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McDonald EG, Lundby C, Thompson W, Boyd C, Farrell B, Gagnon C, Herbin J, Khuong N, Moriarty F, Pierson T, Scott S, Scott IA, Silvius J, Spinewine A, Steinman MA, Tannenbaum C, Trimble J, Turner JP, Reeve E. Reducing potentially inappropriate polypharmacy at a national and international level: the impact of deprescribing networks. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2024; 17:433-440. [PMID: 38739460 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2024.2355270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Over the past decade, polypharmacy has increased dramatically. Measurable harms include falls, fractures, cognitive impairment, and death. The associated costs are massive and contribute substantially to low-value health care. Deprescribing is a promising solution, but there are barriers. Establishing a network to address polypharmacy can help overcome barriers by connecting individuals with an interest and expertise in deprescribing and can act as an important source of motivation and resources. AREAS COVERED Over the past decade, several deprescribing networks were launched to help tackle polypharmacy, with evidence of individual and collective impact. A network approach has several advantages; it can spark interest, ideas and enthusiasm through information sharing, meetings and conversations with the public, providers, and other key stakeholders. In this special report, the details of how four deprescribing networks were established across the globe are detailed. EXPERT OPINION Networks create links between people who lead existing and/or budding deprescribing practices and policy initiatives, can influence people with a shared passion for deprescribing, and facilitate sharing of intellectual capital and tools to take initiatives further and strengthen impact.This report should inspire others to establish their own deprescribing networks, a critical step in accelerating a global deprescribing movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G McDonald
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Carina Lundby
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Hospital Pharmacy Funen, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Wade Thompson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Cynthia Boyd
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology in the School of Medicine, the Center on Aging and Health, and the departments of Epidemiology and Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Barbara Farrell
- Bruyère Research Institute, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Camille Gagnon
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jennie Herbin
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ninh Khuong
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Frank Moriarty
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tiphaine Pierson
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sion Scott
- School of Healthcare, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Ian A Scott
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jim Silvius
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Provincial Seniors Health & Continuing Care, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anne Spinewine
- Louvain Drug Research Institute, Clinical Pharmacy Research Group UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michael A Steinman
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Cara Tannenbaum
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Johanna Trimble
- Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Justin P Turner
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety (CMUS), Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emily Reeve
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety (CMUS), Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Melbourne, SA, Australia
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Turner JP, Halme AS, Caetano P, Langford A, Tannenbaum C. Government Direct-to-Consumer Education to Reduce Prescription Opioid Use: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2413698. [PMID: 38809554 PMCID: PMC11137632 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.13698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Direct-to-consumer education reduces chronic sedative use. The effectiveness of this approach for prescription opioids among patients with chronic noncancer pain remains untested. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a government-led educational information brochure mailed to community-dwelling, long-term opioid consumers to reduce prescription opioid use compared with usual care. Design, Setting, and Participants This cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted from July 2018 to January 2019 in Manitoba, Canada. All adults with long-term opioid prescriptions were enrolled (n = 4225). Participants were identified via the Manitoba Drug Program Information Network. Individuals receiving palliative care or with a diagnosis of cancer or dementia were excluded. Data were analyzed from July 2019 to March 2020. Intervention Participants were clustered according to their primary care clinic and randomized to the intervention (a codesigned direct-to-consumer educational brochure sent by mail) or usual care (comparator group). Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was discontinuation of opioid prescriptions at the participant level after 6 months, ascertained by pharmacy drug claims. Secondary outcomes included dose reduction (in morphine milligram equivalents [MME]) and/or therapeutic switch. Reduction in opioid use was assessed using generalized estimating equations to account for clustering, with prespecified subgroup analyses by age and sex. Analysis was intention to treat. Results Of 4206 participants, 2409 (57.3%) were male; mean (SD) age was 60.0 (14.4) years. Mean (SD) baseline opioid use was comparable between groups (intervention, 157.7 [179.7] MME/d; control, 153.4 [181.8] MME/d). After 6 months, 235 of 2136 participants (11.0%) in 127 clusters in the intervention group no longer filled opioid prescriptions compared with 228 of 2070 (11.0%) in 124 clusters in the comparator group (difference, 0.0%; 95% CI, -1.9% to 1.9%). More participants in the intervention group than in the control group reduced their dose (1410 [66.0%] vs 1307 [63.1%]; difference, 2.8% [95% CI, 0.0%-5.7%]). Receipt of the brochure led to greater dose reductions for participants who were male (difference, 3.9%; 95% CI, 0.1%-7.7%), aged 18 to 64 years (difference, 3.7%; 95% CI, 0.2%-7.2%), or living in urban areas (difference, 5.9%; 95% CI, 1.9%-9.9%) compared with usual care. Conclusions and Relevance In this cluster randomized clinical trial, no significant difference in the prevalence of opioid cessation was observed after 6 months between the intervention and usual care groups; however, the intervention resulted in more adults reducing their opioid dose compared with usual care. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03400384.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P. Turner
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alex S. Halme
- Département de Médecine Spécialisée, Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Gaspésie, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Québec, Canada
| | - Patricia Caetano
- Drug Data Services and Analytics, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aili Langford
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cara Tannenbaum
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Turner JP, Newport K, McEvoy AM, Smith T, Tannenbaum C, Kelly DV. Strategies to guide the successful implementation of deprescribing in community practice: Lessons learned from the front line. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2024; 157:133-142. [PMID: 38737354 PMCID: PMC11086729 DOI: 10.1177/17151635241240737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Background Sustainable implementation of new professional services into clinical practice can be difficult. In 2019, a population-wide initiative called SaferMedsNL was implemented across the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), to promote appropriate medication use. Two evidence-based interventions were adapted to the context of NL to promote deprescribing of proton pump inhibitors and sedatives. The objective of this study was to identify and prioritize which actions supported the implementation of deprescribing in community practice for pharmacists, physicians and nurse practitioners across the province. Methods Community pharmacists, physicians and nurse practitioners were invited to participate in virtual focus groups. Nominal Group Technique was used to elicit responses to the question: "What actions support the implementation of deprescribing into the daily workflow of your practice?" Participants prioritized actions within each group while thematic analysis permitted comparison across groups. Results Five focus groups were held in fall 2020 involving pharmacists (n = 11), physicians (n = 7) and nurse practitioners (n = 4). Participants worked in rural (n = 10) and urban (n = 12) settings. The different groups agreed on what the top 5 actions were, with the top 5 receiving 68% of the scores: (1) providing patient education, (2) allocating time and resources, (3) building interprofessional collaboration and communication, (4) fostering patient relationships and (5) aligning with public awareness strategies. Conclusion Pharmacists, physicians and nurse practitioners identified similar actions that supported implementing evidence-based deprescribing into routine clinical practice. Sharing these strategies may help others embed deprescribing into daily practice and assist the uptake of medication appropriateness initiatives by front-line providers. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2024;157:xx-xx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P. Turner
- Centre for Medicines Use and Safety, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; the Faculty of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Université de Montréal, Québec; the Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Québec; the Faculté de Pharmacie, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
| | - Kelda Newport
- Laval Université, Québec; and the School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
| | - Aisling M. McEvoy
- Centre for Medicines Use and Safety, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
| | - Tara Smith
- Laval Université, Québec; and the School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
| | - Cara Tannenbaum
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Université de Montréal, Québec; the Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
| | - Deborah V. Kelly
- Laval Université, Québec; and the School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
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Wirth K, Bähler C, Boes S, Näpflin M, Huber CA, Blozik E. Opioid prescriptions after knee replacement: a retrospective study of pathways and prognostic factors in the Swiss healthcare setting. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067542. [PMID: 36889828 PMCID: PMC10008278 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The optimal use of opioids after knee replacement (KR) remains to be determined, given the growing evidence that opioids are no more effective than other analgesics and that their adverse effects can impair quality of life. Therefore, the objective is to examine opioid prescriptions after KR. DESIGN In this retrospective study, we used descriptive statistics and estimated the association of prognostic factors using generalised negative binomial models. SETTING The study is based on anonymised claims data of patients with mandatory health insurance at Helsana, a leading Swiss health insurance. PARTICIPANTS Overall, 9122 patients undergoing KR between 2015 and 2018 were identified. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Based on reimbursed bills, we calculated the dosage (morphine equivalent dose, MED) and the episode length (acute: <90 days; subacute: ≥90 to <120 days or <10 claims; chronic: ≥90 days and ≥10 claims or ≥120 days). The incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for postoperative opioids were calculated. RESULTS Of all patients, 3445 (37.8%) received opioids in the postoperative year. A large majority had acute episodes (3067, 89.0%), 2211 (65.0%) had peak MED levels above 100 mg/day and most patients received opioids in the first 10 postoperative weeks (2881, 31.6%). Increasing age (66-75 and >75 vs 18-65) was associated with decreased IRR (0.776 (95% CI 0.7 to 0.859); 0.723 (95% CI 0.649 to 0.805)), whereas preoperative non-opioid analgesics and opioids were associated with higher IRR (1.271 (95% CI 1.155 to 1.399); 3.977 (95% CI 4.409 to 3.591)). CONCLUSION The high opioid demand is unexpected given that current recommendations advise using opioids only when other pain therapies are ineffective. To ensure medication safety, it is important to consider alternative treatment options and ensure that benefits outweigh potential risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Wirth
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Bähler
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Boes
- Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Markus Näpflin
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carola A Huber
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Blozik
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Sawan M, Reeve E, Turner J, Todd A, Steinman MA, Petrovic M, Gnjidic D. A systems approach to identifying the challenges of implementing deprescribing in older adults across different health-care settings and countries: a narrative review. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2020; 13:233-245. [PMID: 32056451 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2020.1730812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: There is increasing recognition of the need for deprescribing of inappropriate medications in older adults. However, efforts to encourage implementation of deprescribing in clinical practice have resulted in mixed results across settings and countries.Area covered: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar in June 2019. Reference lists, citation checking, and personal reference libraries were also utilized. Studies capturing the main challenges of, and opportunities for, implementing deprescribing into clinical practice across selected health-care settings internationally, and international deprescribing-orientated policies were included and summarized in this narrative review.Expert opinion: Deprescribing intervention studies are inherently heterogeneous because of the complexity of interventions employed and often do not reflect the real-world. Further research investigating enhanced implementation of deprescribing into clinical practice and across health-care settings is required. Process evaluations in deprescribing intervention studies are needed to determine the contextual factors that are important to the translation of the interventions in the real-world. Deprescribing interventions may need to be individually tailored to target the unique barriers and opportunities to deprescribing in different clinical settings. Introduction of national policies to encourage deprescribing may be beneficial, but need to be evaluated to determine if there are any unintended consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mouna Sawan
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.,Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Aged Care, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, Australia
| | - Emily Reeve
- Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,Geriatric Medicine Research, Faculty of Medicine and College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, Canada
| | - Justin Turner
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Adam Todd
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Michael A Steinman
- Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mirko Petrovic
- Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Danijela Gnjidic
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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