Potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults: prevalence and physician knowledge

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency, profile, and additional variables associated with prescription of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) to older adults in primary care, evaluate physicians’ knowledge about these medications. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on data from patient records for period January 2014 December 2017 a city located state Minas Gerais. The frequency PIM use evaluated 2019 Beers-Fick criteria. Physician using validated questionnaire as source. RESULTS: In sample 423 adults, 75.89% (n = 321) used at least one PIM, most common which were treat central nervous system disorders (48.00%; n 203). Most participants female (62.41%; 264) 70 years or (69.50%; 294). When presented clinical cases illustrating situations management patients, 53.33% physicians 8) answered four five questions correctly out possible seven; 13.33% 2) six correctly; 33.33% 5) obtained three correct answers fewer. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed high among treated Primary Health Care settings, treatment disorders. Our results highlight importance continuing education health professionals improved assessments medication available Unified System (Sistema Único de Saúde; SUS) especially those taking multiple