Medicines administration for residents with dysphagia in care homes: A small scale observational study to improve practice

Jose Manuel Serrano Santos, Fiona Poland, David Wright, Timothy Longmore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: In the UK, 69.5% of residents in care homes are exposed to one or more medication errors and 50% have some form of dysphagia. Hospital research identified that nurses frequently crush tablets to facilitate swallowing but this has not been explored in care homes. This project aimed to observe the administration of medicines to patients with dysphagia (PWD) and without in care homes. 

Method: A convenient sample of general practitioners in North Yorkshire invited care homes with nursing, to participate in the study. A pharmacist specialised in dysphagia observed nurses during drug rounds and compared these practices with national guidelines. Deviations were classified as types of medication administration errors (MAEs). 

Results: Overall, 738 administrations were observed from 166 patients of which 38 patients (22.9%) had dysphagia. MAE rates were 57.3% and 30.8% for PWD and those without respectively (p < 0.001). PWD were more likely to experience inappropriate prescribing (IP). Signs of aspiration were more frequently observed in PWD when IP occurred (p < 0.001). 

Conclusion: Observation of medication administration practices by independent pharmacists may enable the identification of potentially dangerous practices and be used as a method of staff support. Unidentified signs of aspiration suggest that nurses require training in dysphagia and need to communicate its presence to the resident’s GP. Further research should explore the design of an effective training for nurses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)416–421
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics
Volume512
Issue number2
Early online date22 Feb 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Oct 2016

Keywords

  • Medicines
  • Dysphagia
  • Swallowing difficulties
  • Prescribing
  • Medicines administration
  • Care home with nursing
  • Nursing home
  • Deglutition
  • Deglutition disorders

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