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Effects of an intervention (SäkläK) on prescription of potentially inappropriate medication in elderly patients

Lenander, Cecilia LU ; Bondesson, Åsa LU ; Viberg, Nina LU ; Jakobsson, Ulf LU orcid ; Beckman, Anders LU orcid and Midlöv, Patrik LU orcid (2017) In Family Practice 34(2). p.213-218
Abstract

Background. Polypharmacy is known to increase the risk for drug-related problems, and some drugs, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), are especially troublesome. Objective. To analyse the effects on prescription of PIMs of the SäKLäK project, an intervention model created to improve medication safety for elderly patients in primary care. Method. The SäkläK project was a multiprofessional intervention in primary care consisting of self-assessment, peer review, feedback and written agreements for change. Five Swedish primary care centres participated in the intervention and five served as comparison group. Data were collected from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register on PIMs (long-acting benzodiazepines, anticholinergics,... (More)

Background. Polypharmacy is known to increase the risk for drug-related problems, and some drugs, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), are especially troublesome. Objective. To analyse the effects on prescription of PIMs of the SäKLäK project, an intervention model created to improve medication safety for elderly patients in primary care. Method. The SäkläK project was a multiprofessional intervention in primary care consisting of self-assessment, peer review, feedback and written agreements for change. Five Swedish primary care centres participated in the intervention and five served as comparison group. Data were collected from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register on PIMs (long-acting benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, tramadol, propiomazine, antipsychotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) prescribed to patients aged 65 years and older. Total number of patients and change in patients using PIMs before and after intervention with-in groups was analysed as well as differences between intervention and comparison group. Results. A total of 32 566 prescriptions of PIMs were dispensed before the intervention, 19 796 in the intervention group and 12 770 in the comparison group. After intervention a decrease was seen in both groups, intervention-22.2% and comparison-8.8%. All groups of PIMs decreased, except for antipsychotics in the comparison group. For the intervention group, a significant decrease in mean dose/patient was seen after the intervention but not in the comparison group. Conclusion. Our study shows this method has some effects on prescription of PIMs. The evaluation indicates this is a feasible method for improvement of medication use in primary care and the method should be tested on a larger scale.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Aged, Frail elderly, Inappropriate prescribing, Peer review-health care, Primary health care, Self-assessment
in
Family Practice
volume
34
issue
2
pages
6 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:27920120
  • wos:000397996100014
  • scopus:85018953567
ISSN
0263-2136
DOI
10.1093/fampra/cmw121
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
905cea4d-74e5-4d89-85db-239c5686a179
date added to LUP
2017-06-12 15:51:23
date last changed
2024-02-29 16:33:38
@article{905cea4d-74e5-4d89-85db-239c5686a179,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background. Polypharmacy is known to increase the risk for drug-related problems, and some drugs, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), are especially troublesome. Objective. To analyse the effects on prescription of PIMs of the SäKLäK project, an intervention model created to improve medication safety for elderly patients in primary care. Method. The SäkläK project was a multiprofessional intervention in primary care consisting of self-assessment, peer review, feedback and written agreements for change. Five Swedish primary care centres participated in the intervention and five served as comparison group. Data were collected from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register on PIMs (long-acting benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, tramadol, propiomazine, antipsychotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) prescribed to patients aged 65 years and older. Total number of patients and change in patients using PIMs before and after intervention with-in groups was analysed as well as differences between intervention and comparison group. Results. A total of 32 566 prescriptions of PIMs were dispensed before the intervention, 19 796 in the intervention group and 12 770 in the comparison group. After intervention a decrease was seen in both groups, intervention-22.2% and comparison-8.8%. All groups of PIMs decreased, except for antipsychotics in the comparison group. For the intervention group, a significant decrease in mean dose/patient was seen after the intervention but not in the comparison group. Conclusion. Our study shows this method has some effects on prescription of PIMs. The evaluation indicates this is a feasible method for improvement of medication use in primary care and the method should be tested on a larger scale.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lenander, Cecilia and Bondesson, Åsa and Viberg, Nina and Jakobsson, Ulf and Beckman, Anders and Midlöv, Patrik}},
  issn         = {{0263-2136}},
  keywords     = {{Aged; Frail elderly; Inappropriate prescribing; Peer review-health care; Primary health care; Self-assessment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{213--218}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Family Practice}},
  title        = {{Effects of an intervention (SäkläK) on prescription of potentially inappropriate medication in elderly patients}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmw121}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/fampra/cmw121}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}