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A pharmacist-based screening program of octogenarians starting new medications.
Evan Seevak1, Daniel J Kent, Edward Wagner
1Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. eseevak@acmedctr.org
Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy : JMCP
|November 14, 2003
Summary
Clinical pharmacist monitoring of patients over 80 after new prescriptions identified medication issues in over 20% of participants. This inexpensive intervention may improve care for elderly patients on new medications.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Primary Care
Background:
- Polypharmacy is common in patients over 80.
- Initiation of new medications in the elderly can lead to adverse drug events or suboptimal therapeutic effects.
- Close monitoring is crucial for this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacist-led telephone monitoring.
- To assess medication adherence and adverse drug events in patients over 80 after starting new medications.
Main Methods:
- An uncontrolled pilot trial was conducted.
- Forty-eight patients aged over 80 initiating new medications were included.
- Pharmacists conducted telephone follow-ups 3-6 days post-initiation.
Main Results:
- Over 20% of patients required clinically significant medication adjustments.
- 42% experienced either adverse effects or inadequate medication response.
- The average pharmacist time per patient was 11.3 minutes, costing an estimated $6.40.
Conclusions:
- A simple, cost-effective pharmacist program can screen for medication issues.
- This intervention shows potential to enhance care for elderly patients.
- Early identification and management of medication-related problems are vital.