Interventions Used by Nurse Practitioners to Decrease Polypharmacy in the Older Adult: A Systematic Review

This systematic literature review was conducted to ascertain what interventions NPs are using to combat polypharmacy among older adult patients. Nine articles were examined to better understand the polypharmacy interventions used by or recommended for NPs working with older adults. Four main types of interventions emerged from the review, including identification interventions, deprescribing interventions, educational interventions, and medication management protocols. Overall, the body of research on polypharmacy protocols employed by NPs is small and heterogenous, indicating many opportunities for future research. Practical implications and opportunities for future research emerged from this systematic review.