Osteoporosis management in Australian aged care facilities: a mixed method study
Catherine Laird1, Kylie A Williams2, Helen Benson2
1Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia. catherine.d.laird@student.uts.edu.au.
Archives of Osteoporosis
|May 14, 2024
Summary
Pharmacists identified common medication issues in aged care residents, particularly concerning vitamin D, calcium, and denosumab use for osteoporosis. Addressing these practice gaps can significantly improve osteoporosis management in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Osteoporosis is a prevalent condition in aged care residents, often inadequately managed.
- Comprehensive medication reviews by pharmacists are a key strategy to enhance osteoporosis care.
- Identifying and addressing drug-related problems (DRPs) is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of osteoporosis medication use in Australian aged care residents.
- To explore DRPs identified during pharmacist-led medication reviews.
- To analyze pharmacist recommendations for resolving identified DRPs.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining descriptive statistics and content analysis.
- Data were extracted from medication review reports of 980 aged care residents.
- Information included resident demographics, diagnoses, medications, DRPs, and recommendations.
Main Results:
- Antiresorptive therapy was used by 21.7% of residents, with denosumab being the most common (87.2%).
- Osteoporosis-related DRPs constituted 14.0% of all identified DRPs, frequently involving Vitamin D (55.4%) and denosumab (23.4%).
- Deviations from clinical guidelines for Vitamin D and calcium were noted, alongside issues with denosumab monitoring and therapy continuity.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacist-identified DRPs highlight areas for practice improvement in aged care osteoporosis management.
- Enhanced awareness of specific guidelines for Vitamin D and calcium is needed.
- Implementing facility protocols is essential for the safe and effective use of denosumab.
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