Adverse drug reactions and associated patient characteristics in older community-dwelling adults: a 6-year prospective cohort study

Ann S Doherty; Fiona Boland; Frank Moriarty; Tom Fahey; Emma Wallace

doi:10.3399/BJGP.2022.0181

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Community motivation for approaching polypharmacy in rural older people
Ryuichi Ohta

Published on: 25 January 2023

Published on: (25 January 2023)
Page navigation anchor for Community motivation for approaching polypharmacy in rural older people
Community motivation for approaching polypharmacy in rural older people
Ryuichi Ohta, Family physician, Unnan City Hospital, Japan
I read the exciting research article "Adverse drug reactions and associated patient characteristics in older community-dwelling adults: a 6-year prospective cohort study," published in the British Journal of General Practice.¹

The research clarified the frequency of adverse drug reactions associated with polypharmacy among older people in communities. The research's strong point is describing the relationship between the concrete number of medications and the frequency of adverse drug reactions. In primary care settings, especially in aging societies, family physicians struggle to approach older patients' polypharmacy issues.² The study can show family physicians the one clear direction focusing on older patients with polypharmacy of more than ten regular medications.¹

For the implementation of the results effectively to older community-dwelling adults, the motivation of older patients and the people surrounding them in communities is essential. The motivation of both older patients with polypharmacy and people supporting them can increases the opportunities considering polypharmacy in communities, leading to effective describing.³ Family physicians in communities can drive their motivation in their clinics and hospitals by providing information about polypharmacy and going to communities to discuss polypharmacy.³ I believe that these activities can be a focus of the following re...
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I read the exciting research article "Adverse drug reactions and associated patient characteristics in older community-dwelling adults: a 6-year prospective cohort study," published in the British Journal of General Practice.¹

The research clarified the frequency of adverse drug reactions associated with polypharmacy among older people in communities. The research's strong point is describing the relationship between the concrete number of medications and the frequency of adverse drug reactions. In primary care settings, especially in aging societies, family physicians struggle to approach older patients' polypharmacy issues.² The study can show family physicians the one clear direction focusing on older patients with polypharmacy of more than ten regular medications.¹

For the implementation of the results effectively to older community-dwelling adults, the motivation of older patients and the people surrounding them in communities is essential. The motivation of both older patients with polypharmacy and people supporting them can increases the opportunities considering polypharmacy in communities, leading to effective describing.³ Family physicians in communities can drive their motivation in their clinics and hospitals by providing information about polypharmacy and going to communities to discuss polypharmacy.³ I believe that these activities can be a focus of the following research project based on these research results.

References
1. Doherty AS, Boland F, Moriarty F, Fahey T, Wallace E. Adverse drug reactions and associated patient characteristics in older community-dwelling adults: a 6-year prospective cohort study. Br J Gen Pract 2023. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp.2022.0181.
2. Loffler C, Koudmani C, Bohmer F, et al. Perceptions of interprofessional collaboration of general practitioners and community pharmacists - a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res 2017;17(1):224. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-017-2157-8.
3. McWhinney IR. Family Medicine in Perspective. N Eng J Med 1975; 293(4):176-181. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197507242930405.

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Competing Interests: None declared.