Drug Therapy Problems among Older Adults in Nursing Home with Integration of Medical and Old-age Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: As the aging process speeds up in China, drug therapy problems (DTPs) for older adults (60 years and older) in nursing homes have become serious. “Integration of medical and old-age care” has been introduced to nursing homes, however, whether it has an impact on DTPs is unknown. This study aimed to determine the frequency and type of DTPs among older adults in a nursing home with the integration of medical and old-age care. Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study. Drug use and DTPs of older adults were conducted in June 2023 from a nursing home with integration of medical and old-age care located in Shenzhen, Guangdong province of China. Results: A total of 249 older adults participated in this study. The mean age was 85.88 years, 62.4% were women. Medications used per person was 4 (SD=2.43). Polypharmacy was recorded in 30.12% of the older adults, and excessive polypharmacy in 3.21%. A total of 73 DTPs were identified, with an average of 0.25 DTPs per older adult. The most frequent DTP was nonadherence or noncompliance (n=30), followed by adverse drug reactions (n=14). Conclusions: The DTPs were lower among older adults in this medical and old-age care integrated nursing home than previously reported in traditional care nursing homes, however, there is still room for improvement. To reduce DTPs in nursing homes older adults, pharmacists should be introduced, and a regular evaluation of DTPs is also necessary.