Provider Response to Utilizing STOPP/START Criteria for Medication Deprescribing in Older Adults

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to educate providers on the STOPP/START criteria in order to increase their willingness to implement the criteria and promote medication deprescribing in older adults. Background: In older adults, aged 65 and older, 50% take four or more medications. This increases their risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Utilizing tools such as the STOPP/START criteria to routinely review medication lists in older patients with polypharmacy can be useful in guiding the deprescribing process to prevent risk of PIMs and ADRs. Methods: This QI project took place during a one-hour lunch at the clinic and involved an in-person educational presentation on the STOPP/START criteria and its importance in medication deprescribing in older adults. This presentation was followed by a post-survey assessing provider willingness to implement the criteria and look for opportunities to deprescribe. Data collection and analysis were done using Qualtrics. Results: This project took place during the lunch hour at the clinic site, Sonoran Medical Centers in Glendale, Arizona. There were a total of eight participants who took part in the educational presentation and the post-survey. Five of the eight participants (62.5%) responded that they would be “likely” or “extremely likely” to implement the STOPP/START criteria and to look for opportunities to deprescribe. Conclusions: Overall, the participants responded they would be willing to utilize the criteria in their practice. However, it may be more likely to be implemented if it were more easily accessible for providers, such as a phone app, instead of an online PDF.