Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/2005
Title: Get on the Beers (criteria) – assessing patterns in high falls risk prescribing in geriatrics.
Author: Nguyen, Monique
Livori, Adam
Dimond, Renee
Issue Date: 2022
Conference Name: Medicines Management 2022: The 46th SHPA National Conference
Conference Date: December 1-3
Conference Place: Brisbane
Abstract: Background: Unintentional falls are the most common cause of hospitalised injuries in Australia and is the leading cause of injury deaths. Falls are particularly a concern for people aged 65 years and over due to poorer health outcomes. The American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria defines medications which are potentially inappropriate in older people and can increase their risk of falls. Aim/objective: For patients aged over 65 admitted with a primary diagnosis of falls to the geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) unit, what are the changes made to their medications on discharge defined as high risk as per the Beers Criteria. Method: This retrospective observational cohort study reviewed all admissions to GEM with primary diagnosis of fall from January to December 2021. High falls risk medications were identified as per the Beers Criteria and incorporated into the data collection tool. The primary outcome was changes made to high falls risk medications on discharge including new medications, ceased medications, dose increases, dose decreases, and no changes made. Results: There were 58 admissions with primary diagnosis of falls to GEM across the study period. The most common high falls risk medications prescribed included anti-depressants (n=21) and opioids (n=41). Across the study population, there were 39 new medications commenced identified as high falls risk, compared to preadmission medications ceased. Opioids were the group most frequently commenced on discharge, with 19 being immediate release compared to 3 sustained release formulations. Whereas anti-depressants had the least number of changes made (57%). Discussion/Conclusion: This study will inform future quality improvement and targeted research interventions into medication classes with high frequency changes like opioids, but also medication classes with low frequency changes like antidepressants. This data also allows benchmarking to any new services or interventions across the multi-disciplinary team.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/2005
Internal ID Number: 01979
Health Subject: GERIATRICS
BEERS CRITERIA
FALLS
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Type: Conference
Poster
Appears in Collections:Research Output

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