Abstract

Aim: This project aimed to assess the effectiveness of the STOPP/START tool in identifying and reducing potentially inappropriate medications among multi-morbid, older, long-term care residents in a metropolitan area of a Southwestern state.

Design: In this quality improvement project, seven prescribers working within four long-term care facilities were trained to assess for potentially inappropriate medications using the STOPP/START tool. The medication lists for long-term care residents (n =45) over age 65 were collected at baseline and again at three months post-intervention and assessed for overall medication use, psychotropics, and proton pump inhibitors. The project also assessed prescribers’ comfort and confidence in using the STOPP/START tool post-intervention through the use of a questionnaire.

Results: The data revealed an increase in means from baseline (M = 15.56) to three months (M = 16.33) for overall prescribed medications, which was statistically significant. Within both classes, psychotropic medications and Proton pump inhibitors, there lacked a statistically significant impact on the number of prescribed medications during the intervention period. Finally, one prescriber (14%) completed the questionnaire and did not report a change in comfort with identifying potentially inappropriate medications or confidence in reducing, tapering, or discontinuing potentially inappropriate medications.

Language

English

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Level of Degree

Doctoral

First Committee Member

Christine Cogil, DNP, MPS, RN, FNP-BC

Second Committee Member

Anh Tran, PharmD, PhC, BCGP

Keywords

Potentially Inappropriate Medications, Polypharmacy, Long-Term care

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