Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41748493›Full record

ArticleAustralasian journal on ageing2026

Development of a High-Risk Medication List for Australian Residential Aged Care: A Modified Delphi Study.

Amanda J Cross, Madiha Chaudhry, Darshna Goordeen, Juanita L Breen, Malcolm Clark, Stephanie Daly, Belinda Delardes, Bente Hart, Deborah Hawthorne, Peter J Hayball and 24 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Australasian journal on ageing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

34 authors.

Amanda J CrossCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6001-9211
Madiha ChaudhryCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Darshna GoordeenCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6381-8745
Juanita L BreenWicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Malcolm ClarkDepartment of General Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Stephanie DalyRoyal Australian College of General Practitioners, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Belinda DelardesCentre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria, Blackburn North, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8966-5858
Bente HartSouthern New South Wales Local Health District, NSW Health, Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia.
Deborah HawthorneCentre for Optimisation of Medicines, School of Health and Clinical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9301-0437
Peter J HayballSouth Australian Ambulance Service, Clinical Services Directorate, Eastwood, South Australia, Australia.
Sarah N HilmerFaculty of Medicine and Health, Kolling Institute, The University of Sydney and Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5970-1501
Lisa Kouladjian O'DonnellSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0927-7295
MaryAnn KulhSchool of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Kenneth LeeCentre for Optimisation of Medicines, School of Health and Clinical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3022-4868
David F L LiewDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8451-8883
Stephen MacfarlaneDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Elizabeth ManiasMonash Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3747-0087
Anthony MarinucciRoyal Australian College of General Practitioners, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Constance Dimity PondWicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Helen RawsonMonash Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5363-729X
Susan SlatyerSchool of Nursing, College of Health and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2345-2862
Andrew StaffordCurtin School of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences, and enAble Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6461-6846
Amy B ThomsonNew South Wales Poisons Information Centre, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Kate WangCentre for Optimisation of Medicines, School of Health and Clinical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5208-1090
Kirolos WasefGoodwin Aged Care, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Jonathan ZimmermanHealth of Older Persons, Bayside Health (Alfred Care Group), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Nadine E AndrewFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Peninsula Clinical School, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4846-2840
Gauri P GodboleCentral Coast Local Health District, Gosford Hospital, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5627-1721
Louise LordCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Atish ManekDepartment of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Brigid McInerneyCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2245-4794
Michelle SteeperFaculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Justin P TurnerCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0613-108X
J Simon BellCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6115-2767

Funding

Medical Research Future Fund PHRDI000008National Health and Medical Research Council APP2009633
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHigh-risk medications are medications associated with significant patient harm or death if misused or used in error. This study aimed to develop a national consensus high-risk medication list for use in Australian residential aged care.

methodsA 3-round modified Delphi study involving Australian healthcare professionals was conducted. In Round 1, participants indicated their level of agreement, on a 9-point Likert scale, whether 60 medications/medication classes were considered high-risk and should be included in a high-risk medication list for Australian residential aged care. Round 2 included medications/medication classes that did not reach consensus and new medications identified by participants. Consensus was defined as 70% or more of participants responding at 7 or higher on the Likert scale. In Round 3, participants were asked to prioritise medications/medication classes that reached consensus in Round 1 or 2.

resultsIn total, 42 participants completed Round 1, and 35 (83%) completed all three rounds. Participants included pharmacists (n = 21), prescribers (n = 15), nurses (n = 5) and a paramedic (n = 1), with representation from all Australian states and mainland territories. Overall, 26 medications reached consensus (21 in Round 1, five in Round 2) and were categorised into 15 medications/medication classes for prioritisation in Round 3. The final prioritisation list was opioids, insulin, benzodiazepines, anticoagulants, z-drugs, antipsychotics, lithium, sulfonylureas with high risk of hypoglycaemia, chemotherapeutic agents, methotrexate, digoxin, narrow therapeutic range antiepileptics, tricyclic antidepressants, immunosuppressants for transplant and sedating antihistamines. DISCUSSION: This is the first, national consensus list of high-risk medications developed specifically for Australian residential aged care. It can be used to implement targeted strategies to minimise medication-related harm.

Indexed as

Homes for the AgedNursing HomesPotentially Inappropriate Medication ListAgedAustraliaConsensusDelphi TechniqueFemaleHumansNursing Home ResidentsPolypharmacyRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsDelphi techniquelong‐term caremedication errorsnursing homes

Identifiers

PMID41748493
PMCPMC12945874

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.