In a significant advancement in healthcare and pharmaceutical practices, researchers have aimed to enhance the usability of the STOPP/START criteria, becoming a pivotal tool for clinicians, students, and researchers alike. The STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Person’s Prescriptions) and START (Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment) criteria serve as essential guidelines meant to optimize medication management among the elderly, who often suffer from multiple coexisting health issues and complicated medication regimens. Old age comes with its unique set of challenges, where polypharmacy—a situation where a patient is prescribed multiple medications—can lead to adverse drug reactions, decreased medication adherence, and ultimately diminished quality of life.
With the growing population of older adults worldwide, there is an increasing need for effective strategies to ensure safer prescribing practices. This necessity has resulted in the continuous development and refinement of criteria like STOPP/START. The recent work by Dalleur and colleagues illuminates the complexities involved in optimizing these criteria, which are often underutilized despite their clear benefits in clinical settings. The researchers meticulously assessed the current version of these criteria, identifying specific pain points in user engagement and how practitioners interact with the tool.
One of the critical findings highlighted in the study is that the initial format and presentation of the STOPP/START criteria do not lend themselves to intuitive use during clinical decision-making. This lack of user-friendliness can lead to lower adherence rates among healthcare providers, meaning that potential benefits for patients could be overlooked. To address this, the team focused on redesigning the tool to make it more accessible and straightforward, ensuring it aligns with the daily workflows and cognitive demands of healthcare professionals.
The research team utilized a comprehensive approach that included collaborative feedback from various stakeholders, including clinicians, pharmacy students, and geriatric specialists. This approach ensured that multiple perspectives and types of expertise were incorporated during the redesign phase. As a result, the practice tool developed not only improves usability but also enhances clinical effectiveness by being more attuned to feedback from actual users in the field.
In creating this user-centric tool, the researchers tested various formats and presentation styles. They explored incorporating user-friendly interfaces, decision trees, and algorithmic approaches to aid practitioners in quickly identifying appropriate prescribing practices for their elderly patients. They also focused on creating a learning platform that can be easily accessed and taught to students, thus fostering a culture of safe prescribing from the early stages of medical education.
Furthermore, the study elucidated the implications of effective communication in medication management. A significant observation was that many healthcare providers struggle with information overload when assessing multiple chronic conditions and medications. Thus, the reformulated practice tool emphasizes clarity and simplicity, aiming to break down complex information into digestible segments that can be rapidly assessed in clinical settings.
In addition to the usability aspect, this study emphasizes the importance of continual education and training for healthcare providers regarding polypharmacy management. By developing a supportive educational tool alongside the criteria, the research helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in real-life situations. This approach not only enhances the immediate work environment for clinicians but also ultimately benefits patient safety and health outcomes.
Elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug events due to physiological changes associated with aging, interactions between drugs, and the presence of multiple medications. Thus, this redesign certainly comes at a critical time when healthcare systems globally face challenges in appropriately managing elderly care.
The ongoing discourse surrounding the health and medication needs of older adults has underscored the urgency of initiatives like this one. By producing a more refined version of the STOPP/START criteria, this project represents a concerted effort to promote safe, effective, and patient-centered care practices tailored to the demographic’s unique healthcare needs. Ultimately, the research aspires to create a lasting impact on the quality of geriatric care.
This progressive strategy also resonates with broader healthcare trends that advocate for individualized medicine. By recognizing that older individuals often have unique health profiles, including differing metabolic responses to drugs, there is a collective response from the healthcare community toward more personalized and precise prescribing.
In conclusion, the development of this practice tool marks a pivotal step towards refining medication management in the geriatric population. Through a blend of innovative redesigns and collaborative input, researchers are paving the way for enhanced usability and effectiveness of the STOPP/START criteria. As this tool gains traction among healthcare professionals, the landscape of geriatric care could witness substantial improvements, illustrating how refined tools can lead to safer practices that elevate patient care standards across the board.
Subject of Research: Usability of STOPP/START criteria for elderly medication management.
Article Title: Improving usability of the STOPP/START version 3 criteria: development of a practice tool for clinicians, students and researchers.
Article References:
Dalleur, O., Sibille, F.X., Mouzon, A. et al. Improving usability of the STOPP/START version 3 criteria: development of a practice tool for clinicians, students and researchers.
Eur Geriatr Med 16, 1403–1413 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01214-y
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-025-01214-y
Keywords: STOPP, START, medication management, geriatrics, usability, healthcare, polypharmacy, clinical practice.
