Electronic Prescribing and Other Forms of Technology to Reduce Inappropriate Medication Use and Polypharmacy in Older People: A Review of Current Evidence

Prescribing appropriate medications for older people is challenging. Older people tend to have multiple conditions, require multiple drug treatments, experience increased sensitivity to medications due to physiological age related changes, and consequently, are vulnerable to inappropriate prescribing, polypharmacy and adverse drug events. This review provides an overview of current evidence in relation to electronic prescribing and other technologies, particularly computerized decision support systems, in reducing inappropriate medication use in the prescribing stage. We discuss the concepts of inappropriate prescribing, polypharmacy, and health information technology and summarize the evidence in light of the challenges of implementing technology into practice.