Aims: Medication simplification in nursing home (NH) residents may reduce medication errors and lighten staff workload. This study aimed to evaluate the number and timing of medication administrations in NH residents.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 160 residents (mean age: 87 years; female: 69%) from four NHs in Japan (40 residents per facility). We assessed the number and timing of daily administrations for regularly scheduled oral medications. The number of medication administration times was analysed according to the number of drug formulations and residents’ functional status.
Results: The median (IQR) number of daily medication administration times was 3 (2–4), and the median number of drug formulations was 6 (4–9). The most frequent administration times were after breakfast (92.5%) and after dinner (85.6%), followed by after lunch (55.6%) and before sleep (25.6%). As the number of drug formulations increased, the proportion of residents receiving ≥4 administration times per day also increased (2.4% for 0–4 formulations, 24.4% for 5–9, and 59.4% for ≥10; P<0.001). The number of medication administration times did not differ significantly by frailty status (FRAIL-NH Japanese version, score 0–6 vs. ≥7; P=0.534) or cognitive function (nationally standardised Japanese scale, Independent to Rank 2 vs. ≥Rank 3; P=0.486).
Conclusions: Frequent medication administration may place a burden on both residents and NH staff. Medication simplification should be considered alongside deprescribing.