Pharmacists’ perspectives on medication reviews for long-term care residents with advanced dementia: a qualitative study

Domenica Disalvo, Tim Luckett, Alexandra Bennett, Patricia Davidson, Meera Agar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Medication reviews by pharmacists have been shown to identify and reduce drug-related problems in long-term care residents. Objective To explore pharmacist perspectives of the Australian Government funded pharmacist-conducted residential medication management review and its role improving the quality and safety of prescribing in long-term care, in particular for those living with advanced dementia. Setting Australian Long-term care pharmacists. Method A qualitative research methodology approach using semi-structured interviews was used, with participants pharmacists with Residential Medication Management Review experience. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded utilising a meta-model of Physician-Community Pharmacy Collaboration in medication review. Main outcome measure Pharmacists’ perspectives on the Residential Medication Management Review and how to improve the quality of reviews for residents with advanced dementia. Results Fifteen accredited pharmacists participated. The majority believed that the Residential Medication Management Review had the potential to improve the quality and safety of medicines but highlighted systemic issues that worked against collaborative practice. Participants emphasised the importance of three-way collaboration between general practitioners, pharmacists and nursing staff and highlighted key strategies for its optimisation. Conclusion Incorporating avenues for greater communication between team members can improve collaboration between health professionals and ultimately the quality of medication reviews.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)950-962
Number of pages13
JournalInternational Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
Volume41
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2019

Keywords

  • Advanced dementia
  • Australia
  • Deprescribing
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Long-term care
  • Medication review
  • Palliative care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacy
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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