[Educational intervention on polypharmacy and deprescribing in the elderly population of Colombia]

Polypharmacy in older adults is a common condition associated with negative clinical outcomes. The objective was to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on polypharmacy and deprescribing.

A prospective study, with measurement before and after an educational intervention, without control. Outpatient physicians (prescribers) were included, who participated in a workshop (virtual intervention, July 2021) and completed informed consent. The intervention had four modules based on audiovisual content, theoretical material and a graded test. A questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on polypharmacy was applied before and after finishing the workshop. Once the prescribers were identified, their prescriptions to patients between 60-100years old were analyzed, during the second half of 2021.

Of 121 physicians, 75 (61.98%) passed the workshop and were included (average age: 38 .91±11years; 72.00% women). The KAP presented a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91 and 84% explanation in three dimensions by factor analysis. A significant improvement was obtained in 7/7 knowledge items (P<.01) and 4/7 practice items (P<.03). Prescriptions from 19,442 patients were included (mean age: 71.32±8.3years; 61.95% women). The prevalence of polypharmacy was 33.77% at the beginning and 32.11% at the end of the study. Monitoring of the prescription month by month presented a significant variation (P<.01).

Knowledge and practices of the prescribers were improved, likewise, the level of polypharmacy in geriatric patients was slightly reduced.