Document Detail


Use of potentially inappropriate medications in an ambulatory medicare population.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22155574     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use by applying the Beers criteria in an ambulatory population of Medicare beneficiaries, and to identify the most common PIMs/PIM classes taken by this population.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study.
SETTING: Nine community outreach events throughout central and northern California.
PATIENTS: 295 ambulatory Medicare beneficiaries (65 to 98 years of age).
INTERVENTIONS: Pharmacy students, under the supervision of licensed pharmacists, assisted beneficiaries with Medicare Part D plan enrollment and medication review, including identification of PIMs.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of PIMs taken by beneficiaries and the most frequent PIMs/PIM classes.
RESULTS: 54 (18.3%) beneficiaries were taking at least one PIM. The most common PIMs taken by the study group were alprazolam, clonidine, and estrogen. The two most common classes of such medications were benzodiazepines and antiarrhythmics.
CONCLUSION: Many older adults continue to receive medications that should be avoided because of limited effectiveness and/or potential for harm. Prescribers and pharmacists must be diligent in ensuring that medications given to older adults are necessary and appropriate. Outreach events targeting seniors provide an ideal forum to identify and address such issues.
Authors:
Joseph A Woelfel; Rajul A Patel; Mark P Walberg; Michelle M Amaral
Related Documents :
6647184 - Ethnicity, self-reported illness and use of medical services by the elderly.
701054 - Demand for medical care in a rural setting: racial comparisons.
3616684 - Health outcome and higher medical qualifications: an economic conception and notes on i...
19323584 - Medication therapy management services: definitions and outcomes.
10984394 - The changing faces of asthma.
12555834 - The economic impact of medical complications in geriatric patients with hip fracture.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Consultant pharmacist : the journal of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists     Volume:  26     ISSN:  0888-5109     ISO Abbreviation:  Consult Pharm     Publication Date:  2011 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-12-13     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9013983     Medline TA:  Consult Pharm     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  913-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Stockton, California.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Entrepreneurs: Leading the Way to Pharmacy's Future.
Next Document:  Risperidone for post-traumatic combat nightmares: a report of four cases.