Which activity is part of a comprehensive medication review?

Which activity is part of a comprehensive medication review?

• A. Identifying potentially inappropriate medications, duplications, interactions; assessing adherence and affordability.
• B. Prescribing new medications without review.
• C. Scheduling annual checkups only.
• D. Ignoring affordability.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to review every medicine a person takes to maximize safety and effectiveness. A comprehensive medication review involves examining all prescribed drugs, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements to identify issues such as potentially inappropriate medications, duplications, and drug interactions. It also looks at whether the patient is taking them as prescribed (adherence) and whether the costs are affordable (affordability). This holistic check helps prevent adverse drug events, ensures therapies are appropriate, and supports the patient in sticking with the regimen. Other options miss essential parts of this process: prescribing new medications without review skips the evaluative step that prevents new risks; scheduling annual checkups alone focuses on general health rather than a detailed medication assessment; ignoring affordability undermines the ability to maintain the regimen.

The main idea is to review every medicine a person takes to maximize safety and effectiveness. A comprehensive medication review involves examining all prescribed drugs, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements to identify issues such as potentially inappropriate medications, duplications, and drug interactions. It also looks at whether the patient is taking them as prescribed (adherence) and whether the costs are affordable (affordability). This holistic check helps prevent adverse drug events, ensures therapies are appropriate, and supports the patient in sticking with the regimen.

Other options miss essential parts of this process: prescribing new medications without review skips the evaluative step that prevents new risks; scheduling annual checkups alone focuses on general health rather than a detailed medication assessment; ignoring affordability undermines the ability to maintain the regimen.