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. 2024 Nov;47(11):1061-1074.
doi: 10.1007/s40264-024-01453-1. Epub 2024 Jul 11.

Adopting STOPP/START Criteria Version 3 in Clinical Practice: A Q&A Guide for Healthcare Professionals

Carlotta Lunghi  1   2 , Marco Domenicali  3 , Stefano Vertullo  3   4 , Emanuel Raschi  3 , Fabrizio De Ponti  3 , Graziano Onder  5 , Elisabetta Poluzzi  3
Affiliations

Adopting STOPP/START Criteria Version 3 in Clinical Practice: A Q&A Guide for Healthcare Professionals

Carlotta Lunghi et al. Drug Saf. 2024 Nov.

Abstract

The growing complexity of geriatric pharmacotherapy necessitates effective tools for mitigating the risks associated with polypharmacy. The Screening Tool of Older Persons' Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP)/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (START) criteria have been instrumental in optimizing medication management among older adults. Despite their large adoption for improving the reduction of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and patient outcomes, the implementation of STOPP/START criteria faces notable challenges. The extensive number of criteria in the latest version and time constraints in primary care pose practical difficulties, particularly in settings with a high number of older patients. This paper critically evaluates the challenges and evolving implications of applying the third version of the STOPP/START criteria across various clinical settings, focusing on the European healthcare context. Utilizing a "Questions & Answers" format, it examines the criteria's implementation and discusses relevant suitability and potential adaptations to address the diverse needs of different clinical environments. By emphasizing these aspects, this paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on enhancing medication safety and efficacy in the geriatric population, and to promote more person-centred care in an aging society.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Graphical representation of the general and setting-specific recommendations for applying the STOPP/START criteria
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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