Team approach to polypharmacy evaluation and reduction: feasibility randomized trial of a structured clinical pathway to reduce polypharmacy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Polypharmacy is associated with poorer health outcomes in older adults. Other than the associated multimorbidity, factors contributing to this association could include medication adverse effects and interactions, difficulties in managing complicated medication regimes, and reduced medication adherence. It is unknown how reversible these negative associations may be if polypharmacy is reduced. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of implementing an operationalized clinical pathway aimed to reduce polypharmacy in primary care and to pilot measurement tools suitable for assessing change in health outcomes in a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods

We randomized consenting patients ≥ 70 years old on ≥ 5 long-term medications into int

SUBMITTER: Mangin D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10193598 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature