Looking for the "Little Things": A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Medicines Monitoring for Older People Using the...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• The increasing reliance on medication has led to a distanced approach in medical practice, often resulting in limited patient-doctor contact.
• Older and economically disadvantaged populations are disproportionately affected by adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
• Current systematic reviews for ADRs are infrequent, despite their potential to minimize medication errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the benefits of systematic medicines monitoring for older adults.
• To introduce the adverse drug reaction profile (ADRe) as a tool for optimizing prescribing.
• To advocate for multidisciplinary initiatives to reduce iatrogenic harm in elderly patients.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing the advantages of structured medicines monitoring protocols.
• Utilizing the adverse drug reaction profile (ADRe) to identify and document patient signs and symptoms of ADRs.
• Proposing multidisciplinary team approaches to medication management.

Main Results:

• Medicines monitoring can protect older patients from iatrogenic harm, including over-sedation, falls, and drug-induced Parkinsonism.
• The ADRe profile facilitates the identification of potential ADRs, enabling agile adjustments to prescribing.
• Systematic monitoring empowers healthcare professionals to optimize medication regimens.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced medicines monitoring is crucial for safeguarding older patients from adverse drug reactions.
• Implementing systematic monitoring requires regulatory changes and improved inter-professional collaboration.
• Structured patient monitoring systems can democratize medical knowledge and address health disparities.