogeriatricians, and social factors are strong determinants of good primary care of the mental health needs of older people.

Physician and staff assessments of drug interventions and outcomes in Swedish nursing homes

OBJECTIVE

To describe the type and frequency of drug-related problems discussed in regular team meetings conducted in 15 Swedish nursing homes and report physician and staff assessments of these interventions and residents' outcomes.

DATA SOURCES AND METHODS

The data were collected within the context of a controlled trial with the primary aim of exploring the effects of regular team interventions on drug prescribing practices in Swedish nursing homes. In 15 experimental nursing homes, the residents' drug therapy was discussed regularly by a team consisting of a pharmacist, a physician, nurses, undernurses (similar to licensed practical nurses), and nurse's aides. The pharmacist documented problems, made changes, and observed outcomes. Following the intervention period, a questionnaire was sent to the medical staff that contained items regarding perceived outcomes, the intervention's impact on knowledge of drug therapy in the elderly, and attitudes toward the pharmacist's role.

RESULTS

Unclear indication and problematic choice of drugs were the most common drug-related problems discussed. In 19% of the situations, therapy changes were reported to have had a beneficial effect on the residents' clinical status; in 47% of the situations, staff reported no observable outcome from changes, suggesting that the changes had been appropriate. Finally, medical staff claimed in the follow-up survey that their knowledge about drug therapy had increased; they expressed an overall positive attitude toward this interactive collaboration.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular intervention conducted by a multidisciplinary team incorporating a pharmacist can effectively improve prescribing practices, increase staff knowledge about appropriate drug therapy in the elderly, and result in improved quality of care for nursing home residents.

The impact of regular multidisciplinary team interventions on psychotropic prescribing in Swedish nursing homes

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of regular multidisciplinary team interventions on the quantity and quality of psychotropic drug prescribing in Swedish nursing homes.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

A sample of 33 nursing homes: 15 experimental homes and 18 control homes representing 5% of all Swedish nursing homes.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample consisted of 1854 long-term care residents with an average age of 83 years. Seventy percent of the residents were women, and 42% had a documented diagnosis of dementia. An additional 5% had a psychotic disorder, and 7% had a diagnosis of depression.

INTERVENTION

Experimental homes participated in an outreach program that was designed to influence drug use through improved teamwork among physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurses' assistants. Multidisciplinary team meetings were held on a regular basis throughout the 12-month study period.

MEASUREMENTS

Lists of each resident's prescriptions were collected 1 month before and 1 month after the 12-month intervention. Measures included the proportion of residents with any psychotropic drug, polymedicine, and therapeutic duplication and proportion of residents with nonrecommended and acceptable drugs in each psychotropic drug class, as defined by current Swedish guidelines.

RESULTS

Baseline results show extensive psychotropic drug prescribing, with the most commonly prescribed drugs being hypnotics (40%), anxiolytics (40%), and antipsychotics (38%). After 12 months of team meetings in the experimental homes, there was a significant decrease in the prescribing of psychotics (-19%), benzodiazepine hypnotics (-37%), and antidepressants (-59%). Orders for more acceptable antidepressants also increased in the experimental homes. In the control homes there was increased use of acceptable antidepressants, but there were no significant reductions in other drug classes.

CONCLUSIONS

There is excessive prescription of psychotropic drugs in Swedish nursing homes. Improved teamwork among caregivers can improve prescribing as defined by clinical guidelines.

Benzodiazepine prescribing in a Sydney teaching hospital

OBJECTIVES

To determine the pattern of benzodiazepine prescribing in hospital and at discharge in relation to prior benzodiazepine therapy.

DESIGN

Patient interview within 48 hours of admission to determine benzodiazepine, alcohol and other psychotropic drug use before admission and review of medical records after discharge to document drugs prescribed in hospital and at discharge.

SETTING

Tertiary teaching hospital, January to August 1995.

RESULTS

1453 patients (mean age, 60 [SD, 19] years; 52.7% female) were interviewed; 277 patients (19.1%) were taking benzodiazepines regularly (one or more doses per week) before admission. Of these, 28.5% did not have benzodiazepine therapy continued while in hospital and 63.9% did not receive benzodiazepines at the time of discharge. Of the remaining 1176 patients (those not previously taking benzodiazepines), 277 (23.6%) were prescribed them for the first time in hospital and 5.3% received benzodiazepines at the time of discharge. Older age, female sex, marital status (single, divorced or widowed) and the use of antidepressants and Schedule 8 narcotic analgesics were all statistically significant predictors of benzodiazepine use before admission, but alcohol consumption was not.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial number of patients do not have their benzodiazepine therapy continued in hospital and at the time of discharge, and are thus at risk of developing benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes, including delirium. A small but clinically significant number of patients who do not usually take benzodiazepines receive them at the time of discharge and may be at risk of becoming long term users.