Tuesday, 9^th September 2008

RESEARCH SHOWS NEED FOR MORE PHARMACY-LED MEDICINE REVIEWS IN NURSING HOMES

Two separate studies from Queens University Pharmacy School have underlined the need for elderly patients in nursing homes to be given regular reviews of their prescribed medicines by pharmacists.

Key findings from the research projects included:

• 51 per cent of nursing home patients in Northern Ireland are believed to be taking inappropriate psychoactive drugs; and
• The adoption of an American model of care, involving pharmacy-led medicine reviews, could reduce the inappropriate use of psychoactive medications in Northern Ireland nursing homes by 74%

Raymond Anderson, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, commented:

"The high numbers of nursing home residents cited by these studies as being on inappropriate medication is of great concern. However the studies also point to a demonstrable solution: extended use of pharmacist-led medicines reviews within care homes.

"Repeated studies have now shown the value and need of such medication reviews. The Society therefore urges that medicines reviews be conducted in nursing homes both as standard practice, and at regular intervals - at least every six months.

Such a policy would also reduce admissions to acute hospitals as elderly patients are able to cope better with their prescribed medicines.

Pharmacy-led medicines reviews are all part of delivering a new kind of health service in Northern Ireland, one which is responsive to public need, involves patients in decisions in their care, and makes best use of the skills of the pharmacy workforce.

I congratulate Professor Hughes, Dr Patterson and their colleagues on these excellent pieces of research. They underline to health and social service managers the imperative of introducing pharmacist-led medicine use reviews more widely.

ENDS

Editor's notes

•1.       The two studies published at the British Pharmaceutical Conference yesterday are:

•a.      "A preliminary exploration of treatment culture in nursing homes for older people" AM Donnelly (Queen's University, Belfast), B McCormack (University of Ulster, Newtownabbey) and CM Hughes (Queen's University, Belfast).

•b.      "An evaluation of an adapted United States model of pharmaceutical care to improve psychoactive prescribing for nursing home residents in Northern Ireland: the Fleetwood NI Project" SM Patterson (Queens University Belfast), CM Hughes (Queens University Belfast),, C Cardwell (Queens University Belfast),  and KP Lapane (Brown University, Rhode Island)

•2.       Abstracts of the two studies were published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2008 and presented to the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester yesterday.

•3.       Findings from the study into an adapted US model of pharmaceutical care to improve psychoactive prescribing for nursing home residents in Northern Ireland found that the use of pharmacist-led medicine use reviews could significantly reduce the number of residents receiving inappropriate psychoactive medications: 51% of nursing home residents were found to be taking an inappropriate psychoactive medication.

For further information contact:

Mark Neale

Head of Public Affairs, Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

Office:   028 90326927       Dir line: 028 90267932       Mob:     07854004884

e-mail: mark.neale@psni.org.uk