BACKGROUND: Evidence-practice gaps, adverse medication-related incidents and unplanned medical admissions to hospital are common in elderly Australians. Many prescribing indicator tools designed to address some of these problems have been reported in the literature, the most common of which is the Beers list of inappropriate medications in the elderly. However, many of these tools are not appropriate for the Australian healthcare environment without modification and validation, and there appears to be a need for a tool based on Australian data. OBJECTIVE: To develop a list of prescribing indicators for elderly (aged >65 years) Australians based on the most frequent medications prescribed to Australians, and the most frequent medical conditions for which elderly Australians consult medical practitioners. METHOD: The most common reasons for elderly Australians to seek or receive healthcare were cross-referenced with the 50 highest-volume Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medications prescribed to Australians in 2006 to develop prescribing indicators in the elderly using Australian medication and medical condition information resources. RESULTS: Forty-eight prescribing indicators were identified, consisting mainly of optimum as well as inappropriate medication choices for a large number of common medical conditions in the elderly. CONCLUSION: A prescribing indicators tool was developed. This tool is envisaged as forming an important part of the medication review process, which is aimed at addressing the common problem of adverse medication-related events in elderly Australians.
BACKGROUND: Evidence-practice gaps, adverse medication-related incidents and unplanned medical admissions to hospital are common in elderly Australians. Many prescribing indicator tools designed to address some of these problems have been reported in the literature, the most common of which is the Beers list of inappropriate medications in the elderly. However, many of these tools are not appropriate for the Australian healthcare environment without modification and validation, and there appears to be a need for a tool based on Australian data. OBJECTIVE: To develop a list of prescribing indicators for elderly (aged >65 years) Australians based on the most frequent medications prescribed to Australians, and the most frequent medical conditions for which elderly Australians consult medical practitioners. METHOD: The most common reasons for elderly Australians to seek or receive healthcare were cross-referenced with the 50 highest-volume Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medications prescribed to Australians in 2006 to develop prescribing indicators in the elderly using Australian medication and medical condition information resources. RESULTS: Forty-eight prescribing indicators were identified, consisting mainly of optimum as well as inappropriate medication choices for a large number of common medical conditions in the elderly. CONCLUSION: A prescribing indicators tool was developed. This tool is envisaged as forming an important part of the medication review process, which is aimed at addressing the common problem of adverse medication-related events in elderly Australians.
Authors: Emily R Hajjar; Joseph T Hanlon; Margaret B Artz; Catherine I Lindblad; Carl F Pieper; Richard J Sloane; Christine M Ruby; Kenneth E Schmader Journal: Am J Geriatr Pharmacother Date: 2003-12
Authors: Magali Gonzalez-Colaço Harmand; Ana María Aldea-Perona; Carlos Boada-Fernández Del Campo; Almudena Areosa-Sastre; Consuelo Rodríguez-Jiménez; Marcelino García Sánchez-Colomer; Eduardo Fernández Quintana; Mercedes Plasencia-Nuñez; Paula Masiero-Aparicio; Candelaria Grillo-Grillo; Andrés Orellana-Mobilli; Mar García Sáiz; Carmen Duarte Diéguez; Mercedes Hornillos Calvo; Juan Antonio Avellana Zaragoza; Nicolás Martínez Velilla; Domingo de Guzmán Pérez Hernández; Mario Ruiz González; Encarnación Blanco Reina; Carmen Asensio Ostos; Ana Peiró; Lourdes Cabrera García; Fuensanta Hortigüela Moro; Herlinda Pérez Alayón; Iriana Espárrago García; Javier Santana Quilez; Javier Alonso Ramírez; Carlos Fernández Oropesa; Mª José López Varona; Mª Teresa Acín Gerico; Emilio Sanz Alvarez; María Ángeles Martín de la Sierra; María José Peñalver; Teresa Falomir Gómez; Jesús Ruiz Salazar; Gabriela Elizondo Rivas; Edmundo Rey Rodríguez Journal: Eur J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2019-05-08 Impact factor: 2.953