Abstract

Polypharmacy is common among the elderly population, which places them at risk of developing serious drug-related problems (DRPs). As a result, decreasing the negative effects of polypharmacy by creating innovative interventions is crucial. This paper will discuss a proposed study that examines the potential effects of a community-based medication review through collaboration between nursing practitioners (NPs), general practitioners (GPs), community pharmacists, and patients in the reduction of actual and potential preventable DRPs, the reduction of emergency department (ED) visits, and the improvement of the quality of life (QOL) in seniors sixty-five years and older with polypharmacy. It is hypothesized that the medication-review intervention could significantly reduce the number of preventable DRPs, decrease the number of ED visits, and enhance the QOL of seniors in Halifax, Canada. The selection of the participants will take place using a two-stage cluster sampling design. Randomized block design with wait-list control group will be used, and the resulting data will be analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Finally, some perceived limitations will be discussed, along with recommendations for future studies.