Researchers have developed a monitoring tool to help aged care workers spot the signs and symptoms of adverse drug events.
The checklist is the result of a study – conducted by Monash University’s Centre for Medicine Use and Safety – that centred around the use of psychotropic medicines used in aged care homes to manage a range of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety and insomnia.
Older people who are administered these class of drugs often experience side-effects which can lead to significant harm.
As such, say the researchers, monitoring for symptoms suggestive of an adverse drug event should be routine in aged care facilities.
The top 10 signs of an adverse reaction are:
- daytime drowsiness or sleepiness
- confusion or disorientation
- abnormal movements
- balance problems
- postural hypotension
- reduced self-care
- dry mouth
- restlessness
- dizziness
- falls.
PhD candidate and pharmacist Brigid McInerney – who led the study – said the above signs and symptoms of adverse drug events can reduce quality of life or may even cause significant harm if unnoticed by nurses or carers.
To assist nurses and carers, CMUS researchers have developed a monitoring tool to help them detect signs and symptoms of adverse drug events.
“We anticipate that this short, easy-to-use checklist can be for routine use in different aged care facilities,” Ms McInerney said. “This may facilitate proactive monitoring and early detection of adverse drug events and avoid further medication-related harm.”
The CMUS study was an international collaboration involving geriatricians, psychiatrists, pharmacists, clinical pharmacologists, general practitioners, nurses and carers from 13 Asia Pacific, European, and North American countries.
“Medication safety is a national health priority area and residents of aged care facilities are at high risk of experiencing medication-related harm,” Ms McInerney said. “Our findings will empower nurses and aged care workers to identify when residents are experiencing side-effects.”
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