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Table 5 Hospital pharmacists’ knowledge of Beers’ criteria for potentially inappropriate prescribing in elderly (n = 66)

From: Potentially inappropriate medication use in the elderly: physicians’ and hospital pharmacists knowledge, practice, confidence, and barriers

Variables

Response Categories

Frequency (%)

Metoclopramide should be avoided unless for gastroparesis with a duration not exceeding 12 weeks except in rare cases because it can cause extrapyramidal side-effects

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

39 (59.1)

No

10 (15.2)

I don’t Know

17 (25.8)

Proton-pump Inhibitors should be used for a maximum of 8 weeks in elderly patients except for high-risk patients, erosive oesophagitis, and pathological hypersecretory conditions.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

53 (80.3)

No

7 (10.6)

I don’t Know

6 (9.1)

Sertraline would increase the risk of delirium.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

42 (63.6)

No

5 (7.6)

I don’t Know

19 (28.8)

SSRIs can increase the risk of falls and should be avoided unless safer alternatives are not available.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

48 (72.7)

No

3 (4.5)

I don’t Know

15 (22.7)

Benzodiazepines can increase the risk of falls and fractures in elderly patients.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

54 (81.8)

No

7 (10.6)

I don’t Know

5 (7.6)

First Generation antihistamines (Chlorpheniramine) can increase the risk of anticholinergic effects in elderly patients.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

40 (60.6)

No

8 (12.1)

I don’t Know

18 (27.3)

Corticosteroids plus NSAIDs should be avoided because it increases the risk of peptic ulcer disease or Gastro-Intestinal bleeding.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

56 (84.8)

No

2 (3.0)

I don’t Know

8 (12.1)

Aspirin 325 mg daily may exacerbate existing ulcers or cause new additional ulcers.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

54 (81.8)

No

9 (13.6)

I don’t Know

3 (4.5)

Long-acting sulfonylurea (glimepiride, glyburide) should be avoided due to their risk of prolonged hypoglycemia.

Correct answer: Yes

Yes

46 (69.7)

No

9 (13.6)

I don’t Know

11 (16.7)

A 72-year-old patient has type II diabetes mellitus. The patient is newly diagnosed with hypertension. The patient has experienced recurrent events of hypoglycemia. The patient has no other medical illnesses. Which of the following medications would you consider to AVOID?

Correct answer: hydrochlorothiazide.

Metoprolol

25 (37.9)

Amlodipine

3 (4.5)

Hydrochlorothiazide

28 (42.4)

Losartan

4 (6.1)

I don’t know

6 (9.1)

A 76-year-old patient is newly diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus. The patient has no other medical illness. You are going to start an oral antidiabetic agent for this patient. Which of the following medications would you consider to AVOID?

Correct answer: Glibenclamide

Rosiglitazone

40 (60.6)

Glibenclamide

13 (19.7)

Metformin

4 (6.1)

Sitagliptin

3 (4.5)

I don’t know

6 (9.1)

Score distribution (n = 66)

Frequency(n)

Percentage (%)

0

0

0.0

1

0

0.0

2

0

0.0

3

1

1.5

4

3

4.5

5

10

15.2

6

8

12.1

7

11

16.7

8

12

18.2

9

13

19.7

10

7

10.6

11

1

1.5

Knowledge of Beers’ Criteria

 Poor Knowledge (< 80)

45

68.2

 Good Knowledge (> 80)

21

31.8