Author Interviews, Geriatrics, JAMA, Pharmacology / 05.08.2025
McGill University Develops Software to Help Providers Deprescribe Unnecessary Medications in Older Adults
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_70179" align="alignleft" width="220"]
Dr. McDonald[/caption]
Emily G. McDonald MD MSc (Epi) FRCPC
Scientist | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Associate Professor of Medicine | General Internal Medicine | McGill University Health Centre
Associate Chair of Quality and Safety | Department of Medicine | McGill University
Director | Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network
Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE)
Montreal, QC
https://www.medsafer.org/
https://www.deprescribingnetwork.ca/
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Polypharmacy (taking multiple medications) is common among older adults and can lead to serious side effects like memory problems, falls, fractures, and hospitalization. Deprescribing (the process of stopping some medications that may no longer be beneficial or where the harms outweigh the benefits) is a great solution. This study found that an electronic tool to support prescribers increased deprescribing more than 3 times compared to usual care without the software support.
Dr. McDonald[/caption]
Emily G. McDonald MD MSc (Epi) FRCPC
Scientist | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Associate Professor of Medicine | General Internal Medicine | McGill University Health Centre
Associate Chair of Quality and Safety | Department of Medicine | McGill University
Director | Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network
Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE)
Montreal, QC
https://www.medsafer.org/
https://www.deprescribingnetwork.ca/
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Polypharmacy (taking multiple medications) is common among older adults and can lead to serious side effects like memory problems, falls, fractures, and hospitalization. Deprescribing (the process of stopping some medications that may no longer be beneficial or where the harms outweigh the benefits) is a great solution. This study found that an electronic tool to support prescribers increased deprescribing more than 3 times compared to usual care without the software support.