453 Variety of interventions improve safety and effectiveness of medicines use

May 02, 2015

written by Brian R McAvoy

Clinical question
Which interventions improve the safety and effectiveness of medicines use?

Bottom line
Strategies that appeared to improve medicines use included medicines self-monitoring and self-management programmes, while simplified dosing regimens and directly involving pharmacists in medicines management (eg, medicines reviews) appeared promising. Other strategies, such as delayed antibiotic prescriptions; practical management tools (eg, reminders, packaging); education or information combined with other strategies (eg, self-management skills training, counselling); and financial incentives, might also have had some positive effects, but their effects were less consistent. Some strategies (eg, directly observed therapy) might have been ineffective. Other strategies, such as providing information or education alone, had variable effects, being ineffective to change some outcomes (eg, medicines adherence) but improving others (eg, knowledge, which is key for informed medicines choices).

Caveat
No single strategy improved all medicines use outcomes across all diseases, populations or settings. Reviews often had methodological limitations at study level, review level or both.

Context
Medicines are a cornerstone of treatment for many health problems. Many strategies exist to help people use medicines safely and effectively, but research in the area is poorly organised across diseases, populations and settings.

Cochrane Systematic Review
Ryan R et al. Interventions to improve safe and effective medicines use by consumers: an overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Reviews. 2014, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD007768.DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007768.pub3. This review contains 75 systematic reviews.

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