title: Results of chart reviews conducted to evaluate primary care patients seen by second and third year family medicine residents for potential adverse polypharmacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prescribing patterns of family medicine residents for patients aged more than 60 years with 2 or more chronic diseases and seen at least twice in a 12 month timeframe.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive analysis which was based on chart reviews. The setting was the University of Illinois-Rockford Family Practice Residency. Patients aged 60 years with 2 or more chronic diseases who were seen at least twice by second and third year residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FINDINGS FROM THIS CHART REVIEW INCLUDE: 28.8% of the prescribed medications were not effective for the documented condition, 26.3% of the prescribed doses were incorrect, and 44.5% of the drugs prescribed were not the least expensive alternative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study suggests a need for a focused intervention with family medicine residents regarding inappropriate polypharmacy issues with older patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, Illinois ( USA ).
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: F
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, Illinois ( USA ).
authors.forename: May N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Lutfiyya
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, Illinois ( USA ).
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, Illinois ( USA ).
authors.forename: Ehab
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: El-Khabiry
keywords: Aged; Drug Utilization Review; Polypharmacy; United States