Table 3 Examples of interventions for addressing potentially inappropriate prescribing and/or OTC medication use

Audit and feedback

The process of providing a summary of clinical performance of healthcare provider over a specified period. Provides data showing discrepancies between current and target performance and can include comparison of individual performance in relation to other health professionals.

Computerized software tool

A computer program that scans the patient’s electronic medical record to identify current (and/or previous) over-the-counter and prescription drugs. This includes simple interaction checkers in most prescription software as well as more focused tools.

Computerised decision support

Electronic tools that prompt healthcare provider behaviors in various areas of patient care, including medication ordering and chronic disease management.

Education programs

Programs that educate healthcare providers and prescribers about the benefits and risks of prescribing or education sessions with the intention to reduce medication use.

Medication reconciliation

The process of comparing what a patient has been prescribed by a healthcare provider to what they are actually taking. This is done to avoid medication errors and may aid in deprescribing some drugs.

Medication review

The process by which a healthcare provider examines the patient or participant’s current (and/or previous) list of OTC and prescription drugs. This can be facilitated with a computerized program. This may be an explicit review, focused on “drugs to avoid” or an implicit review (integrating broader aspects of the patient context and experience).