17 November 2008

Pain is common among aged care residents and is often under-treated. To help address this problem, National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) has developed a no-cost quality improvement tool to assist pharmacists determine the appropriateness of analgesic use by residents.

Analgesic use for persistent pain in aged care homes Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) is the third DUE toolkit available from NPS. The first focused on reviewing the use of hypnotics (benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine) in treating insomnia, while the second DUE centred on antipsychotic drugs in behavioural disturbance of dementia.

“Effective drug use in aged care is a common issue of concern for pharmacists. To help rectify the under-diagnosis and under-treatment of pain, pharmacists can lead the review of choice, frequency and route of drug use,” NPS Education and Quality Assurance Program Manager, Judith Mackson said.

The NPS DUE toolkits promote optimal drug therapy by monitoring drug use through comparisons with

specific standards and offer appropriate actions when drug use is inconsistent with these standards. It is a cyclic process and is most effective if the cycle is undertaken as a quality activity.

Completing this DUE will allow pharmacists to:

• Determine the appropriateness of the use of analgesic medication for managing persistent pain within the aged care home
• Identify opportunities for improving quality use of these drugs, and act on them
• Assist aged care homes to meet components of the Residential Care Standards issued by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency
• Comply with the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council Guidelines for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities
• Provide facility focused activities to promote the quality use of medicines (in line with Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Guidelines and Standards).

“Pharmacists working with nursing homes can lead the project and collect the initial data, but the DUE is an ideal opportunity to partner with Medication Advisory Committees and facility staff,” Judith Mackson said.

Pharmacists can register online and upon completion of the DUE, answer the post-activity evaluation survey. Following evaluation, registered pharmacists who are Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) members are eligible for 25 Continuing Professional Development and Practice Improvement points per year of the DUE. The Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (AACP) also recognises the activity with 25 credit points per year of the DUE.

The DUE toolkits are downloadable at: www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/drug_use_evaluation_due_programs

For more information about the NPS DUE toolkits, contact Aine Heaney at NPS on (02) 8217 8700.

ENDS

The National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.