Process, impact and outcomes of medication review in Australian residential aged care facilities: A systematic review. (8th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Esa Y. H.; Wang, Kate N.; Sluggett, Janet K.; Ilomäki, Jenni; Hilmer, Sarah N.; Corlis, Megan; Bell, J. Simon
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 38(2019)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2019-09-08
• Subjects: aged care -- geriatric medicine -- health services -- medication review -- medication therapy management -- pharmacist intervention; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12676
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To systematically review literature reporting processes, impact and outcomes of medication review and reconciliation in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Informit Health and grey literature were searched from 1995 to July 2018. Studies reporting outcomes of a stand‐alone medication review or reconciliation interventions in Australian RACFs were included. Results: Thirteen studies investigated medication review, eight of which studied Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs). Five studies reported that medication reviews identified an average of 2.7‐3.9 medication‐related problems (MRPs) per resident. One study reported medication reviews had no impact on quality of life, hospitalisation or mortality, but was not powered to assess these. Three studies reported general practitioners' acceptance of pharmacists' recommendations to resolve MRPs, ranging between 45 and 84%. Conclusions: Medication review may be a useful strategy to identify and prompt resolution of MRPs. However, the impact on clinical and resident‐centred outcomes remains unclear.