ArticleInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2026
Pharmacists' role in interventions addressing excessive polypharmacy: a scoping review.
Article in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Characterising pharmacist interventions from person-centred medicines reviews in general practice settings.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2026Article
- The Association Between a Risk Assessment-Based Medication Safety Checklist and 90-Day Readmission Among Residents of Long-Term Care Institutions: A Pilot Quasi-Experimental Study.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2026Article
- Hospital readmissions related to adverse drug withdrawal events in older adults: a pilot study.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionExcessive polypharmacy, which is defined as the use of ten medications or more, poses considerable challenges regarding patient health and healthcare resources. Individuals who exhibit excessive polypharmacy are predisposed to adverse drug effects, drug interactions, and non-adherence, which can result in increased hospitalization, emergency room visits, and mortality. Given their expertise in medication management, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address the risks associated with excessive medication use. Therefore, exploring their role in this phenomenon across their various fields of practice is essential.
aimThe aim of this review was to summarize the existing literature on the role of pharmacists in addressing excessive polypharmacy in different care settings and to highlight areas where more research is needed.
methodA scoping review was conducted by adopting Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework, along with subsequent enhancements implemented by Levac et al. It was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted across five databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane CENTRAL from their inception until June 2024. Covidence was used for data selection and extraction. The results were analyzed using narrative synthesis.
resultsWe identified 5236 articles, of which 19 were included. All studies were available in English and were conducted in high-income countries with the majority (84%) being published after 2019. The interventions were carried out in primary care clinics, hospitals, home care, and long-term care facilities, but none of the studies were conducted in community pharmacies. The analysis identified four predominant roles: performing medication reconciliation during care transitions, assessing medication appropriateness, raising awareness among prescribing healthcare professionals, and ensuring patient follow-up and monitoring. These roles emphasized collaboration between patients and interprofessional teams and were supported by various polypharmacy management tools.
conclusionThis review's results highlight pharmacists' various roles in managing excessive polypharmacy across care settings. The scope of practice, physical proximity to other health professionals, expertise, higher qualifications and/or additional training all influenced these roles.
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