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Age and Ageing, Vol 29, 451-453, Copyright © 2000 by British Geriatrics Society

ARTICLES

Short report. Effect of systematic review of medication by general practitioner on drug consumption among nursing-home residents

K Khunti and B Kinsella
Clinical Governance Research and Development Unit, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Leicester, Leicester General hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK; Winstanley Drive Health Centre, Leicester, UK; Corresponding author; Fax: +44 116258 4982; E-mail: kk22@le.ac.uk

Background. Nursing-home patients usually have many medical problems and often take many drugs. They are therefore at risk from drug side effects and interactions.Aims. To evaluate the impact of a visit by a general practitioner and a comprehensive repeat prescribing review on the consumption of inappropriate drugs in nursing homes.Method. Two general practitioners made one comprehensive visit to four randomly selected nursing homes. In each home we discussed all patients in detail with a senior member of staff. We reviewed the prescribing record of each patient and stopped items if we considered them inappropriately prescribed or unnecessary.Results. Repeat prescriptions were altered in 65% of patients: 51% had an item stopped and 26% had an item changed to a cheaper alternative or the dose reduced. There was a reduction in the mean number of repeat prescriptions prescribed.Conclusion. A single visit by a general practitioner to a nursing home and a comprehensive repeat prescribing review can lead to a reduction in the number of items prescribed and to substantial savings for the health service. Further rigorous, cost-effectiveness studies are needed.Keywords: appropriateness, cost saving, nursing home, repeat prescribing, review
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