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Antipsychotic prescribing in care homes before and after launch of a National Dementia Strategy : an observational study in English institutions over a 4-year period
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Szczepura, Ala, Wild, Deidre, Khan, Amir J., Owen, David, Palmer, Thomas, Muhammad, Tariq, Clark, Micheail D. and Bowman, Clive (2016) Antipsychotic prescribing in care homes before and after launch of a National Dementia Strategy : an observational study in English institutions over a 4-year period. BMJ Open, 6 (9). e009882. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009882 ISSN 2044-6055.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009882
Abstract
Objectives
To assess associations between the launch of the National Dementia Strategy (NDS) and antipsychotic prescribing in long-term residential care (LTC) in England.
Setting and participants
Retrospective analysis of prescribing patterns in 616 LTC institutions (31 619 residents) following launch of the NDS, using information from electronic medicines management system.
Primary and secondary outcome measures
Antipsychotic prescribing point prevalence (PP) for all residents in a cross section of LTC settings over a 4-year period following NDS launch. Secondary outcomes included dosages, length of treatment and use of recommended second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) versus first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs). Associations between facility-level PP values and institutional characteristics, resident demographics were explored. Variations across geographical areas examined. Prescription net ingredient costs calculated.
Results
No statistically significant difference was observed in overall prescribing rates over the 4-year period (Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test p=0.60), and there was no significant shift towards newer SGAs (KS test p=0.32). Dosages were above the maximum indicated in only 1.3% of cases, but duration of prescribing was excessive in 69.7% of cases. Care homes in the highest prescribing quintile were more likely to be located in a deprived area (rate ratio (Q5/Q1) RR=5.89, 95% CI 4.35 to 7.99), registered for dementia (RR=3.38, 95% CI 3.06 to 3.73) and those in the lowest quintile were more likely to be served by a single general practitioner (GP) practice (RR=0.48; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.63); p<0.001 all. A sixfold variation in PP levels was observed between geographical areas. The average annual expenditure on antipsychotics was £65.6 per person resident (2012 prices).
Conclusions
The NDS in England was not associated with reduced PP levels or the types of antipsychotic prescribing in care homes. Further research is needed to explore why. Clear standards specifying recommended agents, dosages and length of treatment, together with routine monitoring and greater accountability for antipsychotic prescribing, may be required.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
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Alternative Title: | |||||||||
Subjects: | R Medicine > RC Internal medicine R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute for Employment Research Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Dementia -- Residential treatment -- Great Britain, Antipsychotic drugs -- Prescribing -- Great Britain, Old age homes -- Great Britain | ||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | BMJ Open | ||||||||
Publisher: | BMJ | ||||||||
ISSN: | 2044-6055 | ||||||||
Official Date: | 20 September 2016 | ||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 6 | ||||||||
Number: | 9 | ||||||||
Number of Pages: | 19 | ||||||||
Article Number: | e009882 | ||||||||
DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009882 | ||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 9 June 2016 | ||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 23 September 2016 | ||||||||
Funder: | British United Provident Association | ||||||||
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