Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36378404›Full record

Observational studyInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2023

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in older adults with cancer receiving specialist palliative care: a retrospective observational study.

Melanie Murphy, Kathleen Bennett, Marie Wright, Martina O'Reilly, Marian Conroy, Carmel Hughes, Sarah McLean, Cathal A Cadogan

Open access · bronzeAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Effect of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications on physical functional decline among older adults with advanced cancer receiving systemic treatment.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Trial
  3. Article
  4. Pharmacist-led deprescribing interventions for cancer patients in a specialist palliative care setting.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Melanie MurphySchool of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
Kathleen BennettData Science Centre, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
Marie WrightMilford Care Centre, Limerick, Ireland.
Martina O'ReillyMilford Care Centre, Limerick, Ireland.
Marian ConroyMilford Care Centre, Limerick, Ireland.
Carmel HughesSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Sarah McLeanSt Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Cathal A CadoganSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02PN40, Ireland. cathal.cadogan@tcd.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8778-0112
Queen's University Belfast · GBSt. Vincent's University Hospital · IETrinity College Dublin · IE

Funding

All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care PAL17CADHealth Research Board RL-15-1579Irish Cancer Society PAL17CADRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland Clement Archer Scholarship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOlder adults (≥ 65 years) with cancer receiving palliative care often have other health conditions requiring multiple medications.

aimTo describe and assess the appropriateness of prescribing for older adults with cancer in the last seven days of life in an inpatient palliative care setting.

methodRetrospective observational study of medical records for 180 patients (60.6% male; median age: 74 years; range 65-94 years) over a two-year period. Medication appropriateness was assessed using: STOPPFrail, OncPal deprescribing guideline and criteria for identifying Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in older adults with Cancer receiving Palliative Care (PIP-CPC).

results94.5% of patients had at least one other health condition (median 3, IQR 2-5). The median number of medications increased from five (IQR 3-7) seven days before death, to 11 medications on the day of death (IQR 9-15). The prevalence of PIP varied depending on the tool used: STOPPFrail (version 1: 17.2%, version 2: 19.4%), OncPal (12.8%), PIP-CPC (30%). However, the retrospective nature of the study limited the applicability of the tools. Increasing number of medications had a statistically significant effect on risk of PIP across all tools (STOPPFrail (version 1: 1.29 (1.13-1.37), version 2: 1.30 (1.16-1.48)); OncPal 1.13 (1.01-1.27); PIP-CPC 0.70 (0.61-0.82)).

conclusionThis study found that the number of medications prescribed to older adults with cancer increased as time to death approached, and the prevalence of PIP varied with the application of different tools. The study also highlights the difficulties of examining PIP in this patient cohort.

Indexed as

Inappropriate PrescribingNeoplasmsAgedFemaleHospitalizationHumansMalePalliative CarePotentially Inappropriate Medication ListRetrospective StudiesAgedCancerGeriatric oncologyOlder adultsPalliative carePrescribing

Identifiers

PMID36378404
PMCPMC9664032
OpenAlexW4309242943

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.