Nursing Home Research Articles

Determining the Key Education Priorities Related to Heart Failure Care in Nursing Homes: A Modified Delphi Approach.

There is currently a limited understanding of what nurses in nursing homes view as the key education priorities to support their ability to provide the appropriate care for residents with heart failure (HF). A modified Delphi technique was utilized to gain a consensus on the key education priorities for nurses working in nursing homes in Northern Ireland. An initial list of items (n = 58), across 19 domains, was generated using the findings of a scoping review and stakeholder interviews, and a review of available clinical guidelines. Two rounds of surveys were undertaken. Items were presented using a 5-point Likert scale, with an additional exercise in the second round to rank the domains in order of importance. Fifty-four participants completed the first-round survey and 34 (63%) returned to complete the second. The findings highlight the importance of providing nurses in nursing home settings with general HF education and the delivery of person-centered care. Participants perceived education around technology for the management of HF and quality improvement or research methodologies associated with HF in nursing homes as lower priorities. This study illuminates key priorities from nursing home nurses regarding HF education that are applicable to this care setting.

Obesity in European nursing homes participating in nutritionDay 2016-2021-Prevalence and resident characteristics.

The objective of this study is to assess obesity prevalence and characterize European nursing home (NH) residents with obesity comprehensively. Cross-sectional nutritionDay data from 2016 to 2021. Descriptive characterization of European NH residents ≥65 years with and without obesity. Binomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with obesity. A total of 11 327 residents (73.8% female, 86.4 ± 7.9 years, mean body mass index 25.3 ± 5.4 kg/m2) from 12 countries were analysed. Obesity prevalence was 17.7%, mostly class I (13.0%). Taking ≥5 drugs/day (OR 1.633; 95% confidence intervals 1.358-1.972), female sex (1.591; 1.385-1.832), being bed/chair-bound (1.357; 1.146-1.606), and having heart/circulation/lung disease (1.276; 1.124-1.448) was associated with increased obesity risk, older age (0.951; 0.944-0.958), mild (0.696; 0.601-0.805) and severe (0.591; 0.488-0.715) dementia, eating less than ¾ of lunch on nutritionDay (0.669; 0.563-0.793), needing assistance for eating (0.686; 0.569-0.825), and being identified by NH staff at risk for (0.312; 0.255-0.380) or with malnutrition (0.392; 0.236-0.619) decreased obesity risk. Almost one in five residents in European NH participating in nutritionDay is affected by obesity. Through a wide exploratory analysis, including data from 12 European countries, we confirmed previous findings and identified additional factors associated with obesity that should be considered in the daily care of affected residents.

Rehabilitation of Frail Older Adults after Hip Fracture Surgery: Predictors for the Length of Geriatric Rehabilitation Stay at a Skilled Nursing Home.

Background: Approximately 50% of older patients hospitalized for hip fractures are admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation department at a skilled nursing home. Given the wide variation in rehabilitation stay lengths, predicting the length of stay upon hospital discharge would help manage patients' recovery expectations and create appropriate therapy schedules. Existing literature on length of stay predictors included both acute hospital and in-hospital rehabilitation phases or involved small sample sizes. The present study aims to identify predictors for the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay in skilled nursing homes for older patients after hip fracture surgery upon hospital discharge. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from 1 October 2017 to 1 July 2023, including 561 patients. Potential predictors of the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay were first tested univariately, with variables showing p < 0.15 entered into a multivariate forward linear regression model. Results: This model identified the following independent predictors of a longer length of geriatric rehabilitation stay: Functional Ambulation Categories (FACs) 0 (B = 29.9, 95% CI 24.1-35.7), 1 (B = 18.0, 95% CI 11.8-24.2), 2 (B = 12.0, 95% CI 7.1-17.0), or 3 (B = 3.6, 95% CI -1.2-9.4) at hospital discharge vs. FAC 4, living independently with home care services (B = 5.9, 95% CI 2.5-9.3) or in a residential home prior to the hip fracture (B = 0.2, 95% CI -7.4-7.8) vs. living independently without home care services, non- or partial weight-bearing mobilization vs. full weight-bearing mobilization (B = 15.4, 95% CI 8.5-22.2), internal fixation vs. hemiarthroplasty (B = 4.7, 95% CI 1.4-7.9), in-hospital delirium (B = 7.0, 95% CI 2.2-11.7), and in-hospital heart failure (B = 7.9, 95% CI 0.5-15.3). The explained variance was 32.0%. Conclusions: This study identified FAC at hospital discharge, premorbid living situation, postoperative weight-bearing protocol, surgery type, in-hospital delirium, and in-hospital heart failure as independent predictors of the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay. Future investigations are needed to identify additional predictors, such as cognitive functioning, to better predict the length of geriatric rehabilitation stay upon hospital discharge.

Improving nursing home safety through Adoption of a practical Resilient Health Care approach

Nursing homes struggle with safety issues, despite decades of intervention. This may, in part, stem from a reliance on a historical perspective that views safety as an intrinsic part of well-designed systems, with errors resulting from knowable, fixable causes. A new perspective (Resilient Health Care) assumes, instead, that in complex systems such as nursing homes, uncertainties and trade-offs occur in the course of everyday work. In this view, Resilient Health Care performance requires adapting to changes at different system levels to maintain high-quality care. An evidence-based program known as LOCK offers nursing homes a practical method for operationalizing a Resilient Health Care perspective. The LOCK program provides structures and processes that support frontline staff to successfully and safely navigate the complex interactions and factors that affect their daily provision of care.Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of AMDA — The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

COVID-19 infection and 2-year mortality in nursing home residents who survived the first wave of the pandemic

BackgroundDuring the first COVID-19 pandemic wave (1st CoPW), nursing homes (NHs) experienced a high rate of COVID-19 infection and death. Residents who survived the COVID-19 infection may have become frailer. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of having a COVID-19 infection during the 1st CoPW for 2-year mortality in NH residents.MethodsThis was a retrospective study conducted in three NHs. Residents who had survived the 1st CoPW (March to May 2020) were included. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on the results of a positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test. The collected data also included age, sex, length of residence in the NH, disability status, legal guardianship status, nutritional status, need for texture-modified food, hospitalization or Emergency Department visits during lockdown and SARS-COV2 vaccination status during the follow-up. Non-adjusted and adjusted Cox models were used to analyse factors associated with 2-year post-1st CoPW mortality.ResultsAmong the 315 CoPW1 survivors (72% female, mean age 88 years, 48% with severe disability), 35% presented with COVID-19. Having a history of COVID-19 was not associated with 2-year mortality: hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval] = 0.96 [0.81–1.13], p = 0.62. The factors independently associated with 2-year mortality were older age (for each additional year, HR = 1.05 [1.03–1.08], p < 0.01), severe disability vs. moderate or no disability (HR = 1.35 [1.12–1.63], p < 0.01) and severe malnutrition vs. no malnutrition (HR = 1.29 [1.04–1.60], p = 0.02). Considering that vaccination campaign started during the follow-up, mortality was associated with severe malnutrition before and severe disability after the start of the campaign. Vaccination was independently associated with better survival (HR 0.71 [0.55–0.93], p = 0.02).ConclusionsHaving survived a COVID-19 infection during the 1st CoPW did not affect subsequent 2-year survival in older adults living in NHs. Severe malnutrition and disability remained strong predictor of mortality in this population, whereas vaccination was associated to better survival.

Hospital admissions in the last month of life for patients with advanced cancer residing in nursing homes

IntroductionOvertreatment and frequent hospital admissions in patients at end-of-life has been shown in several studies, including in the nursing home (NH) setting. However, overtreatment in NH residents with advanced cancer has not been studied before. Our objective was to compare emergency room (ER) visits and hospital admissions in the last month of life and place of death among NH residents with or without advanced cancer. Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study is based on Region Stockholm's administrative database from 2015 to 2019. Demographic data, ER visits, and Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) were extracted for each subject. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed, and odds ratios (OR) calculated. ResultsIn total, 30,324 NH residents were identified, of which 1807 had advanced cancer. Advanced cancer was associated with more ER visits in the last month of life in the univariable analysis but not when adjusted for age, sex, and risk of frailty with an adjusted aOR of 1.07 (95 %CI 0.97–1.19). Having a cancer diagnosis was significantly associated with acute hospital admissions, although the association was rather weak with an aOR 1.13 (95 %CI 1.02–1.26). NH residents with advanced cancer were less likely to die in hospital than non-cancer residents: aOR 0.63 (95 %CI 0.54–0.73). DiscussionNH residents with advanced cancer have a slightly higher risk of hospital admissions in the last month of life compared to non-cancer residents but are less likely to die in hospital. The probability of ER visits during the last month of life was similar between NH residents with and without cancer.

Factors Influencing Hospitalization of Nursing Home Residents in Korea Using Regularized Negative Binomial Regression.

The appropriateness of hospitalization for nursing home (NH) residents is still up for debate, with determining factors including timeliness, available treatment, healthcare staff, medication options in hospitals, and safety issues. Although the factors leading to hospitalization have been studied expansively, research on staffing is limited. Thus, this study aimed to investigate organizational predictors, nurse staffing, and government incentives and find important factors to hospitalization due to infection or disease among NH residents in Korea. A cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected via survey from a total of 51 NHs from August 27, 2021 to March 25, 2022. A total of 32 explanatory variables were included. The response variable was the count of hospitalized residents due to infection or disease. We analyzed data using least absolute shrinkage and negative binomial regression. We found that registered nurses' increased hours per resident day were related to decreased hospitalizations due to infection or disease. Appropriate retention and recruitment of nurse staffing with professional leadership should be performed to increase the quality of care for NH residents.

Staff Perceptions of Implementing a Person-Centered Communication Tool in the Nursing Home Setting: PAL Cards.

To understand direct care workers' perceptions of the impact of implementing a person-centered communication tool, Preference for Activity and Leisure (PAL) Cards, into care. PAL Cards provide at-a-glance information about a nursing home (NH) resident's background and important preferences for activities and leisure. As a quality improvement project, 11 NHs implemented use of PAL Cards in their communities and provided feedback (N = 91 feedback forms received) on their perceptions of impact of PAL Cards on care communication and delivery. A variety of NH staff members, across disciplines, were a part of PAL Card implementation. The majority of staff (84%) perceived that PAL Cards helped them start a conversation with a resident and 64% indicated that PAL Cards helped them provide care for a resident. PAL Cards are an effective tool for communicating information about NH residents' preferences to staff. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(8), 5-10.].

Antibiotic Eluting Bone Void Filler Versus Systemic Antibiotics For Pedal Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis complicates 20% of patients with infected diabetic foot ulcers. In this study, two strategies for treating pedal osteomyelitis were compared in a pilot study.This was a retrospective, non-randomized, single center 2 arm cohort study, conducted between 2020-2022 involving 53 patients at a tertiary limb salvage unit. All patients were managed with debridement and proximal bone biopsy. Group A was treated with systemic antibiotics for up to 6 weeks. Group B had vancomycin or gentamycin eluting bone void filler implanted into the diseased bone medullary cavity(s) and 1 week of oral antibiotics. Patients were followed independently for the primary endpoint of osteomyelitis treatment failure and secondary endpoints of amputation free survival, wound healing, minor amputation, and treatment-limiting side-effects.Survival analysis demonstrated no significant difference in treatment failure (p=0.35) or amputation free survival (p=0.46). Limb salvage rates were 88% in Group A and 89% in Group B. Wounds healed in 85% in Group A and 89% in Group B. Minor amputations occurred in 21% in Group A and 11% in Group B. Treatment limiting side effects occurred in 6% in Group A and were absent in Group B.In conclusion, the use of antibiotic eluting bone void filler appeared safe without extended systemic antibiotics in this study. Group B had fewer intravenous lines, requirement for home nursing, and treatment limiting side effects. A larger randomized controlled trial examining longer term clinical and radiological efficacy, treatment costs and side effects is warranted. Level of Clinical EvidenceThis is a retrospective cohort study, therefore the level of clinical evidence is 2.

Determinants of quality of life in French nursing home residents across cognitive levels: a comparative study using convergent mixed-methods

BackgroundThe quality of life (QoL) of nursing home residents is multifaceted and influenced by relationships, health, and activities, as per research in international literature. However, studies exploring QoL predictors considering varying cognitive impairment levels are limited in the French context. This study examined the impact of sociodemographic factors and cognitive impairment on the QoL in Alzheimer’s Disease Nursing Homes (QoL-AD NH) scale scores among French nursing home residents. It further identified predictors through responses to qualitative semi-structured interviews. These elements were integrated and compared to understand more comprehensively the multifaceted determinants influencing residents’ QoL.MethodsThis mixed methods study used a cross-sectional convergent design, and quantitative and qualitative studies were carried out simultaneously. Using a generalised linear model and Kruskal–Wallis tests, the quantitative strand (N = 151) measured QoL with the QoL-AD NH scale and examined sociodemographic predictors of QoL. The qualitative strand (N = 78) involved semi-structured interviews with residents across four levels of cognitive functioning (no, mild, moderate, and severe impairment) and explored their QoL determinants through thematic analysis. Both strands were then integrated and analysed.ResultsMild cognitive impairment and depression negatively predicted QoL-AD NH scores. For specific items, residents with mild cognitive impairment had lower “Ability to keep busy daily” and “Current life in general” scores than residents without cognitive impairment. Qualitatively, family relationships were indispensable for QoL across groups, but those with mild cognitive impairment complained about a lack of activities in nursing homes. The analysis identified convergent predictors and enriched our understanding of daily occupation. Theory comparisons revealed assessment limitations in psychological well-being.ConclusionsA mixed approach provided a nuanced understanding of QoL, highlighting vulnerable groups and areas for improving assessment. Combining the results from standardised instruments with semi-structured interviews allowed us to capture a fuller range of experiences. The findings suggest a need to reconsider QoL assessment tools for nursing home residents and policies to address their needs regardless of their cognitive levels. They highlight the value of mixed methods for researching this multifaceted field.

Dementia-Sensitive Environmental Design of Living Units in German Nursing Homes: First Results of the German Environmental Audit Tool (G-EAT).

The built environment is a key component of dementia-specific care. Little is known about the characteristics of dementia-sensitive environmental elements in living units of nursing homes in Germany. The German Environmental Audit Tool (G-EAT) is a systematic assessment tool for describing these elements in detail. To describe the extent of dementia-sensitive design principles and environmental elements in a regionally limited sample of living units in Germany. The built environment was assessed using G-EAT and analysed quantitatively and descriptively. Definitions of living units were developed based on site visits and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The 42 participating living units were heterogeneous in terms of space and composition. Dementia-sensitive design principles varied greatly in their implementation in the built environment; on average, 87.7% of the environmental elements were oriented towards a familiar environment. In contrast, visual accessibility was much less frequently enabled by the built environment (mean 37.3%). The characteristics of various dementia-sensitive environmental elements need to be further investigated against the background of the nursing home care concept and the homogeneity of the resident group to enable the initiation of tailored environmental adaptation that can be implemented by interdisciplinary teams in nursing homes. This also requires a follow-up study with a larger sample of living units to identify the factors that promote and inhibit the development of a dementia-sensitive environment.

Nursing Home Compare star ratings before versus after a change in nursing home ownership.

Efforts to increase transparency and accountability of nursing homes, and thus improve quality, now include information about changes in nursing home ownership. However, little is known about how change in ownership affects nursing home quality. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 15,471 U.S. nursing homes between January 2016 and December 2022, identifying all changes in ownership during that period. We used logistic regression to measure the association between nursing home characteristics and the odds of a change in ownership. A difference-in-differences model with multiple time periods was used to examine the impact of a change in ownership on the Medicare Nursing Home Compare 5-star ratings. One in five (23%) facilities changed ownership between 2016 and 2022. Nursing homes that were urban, for-profit, part of a chain, located in the South, had >50 beds, lower occupancy, higher percentage of stays covered by Medicaid, higher percentage of residents with non-white race, or a 1-star (poor) rating were more likely to undergo a change in ownership. There was a small statistically significant decrease in 5-star ratings after a change in ownership (-0.09 points on a 5-point scale; 95% CI -0.13 to -0.04; p < 0.001), driven primarily by a decrease in staffing ratings (-0.19 points; 95% CI -0.24 to -0.14; p < 0.001), and health inspections ratings (-0.07 points; 95% CI -0.11 to -0.03; p = 0.001). This was mitigated by an increase in quality measure ratings (0.15 points; 95% CI 0.10-0.20; p < 0.001). Nursing Home Compare ratings decreased slightly after a change in facility ownership, driven by lower staffing and health inspection ratings and mitigated somewhat by higher quality measure ratings. These conflicting trends underscore the need for transparency around changes in facility ownership and a better understanding of consequences of changes in ownership that are salient to patients and families.

High Prevalence of ESBL Genes in Commensal Escherichia coli of the Urinary Tract: Implications for Antibiotic Stewardship among Residents of Ghanaian Elderly Nursing Care Homes.

The emergence and spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) pose significant challenges to the treatment and control of urinary tract infections, particularly among vulnerable populations, such as the elderly living in nursing care homes. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of ESBL genes in commensal E. coli isolated from urine samples of 118 elderly individuals residing in Ghanaian nursing care homes. A total of 195 ESBL genes were detected among 41 E. coli isolated from the study participants. All the isolates harboured at least one ESBL gene, and the majority of them (70.1%) carried at least four ESBL genes. Among the ESBL genes detected, CTXM825 was the predominant (14.1%). In antimicrobial susceptibility testing, 65.9% of the isolates showed resistance to cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, while 56.1% showed resistance to cefotaxime, a third-generation cephalosporin. Additionally, 46.3% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, indicating resistance to antibiotics from multiple classes. In summary, we observed relatively high rates of resistance to antibiotics as well as alarming rates of ESBL genes in the isolated pathogens. These findings emphasise the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programmes to mitigate the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens in nursing care homes.

Perception of decentralized clinical trials and home nursing in oncology clinical research: insights from a survey of clinical research professionals across experimental sites

Perception of decentralized clinical trials and home nursing in oncology clinical research: insights from a survey of clinical research professionals across experimental sites

The sensitivity outcome index system for home care of elderly liver transplant patients was developed based on the Omaha problem classification system

ObjectiveBased on the Omaha problem classification system, a sensitivity outcome index system for home nursing of elderly liver transplant patients was established.MethodsThrough a comprehensive literature review and rigorous application of the Delphi method, a panel of 20 experts completed two rounds of effective letter consultation to obtain expert consensus opinions. The contents of indicators were determined based on this process, and the analytic hierarchy process was employed to confirm the weightage assigned to each indicator. Consequently, we established a sensitivity outcome index system for home care in elderly liver transplant patients.ResultsThe effective recovery rate of the questionnaire in two rounds of expert consultation was 100%, and the proportion of experts who gave opinions was 55% and 15%, respectively, indicating that the experts were highly active. The expert authority coefficients were calculated as 0.904 and 0.905, respectively, indicating a high degree of expert authority. In the second round, Kendall’s coordination coefficients for primary, secondary, and tertiary indicators were determined to be 0.419, 0.418, and 0.394 (P < 0.001), indicating that expert opinions tended to be consistent. Finally, we established a comprehensive sensitivity outcome index system comprising 4 first-level indexes, 20 s-level indexes, and 72 third-level indexes specifically designed for elderly liver transplantation patients.ConclusionThe sensitivity outcome index system of home nursing for elderly liver transplant patients can provide theoretical basis for nursing staff to build accurate individualized continuous nursing model.

A Research Protocol: Mixed-Mode Designs to Optimize Engagement in Clinical Informatics Research.

To introduce a research protocol that utilizes mixed-mode methodology (i.e., delayed concurrent and sequential approaches) to optimize response rates of two surveys being administered to U.S. nursing homes (NHs). This protocol is being employed in a cross-sectional survey to assess for HIT maturity and nurse practitioners (NP) care environments. Survey recruitment from 3,000 NHs will be conducted from June 2023 to July 2025. Respondents included NH administrators evaluating facility-wide HIT and NPs in each NH rating their care environment.

Development and External Validation of a Machine Learning–based Fall Prediction Model for Nursing Home Residents: A Prospective Cohort Study

ObjectivesTo develop and externally validate a machine learning–based fall prediction model for ambulatory nursing home residents. The focus is on predicting fall occurrences within 6 months after baseline assessment through a binary classification task, aiming to provide staff with an effective and user-friendly fall-risk assessment tool. DesignProspective cohort study. Setting and ParticipantsA total of 864 older residents living in 4 nursing homes between May 2022 and March 2023 in China. MethodsPotential fall-risk predictors were collected through in-person interviews and assessments of anthropometric and physical function. Participants were followed for 6 months, with falls recorded by trained nurses. Seven machine learning algorithms, including Logistic Regression (LR), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Neural Networks (NN), and Decision Tree (DT), were used to develop prediction models. Performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) and Precision-Recall curve (PR-AUC), with calibration assessed via a calibration curve. Feature importance was visualized using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). ResultsThe 6 selected predictors were balance, grip strength, fatigue, fall history, age, and comorbidity. The ROC-AUC for the models ranged from 0.710 to 0.750, PR-AUC from 0.415 to 0.473, sensitivity from 0.704 to 0.914, and specificity from 0.511 to 0.687 in the validation cohort. The LR model was converted into a nomogram. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe machine learning–based fall-prediction models effectively identified nursing home residents at high risk of falls. The developed nomogram can be integrated into clinical practice to enhance fall risk assessment protocols, ultimately improving patient safety and care in nursing homes.

Perspectives of Nursing Home Staff: Application of Dementia Training Approaches.

Non-pharmacological strategies are prioritized to manage dementia-related symptoms in nursing homes (NHs). A multiple-case study design, embedded within a pragmatic trial, examined NH staff perspectives of applying a team-based (TB) or problem-based dementia training program to resident care. A purposive sample of staff was recruited from 23 NHs to participate in one-on-one interviews, which were analyzed using a rapid qualitative approach. Both approaches yielded staff who were able to apply their training to resident care. Staff described similarities in communication strategies, family interactions, recognizing sources of behaviors, providing comfort, and ensuring resident safety. In addition, staff demonstrated increased self-efficacy when caring for residents. Differences emerged for team collaboration, engaging residents, and managing behaviors. Among TB staff, training impacted how staff cared for residents and increased teamwork. Leaders may want to consider the benefits of each approach as they deliberate on which dementia care training to provide to their staff.

Unpacking Perceptions on Patient Safety: A Study of Nursing Home Staff in Italy.

Nursing homes (NHs) are crucial for de-hospitalization and addressing the needs of non-self-sufficient individuals with complex health issues. This study investigates the patient safety culture (PSC) in NHs within a northern Italian region, focusing on factor influencing overall safety perceptions and their contributions to subjective judgements of safety. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 25 NHs in the Autonomous Province of Trento. The Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture (NHSPSC) was utilized to assess PSC among NH staff. Multilevel linear regression and post hoc dominance analyses were conducted to investigate variabilities in PSC among staff and NHs and to assess the extent to which PSC dimensions explain overall perceptions of PS. Analysis of 1080 questionnaires (44% response rate) revealed heterogeneity in PSC across dimensions and NHs, with management support, organizational learning, and supervisor expectations significantly influencing overall safety perceptions. Despite some areas of concern, overall safety perceptions were satisfactory. However, the correlation between individual dimensions and overall ratings of safety was moderate, suggesting the need to enhance the maturity level of PSCs. Promoting a shift in PSC could enhance transparency, prioritize resident safety, empower nursing staff, and increase family satisfaction with care provided in NHs. The support provided by management to PSC appears essential to influence NH staff perceptions of PS.

Understanding Long-Stay Gabapentin Use Increases: A National Nursing Home Clinician Survey on Prescribing Intent

ABSTRACT Objectives Explore the indications for long-stay gabapentin use and elucidate the factors spurring the rapid increase in gabapentin prescribing in nursing homes (NHs). Methods National cross-sectional survey of NH prescribers distributed anonymously using SurveyMonkey. Sampling for convenience was obtained through crowdsourcing, leveraging collaborations with NH clinician organizations. Developed by a multidisciplinary team, pilot data/existing literature informed survey content. Results A total of 131 surveys completed. Participants: 71% white, 52% female, 71% physicians. Off-label gabapentin prescribing was ubiquitous. Nearly every clinician used gabapentin for neuropathic pain, most for any form of pain. Many clinicians also prescribe gabapentin to moderate psychiatric symptoms and behaviors. Clinicians’ prescribing was influenced by opioid, antipsychotic, and anxiolytic reduction policies because gabapentin was perceived as an unmonitored and safer alternative. Conclusions Off-label gabapentin increases are closely linked to opioid reduction efforts as more NH clinicians utilize gabapentin as an unmonitored opioid alternative. Our results highlight, however, the less recognized significance of long-stay prescribing for psychiatric symptoms and the similar contribution of psychotropic reduction initiatives, a phenomenon warranting further scrutiny. Clinical Implications Clinicians perceive gabapentin as safer than the drugs it is replacing. Whether this is true remains unclear; the individual- and population-level risks of increased gabapentin use are largely unknown.