Improving Medication Adherence amongst Older Adults: A Quality Improvement Project
Care Process & Redesign
National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals
National University Health System
27 January 2026
To improve medication adherence among older adults by implementing targeted interventions in geriatric wards. Targeted interventions effectively reduced chronic medications prescribed to older adults, improving medication adherence and.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 27 January 2026
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Adherence Rate, Value Based Care
About this Content
Aims
To improve medication adherence among older adults by implementing targeted interventions in geriatric wards.
Background
Polypharmacy is prevalent in older adults and is associated with poor medication adherence, morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Poor medication adherence contributes to worsening frailty, increased risk of complications, increased hospitalization rates, mortality, and healthcare costs.
Methods
Interventions including medication review, deprescribing, providing an updated medication list on discharge, and a pharmacy outreach program were implemented from December to March 2022. Pharmacists actively identified patients for medication review and deprescribing.
Results
92 patients with an average age of 84 participated. Polypharmacy was prevalent (79.5%), with an average of 8.2 medications on admission. 50 medications were deprescribed, with vitamins and antihypertensives forming the majority. Post-intervention adherence improved to 77.7% among independent older adults.Barriers and enablers for deprescribing among pharmacists were analyzed, leading to action plans to improve uptake of deprescribing, such as e-modules and CE lectures.
Conclusion
Targeted interventions effectively reduced chronic medications prescribed to older adults, improving medication adherence and emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to optimize geriatric care outcomes.
Lessons Learnt
Barriers and enablers for deprescribing among pharmacists were analyzed, leading to action plans to improve uptake of deprescribing, such as e-modules and CE lectures.
Keywords
Medication adherence, Polypharmacy, Deprescribing, Geriatric Care
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National University Health System |
Organization(s) Involved | National University Hospital |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Medical, Pharmacy |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Geriatric Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | S Nachammai Vidhya |
Project Member(s) | Deborah Chia Miao Hui |
Connect with this contributor!
S Nachammai Vidhya - s_nachammai_vidhya@nuhs.edu.sg