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Quality of prescribing in community-dwelling elderly patients in France: an observational study in community pharmacies

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Abstract

Background In order to ensure safer prescriptions in the elderly, lists of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and guidelines have been introduced. Whereas the effectiveness of these measures has been well studied in hospitals, data are sparse for the community-dwelling patients. Objective To assess the quality of prescriptions among community-dwelling elderly patients, and potential associations between prescription patterns, patient characteristics and medication adherence. Setting Community pharmacies in France. Method We conducted a prospective observational study between January and June 2013. Patients aged 75 and over coming to the community pharmacy with a prescription from a general practitioner were invited to participate to the study. The compliance of the prescription was assessed with regards to Beers Criteria and French Health Authority guidelines (FHA) for prescription in the elderly, the degree of adherence was assessed with the Girerd score. Main outcome measure Percentage of prescriptions compliant with Beers Criteria and FHA guidelines. Results Among the 1206 prescriptions analysed, 67.49% (n = 814) contained a PIM. Only 12.77% (n = 154) complied with mandatory requirements of the FHA. Prescriptions were ordered by therapeutic field in 51.24% (n = 618) of cases. Dosing regimen was incomplete in 57.21% (n = 690) of prescriptions. Only 29.19% (n = 352) of patients reported no difficulty with regard to adherence (Girerd score = 0). The use of International Non-proprietary Name was associated with an increased risk of nonadherence (adjusted OR = 1.59 [95% CI = 1.13–2.23] and 1.68 [95% CI = 1.12–2.49] respectively). Patient satisfaction with formulation was associated with a lower risk of non-adherence (adjusted OR = 0.63 [95% CI = 0.45–0.90]). Conclusion A substantial proportion of patients are exposed to PIMs and prescriptions that do not comply with the FHA Guidelines. This issue, as well as identified risk factors for non-adherence, should be taken into consideration by general practitioners and community pharmacists when prescribing/dispensing medications to the elderly.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all community pharmacists and pharmacy students who contributed to this research. The authors would also like to thank patients who agreed to be interviewed for the purpose of this study. The kind assistance of Stella Ghouti for the proofreading and corrections of the English is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Sud, 5, rue Jean-Baptiste Clément, 92296, Chatenay-Malabry, France

    E. Bourcier, V. Brunie, V. Korb-Savoldelli, C. Lafortune, M. Buyse, C. Fernandez & P. Hindlet

  2. Service de Pharmacie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, 184, rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine, 75012, Paris, France

    E. Bourcier, F. Mille, M. Buyse, C. Fernandez & P. Hindlet

  3. Service de Pharmacie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Emile Roux, 1, avenue de Verdun, 94450, Limeil-Brévannes, France

    V. Brunie

  4. Service de Pharmacie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France

    V. Korb-Savoldelli

  5. Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP UMRS 1136), 75012, Paris, France

    E. Bourcier, C. Fernandez & P. Hindlet

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Standardized questionnaire used to collect data and assess medication adherence

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Bourcier, E., Mille, F., Brunie, V. et al. Quality of prescribing in community-dwelling elderly patients in France: an observational study in community pharmacies. Int J Clin Pharm 39, 1220–1227 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-017-0531-6

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