Potentially inappropriate medication prescriptions among elderly nursing home residents: their scope and associated resident and facility characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the scope of potentially inappropriate medication prescriptions (PIRx) among elderly residents in U.S. nursing homes (NHs), and to examine associated resident and facility characteristics.


METHODS
The 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Nursing Home Component (MEPS NHC), a survey of a nationally representative sample of NHs and residents.


METHODS
The PIRx, defined by Beers's consensus criteria (1991, 1997), was identified using up to a year's worth of NH prescribed medicine data for each resident. The study sample represented 1.6 million NH residents (n=3,372).


RESULTS
At a minimum, 50 percent of all residents aged 65 or older, with an NH stay of three months or longer received at least one PIRx in 1996. The most common PIRx involved propoxyphene, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, oxybutynin, amitriptyline, cyproheptadine, iron supplements, and ranitidine. Resident factors associated with greater odds of PIRx were Medicaid coverage, no high school diploma, and nondementia mental disorders. Facility factors were more beds and lower RN-to-resident ratio. Factors associated with lower odds of PIRx were fewer medications, residents with communication problems, and being in an accredited NH. Onsite availability of pharmacists or mental health providers was not related.


CONCLUSIONS
With quality of care and patient safety as major public health concerns, effective policies are needed to avoid PIRx occurrences and improve the quality of prescribing among elderly residents in NHs. Additional studies are needed to determine the impact of PIRx on this NH population.
Lau
Denys T
DT
Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Kasper
Judith D
JD
Potter
D E B
DE
Lyles
Alan
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States