No changes were seen in acute health care consumption, PIMs, and MRs in elderly patients after an educational intervention in primary care. The reasons for the lack of effect could be a suboptimal intervention, limitations in outcome measures, and the use of administrative data to monitor outcomes.

The aim of this population‐based, cross‐sectional study was to analyse the prevalence of renally inappropriate medicines (RIMs) in older people with renal impairment. We included 30 372 people aged ≥65 years with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3, and 2161 with stage 4 attending primary care in Stockholm, Sweden. We used data derived from SCREAM, a database linking patient‐specific data on demography, morbidity, healthcare consumption and dispensed drugs to creatinine measurements. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated with CKD‐EPI based on the first non‐hospital serum creatinine in 2010. RIMs were defined as medicines needing dose adjustment or being contra‐indicated in CKD stage 3 or 4 with reference to Swedish “Janusmed Drugs and Renal function.” Dispensed prescription drugs were analysed during 1 year after creatinine assessment. Drug doses were considered as excessive if their mean volume dispensed per day exceeded the recommended dose. Contra‐indicated medicines were regarded as inappropriate if dispensed at least once during 1 year. Excessive dosing was present in 42.5% of older people with CKD stage 3 and in 58.1% with stage 4. The prevalence of contra‐indicated medicines was 9.4% and 38.0%, respectively. A limited number of RIMs accounted for the majority of excessive dosing, such as drugs acting on the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system, betablockers and opioids. Commonly dispensed contra‐indicated substances were NSAIDs and antidiabetics. We conclude that the prevalence of RIMs in older people with renal impairment is considerably high. Still, RIM use may be manageable as only a limited number of RIMs are frequently used.

Background NHs have been severely exposed during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Little is known about how staff who provide practical daily care of older residents experienced work during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to understand how nursing assistants (NAs) experienced their work at nursing homes (NHs) for older people during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a qualitative study of focus group discussions with in total 20 participants from four NHs in Stockholm, Sweden. Discussions were held in November 2020. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results We identified three major themes: 1) We felt abandoned, scared and disrespected, 2) We made sure we made it through, and 3) We can do good work with appropriate resources. NAs felt disregarded as they were often left alone without adequate support from managers, registered nurses and the municipalities. NAs felt distressed and guilty and developed their own strategies to cope and manage their work. Conclusion and Implication for Practice During the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic NAs felt abandoned and burdened due to lack of leadership. Organizational improvements are required to protect the wellbeing of NAs and to ensure sustainability of patient safety. NAs are crucial in the care for vulnerable older people and their experiences should constitute a keystone for development of future policy and practice in NHs.