ArticlePharmacy world & science : PWS2007
The influence of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on inappropriate prescribing in Australian nursing homes.
Article in Pharmacy world & science : PWS, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence of Benzodiazepine, Z-Drug and Melatonin Use in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Australasian journal on ageing · 2026Pooled it
- Prevalence of inappropriate medication use in residential long-term care facilities for the elderly: A systematic review.The European journal of general practice · 2017Pooled it
- Interventions that can reduce inappropriate prescribing in the elderly: a systematic review.Drugs & aging · 2009Pooled it
- Trial
- How many medications do doctors in primary care use? An observational study of the DU90% indicator in primary care in England.BMJ open · 2021Observational
- Interventions to reduce the prescription of inappropriate medicines in older patients.Revista de saude publica · 2019Review
- Adoption and use of guidelines for whiplash: an audit of insurer and health professional practice in New South Wales, Australia.BMC health services research · 2018Observational
- Development of a provisional essential medicines list for children in Canada: consensus process.CMAJ open · 2018Article
- Canadian list of essential medications: Potential and uncertainties.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2017Article
- Estimated effects of adding universal public coverage of an essential medicines list to existing public drug plans in Canada.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2017Article
- Combining quality improvement and geriatrics training: the nursing home polypharmacy outcomes project.Gerontology & geriatrics education · 2014Article
- Validation of prescribing appropriateness criteria for older Australians using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method.BMJ open · 2012Article
- Reduction of inappropriate medications among older nursing-home residents: a nurse-led, pre/post-design, intervention study.Drugs & aging · 2010Article
- Medication prescribing practices for older prisoners in the Texas prison system.American journal of public health · 2010Article
- Prescribing of opioid analgesics and related mortality before and after the introduction of long-acting oxycodone.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2009Article
- Inappropriate medication use and prescribing indicators in elderly Australians: development of a prescribing indicators tool.Drugs & aging · 2008Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo determine the prevalence of inappropriate prescribing, defined by applying modified Beers' criteria, and to examine the influence of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Australia's national scheme for subsidising medicines, on inappropriate prescribing.
methodsCross-sectional survey of nursing home records, including 7-days data from medication charts.
settingFiveteen randomly selected nursing homes (998 residents) in Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Australia.
main outcome measuresThe prevalence of inappropriate prescribing as defined by modified Beers' criteria and its correlation with PBS restrictions.
results18.5% of residents were ordered one or more inappropriate medications, and 1.5% of residents were ordered two or more. The level of PBS restriction and the percentage of residents ordered a medication were highly correlated (p = -0.87, P < 0.001). Medications in Beers' criteria that were not listed (subsidised) on the PBS were not ordered for any resident. PBS medicines with subsidies restricted to certain populations or indications were ordered for 0% to 0.1% of residents. Dextropropoxyphene, diazepam, amitriptyline and methyldopa were the only medications in Beers' criteria prescribed to more than 0.5% of residents. Dextropropoxyphene was only subsidised for war veterans, with a caution warning of its potential to cause drug dependence, while diazepam, amitriptyline and methyldopa were listed on the PBS without any subsidy restrictions.
conclusionIncreases in the level of PBS restriction were associated with decreases in the prevalence of inappropriate prescribing, The targeting of drug subsidies to reduce inappropriate prescribing warrants further investigation.
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