6533b85cfe1ef96bd12bd3ef

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Pattern of drug use by advanced cancer patients followed at home

Casuccio AlessandraFabio FulfaroSebastiano Mercadante

subject

DrugMalemedicine.medical_specialtyPalliative caremedia_common.quotation_subjectAnalgesicMEDLINEAuditDrug Prescriptions03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicine030502 gerontologyNeoplasmsmedicineHumans030212 general & internal medicinePractice Patterns Physicians'Survival analysismedia_commonAgedRetrospective StudiesMedical AuditTerminal CareEvidence-Based Medicinebusiness.industryMedicine (all)Retrospective cohort studyGeneral MedicineEvidence-based medicineHome Care ServicesSurvival AnalysisDrug UtilizationEmergency medicinePractice Guidelines as TopicFemaleDrug Monitoring0305 other medical sciencebusiness

description

The aim of this study was to document the drugs most commonly prescribed to control symptoms in advanced cancer patients being followed at home. We analyzed data for 128 patients admitted to a home palliative care program from January 1993 to January 1995. All patients were followed at home until death by a team consisting of doctors and nurses, and were given two or three medical examinations a week. The most frequently prescribed drugs were analgesics and drugs commonly used to prevent NSAID-induced gastric toxicity. Slow-release morphine was the analgesic used most often. Most patients received more than four drugs. Younger people received morphine more often than did older patients. Conclusions Drug monitoring is a useful audit tool for verifying the quality and quantity of drugs prescribed for advanced cancer patients being followed at home. Pharmacological usage should be reviewed periodically and should reflect evidence-based practice.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2001-03-01
http://hdl.handle.net/10447/326709