$3 million to deliver RedUSe across Australia
Researchers from the UTAS School of Pharmacy’s Unit for Medication Outcomes, Research and Education (UMORE) have successfully obtained $3 million in funding to deliver their RedUSe program across Australia.
RedUSe (Reducing use of sedatives) is an innovative UTAS-led project aiming to reduce the use of sedatives in aged care facilities.
The funding was awarded as part of the Government’s Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund.
UTAS researchers Dr Juanita Westbury and Professor Greg Peterson from UMORE will implement the program in partnership with the Department of Health and Ageing, the National Prescribing Service, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Bupa, Southern Cross Care and independent aged care homes.
RedUSe extensively researched the way psychotropic medicines are prescribed in the aged care setting and used this information to shape an intervention study to reduce the use of sedatives in 25 aged care homes in Hobart.
A review of these sedative medications aims to improve the care provided to residents, particularly those suffering from dementia, and empower aged care staff, pharmacists and GPs through improved education and awareness on the quality use of sedative medication.
The funding will allow aged care facilities and the independent aged and community care sector across Australia to access the RedUSe program over the next three years.
UTAS’ Dr Juanita Westbury, who will be leading the RedUSe program nationally, said it has already had proven success in Tasmania.
“The RedUSe program was trialled within 25 aged care facilities in Hobart and Launceston as well as 13 community pharmacies across the state.
“The result was a customised education program for nursing staff and an interdisciplinary review that successfully promoted the quality use of sedative medications in residential aged care.
“Consequently, we were able to actively reduce the use of sedatives among residents.
“This grant will enable the RedUSe program to positively affect aged care facilities across Australia and will improve the provision of care for Australians with dementia,” Dr Westbury said.
“We believe that promoting the quality use of sedative medication will improve the care provided to residents resulting in an enhanced quality of life.”
In 2012, the RedUSe program won the Building a Medicinewise Community: consumer programs award at the National Medicine Symposium.
For more information or to register your interest in the RedUSe program: Please contact Dr Juanita Westbury, RedUSe Program Lead, Juanita.Westbury@utas.edu.au