Changes in Prescribing Symptomatic and Preventive Medications in the Last Year of Life in Older Nursing Home Residents.

ABSTRACT: Background: At the end of life goals of care change from disease prevention to symptomatic control, however, little is known about the patterns of medication prescribing at this stage. Objectives: To explore changes in prescribing of symptomatic and preventive medication in the last year of life in older nursing home residents. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using pharmacy medication supply data of 553 residents from 16 nursing home facilities around Sydney, Australia. Residents received 24-h nursing care, were aged ≥ 65 years, died between June 2008 and June 2010 and were using at least one medication 1 year before death. Medications were classified as symptomatic, preventive, or other. A linear mixed model was used to compare changes in prescribing in the last year o

SUBMITTER: van der Meer HG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5787351 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature