Abstract
Introduction
The Older Persons Assessment and Liaison team at North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) reviews geriatric patients using a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), as directed by the British Geriatric Society. The Anticholinergic Burden (ACB) score is an integral part of the CGA however it is often overlooked. ACB is the cumulative effect of taking one or more drugs used to block Acetylcholine. A greater ACB score increases the risk of developing adverse drug reactions such as; falls and urinary retention. As such, it is integral that we work to reduce patient ACB scores during hospital admissions.
Aim
To reduce the ACB score of geriatric patients at NMGH.
Method
Several months of retrospective data for 50 patients was analysed. We then carried out teaching on the importance of ACB documentation and its’ implementation. ACB scores were compared before and after this teaching session.
Results
Before the teaching session, 60% of patients had their ACB score calculated, however only 18% had an improvement in their score on discharge. After the teaching session 75% of patients had their ACB score calculated and 32% had an improvement in their score on discharge.
Conclusion
Although the teaching session was a successful intervention, as there has been a reduction in the ACB score of frail patients, there is room for improvement. We are hoping to integrate ACB score calculation into the computer software used throughout the hospital to break down the barriers that clinicians currently face in using it.