Impact of recommendations on crushing medications in geriatrics: from prescription to administration

• Published in: Fundamental & clinical pharmacology 2015-06, Vol.29 (3), p.316-320
• Main Authors: Bourdenet, Gwladys, Giraud, Sophie, Artur, Marion, Dutertre, Sophie, Dufour, Marie, Lefèbvre-Caussin, Marie, Proux, Alice, Philippe, Sandrine, Capet, Corinne, Fontaine-Adam, Magali, Kadri, Karine, Landrin, Isabelle, Gréboval, Emmanuelle, Touflet, Myriam, Nanfack, Jules, Tharasse, Christine, Varin, Rémi, Rémy, Elise, Daouphars, Mikaël, Doucet, Jean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; crushed drugs; Deglutition Disorders - physiopathology; Drug Compounding - standards; Drug Prescriptions; elderly; Female; France; Geriatrics - standards; Guideline Adherence - standards; Hospitals, University; Humans; Male; Pharmaceutical Preparations - administration & dosage; Pharmaceutical Preparations - chemistry; Pharmaceutical Preparations - standards; Practice Guidelines as Topic - standards; Prospective Studies; swallowing disorders; Tablets; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0767-3981; 1472-8206
• DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12116

The practice of crushing drugs is very common in geriatric units. In 2009 a first study, performed in all geriatric units of a university hospital, showed that numerous errors were made during prescription, preparation and administration. The aim of this second prospective study was to assess the impact of regional and national recommendations in the same geriatric units. A survey of 719 patients (85.3 ± 6.7 years) was performed in 2013. For each patient who received crushed drugs, we recorded the reason the drugs were crushed, pharmacological classes, galenic presentations and the technique used for preparation and administration. Results were compared to the previous study. The number of patients receiving drugs after crushing was significantly lower than in the previous study (22.9% vs. 32.3%, P