Community pharmacy promoting appropriate sedative use in aged care: 'the RedUSe' project

Studies have consistently shown that the use of sedative medications in many aged care facilities is excessively high. These agents are associated with side effects such as falls, daytime drowsiness and confusion. The most effective interventions to reduce sedative prescribing involve all key staff in this setting, namely nurses, GPs and pharmacists. The Australian government has recommended that pharmacists become more involved in ensuring appropriate use of sedative medications. The strategies of Drug Usage Evaluation (DUE) cycles and nursing staff training are currently promoted; however, there has been limited training for community pharmacists to effectively deliver these strategies. There are also no co-ordinated DUE and staff training packages that target sedative prescribing in aged care. This project aims to develop, trial and evaluate a sustainable program [Residential care: Decreasing Use of Sedatives (‘ReDUSe’)], to address inappropriate sedative prescribing in aged care. The strategies that form the ReDUSe program will be co-ordinated by the community pharmacy supplying the aged care home and involve the accredited pharmacist. The ‘ReDUSe’ program starts with a dedicated measurement of sedative use as part of a DUE cycle. This information will be presented to each home and an educational session on appropriate use of these medications developed and delivered to staff by pharmacists. The final component of the ‘ReDUSe’ program will be a case conference for those residents taking sedative medications. The ultimate benefits for the elderly in aged care facilities following successful reduction in rates of sedative use should include increased mobility and alertness, decreased fall rate and improved well-being.