Caring for Chinese, Filipino, & Vietnamese Populations
After studying Module 3: Lecture Materials & Resources, discuss the following:
- Describe health and illness practices that may augment problems associated with the treatment of hypertension for Chinese-American clients.
- Describe the locus-of-control variable that some Filipino Americans have that may influence health-seeking behavior.
- Describe the importance of folk medicine and folk healers to Vietnamese Americans.
Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted, and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources. Your initial post is worth 8 points.
The Importance of Deprescribing in Modern Healthcare
Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of dose reduction or stopping of medications that may no longer be beneficial or might be causing harm. As the global population ages and the prevalence of chronic diseases increases, polypharmacy—the concurrent use of multiple medications—has become a common clinical reality. Though often necessary, polypharmacy carries significant risks, including adverse drug events, medication interactions, cognitive impairment, falls, and increased hospitalization rates. Deprescribing is therefore emerging as a critical component of patient-centered care, with the aim of optimizing therapeutic regimens to improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce unnecessary healthcare costs.
One of the central reasons deprescribing is so important is its role in mitigating the risks associated with polypharmacy. Studies have shown that older adults taking five or more medications are at higher risk for adverse drug events, hospital admissions, and mortality (Reeve et al., 2015). Medications that were once appropriate may become inappropriate over time due to changes in pharmacokinetics, comorbidities, or patient goals of care. For example, benzodiazepines prescribed for anxiety or insomnia can lead to sedation, confusion, and falls in older patients. Deprescribing such medications has been shown to reduce these harms without compromising patient well-being (Scott et al., 2015). By systematically reviewing a patient’s medication list, clinicians can identify therapies that no longer align with evidence-based guidelines or patient preferences, thus promoting safer prescribing practices.
Deprescribing also contributes to a more holistic, person-centered approach to care. Many patients with multiple chronic conditions prioritize functional status and symptom control over disease-specific targets. For instance, in patients with limited life expectancy, the continued use of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease may offer minimal benefit while increasing the risk of muscle pain or drug interactions. Tjia et al. (2017) emphasize that deprescribing allows clinicians to align treatment plans with patients’ evolving goals, preferences, and life circumstances. In this way, deprescribing becomes not simply the act of stopping medications, but an integral part of shared decision-making, where patients and clinicians engage in open dialogue about risks, benefits, and desired health outcomes.
Additionally, deprescribing plays an essential role in reducing healthcare costs and resource utilization. Adverse drug events contribute significantly to emergency department visits and hospitalizations, often resulting in considerable expenditures for patients and health systems alike. By proactively identifying and discontinuing potentially inappropriate medications, deprescribing can decrease medication-related morbidity and the financial burden associated with treating preventable complications. Furthermore, reducing pill burden can improve medication adherence for essential therapies, as patients are less overwhelmed by complex regimens.
Despite its benefits, deprescribing does pose challenges. Clinicians may fear that stopping medications will lead to symptom relapse or withdrawal effects, and patients may be hesitant to discontinue long-term treatments. Therefore, deprescribing requires careful planning, gradual tapering when necessary, and clear communication with patients and caregivers. Tools such as the Beers Criteria and STOPP/START criteria can aid clinicians in identifying potentially inappropriate medications, while structured frameworks like the five-step deprescribing protocol help guide safe discontinuation (Scott et al., 2015).
In conclusion, deprescribing is a vital strategy for improving patient safety, enhancing quality of life, and promoting more sustainable healthcare delivery. As the evidence base supporting deprescribing grows, it is incumbent upon healthcare professionals to develop the skills and confidence to routinely evaluate medication appropriateness and engage patients in shared decisions about their treatment plans. Ultimately, deprescribing is not about simply reducing the number of pills, but about ensuring that every medication a patient takes has a clear, meaningful, and evidence-based purpose.
References
Reeve, E., Gnjidic, D., Long, J., & Hilmer, S. N. (2015). A systematic review of the emerging definition of ‘deprescribing’ with network analysis: Implications for future research and clinical practice. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 80(6), 1254–1268. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12732
Scott, I. A., Hilmer, S. N., Reeve, E., Potter, K., Le Couteur, D., Rigby, D., … & Jansen, J. (2015). Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy: The process of deprescribing. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(5), 827–834. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.0324
Tjia, J., Velten, S. J., Parsons, C., Valluri, S., & Briesacher, B. A. (2017). Studies to reduce unnecessary medication use in frail older adults: A systematic review. Drugs & Aging, 34(5), 357–365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-017-0450-7