Welcome to the 26th WONCA Europe Virtual Conference Programme Scheduling

Abstract Body

WHO announced in 2017 its third global patient safety challenge, which focuses on improving medication safety. Its main goal is to reduce the level of severe, avoidable medication-associated harm by 50% over the next 5 years. Although there is no consensual definition for polypharmacy, the most used refers to the use of five or more medications.

Portugal is the third country with the highest aging rate in the European Union; elderly represents 21.3% of the population. Prescribing is a complex act, which involves dealing with multimorbidity and a greater risk of adverse reactions, side effects and drug interactions.

De-prescribing is the planned and supervised process of reducing the dose or stopping the medication that may be causing harm or no longer bringing benefits.

Primary health care professionals are in a privileged position to facilitate de-prescribing since they have access to the patient’s complete medical history and an established relationship with the patient that supports shared decision-making.

This workshop is targeted at all health professionals. Its objective is to equip family doctors with appropriate knowledge and practical tools, as well as to raise awareness to this common and challenging problem.

I will make a brief theoretical presentation, which aims to present tools that can be used daily in clinical practice, followed by discussion of clinical cases, and role-playing in groups of 5/6 people with a total maximum of 20 participants.

At last, participants are expected to be able to update their patients’ medication list, according to their life expectancy and comorbidities.

Abstract Body

Background

The aging process is associated with an increase in comorbidities and a consequent increase in the number of medications prescribed to provide symptomatic relief and to prevent disease-related sequelae. Whereas undertreatment might harm the potential benefits of a medication, overtreatment can put a patient at increased iatrogenic risk.

Polypharmacy is defined as the regular use of five or more medications and might result in adverse drug interactions, high pill burden and heavy medication costs. Patient-related factors such as multiple medical conditions managed by different subspecialist physicians, chronic mental health conditions and residing in a long-term care facility are very challenging for the General Practicioner (GP).

Deprescribing is the patient-centered process of reducing medications after considering the treatment expected outcomes, benefits and risks. Primary care providers often face complex decisions about how to manage patient’s prescriptions at the end of life. Some preventive medications can become obsolete as the health benefits they could provide may not be relevant or even noticed.

Aim and learning objectives

This workshop aims to provide tools to GP’s in identifying and deprescribing potentially inappropriate medications in frail patients or in patients with a limited life expectancy.

Methods and timetable

In this one-hour workshop, we shall review the most recent evidence regarding this subject in a viewer-friendly environment, leading the attendees to a more participated learning process about deprescribing in the elderly.

Conclusions

Deprescribing and overtreatment are very common in primary care. Knowledge about deprescribing guidelines and practicing this process should be a priority in the care of the elderly.