Reducing potentially inappropriate drug prescribing in nursing home residents: effectiveness of a geriatric intervention

Abstract

Aims: Potentially inappropriate drug prescribing (PIDP) is frequent in nursing home (NH) residents. We aimed to investigate whether a geriatric intervention on quality of care reduced PIDP. Methods: We performed an ancillary study within a multicentric individually-tailored controlled trial (IQUARE trial). All NH received a baseline and 18-month audit regarding drug prescriptions and other quality of care indicators. After the initial audit, NHs of the intervention group benefited of an in-site intervention (geriatric education for NH staff) provided by a geriatrician from the closest hospital. The analysis included 629 residents of 159 NHs. The main outcome was PIDP, defined as the presence of at least one of the following criteria: (i) drug with an unfavourable benefit-to-risk ratio; (ii) with questionable efficacy; (iii) absolute contraindication; (iv) significant drug-drug interaction. Multivariable multilevel logistic regression models were performed including residents and NH factors as confounders. Results: PIDP was 65.2% (–3.6% from baseline) in the intervention group (n = 339) and 69.9% (–2.3%) in the control group (n = 290). The intervention significantly decreased PIDP [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63; 95% confidence interval 0.40–0.99], as a special care unit in NH (OR = 0.60; (0.42 to 0.85)), and a fall in the last 12 months (OR = 0.63; 0.44–0.90). Charlson Comorbidity Index [ORCCI = 1 vs. 0 = 1.38; 0.87–2.19, ORCCI ≥ 2 vs. 0 = 2.01; (1.31–3.08)] and psychiatric advice and/or hospitalization in a psychiatric unit (OR = 1.53; 1.07–2.18) increased the likelihood of PIDP. Conclusion: This intervention based on a global geriatric education resulted in a significant reduction of PIDP at patient level.