The accuracy of information on current drug therapy in geriatric out-patients' records

We have undertaken a survey to investigate the accuracy of the information about current drug therapy contained in the case notes of geriatric out-patients. One hundred patients (age range 68-92 years, mean age 72, 58F/42M) attending the geriatric out-patient department and taking three or more drugs were included in this study. The final version of drug treatment (established after seeing the drugs that were brought by the patients at their clinic visit) differed from the one based on the case notes review in 72 (72%) of the cases and the one produced after taking a drug history at an earlier clinic visit in 56 (56%) of the cases. In 54 (54%) of the cases the discrepancies resulted from patients taking one or more additional drugs. 16 (16%) were taking a different dosage of some drugs. There were some major errors or omissions in the treatment regimen in 20 (20%) of cases. The elderly out-patients are being placed at risk of toxicity by unnecessary and excessive prescribing and inadequate supervision of their treatment.