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.