The NO TEARS tool is intended to help prompt physicians to perform medication review. It can help reduce polypharmacy, drug costs and adverse drug reactions.
Goals:
(1) eliminate unnecessary drugs
(2) reduce drug dosings per day
(3) reduce adverse effects
(4) reduce errors in adherence
(5) switch to cheaper alternatives
N |
Need and indication |
O |
Open questions |
T |
Tests and monitoring |
E |
Evidence and guidelines |
A |
Adverse events |
R |
Risk reduction and prevention |
S |
Simplification and switches |
The questions for each sample can vary depending on the patient and the underlying conditions.
Need and indications: 4 questions
Open questions: 3 questions
Tests and monitoring: 3 questions
Evidence and guidelines: 3 questions
Adverse events: 6 questions
Risk reduction and prevention: 2 questions
Simplification and switches: 4 questions
Limitations:
• The tool is more a mnemonic than a standardized questionnaire. While this allows it to be highly adaptable it use is likely to be highly variable between practitioners.
• While mnemonics are fine, access to information technology means that more specific tools can be used.
Specialty: Pharmacology, clinical
ICD-10: ,