Back to top anchor

Utilizing a prognostic indicator to guide deprescribing in Aged Residential Care

Year:
2016
Duration:
42 months
Approved budget:
$145,459.07
Researchers:
Dr Claire Heppenstall
Health issue:
Ageing
Proposal type:
Emerging Researcher First Grant
Lay summary
Older people living in Aged Residential Care (ARC) are often prescribed multiple medications. Many of these are to prevent future illness, not to treat symptoms. Polypharmacy has been associated with poorer health outcomes and quality of life. In older people with short life-expectancy many of these medications are no longer necessary. However General Practitioners find it difficult to stop medications. This study proposes the use of a scale to identify people with limited life-expectancy, and to feed this information back to GPs together with medications prompts. We hope this will empower GPs to stop unnecessary medications. This study will assess the feasibility of this intervention, and whether it reduces numbers of medications prescribed and outcomes for this vulnerable population.