Treatment goals: health care improvement through setting and measuring patient-centred outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how frequently stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) medications prescribed in the intensive care unit are inappropriately continued on the ward and on hospital discharge.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study; chart review.


METHODS
Two Australian ICUs: one tertiary centre and one metropolitan centre.


METHODS
We included 387 adult, non-pregnant patients who were admitted to the ICU between 1 February 2011 and 31 March 2011 and who survived to hospital discharge.


METHODS
Rate of unnecessary continuation of ICU-prescribed SUP medications on the ward and on discharge from hospital.


RESULTS
While in the ICU, 329 of the 387 patients (85%) were prescribed SUP medications. Of the 233 patients who had not been taking acid-suppressive medications before admission to the ICU, 190 were prescribed SUP medications in the ICU. Of these 190 patients, most (63%) had their SUP continued in the ward without any obvious indication, and many (39%) had their SUP medications inappropriately continued on discharge from hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
SUP medications commenced in ICU are frequently continued unnecessarily, both in the wards and on hospital discharge.
Aalix Health Services Consulting, Perth, WA, Australia. Steve.Webb@aalix.com.au
Steve A R
SA
Webb
Ed
E
Litton
Kerryn L
KL
Barned
Tim M
TM
Crozier
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology