Subject:
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CTR 2: Clinical Pharmacology and physiology EBP 4: Quality of Care N4i 1: Pathogenesis and modulation of inflammation N4i 3: Poverty-related infectious diseases NCEBP 2: Evaluation of complex medical interventions NCEBP 3: Implementation Science NCEBP 4: Quality of hospital and integrated care UMCN 2.2: Vascular medicine and diabetes UMCN 3.2: Cognitive neurosciences UMCN 5.4: Renal disorders CTR 2: Clinical Pharmacology and physiology |
Organization:
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Clinical Pharmacy IQ Healthcare Internal Medicine Pharmacology-Toxicology |
Former Organization:
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Centre for Quality of Care Research Pharmacology/Toxicology
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Abstract:
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Regular performance of medication reviews is prominent among methods that have been advocated to reduce the extent and seriousness of drug-related problems, such as adverse drug reactions, drug-disease interactions, drug-drug interactions, drug ineffectiveness and cost ineffectiveness. Several screening tools have been developed to guide practising healthcare professionals and researchers in reviewing the medication patterns of elderly patients; however, each of these tools has its own limitations. This review discusses a wide range of general prescription-, treatment- and patient-related issues that should be taken into account when reviewing medication patterns by implicit screening. These include generic and therapeutic substitution; potentially superfluous or inappropriate medications; potentially inappropriate dosages or duration of treatment; drug-disease and drug-drug interactions; under-treatment; making use of laboratory test results; patient adherence, experiences and habits; appropriate dosage forms and packaging. A broad selection of specific examples and references that can be used as a basis for explicit screening of medication patterns in outpatients is also offered.
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