Identification of inappropriate prescribing in a Brazilian nursing home using STOPP/START screening tools and the Beers' Criteria

• Main Authors: Mariana Martins Gonzaga Nascimento, Andréia Queiroz Ribeiro, Mariana Linhares Pereira, Adriana Cristina Soares, Antônio Ignácio de Loyola Filho, Carlos Alan Candido Dias-Junior
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2014-12-01
• Series: Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Subjects: Farmacoepidemiologia; Atenção farmacêutica; Idoso/uso inapropriado de medicamentos; Medicamentos/prescrição inadequada; Medicamentos/uso inapropriado; Critério de Beers
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-82502014000400911&lng=en&tlng=en

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Potentially Inappropriate Medication (PIM) use and associated factors, as well as the prevalence of Prescribing Omissions (PO). A cross-sectional study was conducted in a philanthropic Brazilian nursing home involving 46 individuals aged 60 years or older. The following information was collected from medical records and drug prescriptions: gender, age, health conditions and drugs used in the past thirty days. PIM and PO were identified according to the Beers' Criteria and the STOPP/START screening tools. Over one third (37%) of the population used at least one PIM according to the Beers' Criteria (n=17) and 60.9% according to the STOPP tool. A significant association was found between polypharmacy (use of five or more drugs) and use of PIM according to the Beers' Criteria, but not according to the STOPP. Eight residents (17.4%) were exposed to eight PO. This study allowed the diagnosis of a concerning drug utilization profile with use of a high number of PIMs. Thus, there is an evident need to implement strategies for improving geriatric prescription.