Researchers from The University of Western Australia led the development of clinical practice guidelines for deprescribing medications to people aged 65 years and older that are now available.
Deprescribing is the process of reducing or stopping medications when they may no longer be necessary or when the potential risks of continuing the medication outweigh the potential benefits.
PhD candidate Amanda Quek, Dr Amy Page and Dr Kenneth Lee, from UWA's School of Health and Clinical Sciences, and Professor Christopher Etherton-Beer, from UWA's Medical School, collaborated with healthcare professionals, consumers and carers from across the country to develop the guidelines for deprescribing medications to people aged 65 and older.
"The guidelines were developed in response to a growing need to provide guidance for optimising medication regimes in older people to reduce adverse outcomes and their treatment burden," Dr Page said.
"It serves as a resource to assist clinical decision-making in partnership with individuals, their families and carers."
The team invited public comment on the draft recommendations to help finalise the guidelines and received over 300 submissions from individuals and organisation.
"Healthcare professionals must place individuals at the centre of their care, adopting holistic, whole-person perspectives that are tailored to each person," Ms Quek said.
"Attention to how culture, values and preferences influence clinical context can ensure that older people feel valued, respected and dignified, which ultimately enhances their healthcare experience."
To enable an informed decision, the guidelines take into consideration information regarding regular medications, the balance of risks, benefits and alternative option that may evolve over time.
It covers commonly used PBS-subsidised medications for people aged 65 years and over, as well as other medications where there is evidence to consider deprescribing in this age group.
"Deprescribing is inherently intertwined with and as essential part of good prescribing practice," Dr Page said.
"These guidelines will serve as a resource to assist clinical decision-making in partnership with individuals, their families and carers."
To access the guidelines for deprescribing in older people and plain language summaries for consumers click here.
