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Wicking Research leads to psychotropic medication reduction in aged-care facilities

Effective intervention can reduce medication overuse in residential aged care facilities (RACFs), the latest University of Tasmania research shows.

Led by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre’s Dr Juanita Westbury, the research published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) recently focuses on the results of the RedUSe (Reducing Use of Sedatives) intervention aimed at reducing the use of psychotropic medications (mainly antipsychotic and benzodiazepine medications) in RACFS around the country.

After an initial trial in Tasmania, Dr Westbury introduced the RedUSe multi-strategic intervention nationally to more than 12,000 aged-care residents in 150 RACFs.

During the project, each RACF’s sedative medication use was measured initially, then at three months and finally at six months. Nursing and care staff attended training sessions on psychotropic medication and residents taking these medicines were reviewed by nursing staff, pharmacists and their GP.

Dr. Westbury spoke to Norman Swan on ABC Radio’s Health Report recently, where she spoke to many elements of the research including the amount of patients that were using sedatives in aged care facilities and the range of effects that they were having on these patients. A full copy of the interview can be found below.

The study not only looked at trialling a reduction in sedative use but also looked at implementing more exercise and meaningful activities as replacements for the medication, explained Dr. Westbury on Win News Tasmania on Monday the 14th of May, 2018 (See the below footage).

The key recommendations of Dr Westbury’s research included making RedUSe available to all Australian RACFs in the future and for the program to be offered as part of the Federally funded ‘Quality Use of Medicines’ program for community pharmacists.

The research also recommended the provision of national training for RACF staff to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and in alternatives to medication for the treatment of these symptoms.


Dr Westbury is a Senior Lecturer in Dementia Studies at the College of Health and Medicine’s Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre.

Published on: 16 May 2018 1:29pm