Abstract

FIDALGO GARCIA, M. L. et al. Drug prescription for elderly living in nursing homes versus community-living elderly (2^nd part) . Medifam [online]. 2001, vol.11, n.2, pp.55-70. ISSN 1131-5768.

Background: nursing-home residents use more injustified drugs and create an injustified drug cost bigger than among community-living elderly. The objective of this study is to compare the prescription of inadecuated and low therapeutic utility drugs, as the injustified drug cost, among two groups of nursing-home residents (with and without an intervention). Methods: observational study of three patient groups aged 65 years or older who are living either in nursing homes (with and without intervention), or in their own home. Percentages and cost by person and month is estimated by 95% confidence interval (IC) in both groups. Odd ratio are calculated. Results: more elderly living in nursing homes without intervention (IC, 92-103%) than elders living in nursing homes post-intervention (IC, 37-65%) or dwelling independently in the community (IC, 49-72%) receive some injustified drug. In the same way, the odd ratio of prescribed injustified items is bigger for elderly living in nursing homes without intervention versus nursing homes post-intervention (3.0; 2.4<OR<3.8) as versus community-living elderly (1,7;1,4<OR<2,0). The odd ratio of injustified drug cost due to nursing homes without intervention is 3.7 (3.4<OR<4.1) times bigger than among nursing homes with intervention and 3.1 (2.8<OR<3.4) times bigger than elderly residing in the community. Conclusions: considering the results of the first study, the intervention made over elderly living in nursing homes is a good approache to improving the quality of prescription. 

Keywords : Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Nursing homes; Drug costs.