UNAIR NEWS – Prescription for geriatric patients poses a complex challenge. Careful consideration is needed due to potential benefits and risks that may arise during drug consumption. Addressing this condition, the Center of Excellence for Patient Safety and Quality (CoE PSQ) at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) held a workshop titled “How to Use BEERS Criteria and STOPP/START Criteria for Prescription Evaluation”. The workshop featured Shah Faishal, a doctoral Student from the Faculty of Pharmacy at UNAIR. 

Faishal explained that prescribing is a systematic process of identifying and discontinuing medications when the potential risks outweigh the benefits. “ This process is overseen by healthcare professionals to manage and improve a pharmacist’s performance,” he said on Wednesday, Jan 17, 2024. 

BEERS criteria 

In prescribing, there are several written criteria useful in the process of identifying inappropriate medication use. One of them is the BEERS criteria, explicit criteria for identifying inappropriate medication use in geriatric patients.

Furthermore, Faishal explained that the BEERS criteria require an assessment of the quality of evidence regarding drug identification and patient conditions. “Is there proof that these medications should be avoided? There are three levels of evidence: high, moderate, and low,” he explained.

However, Faishal noted that according to the BEERS criteria, just because a medication has the potential for inappropriate use, it doesn’t automatically mean that it is inappropriate. Therefore, he urged patients to continue to check the safety of drug consumption independently. “Don’t stop taking medication just because it’s in the BEERS criteria. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Learn about all the medications you are going to take and tell the doctor if you experience side effects or other issues,” he said.

STOPP/START Criteria 

Additionally, Faishal provided insights into the STOPP/START criteria, apart from discussing the BEERS criteria. These criteria serve as tools to pinpoint treatments that pose more risks than benefits for geriatric patients. In its mechanism, the STOPP/START criteria go through an evaluation process together with the BEERS criteria.

The STOPP/START criteria have been validated, especially for elderly patients. However, there is still a need for a clinical testing and assessment process to decide whether someone falls into the category of elderly in terms of the side effects of treatment. “The use of these criteria has been validated for patients aged 65 and over, but clinical assessment is still needed. The goal is to assess whether someone is elderly or not and to minimize the side effects of treatment,” he emphasized.

Author: Yulia Rohmawati

Editor: Feri Fenoria