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Medication use in nursing homes for elderly people
Author(s) -
Furniss Lee,
Lloyd Craig Sarah Kathryn,
Burns Alistair
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199807)13:7<433::aid-gps798>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - polypharmacy , medical prescription , medicine , nursing homes , geriatrics , psychotropic agent , legislation , health care , psychiatry , nursing , intensive care medicine , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Residents of nursing and residential homes are often prescribed medication for physical and mental ill‐health with resultant polypharmacy and the possibility of iatrogenic disorders. Sometimes drugs are prescribed inappropriately and a number of studies have highlighted the overuse of psychotropic drugs. Legislation in the USA has been effective in controlling their use in that neuroleptic prescriptions for the treatment of behavioural disturbances have been significantly reduced and non‐pharmacological strategies aimed at ameliorating behavioural disturbance have been proposed. Studies suggest that pharmacists have a role to play in the appropriate management of medicines in elderly residents; they can improve patient care and be cost‐effective. Identification of methods by which to improve awareness of inappropriate medication prescription and to avoid certain types of drugs is required. This review critically evaluates medication use in this population with specific reference to psychotropics and aims to raise awareness of the issue. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.