Looking for the “Little Things”: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Medicines Monitoring for Older People Using the ADRe Resource

Geriatrics

Alan Willson¹  Melanie Storey¹  David Hughes¹  Sherrill Snelgrove¹  Sue Jordan¹  Mojtaba Vaismoradi²  PatriciaA. Logan³  Meirion Jordan⁴ 

[1] Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway;Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst 2795, Australia;Independent Researcher, Swansea SA9 2GA, UK;

关键词: adverse drug reactions;    patient safety;    nursing;    medicine management;    long-term care;    community care;   

DOI  :  10.3390/geriatrics5040079

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Advances in medicines have increased the effectiveness of treatments and the social and cultural authority of doctors. However, as prescribing has become the dominant modality of treatment, the “pharmaceuticalization” of medical practice has often resulted in treatment “at a distance”, with doctors having limited contact with patients. Older and poorer people, who are socially distanced from medical prescribers, suffer more adverse drug reactions (ADRs) than the general population. A team approach to checking patients systematically for ADRs, as detailed in manufacturers’ literature, can minimise medication errors, but regular review is rare. This paper explains the benefits of medicines monitoring to protect older patients from iatrogenic harm, such as over-sedation, falls, or drug-induced Parkinsonism. We show how multidisciplinary initiatives to optimise prescribing can be supported by using a recognised resource—the adverse drug reaction profile (ADRe). The profile identifies and documents patients’ signs and symptoms of putative ADRs. Better monitoring allows professionals to adjust prescribing and respond to identified problems with agility. Implementation of systematic monitoring will require changes to the regulatory regime and better inter-professional cooperation. Providing carers, nurses and pharmacists with a structured system to monitor patients would democratise relevant medical knowledge and help address ageism and the socio-economic health divide.

【 授权许可】

Unknown