Reducing polypharmacy requires a paradigm shift in a medical system that is mostly focused around processes for starting treatments, not stopping them. Education will be key in supporting this and can and should happen at many levels:
- Increased awareness of polypharmacy and deprescribing training in medical schools and post-graduate medical residency programs
- As part of continuing medical education programs or additional areas of competency for physicians and other clinicians such as Nurse Practitioners and pharmacists
- Within patient-provider relationships and within the patient’s circle of care
- At the patient level, so that patients and caregivers can advocate for themselves and their loved ones
In 2023 we collaborated with other members of the Canadian Deprescribing Network published a proposed curricular framework for an interprofessional approach to deprescribing with the aim of helping educators to successfully integrate deprescribing into a wide range of clinical and educational settings. This 2019 paper, lays out a step-by-step process for deprescribing, complete with resources for each step, and discussion prompts.
Education and knowledge translation go hand in hand. By continuing efforts to increase education and awareness of polypharmacy and deprescribing, as well as by disseminating research findings and evidence to key knowledge users, decision-makers, patients and caregivers, we can help ensure that deprescribing becomes an integral part of day-to-day clinical care and medication management.
Other papers and materials for Building Block #4
- International Group for Reducing Inappropriate Medication Use & Polypharmacy (IGRIMUP): Position Statement and 10 Recommendations for Action
- Polypharmacy and medicine regimens in older adults in residential aged care
- Deprescribing Antidepressants in Older People ‐ Breaking Up Can Be Hard to Do
- Upfront: When is enough enough? Stopping medicines in older people
- PIMS Plus
- A Troubling Pharmaceutical Cocktail — Dr. Mangin on Walrus Talks