Patient and multidisciplinary health professional perceptions of an Australian geriatric evaluation and management and rehabilitation hospital in the home service.

OBJECTIVES: Hospital in the Home models are rapidly expanding in response to increasing bed pressures. This study examined patient and multidisciplinary health professional perceptions of a new geriatric evaluation and management and rehabilitation hospital in the home service in Australia. The service was unique, as adults of all ages with a variety of rehabilitation or geriatric evaluation and management needs were within scope. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive approach was used with a consumer co-researcher and a consumer advisor being integral to decision-making. Patient feedback was collected via a paper-based patient satisfaction survey between August 2020 and February 2022. Additionally, interviews with current and past staff were conducted from July to November 2021. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative data and descriptive statistics used for quantitative data. RESULTS: Patient surveys were analysed (n = 199, 42.2% response rate) with 60.8% of participants aged 75 years or over and 26.6% speaking a language other than English. High satisfaction was expressed. Feelings of comfort, familiarity, convenience, and reassurance were voiced. A person-centred approach enhanced involvement in care. Challenges included carer burden and clear communication. Sixteen staff (33% response rate) were interviewed. In general, staff said the service was inclusive and responsive, and the home environment beneficial, particularly for patients from culturally diverse backgrounds. A strong hospital partnership and comprehensive multidisciplinary approach were vital. Challenges included fragmentation due to part-time roles and combining with a pre-existing acute hospital in the home service. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative exploration of staff and patients' perceptions of a geriatrician-led, multidisciplinary geriatric evaluation and management and rehabilitation hospital in the home service demonstrated that it was person-centred and optimised patients' control and ownership of care. The inclusive service parameters ensured responsiveness to diverse needs whilst allowing earlier return home from hospital, both of which are vital for quality patient care.

Examination of the nutritional intake of patients undergoing opioid replacement therapy: A systematic review.

AIM: This systematic review aimed to determine the level of existing research that investigates the intake, specifically macro and micronutrient intake, of patients undergoing opioid replacement therapy. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and CINAHL databases using a pre-determined protocol. Studies published between 2001 and 2022 assessing macronutrient or micronutrient intake in opioid replacement therapy patients were included. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist was utilised for quality appraisal.  Data from each of the included papers was synthesised in a narrative manner. Data extracted included all measurements of nutrition including macronutrient, and micronutrient intake and any bioanalysis results and methods utilised. RESULTS: Seven papers (one cohort study and six cross-sectional studies, n = 443) were included that investigated an aspect of nutritional intake in patients receiving opioid replacement therapy. The majority of included papers reported an assessment of both macro and micronutrient and resulting energy intake as determined by food consumption. The included papers described a picture of irregular nutritional intake in patients undergoing opioid replacement therapy. CONCLUSION: Minimal research into the nutritional intake of opioid replacement therapy patients exists. The existing research is suggestive of irregular nutritional intake from both macro and micronutrient consumption and indicates a need for further studies and increased attention on this vulnerable patient group.

Factors that affect health-care workers' practices of medication administration to aged care residents with swallowing difficulties: An Australia-wide survey study.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the barriers and facilitators of medication administration to aged care residents with swallowing difficulties. METHODS: Health-care workers in aged care facilities across Australia involved in medication administration to residents completed an online survey. RESULTS: Of 355 respondents, 90.9% reported 'everyday' encounters with residents with swallowing difficulties and 94.1% modified medications to facilitate administration. Time constraints (63.4%) and workload (69.0%) were common barriers. Only 39.0% believed swallowing abilities are considered at the prescribing stage. Pill size (95.8%), polypharmacy (75.2%) and lack of alternative formulations (74.9%) contributed to these challenges. Support from other health-care professionals (91.5%) and training (85.9%) were the most favoured facilitators. CONCLUSION: Health-care workers are faced with various challenges when caring for residents with swallowing difficulties. Promoting multidisciplinary collaborations, provision of training and medication review services, and improving skill mix and staffing composition in aged care facilities are needed to address these challenges.

Factors affecting Australian aged care facility workers in administering oral medication to residents with swallowing difficulties.

Swallowing difficulties are common in older people and can complicate the administration of oral medications. The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting healthcare workers in their practices of oral medication administration to aged care residents with swallowing difficulties. A purposeful sample of 17 healthcare workers composed of clinical/care managers, registered nurses (RNs), enrolled nurses (ENs), and assistants in nursing (AINs) from three aged care facilities in Queensland, Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. Leximancer was used for quantitative content analysis. The responses centered on three main factors. Participants discussed workprocess-related factors including time, workload, and stress and frustrations resulting from work processes. Medication-related factors included strategies to facilitate medication administration, uncertainties around modifying medications, availability/cost of alternatives, multidisciplinary medication management, prescribing considerations, and polypharmacy. Resident-related factors were discussed around individualized needs of residents especially those with dementia-associated swallowing difficulties. Ideas differed among the four groups of participants. Managers discussed workprocess-related factors pertaining to staff and facility. RNs focused on how clinical aspects of the medication practices were affected by work processes. ENs were task-oriented and their responses focused on work processes. AIN responses centered on reliance on RNs in performing medication tasks. The findings suggest that healthcare workers' practices of medication administration to residents with swallowing difficulties are affected by various factors associated with work processes, medications, and resident characteristics. Although these factors affect all levels of healthcare workers, the needs of each group vary depending on their level of training and responsibilities.

Appropriateness of oral dosage form modification for aged care residents: a video-recorded observational study.

Background Dosage forms of oral medications are frequently modified in aged care facilities by crushing/splitting tablets or opening capsules to facilitate medication administration for residents with swallowing difficulties. These practices pose safety concerns including the risk of adverse events resulting from loss of dose during transfer and alteration in the rate of absorption. Objective To identify the incidence, methods, and appropriateness of oral dosage form modification practices in aged care facilities. Setting A purposive sample of four urban and regional aged care facilities in Queensland, Australia. Method The processes of modification of oral dosage forms were observed and video-recorded using an action camera placed on medication trolleys. Each video was then reviewed and the details of the medication modification processes were recorded in a data collection form. The appropriateness of the practices of dosage form modification was evaluated against existing national guideline (Australian Don't Rush to Crush Handbook). Deviations from the instructions in the guideline were considered as inappropriate practice. Main outcome measure Incidence and characteristics of inappropriate modification of oral dosage forms. Results Oral dosage forms were modified in 25.7% of 810 observed medications. The most common methods of dosage form modification included crushing tablets with a manual crushing device (71.6%), cutting/splitting tablets (20.2%), and opening capsules (4.3%). According to the national guideline, 12.5% of the modification instances were inappropriate. Inappropriate practices were commonly associated with the suboptimal methods of medication preparation where medications were unsuitably modified, mixed, spilled, or incompletely dosed. Conclusion The modification of oral dosage forms seems a common practice in aged care facilities in Queensland. However, some of these modifications do not comply with the requirements of good practice according to existing guidelines. Healthcare workers in aged care facilities need to be supported and upskilled with effective training to promote the best and safest practices of ODF modification.

Complementary medicine use among Australian patients in an acute hospital setting: an exploratory, cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The use of Complementary Medicines (CMs) has significantly increased in Australia over the last decade. This study attempts to determine the extent to which complementary and alternative medicines are recorded, ceased or initiated in the acute hospital setting and investigate which health professionals have a role in this process. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of inpatients was conducted at a major tertiary teaching hospital. Patient's medical records were examined to determine the rates of complementary medicine (CM) use and recording on medication charts and discharge prescriptions. Patient progress notes were audited to determine which health professionals were involved with the initiation or cessation of CMs during the inpatient stay. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-one patients were included for analysis of which 44.3% (n = 151) participants were recorded as utilizing a CM. Patients were admitted on a mean of 2 (±1.4[Sd]; 0-9[range]) CMs and discharged on a mean of 1.7 CMs (±1.3[Sd]; 0-5[range]). 274 individual CMs were recorded on inpatient medication reconciliation forms with multivitamins, magnesium, fish oil and cholecalciferol recorded the most frequently. One hundred and fifty-eight changes to patient CM usage were recorded during the patient hospitalisation. One hundred and seven of these changes (68%) were not accounted for in the patient progress notes. CONCLUSION: Patients use of CM in this hospital setting do not reflect the national estimated usage. On the occasions that CM products are included in patient records, they are subsequently deprescribed following patient examination in hospital. It is currently unclear which health professionals have a role in this deprescribing process.

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down? A review of strategies for making pills easier to swallow.

Solid oral dosage forms such as tablets and capsules are generally the preferred method of drug delivery due to their convenience, cost, and acceptability. However, for many people, it can be a challenge to swallow solid oral medications, even those with healthy swallowing function. This review describes current strategies available to facilitate medication administration to otherwise healthy people with pill-swallowing difficulties. In general, restoring and maintaining the ability to swallow pills whole should ideally be the first choice in managing people with pill-swallowing difficulties. A number of strategies can potentially make it easier to swallow pills whole. These include postural adjustments, using pill-swallowing aids, and teaching pill-swallowing techniques. Where these are not successful or appropriate, then other approaches have to be considered using alternative formulations/routes of administration or deprescribing. If there is no other option, and it is not directly contraindicated for each specific medication dosage form, pills may be modified and mixed in foods and drinks to aid swallowing. In conclusion, people with pill-swallowing difficulties can benefit from a number of strategies designed to facilitate swallowing medications. However, these strategies should be further evaluated with regard to the evidence relating to both their efficacy and safety.

Australian pharmacists' knowledge of the efficacy and safety of complementary medicines.

Global usage and expenditure on complementary medicines is increasing. Over 50% of consumers purchase these products from pharmacies and expect pharmacists to provide them with appropriate information regarding efficacy and safety of these products. Internationally, pharmacists have identified their lack of detailed knowledge of the efficacy and safety of these products as a barrier to recommending these products. Currently, little is known about the actual knowledge Australian pharmacists have of these products. This research seeks to determine Australian pharmacists' knowledge of the efficacy and safety of complementary medicines. An online survey was validated and distributed by three professional pharmacy bodies in Australia and online social media to survey Australian pharmacists' knowledge of a selection of complementary medicines that are defined as having therapeutic benefits as per the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines. In total, 535 complete surveys were returned and included in the final analysis. Surveys were predominantly completed by community pharmacists. The mean knowledge score obtained was 62%. There were no statistically significantly different results from pharmacists with a nutritional qualification. Australian pharmacists appear to have a basic knowledge of complementary medicines with a defined clinical effect. Specialised and targeted education focussing on relevant and efficacious complementary medicines with strong clinical evidence base is required.

Nurse experiences of medication administration to people with swallowing difficulties living in aged care facilities: a systematic review of qualitative evidence.

OBJECTIVE: To identify nurses' experiences of administering oral medications to residents of aged care facilities (ACFs) with swallowing difficulties. INTRODUCTION: Administering medicines to older people with swallowing difficulties is a challenging task. Nurses frequently modify oral medications e.g. by crushing/splitting tablets or opening capsules, to facilitate the administration process. These practices are associated with an increased risk of medication administration errors. However, the reasons for these practices from the nurse's perspective are not well understood. INCLUSION CRITERIA: The review investigated studies on the experiences of nurses of any level with the responsibility of medication administration in ACFs in terms of problems and challenges they encountered when administering oral medicines to aged care residents with swallowing difficulties. Aged care facilities providing all levels of care were considered for inclusion. Qualitative studies including, but not limited to, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and action research designs as well as mixed methods studies and text and opinion papers were considered. METHODS: A comprehensive database search of PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Scopus was conducted between October and December 2016. MedNar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were used to search for gray literature. No date limitation was applied. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument critical appraisal tool (JBI-QARI) was used to assess the quality of the papers. The JBI-QARI data extraction instrument was used to extract qualitative findings. Data synthesis was not applicable in the final analysis due to the inclusion of only one article. RESULTS: The initial search resulted in 1681 unique titles for screening. A total of 202 abstracts were screened, after which a full-text review conducted for 19 articles. After the full-text review, only one article was eligible to be included in the final report. The included study scored highly in terms of methodological quality. The findings highlighted issues around time constraints, complexity of medication administration process to residents of ACFs with swallowing difficulties, cost and resources for alternative strategies, inefficient information flow and communication among healthcare professionals, and nurses' knowledge and training needs. CONCLUSION: The limited findings of this systematic review indicate that further research is necessary to provide evidence of nurses' experiences with regards to administering oral medications to older people with swallowing difficulties living in ACFs. A comprehensive understanding of these experiences may lead to organizational system changes to support nurses and older people with swallowing difficulties in ACFs.

Nurses' experiences of medication administration to people with swallowing difficulties in aged care facilities: a systematic review protocol.

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to identify the experiences of nurses in administering oral medications to residents of aged care facilities with swallowing difficulties.More specifically, the review question is:What problems do nurses experience when administering oral medicines to people with swallowing difficulties living in aged care facilities?

Malnutrition: The Importance of Identification, Documentation, and Coding in the Acute Care Setting.

Malnutrition is a significant issue in the hospital setting. This cross-sectional, observational study determined the prevalence of malnutrition amongst 189 adult inpatients in a teaching hospital using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment tool and compared data to control groups for coding of malnutrition to determine the estimated unclaimed financial reimbursement associated with this comorbidity. Fifty-three percent of inpatients were classified as malnourished. Significant associations were found between malnutrition and increasing age, decreasing body mass index, and increased length of stay. Ninety-eight percent of malnourished patients were coded as malnourished in medical records. The results of the medical history audit of patients in control groups showed that between 0.9 and 5.4% of patients were coded as malnourished which is remarkably lower than the 52% of patients who were coded as malnourished from the point prevalence study data. This is most likely to be primarily due to lack of identification. The estimated unclaimed annual financial reimbursement due to undiagnosed or undocumented malnutrition based on the point prevalence study was AU$8,536,200. The study found that half the patients were malnourished, with older adults being particularly vulnerable. It is imperative that malnutrition is diagnosed and accurately documented and coded, so appropriate coding, funding reimbursement, and treatment can occur.

Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Scabies.

Globally, scabies affects more than 130 million people at any time. In the developed world, outbreaks in health institutions and vulnerable communities result in a significant economic burden. A review of the literature demonstrates the emergence of resistance toward classical scabicidal treatments and the lack of effectiveness of currently available scabicides in reducing the inflammatory skin reactions and pyodermal progression that occurs in predisposed patient cohorts. Tea tree oil (TTO) has demonstrated promising acaricidal effects against scabies mites in vitro and has also been successfully used as an adjuvant topical medication for the treatment of crusted scabies, including cases that did not respond to standard treatments. Emerging acaricide resistance threatens the future usefulness of currently used gold standard treatments (oral ivermectin and topical permethrin) for scabies. The imminent development of new chemical entities is doubtful. The cumulative acaricidal, antibacterial, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing effects of TTO may have the potential to successfully reduce the burden of scabies infection and the associated bacterial complications. This review summarizes current knowledge on the use of TTO for the treatment of scabies. On the strength of existing data for TTO, larger scale, randomized controlled clinical trials are warranted.

Look-alike, sound-alike medication errors: a novel case concerning a Slow-Na, Slow-K prescribing error.

A 59-year-old man was mistakenly prescribed Slow-Na instead of Slow-K due to incorrect selection from a drop-down list in the prescribing software. This error was identified by a pharmacist during a home medicine review (HMR) before the patient began taking the supplement. The reported error emphasizes the need for vigilance due to the emergence of novel look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) drug pairings. This case highlights the important role of pharmacists in medication safety.

A systematic review of community pharmacist therapeutic knowledge of dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND: Internationally, the use of dietary supplements has been growing rapidly. Patient support for pharmacist sales of nutritional and dietary supplements is also strong. The increase in demand for nutritional and dietary supplements and subsequent advice about these products, however, makes it necessary that pharmacists maintain a contemporary knowledge of the area. AIM OF REVIEW: This systematic review was conducted to examine the current evidence regarding the level of the nutritional and dietary supplement knowledge of community pharmacists and their understanding of their therapeutic effects. METHOD: Electronic databases including Medline, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, Scifinder and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched. Studies assessing nutritional knowledge of pharmacists in community pharmacies were eligible for inclusion. All languages and study designs were considered. Study results were analysed and pharmacist knowledge scores were given out of 100 %. Results From 5594 studies identified, nine met the inclusion criteria. Each study tested pharmacist knowledge with predetermined questions calculating results as the number of questions answered correctly. These knowledge scores were converted to a percentage score for the purpose of this paper. The median knowledge score across all papers was 64 %. A lack of studies assessing community pharmacists' knowledge of commonly sold vitamins and minerals was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Global community pharmacist knowledge of dietary supplements appears to be poor. Community pharmacists have an professional responsibility to provide accurate health information about dietary supplements as they do for any other therapies they provide to patients. Further research including that which assesses pharmacists' therapeutic knowledge of commonly sold vitamins and minerals is suggested.

Principles to guide sustainable implementation of extended-scope-of-practice physiotherapy workforce redesign initiatives in Australia: stakeholder perspectives, barriers, supports, and incentives.

Sustainable implementation of new workforce redesign initiatives requires strategies that minimize barriers and optimize supports. Such strategies could be provided by a set of guiding principles. A broad understanding of the concerns of all the key stakeholder groups is required before effective strategies and initiatives are developed. Many new workforce redesign initiatives are not underpinned by prior planning, and this threatens their uptake and sustainability. This study reports on a cross-sectional qualitative study that sought the perspectives of representatives of key stakeholders in a new workforce redesign initiative (extended-scope-of-practice physiotherapy) in one Australian tertiary hospital. The key stakeholder groups were those that had been involved in some way in the development, management, training, funding, and/or delivery of the initiative. Data were collected using semistructured questions, answered individually by interview or in writing. Responses were themed collaboratively, using descriptive analysis. Key identified themes comprised: the importance of service marketing; proactively addressing barriers; using readily understood nomenclature; demonstrating service quality and safety, monitoring adverse events, measuring health and cost outcomes; legislative issues; registration; promoting viable career pathways; developing, accrediting, and delivering a curriculum supporting physiotherapists to work outside of the usual scope; and progression from "a good idea" to established service. Health care facilities planning to implement new workforce initiatives that extend scope of usual practice should consider these issues before instigating workforce/model of care changes.

Safe to crush? A pilot study into solid dosage form modification in aged care.

AIMS: To observe medication solid dosage form modification in aged care facilities (ACFs), and assess staff levels of self-perceived knowledge of medication modification and the types of resources available to them. METHOD: Observation of medication rounds in a convenience sample of Australian Capital Territory ACFs and assessment of staff knowledge of dosage form modification and available resources. RESULTS: From 160 observations across six medication rounds, 29 residents had a total of 75 medications modified by the nursing staff prior to administration, with 32% of these instances identified as inappropriate. The methods used for crushing and administration resulted in drug mixing, spillage and incomplete dosing. The staff reported adequate resources; however, a lack of knowledge on how to locate and use these resources was evident. CONCLUSIONS: Improved staff training on how to use available resources is needed to reduce the observed high incidence of inappropriate medication crushing.

Management of over-the-counter insomnia complaints in Australian community pharmacies: a standardized patient study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current management of over-the-counter (OTC) insomnia complaints in Australian community pharmacies using standardized patient methodology. METHODS: Trained standardized patients visited a sample of 100 randomly selected South East Queensland community pharmacies in June 2011. The standardized patients enacted two OTC insomnia scenarios: a direct product request (DPR) (n = 50) and a symptom-based request (SBR) (n = 50). Results of the interactions were documented immediately after each visit and evaluated using the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's WHAT STOP GO protocol as a standard comparison. KEY FINDINGS: Of all DPRs, 30% were handled entirely by the pharmacist, 70% of staff enquired about specific symptoms and 28% investigated the cause of insomnia. No staff investigated the frequency of product use. The DPR scenario resulted in a 92% supply of the requested doxylamine product (Restavit). In the SBR scenario, 18% of requests were handled entirely by the pharmacist, 58% of staff enquired about specific symptoms and 44% investigated the cause of insomnia. Staff recommended medicated products (38%), or herbal (78%) or non-drug techniques (18%). Investigation into smoking and alcohol intake was not undertaken in DPR or SBR interactions, while questioning on caffeine intake was undertaken in 2 and 14% of cases respectively. There were no significant differences found in the handling of sleep requests by pharmacists compared to pharmacy assistants. CONCLUSION: The standardized patient methodology was a successful way to assess the community pharmacy counselling provided with OTC sleep requests and suboptimal staff responses were found when compared with recommended practice standards.