ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0188-1340
Current Organisations
The University of Auckland
,
Monash University
,
Australian Catholic University
,
University of Cambridge
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-02-2022
DOI: 10.1111/AJAG.13043
Abstract: General practitioners face many barriers to deprescribing psychotropic medications in people with dementia in nursing homes, including a lack of knowledge about their medication histories. This study explored the knowledge of family members about residents' medications and their willingness to support deprescribing. Sixty-six family members of residents from seven residential aged care facilities participated in this cross-sectional study. Participation involved nomination of recognised medications, rating their effectiveness and rating level of support for deprescribing. Fifty-five per cent of medications were recognised by family members significantly fewer psychotropics were recognised than non-psychotropic medications. Though rated as just as effective, support for deprescribing psychotropics was significantly higher. Most family members were agreeable to deprescribing with general practitioner support. Although there is a gap in family members' knowledge about psychotropic medications, overall they are supportive of deprescribing. Findings emphasise the need for psychoeducation among family members. Providing family members with a list of prescribed medications, specifying the type of and reason for prescription and side effects of each, is recommended to facilitate their advocacy for deprescribing on behalf of nursing home residents.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-05-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12877-021-02233-7
Abstract: This protocol describes an ongoing study of the impact of befriending on depression, anxiety and loneliness in older people living in residential aged care facilities in Australia. While systematic reviews of befriending have indicated positive benefits of befriending for people in a range of ages and settings, there have been no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of befriending for older people living in residential aged care with depression and no studies of the cost effectiveness of befriending in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Australia. We are conducting a single blind pragmatic RCT comparing two groups of older people living in RACFs, one receiving an intervention consisting of weekly befriending for 4 months from a trained volunteer and the other receiving treatment as usual. Participants undergo eligibility screening for depression (GDS-15 ≥ 4) and cognitive impairment (GPCog ≥ 4) and assessments at three measurement time points: baseline prior to randomisation, 2 months post-baseline and 4 months post-baseline. The primary outcome measure is depression, and secondary outcome measures are anxiety, loneliness, social isolation and quality of life. The economic evaluation will take the form of a cost-utility analysis based on the outcome of quality of life. The primary and secondary outcomes will be analysed using negative binomial and logistic regressions utilizing the Generalised Estimating Equations approach. To our knowledge, this is the first RCT evaluating the effectiveness of befriending on older people with depression living in residential aged care. It is expected that the befriending intervention will reduce the severity of depression symptoms experienced by older people living in residential aged care. If the intervention proves effective it may be incorporated into volunteer training programs and adopted as a way of supporting older people’s mental health. Trial registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTR) Number: ACTRN12619000676112 , registered 06/05/2019 – retrospectively registered.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2021
DOI: 10.1111/AJAG.12967
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-08-2018
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1366418
Abstract: To develop indicators of safe psychotropic prescribing practices for people with dementia and to test them in a convenience s le of six aged mental health services in Victoria, Australia. The clinical records of 115 acute inpatients were checked by four trained auditors against indicators derived from three Australian health care quality and safety standards or guidelines. Indicators addressed psychotropic medication history taking the prescribing of regular and 'as needed' psychotropics the documentation of psychotropic adverse reactions, and discharge medication plans. The most problematic areas concerned the gathering of information about patients' psychotropic prescribing histories at the point of entry to the ward and, later, the handing over on discharge of information concerning newly prescribed treatments and the reasons for ceasing medications, including adverse reactions. There were wide variations between services. The indicators, while drawn from current Australian guidelines, were entirely consistent with current prescribing frameworks and provide useful measures of prescribing practice for use in benchmarking and other quality improvement activities.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-08-2018
DOI: 10.1111/AJAG.12573
Abstract: To map the provision of community, acute, non-acute and residential care-based state-funded mental health services to older people with severe, persistent behavioural symptoms of dementia. An electronic survey was completed in 2015 by senior representatives of aged persons' mental health services across Australia's six states. Jurisdictions varied widely in the number, geographic spread and make-up of aged persons' mental health community teams when adjusted for aged population their number of acute and non-acute beds, and especially in the provision of specialist residential beds or partnerships with non-government providers. There is no nationally accepted pathway of care for this vulnerable group or understanding of what constitutes an adequate statewide mental health service.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Daniel O'Connor.