Abstract
Introduction. Prescribing resources aimed at improving the quality use of medicines in the aged are either too
simple and do not address potential interactions when there are many diseases and many medications, or, when
providing complex information, appear to be impractical to use during consultations.
Aims. To explore health professionals’ views on currently available geriatric medication management resources
and to determine what health professionals consider makes medication management resources useful.
Methods. Purposive convenience sampling was used to recruit geriatricians, GPs and accredited pharmacists for
one hour, individual, semi-structured interviews. Recruitment continued until data saturation was achieved.
Themes were identified using NVivo9 software.
Results. Participants felt that currently available prescribing resources did not meet their needs when managing
aged patients primarily due to lack guidance on how to deal with complex issues in aged people and lack of
relevance to the Australian setting. Identified barriers to providing optimal care included: lack of access to
appropriate literature; issues, such as lack of time, with contextualising vast amounts of new health information;
and incomplete or fragmented healthcare records. Key components which make resources useful included clear
formatting, simplicity, use of peer-reviewed evidence-based recommendations and ready electronic access via
an easy to use interface.
Discussion. Current resources do not meet health professionals’ needs when they seek practical assistance for
prescribing to older people with multiple medical problems
simple and do not address potential interactions when there are many diseases and many medications, or, when
providing complex information, appear to be impractical to use during consultations.
Aims. To explore health professionals’ views on currently available geriatric medication management resources
and to determine what health professionals consider makes medication management resources useful.
Methods. Purposive convenience sampling was used to recruit geriatricians, GPs and accredited pharmacists for
one hour, individual, semi-structured interviews. Recruitment continued until data saturation was achieved.
Themes were identified using NVivo9 software.
Results. Participants felt that currently available prescribing resources did not meet their needs when managing
aged patients primarily due to lack guidance on how to deal with complex issues in aged people and lack of
relevance to the Australian setting. Identified barriers to providing optimal care included: lack of access to
appropriate literature; issues, such as lack of time, with contextualising vast amounts of new health information;
and incomplete or fragmented healthcare records. Key components which make resources useful included clear
formatting, simplicity, use of peer-reviewed evidence-based recommendations and ready electronic access via
an easy to use interface.
Discussion. Current resources do not meet health professionals’ needs when they seek practical assistance for
prescribing to older people with multiple medical problems
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 82 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Joint ASCEPT- APSA 2012 Conference : Medication Safety - Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia Duration: 2 Dec 2012 → 5 Dec 2012 http://www.ascept-apsa.com/ |
Conference
| Conference | Joint ASCEPT- APSA 2012 Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Sydney |
| Period | 2/12/12 → 5/12/12 |
| Internet address |