[I'd be interested in whether people thought an computer alert
(generated at the time of prescribing one of these drugs in an elderly
patient) might be a useful way of addressing the problem?]
Roughead EE, Anderson B, Gilbert AL. Potentially inappropriate
prescribing among Australian veterans and war widows/widowers. Internal
Medicine Journal 2007; 37 (6): 402–405.
ABSTRACT: This study examined the extent of potentially inappropriate
medicine, as defined by explicit criteria, dispensed to Australian
veterans using the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Pharmacy
Claims database.
Twenty-one per cent of the 192 363 veterans aged 70 years, with an
eligible gold card, were dispensed at least one potentially
inappropriate medicine in the first 6 months of 2005.
Long-acting benzodiazepines, amitriptyline, amiodarone, oxybutynin and
doxepin were the medicines most commonly implicated. Strategies to
support quality prescribing of medicines to the elderly must include a
focus on these medicines.
Cheers
Ken
--
Dr. Ken Harvey
Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health, La Trobe University
http://www.medreach.com.au
VOIP: +61 (03) 9029 0634; Mobile +61 (04) 1918 1910
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