A multi-intervention approach on drug therapy can lead to a more appropriate drug use in the elderly. LIMM-Landskrona Integrated Medicines Management

• Rationale, aims and objectives To evaluate if an integrated medicines management can lead to a more appropriate drug use in elderly inpatients. Method The study was an intervention study at a department of internal medicine in southern Sweden. During the intervention period pharmacists took part in the daily work at the wards. Systematic interventions aiming to identify, solve and prevent drug-related problems (DRPs) were performed during the patient's hospital stay by multidisciplinary teams consisting of physicians, nurses and pharmacists. DRPs identified by the pharmacist were put forward to the care team and discussed. Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) was used to evaluate the appropriateness in the patients' drug treatment at admission, discharge and 2 weeks after discharge. In total 43 patients were included, 28 patients in the intervention group and 25 patients in the group which was used as control. Results For the intervention group there was a significant decrease in the number of inappropriate drugs compared with the control group (P = 0.049). Indication, duration and expenses were the MAI-dimensions with most inappropriate ratings, and the drugs with most inappropriate ratings were anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives. Conclusion This kind of systematic approach on drug therapy can result in a more appropriate drug use in the elderly.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

medication reconciliation

Medication Appropriateness Index

inpatients

geriatric medicine

drug-related problems

elderly

pharmaceutical care

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)