Optimizing Prescribing and Deprescribing of Proton Pump Inhibitors

Prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has markedly increased since their inception more than 30 years ago. The increase is related to inappropriate and long-term prescribing of PPIs, associated with a lack of education and unclear prescribing and deprescribing guidelines. The implementation of prescribing stewardship programs influences the reduction and inappropriate use of this medication. The purpose of this review is to address the gaps that exist regarding the use of PPIs along with determining methods for deprescribing. Guidelines and stewardship programs, along with education, are needed to reduce the adverse health effects of long-term PPI therapy.     

Direct oral anticoagulants: New drugs with practical problems. How can nurses help prevent patient harm?

The safe use of anticoagulants requires a delicate balance between the risk of bleeding and the risk of thrombosis, particularly in drug‐sensitive patients, such as older people. Recently‐marketed “direct oral anticoagulants” are now being increasingly prescribed and administered in the hospital setting. Direct oral anticoagulants have pharmacological properties that are often unpredictable, and inter‐patient variability in drug response is high. Therefore, people often require meticulous review and planning to ensure they receive optimal dosing and monitoring. The multidisciplinary medication management of those receiving these drugs needs to be effectively coordinated to reduce the risk of patient harm. All clinical staff, including nurses, doctors, and pharmacists, should be competent in the pharmacology of these drugs, and know which people require individualized care plans. In this study, we introduced important concepts via the use of case studies developed from commonly‐seen scenarios at our quaternary hospital. In particular, the important role of nurses in ensuring patient safety in the periprocedural setting is highlighted.     

Review of deprescribing processes and development of an evidence-based,patient-centred deprescribing process

Inappropriate use of medication is widespread, especially in older people, and is associated with risks, including adverse drug reactions, hospitalization and increased mortality. Optimization of appropriate medication use to minimize these harms is an ongoing challenge in healthcare. The term ‘deprescribing’ has been used to describe the complex process that is required for safe and effective cessation of medication. Patients play an important role in their own health and, while they may complain about the number of medications they have to take, they may also be reluctant to cease a medication when given the opportunity to do so. A review of previously proposed deprescribing processes and relevant literature was used to develop the patient-centred deprescribing process, which is a five-step cycle that encompasses gaining a comprehensive medication history, identifying potentially inappropriate medications, determining whether the potentially inappropriate medication can be ceased, planning the withdrawal regimen (e.g. tapering where necessary) and provision of monitoring, support and documentation. This is the first deprescribing process developed using knowledge of the patients'' views of medication cessation; it focuses on engaging patients throughout the process, with the aim of improving long-term health outcomes. Despite a comprehensive review of the literature, there is still a lack in the evidence base on which to conduct deprescribing. The next step in broadening the evidence to support deprescribing will be to test the developed process to determine feasibility in the clinical setting.     

Scoping Review of Randomized Trials With Discontinuation of Medicines in Older Adults

ObjectivesTo map the randomized trial evidence describing the feasibility of discontinuing active medications with potential adverse effects in older patients.DesignScoping review with systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library.Setting and ParticipantsRandomized trials investigating discontinuation of a single medicine or medicine class in patients with mean age ≥65 years.MethodsWe extracted trial characteristics including study design and assessed bias. As proxies for the “feasibility of discontinuation,” we extracted the “dropout rate” and “disease recurrence rate.”ResultsWe identified 40 trials investigating discontinuation of symptomatic (n = 26), preventive (n = 6), or both preventive and symptomatic medicines (n = 8) against psychiatric (n = 10), neurologic (n = 9), musculoskeletal (n = 8), cardiovascular (n = 5), respiratory (n = 4), and urologic diseases (n = 4). Five discontinuation designs were used, 75% (30/40) of trials were placebo-controlled, and 48% (19/40) of trials had bias disfavoring discontinuation. The dropout rate was similar between the discontinuation group and the continuation group in 79% of the trials (30/38), whereas disease recurrence was similar in 72% (23/32) of the trials. In 42% (13/31) of trials reporting both dropout rate and disease recurrence rate, the differences between groups were statistically insignificant and less than 10%; these trials investigated discontinuation of cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease in various settings (n = 3), alendronate for osteoporosis (n = 3), glucosamine for osteoarthritis, lithium as adjunct for unipolar depression, statins for cardiovascular disease in patients with limited life expectancy, droxidopa for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, tamsulosin for lower urinary tract symptoms, sertraline for major depressive episode, and fentanyl patch for low back or osteoarthritis pain.Conclusions and ImplicationsWe identified 40 randomized trials using a variety of designs investigating discontinuation of both symptomatic and preventive medicines in older patients. Discontinuation of medicines seems feasible for most of the investigated medicines. This scoping review can guide clinical practice and future trials on deprescribing.     

“I simply don't know,because I don't know which drugs I get”: Perspectives on deprescribing among older adults with limited life expectancy and their relatives

Use of medications of questionable benefit is common in end of life care. In order to effectively carry out deprescribing, it is important to gain insight into the perspectives of patients and their relatives. Thus, our objective was to explore perspectives on deprescribing among older adults with limited life expectancy and their relatives. We conducted semi‐structured interviews with ten nursing home residents and nine relatives. Interviews were analysed using systematic text condensation. Four main themes were identified: “Medication as a necessity and to feel well,” “Frailty as a barrier for taking responsibility,” “Patient autonomy and faith in authority” and “A wish for being involved.” Most participants had not considered the possibility of deprescribing but were open towards medication change if proposed by a healthcare professional. Most participants did not have in‐depth knowledge about medication but would like to be informed or involved in decisions. The participants generally had faith in healthcare professionals despite limited contact. Our study implies that older adults with limited life expectancy and their relatives are generally interested in deprescribing activities; however, the initiative of deprescribing lies with the healthcare professionals.