Older adults with cancer often manage multiple chronic conditions and take several medications, yet optimizing these drug regimens remains a challenge. A new randomized controlled trial, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, tested a pharmacist-led medication review as a way to address this issue.
The intervention involved a pharmacist reviewing each patient's medications and then sending an advisory letter with the results to the prescriber. The trial demonstrated that this approach improved medication use among older adults with cancer, suggesting that structured pharmacist input can help streamline therapy and reduce unnecessary or inappropriate drugs.
Because the study was randomized and controlled, the improvement can be attributed to the intervention rather than to chance or natural changes in care. The findings point to a practical, scalable strategy for oncology and primary care teams caring for this growing population.