The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) announces the release of a microdata file and documentation containing nationally representative data on medications administered to nursing home residents. The National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) is a periodic survey providing data on nursing homes, nursing home residents, and their care. The 2004 NNHS collected medication data on sampled nursing home residents for the first time in the survey’s history.
Potential uses of these data for nursing home policy and research include providing national estimates of medication use and therapeutic class use and evaluating related patient safety issues. In 2004, the therapeutic drug class most commonly administered to nursing home residents was “metabolic/nutrient” agents.
Medication data were obtained by interview of a designated respondent from each facility. Respondents were asked to review the medication administration records of each sampled resident. Data were collected on up to 25 medications per resident taken the day before the facility interview, and on medications taken regularly but not the day before the interview. The medication file can be linked with the NNHS resident file to examine the resident characteristics associated with the use of medication and therapeutic classes. Data are available for 13,507 residents sampled across 1,174 facilities.
For medication and other 2004 NNHS data files and documentation see: www.cdc.gov/nchs/nnhs.htm.
The NNHS is one of a family of surveys known collectively as the National Health Care Surveys. For more information on the long term care, inpatient care, ambulatory surgery, and ambulatory medical care components of the National Health Care Surveys, please visit www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhcs.htm.
