Drugs & aging
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Among long-term care facility residents, polypharmacy is common, and often appropriate, given the need to treat multiple, complex, chronic conditions. Polypharmacy has, however, been associated with increased healthcare costs, adverse drug events, and drug interactions. The current study evaluates the potential medication cost savings of adding personalized pharmacogenetic information to traditional medication management strategies. ⋯ Compared with traditional medication review, pharmacogenetic testing resulted in a 38% increase in the number of patients with current medication change opportunities and also offered valuable genetic information that could be referenced to personalize future prescribing decisions for all patients.
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Knowledge of consumer (patient and caregiver) attitudes is essential for conducting medication optimization in practice. ⋯ The revised PATD questionnaire had acceptable validity and reliability. This newly validated questionnaire may provide insight into individuals' willingness for/barriers to deprescribing, with applications in practice and research.