Download for members only.
Chapter 11: Quality Use of Medicines
Overview:
- Describes the meaning of QUM (Quality use of medicines)
- Prompts caregivers to focus upon the individual needs of the patient rather than their ‘worldview’
- Provides suggestions for achieving proper practice and administration of medication
Description:
The use of medicines to treat and prevent disease has enhanced the health and well-being of people throughout the world. This chapter focuses on the meaning of the term ‘quality use of medicines’ (QUM) in the care of people with dementia. It explores some of the factors that influence clinical decision-making and some of the challenges to QUM. Real-life examples from residential aged care are used to highlight what is actually happening in some aged-care facilities and how nurses can play a crucial role in influencing QUM.
Topics
- The meaning of QUM
- Judicious selection of management options
- Selection of the most appropriate medicine
- Safe and effective use of medicines
- Interests affecting clinical decision-making
- Science and medicine affecting decision-making
- Benevolence affecting decision-making
- Medication administration affecting decision-making
- Economic rationalism affecting decision-making
- Organisational factors influencing quality use of medicines
- Towards best practice
- Collaborative decision-making processes
- Nurses enabling QUM
Speaker / Author:
Jill Beattie
Jill is a registered nurse and midwife with postgraduate qualifications in nursing and education whose doctoral research at La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) has been on the subject of medication management in residential aged care. Jill represents the Royal College of Nursing, Australia on a number of committees concerned with the role of nurses in medication management. She has presented at several conferences and has conducted continuing education in a number of organisations on issues related to the quality use of medicines. Jill also works as a consultant in her own business focusing on enhancing performance with individuals and within organisations. She has an interest in enhancing people’s ability to work harmoniously together in pursuit of common goals.
|
Resources 
