EVALUATION OF APPROPRIATENESS IN PRESCRIPTION OF GERIATRIC POPULATION IN RESIDENTS OF OLD AGE HOMES USING MAI CRITERIA

WHO evaluated that in every nine people there is one elderly individual, i.e. of age >60 years. Compared to young adults, elderly persons have more illnesses, as ageing is often accompanied by chronic diseases, co-morbidity, disability and social isolation. MAI was developed to evaluate appropriateness of medications in all age group. Objective of the study was to assess polypharmacy and appropriateness in prescription. A cross sectional study was carried out for a period of 6 months to assess medication appropriateness. Patients of both sexes above 60 years of age, with at least one chronic illness were included. Out of 481 drugs 32 drugs were marginally inappropriate and 53 drugs were inappropriate according to MAI criteria and 12 participants were completely frail according to GFI (GFI Score ≥4). Polypharmacy and PIM are highly prevalent in geriatric population, which has a major health care outcome. Standard criteria should be considered before prescribing the medications in geriatric population. Keywords: Geriatrics, polypharmacy, MAI.

The IMPACT OF CLINICAL PHARMACY SERVICES IN GENERAL SURGERY

Objective: The objectives of this study include performing pharmaceutical care-related research and documenting regarding drug-related problems in the surgery department. Further, these types of studies may bring consciousness to both physicians and patients regarding drug use in surgery. Methods: A Prospective interventional study was conducted in a general surgery hospital. The prescriptions were analyzed for the use of inappropriateness of drugs using the classification for drug-related problems. Results: Out of 100 cases, 62 patients were observed with drug-related problems. The number of antibiotics prescribed was 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in 8, 11, 12, 32, 18, 18, 1 cases respectively. A significant increase in the outcome of antibiotic rationality and cases adhered to guidelines was seen in November compared to October and somewhat decreased in December due to some limitations. The overall study states that prescribing has a more important cause of Drug-related problems compared to dispensing and the use of the drug. Conclusion: Drug-related problems have to be acknowledged as a very important contributing treatment factor for the best health care outcome. Our study shows the importance of clinical pharmacists in every hospital for identifying and resolving drug-related problems and medication errors.