Changing utilization of pro re nata ('as needed') sedation in a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of the present study was to examine changes in utilization of pro re nata (PRN; 'as required') sedation over time within a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. The secondary purpose was to assess whether changes in PRN sedation were related to changing patient characteristics.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review examined 257 medical charts from a child and youth mental health inpatient service over two time periods (wave I, n = 122; wave II, n = 135) and collected data on PRN sedation, patient characteristics and routine medications.


RESULTS
Over time a significant reduction was observed in the proportion of patients prescribed PRN sedation from 70% to 54% (p < 0.01), and a reduction in the proportion of patients given PRN sedation from 46% to 26% (p < 0.01). The most commonly administered drug was chlorpromazine in wave I, and diazepam in wave II. Multivariate analysis indicated that reductions in PRN sedation occurred independently of changes in patient characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
High utilization rates of PRN sedation are not inevitable in a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit and may be reduced over time. Changing utilization of PRN sedation occurred independently from changing patient characteristics. More treatment outcome studies are required to optimize use of PRN sedation in young people.
Dean
Angela J
AJ
Kids in Mind Research, Mater Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Qld, Australia. angela.dean@mater.org.au
Scott
James
J
McDermott
Brett M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives