The study (1) of 256 residents in 55 UK care homes found residents took on average eight medicines each and that an average of just under two mistakes were made for each resident.
Incorrect Doses
Patients were given the incorrect doses of their medication or drugs they didn't need, the research showed. Many were not monitored for side effects or even went without their treatments.
Staff were found to have lacked knowledge of what medicines should be given with food, did not always know how to administer inhalers and did not order adequate supplies of drugs.
The drugs most likely to go unchecked for possible side effects were heart drugs and drugs used to treat underactive thyroid.
Errors were attributed to doctors being inaccessible or not knowing the residents, high workloads of care home staff, lack of training for pharmacies, a lack of teamwork between the services, and problems with the administration and recording of prescriptions.
A spokesperson from the Alzheimer's Society said: "At least two thirds of people in care homes have dementia. Errors with medication could seriously impact on their quality of life, or worse put their lives at risk."
Reducing Quality of Life
The researchers say their study was not primarily designed to identify harms, but it did identify some cases of harm or where harm was likely, and that many of the errors “would reduce the quality of life and ability to function.”
The researchers say their study was not primarily designed to identify harms, but it did identify some cases of harm or where harm was likely, and that many of the errors “would reduce the quality of life and ability to function.”
The Department of Health, which funded the research, has said it is working with the Care Quality Commission to address these issues. A spokesman said, “The CQC is currently scoping a major review of healthcare for people living in care homes. [This] will include medication safety which is one of their key priorities for this year.”
Taking More Responsibility
Many are calling for more urgent action. "We would like to see more medicine reviews by pharmacists and clinicians to ensure medicines are used safely and effectively," say the Alzheimer's Society.
Indeed, lead researcher Professor Nick Barber said: "It is a cause for concern. I think care homes need more help. Pharmacists and GPs should be taking more responsibility and visiting care homes more than they do."
References
(1) Barber ND, Alldred DP, Raynor DK, et al. Care homes’ use of medicines study: prevalence, causes and potential harm of medication errors in care homes for older people. Qual Saf Health Care 2009; 18:341–346
Justin Schamotta - Justin was born in South Africa, raised in the Welsh Valleys and now resides in Brighton. He has been co-editor of Bulb magazine, deputy ...
