Patient Description Guide

New research published in the Journal of Gerontology has described new ways to characterise older people who take multiple medicines, and who are open to ‘deprescribing’ to reduce or stop less effective medicines.

Lead researcher, Kristie Weir from the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health, said polypharmacy in the older population is increasing and can be harmful.  She said the study categorised three distinct types of people which could help guide the type of advice given by clinicians to older patients when discussing the issues around taking multiple medicines.

Type one patients are resistant to deprescribing and are very attached to their medications

Type two people were open to deprescribing and preferred an active role in decision making

Type three patients deferred decisions to their doctor or carer.

She said doctors should tailor communication to individual older people taking multiple medications to provide the best level of care.

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Monday 27 November 2017