Ethical dimensions of polypharmacy management in geriatric care: Interdisciplinary insights from nursing and pharmacy
Keywords:
patient-centered care, pharmacy, geriatrics, interdisciplinary teamwork, nursing, adverse drug events, polypharmacyAbstract
Background: The necessity to address comorbidities and chronic illnesses has led to a prevalent practice in geriatric care known as polypharmacy, or the concurrent use of numerous drugs. But there are serious ethical issues with polypharmacy, such as the possibility of adverse drug events (ADEs), diminished patient autonomy, and unequal resource distribution. The aging population and growing demands on healthcare systems make managing these problems even more difficult. In order to provide patient-centered, safe, and fair treatment, ethical polypharmacy management necessitates a multidisciplinary strategy that makes use of the knowledge of pharmacy and nursing specialists. Aim: this paper is to examine the moral implications of managing polypharmacy in geriatric care, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches that tackle issues like resource allocation, patient safety, and informed consent. It emphasizes how pharmacy and nursing practitioners can maximize polypharmacy procedures while upholding moral standards. Methods: A thorough analysis of interdisciplinary literature was carried out, encompassing case studies, ethical frameworks, and clinical guidelines. With special emphasis to their ethical implications, the investigation concentrated on finding collaborative behaviors and successful treatments in polypharmacy management.
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