| 1. |
- Bergkvist, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Improved quality in the hospital discharge summary reduces medication errors-LIMM: Landskrona Integrated Medicines Management.
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-1041 .- 0031-6970. ; 65, s. 1037-1046
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: We have developed a model for integrated medicines management, including tools and activities for medication reconciliation and medication review. In this study, we focus on improving the quality of the discharge summary including the medication report to reduce medication errors in the transition from hospital to primary and community care. METHODS: This study is a longitudinal study with an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group comprised 52 patients, who were included from 1 March 2006 until 31 December 2006, with a break during summer. Inclusion in the control group was performed in the same wards during the period 1 September 2005 until 20 December 2005, and 63 patients were included in the control group. In order to improve the quality of the medication report, clinical pharmacists reviewed and gave feedback to the physician on the discharge summary before patient discharge, using a structured checklist. Medication errors were then identified by comparing the medication list in the discharge summary with the first medication list used in the community health care after the patient had returned home. RESULTS: By improving the quality of the discharge summary, patients had on average 45% fewer medication errors per patient (P = 0.012). The proportion of patients without medication errors was 63.5% in the control group and 73.1% in the intervention group. However, this increase was not significant (P = 0.319). Patients who used a specific medication dispensing system (ApoDos) had a 5.9-fold higher risk of suffering from medication errors than those without this medication dispensing system (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Review and feedback on errors in the discharge summary, including the medication report and a correct medication list, reduced medication errors during the transfer of information from hospital to primary and community care.
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| 2. |
- Bergkvist, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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The process of identifying, solving and preventing drug related problems in the LIMM-study
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2210-7703 .- 2210-7711. ; 33:6, s. 1010-1018
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To avoid negative effects of drug treatment and need for additional medical care, drug treatment must be individualised. Our research group has developed a model for clinical pharmacy which improves several aspects of the patient's drug treatment. This study describes the process behind these improvements, i.e. drug related problems identified by pharmacists within a clinical pharmacy service. Setting Three wards at a department of internal medicine. Method Pharmacists performed systematic interventions during the patient's hospital stay, aiming to identify, solve and prevent drug related problems in the elderly. Identified drug related problems were put forward to the health care team and discussed. Information on identified problems, and their outcomes was collected and analysed. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the health care personnel's attitudes towards the process. Main outcome measure The number of drug related problems identified by the clinical pharmacists, the proportion of problems discussed with the physicians, the proportion of problems adjusted by the physicians and whether pharmacists and physicians prioritised any subgroup of drug related problems when choosing which problems to address. Finally, we wanted to evaluate the health care personnel's attitudes towards the model. Results In total, 1,227 problem were identified in 190 patients. The pharmacists discussed 685 (55.8%) of the identified problems with the physicians who accepted 438 (63.9%) of the suggestions. There was no significant difference in which subgroup to put forward and which to adjust. There was a high response rate (84%) to the questionnaire, and the health care personnel estimated the benefits to be very high, both for the patients and for themselves. Conclusion The process for identifying, solving and preventing drug related problems was good and the different types of problems were considered equally important. The addition of a clinical pharmacy service was considered very useful. This suggests that the addition of our clinical pharmacy service to the hospital setting add skills of great importance.
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| 3. |
- Bondesson, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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Utilization of healthcare and prescription medicines after non-pharmacological interventions for depression - A 3-year register follow-up of an RCT in primary care
- 2022
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Ingår i: Preventive Medicine Reports. - : Elsevier. - 2211-3355. ; 25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Depression is a common, recurrent disorder. There is a need for readily available treatments with few negative side effects, that demands little resources and that are effective both in the short- and long term. Our aim was to investigate the long-term effectiveness of two different interventions; physical exercise and internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (internet-CBT), compared to usual care in patients with mild to moderate depression in a Swedish primary care setting. We performed a register-based 3-year follow-up study of participants in the randomized controlled trial REGASSA (n = 940) using healthcare utilization and dispensed medicines as outcomes. We found no difference between the three groups regarding proportion of participants consulting healthcare due to mental illness or pain during follow-up. Regarding number of consultations, there was no difference between the groups, except for consultations related to pain. For this outcome both treatment arms had significantly fewer consultations compared to usual care, during year 2-3, the risk ratio (RR) for physical exercise and internet-CBT was 0.64 (95% CI = 0.43-0.95) and 0.61 (95% CI = 0.41-0.90), respectively. A significantly lower proportion of patients in both treatment arms were dispensed hypnotics and sedatives year 2-3 compared to the usual care arm, RR for both physical exercise and internet-CBT was 0.72 (95% CI = 0.53-0.98). No other differences between the groups were found. In conclusion, considering long-term effects, both physical exercise and internet-CBT, being resource-efficient treatments, could be considered as appropriate additions for patients with mild to moderate depression in primary care settings.
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| 4. |
- Bondesson, Åsa ÅB, et al.
(författare)
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A structured questionnaire to assess patient compliance and beliefs about medicines taking into account the ordered categorical structure of data
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Evaluation In Clinical Practice. - : Wiley. - 1356-1294 .- 1365-2753. ; 15:4, s. 713-723
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to describe and evaluate the structured medication questionnaire and to improve data handling of results from the Morisky four-item scale for patient compliance and Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-specific (BMQ-specific). METHODS: A questionnaire was developed with the purpose of being used when identifying medication errors and assessing patient compliance to and beliefs about medicines. RESULTS: A majority of the respondents (62%; CI 45-77%) had at least one medication error. Assuming that all items are equally important in the Morisky four-item scale we presented four alternative ways to create a unidimensional global scale. A two-dimensional global scale was also constructed. The results from the BMQ-specific were presented in different ways, all taking into account that the scale has ordered verbal categories: at the level addressing each specific question, at the sub-scales 'concern' and 'necessity' level and at the global level. CONCLUSIONS: The structured medication questionnaire can be used in daily practice as a tool to identify drug-related problems. The choice of how to use and present data from those scales in research depends on patient characteristics and how discriminating one would like the scales to be.
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| 5. |
- Bondesson, Åsa ÅB, et al.
(författare)
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Acceptance and importance of clinical pharmacists' LIMM-based recommendations.
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2210-7703 .- 2210-7711. ; 34:2, s. 272-276
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of the clinical pharmacy service in a Swedish hospital according to the Lund Integrated Medicine Management (LIMM) model, in terms of the acceptance and clinical significance of the recommendations made by clinical pharmacists. Method The clinical significance of the recommendations made by clinical pharmacists was assessed for a random sample of inpatients receiving the clinical pharmacy service in 2007. Two independent physicians retrospectively ranked the recommendations emerging from errors in the patients' current medication list and actual drug-related problems according to Hatoum, with rankings ranging between 1 (adverse significance) and 6 (extremely significant). Results The random sample comprised 132 patients (out of 800 receiving the service). The clinical significance of 197 recommendations was assessed. The physicians accepted and implemented 178 (90%) of the clinical pharmacists' recommendations. Most of these recommendations, 170 (83%), were ranked 3 (somewhat significant) or higher. Conclusion This study provides further evidence of the quality of the LIMM model and confirms that the inclusion of clinical pharmacists in a multi-professional team can improve drug therapy for inpatients. The very high level of acceptance by the physicians of the pharmacists' recommendations further demonstrates the effectiveness of the process.
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| 6. |
- Bondesson, Åsa ÅB
(författare)
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Aspects on optimisation of drug therapy in the elderly
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Elderly patients often use many drugs, increasing the risk for drug-related problems. Aim: To optimise drug therapy in the elderly by identifying, resolving and preventing drug-related problems. Methods: (Paper I) Medication reviews were conducted on nursing home patients’ with epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease by a multi-speciality team, whom identified drug-related problems and when appropriate suggested therapy changes to the intervention patients’ responsible physician. The effect of this intervention was evaluated on health-related quality of life. (Paper II) GPs’ and nurses’ opinions towards the previous pharmacotherapeutic intervention, in Paper I, were evaluated using a questionnaire. (Paper III) Medication errors during the transfer between primary care and hospital were investigated for patient providing care by the community, by collecting and reviewing all medication notes used for the information transfer. (Paper IV) Clinical pharmacists interviewed patients admitted to the hospital using the developed Structured Medication Questionnaire, to identify medication errors and assess patients’ compliance to and beliefs about medicines. (Paper V) Systematic medication reviews and medication care plans were conducted on intervention inpatients, by a multidisciplinary team, to reduce the number of unidentified drug-related problems during the hospital stay, which were identified and evaluated retrospectively. The physicians’ and nurses’ opinions towards this working model were evaluated using a questionnaire. Result: (Paper I) Many drug-related problems were identified among the nursing home patients, but no improvement in health-related quality of life. (Paper II) Both GPs and nurses were positive towards further cooperation regarding pharmacotherapeutic interventions. (Paper III) On average two medication errors occurred each time a patient was transferred between primary and secondary care. (Paper IV) A majority of the patients (62%, CI 45-77%) had at least one medication error. Using this questionnaire, poor compliance and negative beliefs were also identified. (Paper V) Inpatients in the intervention group benefited from a reduction of unidentified drug-related problems. In general physicians and nurses were very positive towards this working model. Conclusion: The research comprising this thesis has demonstrated a need for attention towards drug treatment and drug-related problems in the elderly. The Structured Medication Questionnaire and structured medication reviews may be used as tools to identify drug-related problems. Once identified the drug-related problems have the potential to be prevented or resolved, thereby optimising drug therapy.
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| 7. |
- Bondesson, Åsa ÅB, et al.
(författare)
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In-hospital medication reviews reduce unidentified drug-related problems
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-1041 .- 0031-6970. ; 69:3, s. 647-655
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose To examine the impact of a new model of care, in which a clinical pharmacist conducts structured medication reviews and a multi-professional team collates systematic medication care plans, on the number of unidentified DRPs in a hospital setting. Methods In a prospective two-period study, patients admitted to an internal medicine ward at the University Hospital of Lund, Sweden, were included if they were >= 65 years old, used >= 3 medications on a regular basis and had stayed on the ward for >= 5 weekdays. Intervention patients were given the new model of care and control patients received conventional care. DRPs were then retrospectively identified after study completion from blinded patient records for both intervention and control patients. Two pairs of evaluators independently evaluated and classified these DRPs as having been identified/unidentified during the hospital stay and according to type and clinical significance. The primary endpoint was the number of unidentified DRPs, and the secondary endpoints were the numbers of unidentified DRPs within each type and clinical significance category. Results The study included a total of 141 (70 intervention and 71 control) patients. The intervention group benefited from a reduction in the total number of unidentified DRPs per patient during the hospital stay: intervention group median 1 (1st-3rd quartile 0-2), control group 9 (6-13.5) (p < 0.001), and also in the number of medications associated with unidentified DRPs per patient: intervention group 1 (0-2), control group 8 (5-10) (p < 0.001). All sub-categories of DRPs that were frequent in the control group were significantly reduced in the intervention group. Similarly, the DRPs were less clinically significant in the intervention group. Conclusions A multi-professional team, including a clinical pharmacist, conducting structured medication reviews and collating systematic medication care plans proved very effective in reducing the number of unidentified DRPs for elderly in-patients.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Caleres, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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A descriptive study of pain treatment and its follow-up in primary care of elderly patients after orthopaedic care
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of pharmaceutical health care and sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2055-0294. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pain treatment post orthopaedic care in the elderly is complicated and requires careful follow-up. Current guidelines state all patients prescribed opioids should have a plan for gradual reduction, with the treatment progressively reduced and ended if any pain remains after more than three months. How this works in primary care remains to be explored.The aim was to describe pain treatment and its follow-up in primary care of elderly patients after orthopaedic care.Methods: In this descriptive study, medical case histories were collected for patients ≥ 75 years, which were enrolled at two rural primary care units in southern Sweden, and were discharged from orthopaedic care. Pain medication follow-up plans were noted, as well as current pain medication at discharge as well as two, six and twelve weeks later.Results: We included a total of 49 community-dwelling patients with medication aid from nurses in municipality care and nursing home residents, ≥ 75 years, discharged from orthopaedic care. The proportion of patients prescribed paracetamol increased from 28/49 (57%) prior to admission, to 38/44 (82%) after 12 weeks. The proportion of patients prescribed opioids increased from 5/49 (10%) to 18/44 (41%). Primary care pain medication follow-up plans were noted for 16/49 patients (33%).Conclusions: Many patients still used pain medication 12 weeks after discharge, and follow-up plans were quite uncommon, which may reflect upon lacking follow-up of these patients in primary care.
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| 10. |
- Caleres, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Drugs, distrust and dialogue : - a focus group study with Swedish GPs on discharge summary use in primary care
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMC Family Practice. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2296. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Discharge summary with medication report effectively counteracts drug-related problems due to insufficient information transfer in care transitions. The benefits of the discharge summary may be lost if it is not adequately used, and factors affecting optimal use by the GP are of interest. Since the views of Swedish GPs are unexplored, this study aimed to explore and understand GPs experiences, perceptions and feelings regarding the use of the discharge summary with medication report.METHOD: This qualitative study was based on four focus group discussion with 18 GPs and resident physicians in family medicine which were performed in 2016 and 2017. A semi-structured interview guide was used. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.RESULTS: The analysis resulted in three final main themes: "Importance of the discharge summary", "Role of the GP" and "Create dialogue" with six categories; "Benefits for the GP and perceived benefits for the patient", "GP use of the information", "Significance of different documents", "Spider in the web", "Terminus/End station" and "Improved information transfer in care transitions". Overall, the participants described clear benefits with the discharge summary when accurate although perceived deficiencies were also quite rife.CONCLUSION: The GPs experiences and views of the discharge summary revealed clear benefits regarding mainly medication information, awareness of any plans as well as shared knowledge with the patient. However, perceived deficiencies of the discharge summary affected its use by the GP and enhanced communication was called for.
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| 11. |
- Caleres, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Elderly at risk in care transitions When discharge summaries are poorly transferred and used -a descriptive study
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMC Health Services Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6963. ; 18:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Discharge summary with medication report effectively counteracts drug-related problems among elderly patients due to insufficient information transfer in care transitions. However, this requires optimal transfer and use of the discharge summaries. This study aimed to examine information transfer with discharge summaries from hospital to primary care.METHODS: A descriptive study with data consisting of discharge summaries of 115 patients, 75 years or older, using five or more drugs, collected during one week from 28 different hospital wards in Skåne county, Sweden. Two weeks after discharge, information transfer was examined via review of primary care medical records. It was noted whether the discharge summary was received (i.e. scanned to the primary care medical records), if the medication list was updated with drug changes and if a patient chart entry regarding medication or its follow-up was made in the primary care medical records. An electronic survey, which was sent to 151 primary care units in Skåne county, was used to examine experiences of the information transfer.RESULTS: Out of 115 discharge summaries, 47 (41%) were found in the primary care medical records. Patient chart entries regarding medication or its follow-up were seen in 53 (46%) cases. Drug changes during hospitalisation were seen in 51 out of 76 patients without multidose drug dispensing. In 16 (31%) out of these cases, medication lists were updated in primary care medical records. In the electronic survey, 22 (21%) out of the 107 responding primary care units reported the discharge summary was often received on the day of discharge, while 71 (66%) respondents indicated the discharge summary was always/often received but later. Medication list updates and patient chart entries in the primary care medical records were always/often done upon receipt of the discharge summary according to 61 (57%) respondents.CONCLUSION: The transfer of information was often deficient and the discharge summaries were insufficiently used. Many discharge summaries were lost, an insufficient proportion of medication lists were updated and patient chart entries were often lacking. These findings may increase the risk of medication errors and drug-related problems for elderly in care transitions.
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| 12. |
- Caleres, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Medication Discrepancies in Discharge Summaries and Associated Risk Factors for Elderly Patients with Many Drugs
- 2020
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Ingår i: Drugs - Real World Outcomes. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2199-1154 .- 2198-9788. ; 7:1, s. 53-62
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Elderly patients are at high risk for medication errors in care transitions. The discharge summary aims to counteract drug-related problems due to insufficient information transfer in care transitions, hence the accuracy of its medication information is of utmost importance. The purpose of this study was to describe the medication discrepancy rate and associated risk factors in discharge summaries for elderly patients.METHODS: Pharmacists collected random samples of discharge summaries from ten hospitals in southern Sweden. Medication discrepancies, organisational, and patient- and care-specific factors were noted. Patients aged ≥ 75 years with five or more drugs were further included. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed.RESULTS: Discharge summaries for a total of 933 patients were included. Average age was 83.1 years, and 515 patients (55%) were women. Medication discrepancies were noted for 353 patients (38%) (mean 0.87 discrepancies per discharged patient, 95% confidence interval 0.76-0.98). Unintentional addition of a drug was the most common discrepancy type. Central nervous system drugs/analgesics were most commonly affected. Major risk factors for the presence of discrepancies were multi-dose drug dispensing (adjusted odds ratio 3.42, 95% confidence interval 2.48-4.74), an increasing number of drugs in the discharge summary (adjusted odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.13) and discharge from departments of surgery (adjusted odds ratio 2.96, 95% confidence interval 1.55-5.66). By contrast, an increasing number of drug changes reduced the odds of a discrepancy (adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.88-0.99).CONCLUSIONS: Medication discrepancies were common. In addition, we identified certain circumstances in which greater vigilance may be of considerable value for increased medication safety for elderly patients in care transitions.
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| 13. |
- Eriksson, Tommy, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences from the implementation of structured patient discharge information for safe medication reconciliation at a Swedish university hospital
- 2011
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Ingår i: EJHP Science. - 1781-7595. ; 17:2, s. 42-49
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Study objectives: A method for medication reconciliation that reduces medication errors and healthcare contacts when a patient is discharged from hospital, LIMM-DI (Lund integrated medicines management-discharge information) had been previously developed by the authors. LIMM-DI is structured information written for the patient and sent to the next caregiver. In this study, the use (implementation ratio) and errors when used were measured. Methods: During two three-week periods in 2008 and 2009 information on the use of LIMM-DI for every discharged patient at Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden was collected. Medication errors and quality by chart reviews based on a previously developed checklist were also measured. The focus was placed on the medication report—which medications have been changed and why—and the medication list, two vital parts of LIMM-DI. Results: One hundred and thirty eight (27%) and 163 (31%) of the patients received LIMM-DI in periods 1 and 2, respectively. The mean number of errors per patient decreased from period 1 to 2 in the medication list (6.5 [standard deviation, SD, 6.0] versus 3.9 (SD, 4.2), p = 0.00098) but not in the medication report (5.3 [SD, 6.3] versus 5.3 [SD, 5.9], p = 0.99). Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, the implementation of LIMM-DI was slow and there was no great reduction in the number of medication errors. There is a need to improve the current strategy and to consider alternative strategies for improving patient safety in the discharge medication reconciliation process.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Eriksson, Tommy, et al.
(författare)
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The hospital LIMM-based clinical pharmacy service improves the quality of the patient medication process and saves time
- 2012
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Ingår i: European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy: Science and Practice. - : BMJ. - 2047-9964 .- 2047-9956. ; 19:4, s. 375-377
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The Lund Integrated Medicines Management (LIMM) model improves the patient medication process and reduces primary care contact and rehospitalisation. The objective was to evaluate the quality of medication management activities and the time spent on these activities using the LIMM model in hospital and primary care. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to physicians and nurses in hospitals, with and without the LIMM model, and in primary care. A time study of the activities of clinical pharmacists was also performed. Results: Responses were received from 67 physicians and nurses working in hospitals and 210 in primary care. The respondents thought that the quality of medication management would be much improved using the LIMM model. The model was associated with total median time savings by nurses and physicians of at least 1 h per patient, while the clinical pharmacist spent only 1 h with each patient. Conclusion: The LIMM model reduced the total time required for each patient by at least 1 h and improved the quality of the process.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Glans, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying older adults at increased risk of medication-related readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge : development and validation of a risk assessment tool
- 2023
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 13:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Developing and validating a risk assessment tool aiming to identify older adults (& GE;65 years) at increased risk of possibly medication-related readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge.Design: Retrospective cohort study. SettingThe risk score was developed using data from a hospital in southern Sweden and validated using data from four hospitals in the mid-eastern part of Sweden.Participants: The development cohort (n=720) was admitted to hospital during 2017, whereas the validation cohort (n=892) was admitted during 2017-2018.Measures: The risk assessment tool aims to predict possibly medication-related readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Variables known at first admission and individually associated with possibly medication-related readmission were used in development. The included variables were assigned points, and Youden's index was used to decide a threshold score. The risk score was calculated for all individuals in both cohorts. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (c-index) was used to measure the discrimination of the developed risk score. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated using cross-tabulation.Results: The developed risk assessment tool, the Hospitalisations, Own home, Medications, and Emergency admission (HOME) Score, had a c-index of 0.69 in the development cohort and 0.65 in the validation cohort. It showed sensitivity 76%, specificity 54%, positive predictive value 29% and negative predictive value 90% at the threshold score in the development cohort.Conclusion: The HOME Score can be used to identify older adults at increased risk of possibly medication-related readmission within 30 days of discharge. The tool is easy to use and includes variables available in electronic health records at admission, thus making it possible to implement risk-reducing activities during the hospital stay as well as at discharge and in transitions of care. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical usefulness of the HOME Score as well as the benefits of implemented activities.
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| 18. |
- Glans, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Medication-related hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge : A retrospective study of risk factors in older adults
- 2021
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 16:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that approximately 20% of hospital readmissions can be medication-related and 70% of these readmissions are possibly preventable. This retrospective medical records study aimed to find risk factors associated with medication-related readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge in older adults (≥65 years).METHODS: 30-day readmissions (n = 360) were assessed as being either possibly or unlikely medication-related after which selected variables were used to individually compare the two groups to a comparison group (n = 360). The aim was to find individual risk factors of possibly medication-related readmissions focusing on living arrangements, polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication therapy, and changes made to medication regimens at initial discharge.RESULTS: A total of 143 of the 360 readmissions (40%) were assessed as being possibly medication-related. Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.5-1.25), excessive polypharmacy (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.07-2.81), having adjustments made to medication dosages at initial discharge (OR 1.63, 95%CI 1.03-2.58) and living in your own home, alone, were variables identified as risk factors of such readmissions. Living in your own home, alone, increased the odds of a possibly medication-related readmission 1.69 times compared to living in your own home with someone (p-value 0.025) and 2.22 times compared to living in a nursing home (p-value 0.037).CONCLUSION: Possibly medication-related readmissions within 30 days of discharge, in patients 65 years and older, are common. The odds of such readmissions increase in comorbid, highly medicated patients living in their own home, alone, and if having medication dosages adjusted at initial discharge. These results indicate that care planning before discharge and the provision of help with, for example, managing medications after discharge, are factors especially important if aiming to reduce the amount of medication-related readmissions among this population. Further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Glans, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Obstacles and Opportunities in Information Transfer Regarding Medications at Discharge - A Focus Group Study with Hospital Physicians
- 2022
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Ingår i: Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety. - 1179-1365. ; 14, s. 61-73
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to investigate experiences and perceptions of hospital physicians regarding the discharging process, focusing on information transfer regarding medications.Methods: By purposive sampling three focus groups were formed. To facilitate discussions and maintain consistency, a semi-structured interview guide was used. Discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the anonymized data. A confirmatory analysis concluded that the main findings were supported by data.Results: Identified obstacles were divided into three categories with two sub-categories each: Infrastructure; IT-systems currently used are suboptimal and complex. Hospital and primary care use different electronic medical records, complicating matters. The work organization is not helping with time scarcity and lack of continuity. Distinct routines could help create continuity but are not always in place, known, and/or followed. Physician: knowledge and education in the systems is not always provided nor prioritized. Understanding the consequences of not following routines and taking responsibility regarding the medications list is important. Not everyone has the self-reliance or willingness to do so. Patient/next of kin: For patients to provide information on medications used is not always easy when hospitalized. Understanding information provided can be hard, especially when medical jargon is used and there is no one available to provide support. A central theme, " We're only human", encompasses how physicians do their best despite difficult conditions. Conclusion: There are several obstacles in transferring information regarding medications at discharge. Issues regarding infrastructure are seldom possible for the individual physician to influence. However, several issues raised by the participating physicians are possible to act upon. In doing so medication errors in care transitions might decrease and information transfer at discharge might improve.
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| 21. |
- Glans, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Risk factors for hospital readmission in older adults within 30 days of discharge - a comparative retrospective study
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMC Geriatrics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2318. ; 20:1, s. 467-467
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The area of hospital readmission in older adults within 30 days of discharge is extensively researched but few studies look at the whole process. In this study we investigated risk factors related, not only to patient characteristics prior to and events during initial hospitalisation, but also to the processes of discharge, transition of care and follow-up. We aimed to identify patients at most risk of being readmitted as well as processes in greatest need of improvement, the goal being to find tools to help reduce early readmissions in this population.METHODS: This comparative retrospective study included 720 patients in total. Medical records were reviewed and variables concerning patient characteristics prior to and events during initial hospital stay, as well as those related to the processes of discharge, transition of care and follow-up, were collected in a standardised manner. Either a Student's t-test, χ2-test or Fishers' exact test was used for comparisons between groups. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify variables associated with readmission.RESULTS: The final model showed increased odds of readmission in patients with a higher Charlson Co-morbidity Index (OR 1.12, p-value 0.002), excessive polypharmacy (OR 1.66, p-value 0.007) and living in the community with home care (OR 1.61, p-value 0.025). The odds of being readmitted within 30 days increased if the length of stay was 5 days or longer (OR 1.72, p-value 0.005) as well as if being discharged on a Friday (OR 1.88, p-value 0.003) or from a surgical unit (OR 2.09, p-value 0.001).CONCLUSION: Patients of poor health, using 10 medications or more regularly and living in the community with home care, are at greater risk of being readmitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Readmissions occur more often after being discharged on a Friday or from a surgical unit. Our findings indicate patients at most risk of being readmitted as well as discharging routines in most need of improvement thus laying the ground for further studies as well as targeted actions to take in order to reduce hospital readmissions within 30 days in this population.
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- Hellström, Lina, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical implementation of systematic medication reconciliation and review as part of the Lund Integrated Medicines Management model – impact on all cause emergency department revisits
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0269-4727 .- 1365-2710. ; 37:6, s. 686-692
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- What is known and objective: Interventions involving medication reconciliation and review by clinical pharmacists can reduce drug-related problems and improve therapeutic outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of routine admission medication reconciliation and inpatient medication review on emergency department (ED) revisits after discharge. Secondary outcomes included the combined rate of post-discharge hospital revisits or death.Methods: This prospective, controlled study included all patients hospitalised in three internal medicine wards in a university hospital, between January 1 2006 and May 31 2008. Medication reconciliation on admission and inpatient medication review, conducted by clinical pharmacists in a multiprofessional team, were implemented in these wards at different times during 2007 and 2008 (intervention periods). A discharge medication reconciliation was undertaken in all the study wards, during both control and intervention periods. Patients were included in the intervention group (n=1216) if they attended a ward with medication reconciliation and review, whether they had received the intervention or not. Control patients (n=2758) attended the wards before implementation of the intervention. Results: No impact of medication reconciliation and reviews on ED revisits (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.04) or event-free survival (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.88-1.04) was demonstrated. In the intervention group, 594 patients (48.8%) visited the ED, compared to 1416 (51.3%) control patients. In total, 716 intervention (58.9%) and 1688 (61.2%) control patients experienced any event (ED visit, hospitalisation or death). Because the time to a subsequent ED visit was longer for the control as well as the intervention groups in 2007 than in 2006 (p<0.05), we re-examined this cohort of patients; the proportion of patients revisiting the ED was similar in both groups in 2007 (p=0.608).What is new and conclusion: Routine implementation of medication reconciliation and reviews on admission and during the hospital stay did not appear to have any impact on ED revisits, rehospitalisations or mortality over six months' follow-up.
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| 24. |
- Hellström, Lina, 1975-
(författare)
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Clinical pharmacy services within a multiprofessional healthcare team
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: The purpose of drug treatment is to reduce morbidity and mortality, and to improve health-related quality of life. However, there are frequent problems associated with drug treatment, especially among the elderly. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the impact of clinical pharmacy services within a multiprofessional healthcare team on quality and safety of patients’ drug therapy, and to study the frequency and nature of medication history errors on admission to hospital.Methods: A model for clinical pharmacy services within a multiprofessional healthcare team (the Lund Integrated Medicines Management model, LIMM) was introduced in three hospital wards. On admission of patients to hospital, clinical pharmacists conducted medication reconciliation (i.e. identified the most accurate list of a patient’s current medications) to identify any errors in the hospital medication list. To identify, solve and prevent any other drug-related problems, the clinical pharmacists interviewed patients and performed medication reviews and monitoring of drug therapy. Drug-related problems were discussed within the multiprofessional team and the physicians adjusted the drug therapy as appropriate.Results: On admission to hospital, drug-related problems, such as low adherence to drug therapy and concerns about treatment, were identified. Different statistical approaches to present results from ordinal data on adherence and beliefs about medicines were suggested. Approximately half of the patients were affected by errors in the medication history at admission to hospital; patients who had many prescription drugs had a higher risk for errors. Medication reconciliation and review reduced the number of inappropriate medications and reduced drug-related hospital revisits. No impact on all-cause hospital revisits was demonstrated.Conclusion: Patients admitted to hospital are at high risk for being affected by medication history errors and there is a high potential to improve their drug therapy. By reducing medication history errors and improving medication appropriateness, clinical pharmacy services within a multiprofessional healthcare team improve the quality and safety of patients’ drug therapy. The impact of routine implementation of medication reconciliation and review on healthcare visits will need further evaluation; the results from this thesis suggest that drug-related hospital revisits could be reduced.
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| 25. |
- Hellström, Lina, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Errors in medication history at hospital admission: prevalence and predicting factors
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMC Clinical Pharmacology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6904. ; 12, s. Article ID: 9-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: An accurate medication list at hospital admission is essential for the evaluation and further treatment of patients. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency, type and predictors of errors in medication history, and to evaluate the extent to which standard care corrects these errors.Methods:A descriptive study was carried out in two medical wards in a Swedish hospital using Lund Integrated Medicines Management (LIMM)-based medication reconciliation. A clinical pharmacist identified each patient's most accurate pre-admission medication list by conducting a medication reconciliation process shortly after admission. This list was then compared with the patient's medication list in the hospital medical records. Addition or withdrawal of a drug or changes to the dose or dosage form in the hospital medication list were considered medication discrepancies. Medication discrepancies for which no clinical reason could be identified (unintentional changes) were considered medication history errors.Results: The final study population comprised 670 of 818 eligible patients. At least one medication history error was identified by pharmacists conducting medication reconciliations for 313 of these patients (47%; 95% CI 43-51%). The most common medication error was an omitted drug, followed by a wrong dose. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a higher number of drugs at admission (odds ratio [OR] per 1 drug increase = 1.10; 95% CI 1.06 - 1.14; p<0.0001) and the patient living in their own home without any care services (OR1.58; 95% CI 1.02 - 2.45; p = 0.042) were predictors for medication history errors at admission. The results further indicated that standard care by non-pharmacist ward staff had partly corrected the errors in affected patients by four days after admission, but a considerable proportion of the errors made in the initial medication history at admission remained undetected by standard care (OR for medication errors detected by pharmacists' medication reconciliation carried out on days 4 - 11 compared to days 0 - 1 = 0.52; 95% CI 0.30 - 0.91; p = 0.021).Conclusions: Clinical pharmacists conducting LIMM-based medication reconciliations have a high potential for correcting errors in medication history for all patients. In an older Swedish population, those prescribed many drugs seem to benefit most from admission medication reconciliation.
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