Ceylan Paksoy1, Öznur Özkan1, Bala Bö Ustaalioğlu2, Mesut Sancar1, Refik Demirtunç3, Fikret V Izzettin1, Betul Okuyan1. 1. 1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Marmara University Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul, Turkey. 2. 2 Department of Medical Oncology, Health Science University, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. 3. 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Health Science University, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate potentially inappropriate medication use in elderly patients with cancer. METHOD: This study was conducted at outpatient oncology clinic from December 2014 to March 2015 among elderly cancer patients. Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria were used to identify potentially inappropriate medication in elderly patients. RESULTS: Among 114 cancer patients 55.26% of them were male and the mean age of them was 71.78 ± 5.50 (years). The most common concurrent diseases were hypertension in 45 (39.47%) and diabetes in 26 (22.81%) patients. Polypharmacy (≥5 medications) was seen in 94.73% of them. Eighteen patients (15.79%) utilized medications inappropriately according to Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions criteria. Medication omissions were identified in 112 patients (98.25%) with Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical pharmacists could improve the current prescribing practices in elderly patients with cancer by assessing potentially inappropriate medications.
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate potentially inappropriate medication use in elderly patients with cancer. METHOD: This study was conducted at outpatient oncology clinic from December 2014 to March 2015 among elderly cancerpatients. Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria were used to identify potentially inappropriate medication in elderly patients. RESULTS: Among 114 cancerpatients 55.26% of them were male and the mean age of them was 71.78 ± 5.50 (years). The most common concurrent diseases were hypertension in 45 (39.47%) and diabetes in 26 (22.81%) patients. Polypharmacy (≥5 medications) was seen in 94.73% of them. Eighteen patients (15.79%) utilized medications inappropriately according to Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions criteria. Medication omissions were identified in 112 patients (98.25%) with Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical pharmacists could improve the current prescribing practices in elderly patients with cancer by assessing potentially inappropriate medications.