• Kjell H Halvorsen, Sabine Ruths, Anne Gerd Granas, and Kirsten K Viktil.
• Section for General Practice, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. kjell.halvorsen@isf.uib.no
• Scand J Prim Health Care. 2010 Jun 1; 28 (2): 828882-8.

ObjectiveTo describe an innovative team intervention to identify and resolve DRPs (drug-related problems) in Norwegian nursing homes.DesignDescriptive intervention study. Setting. Three nursing homes in Bergen, Norway.SubjectsA total of 142 long-term care patients (106 women, mean age 86.9 years).ResultsSystematic medication reviews performed by pharmacists in 142 patients revealed altogether 719 DRPs, of which 504 were acknowledged by the patients' physician and nurses, and 476 interventions were completed. "Unnecessary drug" and "Monitoring required" were the most frequently identified DRPs. Drugs for treating the nervous system and the alimentary tract and metabolism were most commonly questioned.ConclusionsThe multidisciplinary team intervention was suitable to identify and resolve drug-related problems in nursing home settings. Systematic medication reviews and involvement of pharmacists in clinical teams should therefore be implemented on a regular basis to achieve and maintain high-quality drug therapy.

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