| Sub-title | |
| Authors | A Fiorini S Abela A Vella P Zammit |
| Abstract | Aim: To evaluate whether prescribing habits and related documentation in a chronic care institution reached recommended optimal levels. Methods: All prescription charts at St Vincent de Paule Residence were examined. Data collected included the amount and types of both regular and ‘as required' medications. Prescription documentation was assessed by noting whether (a) basic patient details including allergies were entered appropriately (b) all drug entries were written and signed in an approved manner by an identifiable doctor (c) stopping or altering a medication was carried out in the recommended manner. Results: 280 charts were analysed. The mean number of drugs per patient was 6.2 (0 – 15). 35.3% were on hypnotics, 24.0% on anxiolytics and 19.8% on neuroleptics. 20.5% of ‘as required' prescriptions were for psychoactive drugs. 34.5% of oral hypoglyceamic prescriptions were for long-acting preparations whilst 56.1% of antiparkinsonian medications were anticholinergics. Only 6.9% of prescriptions were written out by the ward doctor whilst 24% remained unsigned. The allergies section was omitted in 82.9% of charts. The starting or stopping date of a medication was not documented in 32.7% and 71.2% of cases respectively. Alterations in dose or frequency without re-writing the prescription were noted in 5.7% and 6.3% of cases respectively. Conclusions: Poly-pharmacy, a high prescription rate of psychoactive medications and the common usage of drugs which are not recommended in the elderly were identified at SVPR. Several omissions were also noted in prescription documentation. An evaluation of medication charts helps indicate which prescribing habits need correcting to achieve optimal levels in a chronic elderly care institution. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 18 Supplement |
| Page | |
| Date | 01/12/2006 |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | chronic care institution, elderly, geriatric care, prescribing habits |