Medicines optimisation: priorities and challenges.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Health Services Research
• Patient Care

Background:

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline (2015) promotes medicines optimisation.
• Four key principles guide medicines optimisation: understanding patient experience, evidence-based prescribing, ensuring safety, and integrating optimisation into routine practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elaborate on the principles of medicines optimisation as outlined by NICE.
• To highlight the importance of patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, and safety in medication management.

Main Methods:

• Review of the NICE guideline on medicines optimisation.
• Analysis of the four underpinning principles and their implications.
• Discussion of strategies to improve medication adherence and safety.

Main Results:

• Understanding patient experience, including communication and shared decision-making, is crucial for medication adherence.
• Evidence-based medicine selection ensures clinical and cost-effectiveness.
• Improving reporting systems for medication safety incidents is vital.
• Safe medication practices during patient transfers and managing polypharmacy are essential.

Conclusions:

• Medicines optimisation requires a holistic approach encompassing patient preferences, evidence-based choices, and robust safety measures.
• Integrating medicines optimisation into routine practice, potentially through methods like medicines use reviews, is key to effective healthcare.
• Adherence and safety are significantly improved by focusing on the patient's perspective and evidence-based interventions.