Circle what you think the correct answer is to the following questions relating to polypharmacy in the UK (to help you find the correct answers please access: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/polypharmacy-and-medicines-optimisation).

The answers are underlined.

1. The percentage of hospital admissions that are implicated in adverse reactions to medications

• 2.5%                      4.5%                6.5%

2. Polypharmacy ‘at risk’ relates to what number of medications that are received regularly either daily or weekly

• 10–12                    13–15              >15

 In a study of 256 residents from 55 care homes what do you think were the approximate numbers of:

3. Administration errors, i.e. wrong drug or dose

• 40              50                    60

4. Medication not given

• 110                        115                  120

5. The percentage of an unnecessary drug being prescribed

• 25%                       30%                 35%