Evidence mapPaperPMID 41272510Full record

SynthesisBMC geriatrics2025

A NASSS framework-guided systematic review and exploratory modelling of digital health interventions for polypharmacy management in older adults.

Arun Vamadevan, Vijesh Vijayan, Christine Cole, KasiReddy Jayasudha, Nishad Yusuf, Lauren E Walker

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Arun Vamadevan *NIHR Clinical Research Facility, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. arun.vamadevan@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.
Vijesh Vijayan *Senior Clinical Fellow, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport, UK.
Christine ColeNIHR Clinical Research Facility, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
KasiReddy JayasudhaAssistant Professor, Mental Health Nursing, Sri Sai College of Nursing, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Nishad YusufPostgraduate Public Health Researcher, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India.
Lauren E WalkerNIHR Clinical Research Facility, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPolypharmacy is a growing challenge in older adults with multimorbidity, increasing the risk of adverse drug events, hospital admissions, and healthcare utilisation. Technology-supported interventions, such as clinical decision support systems (CDSS) and digital deprescribing tools, offer new opportunities to optimize medication use. However, adoption and sustainability remain variable across healthcare settings. The Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework offers a valuable lens to evaluate complex digital health interventions targeting medication optimization in older adults.

objectiveThis review systematically examines the adoption, scale-up, and sustainability of technology-supported medicines optimization interventions for older adults, guided by the NASSS framework.

methodsA systematic search was conducted across Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL. After screening and eligibility assessment, 30 studies were included. A narrative synthesis was performed, mapping intervention characteristics and outcomes to NASSS domains. An exploratory predictive modelling, including decision tree analysis, were used to identify factors influencing intervention success. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251006170).

resultsThe included studies evaluated diverse interventions such as CDSS, electronic prescribing platforms, pharmacist-led deprescribing systems, and telehealth-supported medication reviews. Successful adoption was associated with user-centred technology design, strong clinical leadership, workflow integration, and organizational readiness. Interventions incorporating multidisciplinary collaboration, continuous feedback, and iterative adaptation showed stronger sustainability. Common barriers included technological complexity, poor interoperability, lack of provider engagement, insufficient training, and regulatory constraints. Decision tree analysis identified usability, early stakeholder engagement, organizational alignment, and system adaptability as key factors predicting successful adoption and sustainability.

conclusionThis is the first review to integrate the NASSS framework with decision tree modelling to evaluate technology-supported medicines optimization for older adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The findings emphasize that successful implementation requires a formative, contextually sensitive approach that addresses technological, organizational, and policy-level complexities.

Indexed as

Decision Support Systems, ClinicalPolypharmacyAgedDeprescriptionsDigital HealthHumansTelemedicineDecision tree modellingDeprescribingDigital healthImplementation science.Medicines optimizationMultimorbidityNASSS frameworkOlder adultsPolypharmacy

Identifiers

PMID41272510
PMCPMC12723875

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.