Premium
Medicine information exchange networks among healthcare professionals and prescribing in geriatric medicine wards
Author(s) -
Chan Bosco,
Reeve Emily,
Matthews Slade,
Carroll Peter R.,
Long Janet C.,
Held Fabian,
Latt Mark,
Naganathan Vasi,
Caplan Gideon A.,
Hilmer Sarah N.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/bcp.13222
Subject(s) - polypharmacy , multidisciplinary approach , medicine , psychological intervention , geriatrics , information exchange , health care , family medicine , nursing , intensive care medicine , psychiatry , sociology , computer science , economics , economic growth , telecommunications , social science
Aims Effective transfer of information is vital for rational drug therapy. This is particularly important for older patients, who have a high prevalence of polypharmacy and are managed by multidisciplinary teams. We aimed to assess medicine information exchange (MIE) networks in geriatric medicine wards and whether they are associated with prescribing patterns. Methods We conducted network analysis in acute geriatric medicine wards from four hospitals to characterize MIE networks among multidisciplinary team members. Corresponding patient data were collected to analyze high‐risk prescribing in conjunction with network characteristics. Results We found that junior doctors, senior nurses and pharmacists were central to MIE across all four hospitals. Doctors were more likely than other professions to receive medicines information in three hospitals. Reciprocity and the tendency to communicate within one's own profession also influenced network formation. No difference was observed in prescribing practice between hospitals. Conclusions Understanding MIE networks can identify gaps in multidisciplinary communication that can be addressed. Networks may identify targets for dissemination of interventions to improve prescribing.