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Psycholeptic use in aged care homes in Tasmania, Australia
Citation
Westbury, JL and Jackson, SL and Peterson, GM, Psycholeptic use in aged care homes in Tasmania, Australia, Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 35, (2) pp. 189-193. ISSN 0269-4727 (2010) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://interscience.wiley.com
Official URL: http://interscience.wiley.com
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1365-2710.2009.01079.x
Abstract
Background and objective: Although non-drug techniques are recommended to manage sleep disturbance, anxiety and challenging behaviours associated with dementia, several studies in Australia and overseas have noted a high use of psycholeptics (anxiolytics/hypnotics and antipsychotics) in aged care homes to treat these conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the current pattern of psycholeptic use in Tasmanian aged care homes and compare this data with other Australasian research.
Methods: Cross-sectional study of residents' psycholeptic use from 40 aged care homes throughout Tasmania during November 2005�January 2007.
Results: Two thousand three hundred and eighty-nine residents were included in the study. Of the residents, over half were taking at least one psycholeptic medication regularly; over one-fifth of residents were taking antipsychotics (21%) and 43% were taking anxiolytics/hypnotics.
Conclusion: In comparison with other recent Australasian studies, the current level of benzodiazepine use in Tasmanian aged care homes is of major concern, at approximately three times that reported in Sydney and New Zealand. There is also substantial use of multiple psycholeptic agents. Interventions to reduce benzodiazepine use and improve psycholeptic utilization in Tasmania need to be developed urgently. The results demonstrate the value of regular auditing of prescribing to highlight problem areas in prescribing
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Psycholeptic drugs, aged care homes, Tasmania, sleep disturbance, anxiety, elderly, benzodiazepine, antipsychotic |
| Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Research Field: | Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) |
| Objective Field: | Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) not elsewhere classified |
| Author: | Westbury, JL (Dr Juanita Westbury) |
| Author: | Jackson, SL (Dr Shane Jackson) |
| Author: | Peterson, GM (Professor Gregory Peterson) |
| ID Code: | 58698 |
| Year Published: | 2010 (online first 2009) |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 9 |
| Deposited By: | Pharmacy |
| Deposited On: | 2009-10-20 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-04-11 |
| Downloads: | 3 View Download Statistics |
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