Strengths and limitations
This is the first systematic review to investigate deprescribing
interventions within specialist outpatient clinics. However, this review
was limited to studies in English and those published after 1990. The
broad search strategy needed to capture all relevant trials yielded a
high number of initial results.
Due to significant heterogeneity between trials, a meta-analysis could
not be completed. Conclusions on the efficacy of interventions conducted
within this setting could not be made due to the few studies identified
and the low quality of many of the trials. Only 7 randomized controlled
trials were identified26,28,31,32,38,39,42 and
randomization was adequate in only 1 study.32 There
was a moderate-critical risk of bias identified in all included studies
that should be considered when interpreting results.