Challenge 1: Start at home

When improving your understanding of polypharmacy, a good place to start can be at home. If a family member or friend is taking multiple medicines then talk to them about how this impacts their life and how they think their medicines could be better managed. This will give you a better understanding of the advice and support that could help patients in your pharmacy.

Challenge 2: Test your knowledge

CPPE’s e-challenge quiz runs until 6 April at: www.cppe.ac.uk/polypharmacy and thereafter at: www.cppe.ac.uk/echallenge/archive. Take five minutes with your colleagues and complete the quiz to find out how you can work together and with your patients to manage polypharmacy.

Challenge 3: Develop your learning

Polypharmacy is a broad area and requires a wide range of knowledge to be able to identify patients struggling with multiple medicines. Pinpoint where you have gaps in your knowledge, or if there are certain areas you’re particularly interested in and would like to know more about, and make a plan about how you can increase your understanding.

Medicines optimisation is a key part of managing polypharmacy