Prevalence and predictors of regularly scheduled prescription medications of newly admitted nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and predictors of commonly prescribed regularly scheduled medications.

DESIGN

Data were collected on the first day following nursing home admission in this non-experimental study.

SETTING

A stratified, proportional probability sample of eight nursing homes in a large Mid-South city participated in this study.

PARTICIPANTS

A consecutive sample of 574 new and readmitted nursing home residents who did not refuse participation.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Data were collected on regularly scheduled prescription medications and resident and nursing home characteristics.

RESULTS

Residents without a diagnosis of dementia were more likely to receive cardiovascular medications (Odds Ratio = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.56-3.49), and white residents were more likely to receive cardiovascular medications (Odds Ratio = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.19-2.53) or central nervous system medications (Odds Ratio = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.18-2.51). Older residents were less likely to receive central nervous system medications (Odds Ratio = 0.97 per year; 95% CI = 0.96-0.99), and females were more likely to receive cardiovascular medications (Odds Ratio = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.30-2.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Resident characteristics were the most important predictors for cardiovascular and central nervous system medication prescriptions of new and readmitted nursing home residents.