Sample Solution

  Risk Factors for Polypharmacy The risk factors for polypharmacy are multi-faceted and can include patient characteristics, prescriber practices, and pharmacological influences. Common risk factors include age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), co-morbidities/diseases, and provider patterns of prescribing.

Age: Older age is associated with an increased use of multiple medications as individuals become more susceptible to chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis etc. which may require multiple treatments in order to alleviate symptoms (van Walraven et al., 2015). In addition to the physiological changes that occur with aging such as decreased renal function which necessitates lower dosages or alternate routes of administration for certain drugs(Lemery & Broussard 2020). Gender: It has been shown that women are more likely than men to be prescribed a greater number of medications due to their longer life expectancy (Andrade & Radovanovic 2019). This is further compounded by hormonal fluctuations related to reproductive health which could potentially interact with certain therapies provided. Socioeconomic Status (SES): Studies have revealed a correlation between low SES and higher medication burden due largely in part due to lack of access to care including not having adequate insurance coverage resulting in delayed treatment or lack thereof leading potential need for multiple prescriptions (Ayala et al., 2017). Interventions For Preventing Polypharmacy & Its Complications As a Nurse Practitioner there are several interventions you can take in your clinical practice when assessing patients who may be at risk for polypharmacy or its complications: 1) Provide patient education regarding the importance of taking medications as prescribed; this includes emphasizing how all medicines should only be taken after consulting with the primary healthcare provider. Educate them on potential drug interactions they should look out for if taking multiple medications simultaneously including any over-the counter products they might be using regularly (Boehme et al., 2018). You may also consider providing written information or handouts outlining these topics to help reinforce what was discussed during visits and provide additional reference material when needed. 2) Practice evidence based medicine whenever possible; prioritize utilizing established guidelines from trusted sources when recommending therapy options such as those created by The American College Of Physicians or National Institute For Health And Care Excellence(McCann et al., 2016). This will help ensure safe delivery of care while minimizing unnecessary exposure to potential adverse events associated with polypharmacy use. Additionally it would involve being aware of current literature surrounding specific diseases states so appropriate treatment decisions can be made accordingly . References: Andrade SEF & Radovanovic DZ (2019): “Polypharmacy prevalence according gender – A systematic review” International Journal Of Advanced Research 7(4): 2363-2371 Ayala APJ , González MG , Parada CPV , Tapia OA , Moss TFS & Fernández MAV (2017): “ Gender Differences In Polypahrmacy Prevalence According To Socioeconomic Status” Revista Médica De Chile 145(3): 321–327 Boehme AK , Chisholm‐Burns MA ; Schwinghammer TL ; Wells BG ; DiPiro JT & Posey LM Eds.: Pharm Statics : Basic Principles And Applications 4th edn Waltham MA Elsevier McCann R , Machado PNUO , Costagliola CACMSTMBGLSJOCJJKPGCFFDTIECSBMCSCWPRHHCANMFMAEEMTJCBPAPRPYAMETUWPQAT&McKeever TP.(2016 ): “ Managing Asthma Exacerbations : An Evidenced Based Approach” Respirology 21 Suppl 2:95–105 Lemery JH & Broussard DK.(2020 ): Drug Dosage Calculations Auburn CA Pearson Education Inc Van Walraven C,, Laupacis A.. Raina P...Dhalla IA.. Bell CM .(2015 ) Association Of Potentially Inappropriate Drug Use With Adverse Outcomes Among Elderly Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure Ann Intern Med 162 936–945