Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung SH(1), Yuen CLL(1), Chan TMJ(2), Cheung LP(1), Wong LYL(1), Lau WM(1), Mak SY(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Pharmacy Department, (2) Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Polypharmacy
Keyword 2: :
Potentially inappropriate medications
Keyword 3: :
Geriatric oncology
Keyword 4: :
Deprescribing
Keyword 6: :
Pharmacist-led intervention
Introduction :
Polypharmacy in cancer patients receiving palliative care is associated with various negative outcomes, such as medication errors during care transitions, harmful drug interactions, difficulties with medication adherence, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. While research indicates that pharmacist-led deprescribing can mitigate these issues, there is insufficient data on such service for cancer patients in palliative care within local hospitals.
Objectives :
(1) to evaluate the feasibility of pharmacist-led intervention and deprescribing for cancer patients receiving palliative care; (2) to decrease patient’s medication burden
Methodology :
This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with cancer and received palliative care in a local hospital . Pharmacist-led deprescribing service using STOPPFrail criteria was initiated in the palliative care unit. Pharmacists reviewed medical records to evaluate the rate of deprescribing resulting from pharmacist-led interventions. Outcome measures were categorized as: (1) Rate of deprescribing by pharmacist-led interventions, (2) Rate of physician’s acceptance, (3) Number of deprescribed medications, (4) Number of deprescribed medications resumed upon discharge.
Result & Outcome :
Between March and June 2025, there were 150 patients included in the study for analysis. Twenty patients (13.3%) met the STOPPFrail criteria for deprescribing and 24 potentially inappropriate medications were identified. Physicians accepted 21 of the deprescribing recommendations (87.5%) during hospitalization, and all of these remained successfully deprescribed upon discharge. This corresponded to an additional pharmacist deprescribing rate of 1.7% (21/1248) following physicians’ review and deprescribing of medications on admission.
The implementation of pharmacist-led deprescribing using STOPPFrail criteria effectively reduced potentially inappropriate medications in cancer patients receiving palliative care. By reducing unnecessary medications alongside physician reviews, this approach alleviated medication burdens for patients and contributed to the reduction of medication cost , reinforcing the value of pharmacist involvement in palliative care settings.
