Optimising Pharmaco-Therapy and Improving Medication for Ageing with Intellectual Disability

Medicine optimisation in older adults improves medication appropriateness and reduces adverse effects and harm. Despite availability of tools to optimise older people’s prescriptions, there is no comprehensive tool specific for use in older adults (i.e. ≥40 years) with intellectual disabilities. This research aims to develop a pharmacotherapy optimisation tool, OPTIMA-ID (Optimising Pharmaco-Therapy and Improving Medication for Ageing with Intellectual Disability). Methods: OPTIMA-ID will be developed through literature review and focus groups with experts in medicines use in patients with intellectual disabilities and a final tool will be developed by consensus achieved using Delphi methodology. This population has unique medication needs – they frequently report high levels of psychotropic use, including antipsychotics which are often used off-licence. They experience high levels of anticholinergic and sedative exposure, while also reporting undertreatment of certain conditions, including pain. Communication challenges and altered ageing processes also affect medicine optimisation in this group. An evidence-based framework is needed to structure medicine optimisation for older people with intellectual disabilities. OPTIMA-ID will be developed with funding from the Dean’s Award and further funding will be sought for its broader roll out. It will be investigated as an intervention to improve prescribing and patient outcomes in future.

Focus Group Discussion about Medicines

As part of the OPTIMA-ID study – Optimising Pharmaco-Therapy and Improving Medication for Ageing with Intellectual Disability

Please watch the video below for some information about the research study. If you are interested in participating, please speak to Louise O’Reilly at Stewarts. She will give you more information as well as an information pack.