Deprescribing Program/ Falls in Older Adults - Division of Geriatric Medicine

Project: Implementation of a De-prescribing Medication Program to Evaluate Falls in Older Adults

Grant Number: CDC U01CE002955

Led by Dr. Stefanie Ferreri and Dr. Jan Busby-Whitehead, this study engages patients within the UNC Health Care System who are 65 years of age to implement a pharmacist-initiated deprescribing medication protocol for older adults at risk for falls in collaboration with the Carolina Assessment of Medications Program (CAMP). Older adults will be screened by a clinical pharmacist for potential medication-related harms based on evidence of chronic use of opioids or benzodiazepines. Personalized deprescribing recommendations, including tapering schedules and recommendations for adjunctive or alternative medications, will be provided to primary care providers with the goal of optimizing medication use and reducing harms.

Role

Co-Investigator

Key Collaborators

Stephanie Ferreri (PI), Jan Busby-Whitehead (Sub)

Publications

Niznik JD, Hughes TD, Armistead LA, Kashyap J, Roller J, Busby-Whitehead J, Ferreri S. Patterns and Disparities in Prescribing of Opioids and Benzodiazepines in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. In Press. Pages: 16.

Niznik JD, Ferreri S, Armistead L, Kelley CJ, Schlusser C, Hughes T, Henage C, Busby-Whitehead J, Roberts E. Primary Care Providers’ Perspectives on Deprescribing Opioids and Benzodiazepines in Older Adults. Drugs Aging. 2022 Sep;39(9):739-748. PMC9330848.

Niznik JD, Ferreri SP, Armistead L, Urick B, Vest MH, Zhao L, Hughes T, McBride JM, Busby-Whitehead J. A deprescribing medication program to evaluate falls in older adults: methods for a randomized pragmatic clinical trial. Trials. 2022 Apr 4;23(1):256. PMC8981935.

Niznik JD, Collins BC, Armistead LT, Larson CK, Kelley CJ, Hughes TD, Sanders KA, Carlson R, Ferreri SP. Pharmacist Interventions to Deprescribe Opioids and Benzodiazepines in Older Adults: A Rapid Review. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2021 Jul 16:S1551-7411(21)00270-9. PMC8836277

Henage CB, Ferreri SP, Schlusser C, Hughes TD, Armistead LT, Kelley CJ, Niznik JD, Busby-Whitehead J, Roberts R. Transitioning Focus Group Research to a Videoconferencing Environment: A Descriptive Analysis of Interactivity. Pharmacy (Basel). 2021 Jun 24;9(3):117. PMC8293315