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New Brunswick Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics Collaborative

The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) (now amalgamated with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute as Healthcare Excellence Canada), the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes (NBANH) and Government of New Brunswick collaborated to support the province-wide expansion of the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics (AUA) approach to all 58 nursing homes in New Brunswick.

Collage featuring two scenes: an aerial view of a town in New Brunswick with a river and bridge in the foreground, and a healthcare worker walking alongside an older adult using a walker in a covered outdoor walkway. Colorful geometric shapes in orange, pink, purple, and lavender are part of the design.
Topics
  • Long-term care
  • Patient safety
  • Primary and community care
Audience

  • Healthcare leader

  • Point of care provider

  • Quality or safety improvement lead

The New Brunswick Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics (NB-AUA) collaborative implemented the AUA approach in two phases over a 16-month period:

  • May 2016 to May 2017

    Phase 1

    15 nursing home teams participating.

  • May 2017 to August 2018

    Phase 2

    Spreading the AUA approach in an additional 43 long-term care homes in the province.

Over the two phases, more than half of participating residents1 who were prescribed antipsychotics without a diagnosis of psychosis had these medications safely reduced or discontinued. The benefits for residents included these final results:

52 percent of participating residents either had their antipsychotic medication dose reduced (18 percent) or discontinued entirely (34 percent).

These residents experienced no increase in aggressive behaviours, such as resistance to care, and/or physically or verbally abusive behaviours

The Teams

“We are extremely pleased to have played a supporting role with CFHI and the Government of New Brunswick in bringing this innovation opportunity to New Brunswick Nursing Homes. The nursing home teams fully embraced the process for this care improvement, and we congratulate them on their leadership and staff commitment. It is very exciting to see the residents experience an improved quality of life.”

Jodi HallExecutive Director of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes (2019)

1 Of those still participating in the program at the end of Phase 1 and Phase 2.

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