A PILOT STUDY OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST-LED MEDICATION REVIEW IN OLDER ADULTS ON POLYPHARMACY AND RECEIVING HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and types of medication-related problems in older adults receiving home health care services that were identified through clinical pharmacist-led medication review. Materials and Methods: This pilot study was conducted in patients >= 65 years of age who were on polypharmacy and receiving home health care services from May 15th, 2019 through October 30th, 2019 in Turkey. A multidisciplinary home care team, including physicians, nurses and clinical pharmacist, performed the home visits. Scores on the drug burden index, medication regimen complexity index, and medication appropriateness index, present of potentially inappropriate medications, and the medication-related problems were assessed. Results: Among 100 older adults (74 females) with a mean age of 78.5 +/- 7.9 years, the median number of medications used was 7 (interquartile range: 5-9); the median scores of the drug burden index, medication regimen complexity, and medication appropriateness index were 0.5 (interquartile range: 0-0.8), 21 (interquartile range: 17-31), and 13 (interquartile range: 6-16.9), respectively. The problems identified were those related to 'drug selection' (66%), 'education and information' (58%) and 'monitoring' (33%). The health care team accepted 84.2% of the recommendations made by the clinical pharmacists. Conclusions: The results suggested that clinical pharmacist-led cognitive services in a home health care services team could reduce medication-related problems in older adults on polypharmacy.