Centre for Policy on Ageing



Interventions to optimise prescribing in care homes — systematic review
Author(s)	Mathumalar Loganathan
Journal title	Age and Ageing, vol 40, no 2, March 2011
Pages	pp 150-162
Source	http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/ http://www.bgs.org.uk/
Keywords	Drugs ; Care homes ; Evaluation ; Literature reviews.
Annotation	Drug prescribing for older people is a complex process and inappropriate prescribing can lead to potentially severe consequences. The purpose of the study was to review research on interventions to optimise drug prescribing in care homes. Search terms included were `nursing home' `inappropriate prescribing', `education' and `intervention'. 16 studies were found that met the inclusion criteria. Four intervention strategies were identified: staff education, multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings, pharmacist medication reviews and computerised clinical decision support systems (CDSSs). The review demonstrated mixed results with substantial evidence and promising options for some of the interventions. Education including academic detailing seemed to show most promise. Concludes that a multi-faceted approach and clear policy guidelines are likely to be required to improve prescribing for these vulnerable patients. (JL).
Accession Number	CPA-110323001 A
Classmark	LLD: KW: 4C: 64A
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.