ARC-Hive

For more than a decade the ACER research team, University of Aberdeen, and led by Prof. Phyo Myint, have been researching the harms of a group of medicines known as anticholinergics, to the health and well-being of older people.

Our work has uncovered that many health professionals want to do more to reduce use of these medicines with older people but are unsure how to do it. Our work has identified that there are many good ideas being explored within our health services, but what was learned from these was not being shared. Our work has revealed a capacity limitation in relation to low connectivity between researchers and clinicians in their search for a solution for this important issue. This is resulting in duplicate work, wasting resources and inhibiting solutions from being identified and implemented on a large scale

Our proposed solution to this is to develop a collaborative network of professionals (academic and non-academic) who have a keen interest in interventions to reduce use of anticholinergic medicine use in older people.

This work has been funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust (Academy Ignition Fund 2024-AIF/28).

It is anticipated that through this network we can:

• Build reciprocal relationships between academic and non-academic professionals who have a keen interest in developing solutions that can reduce harms from these medicines to older people
• Share knowledge, experiences and skills between these motivated professionals and build successful collaborations to develop innovative solutions to this problem
• Generate ideas and inspiration for new initiatives
• Develop research and dissemination skills in non-academic professionals to ensure their important work is visible to a wide range of stakeholders
• To act as a central advisory group to develop initiatives which can solve the current problem of anticholinergic use amongst older people
• Create a map of all anticholinergic reduction activities across the U.K. health service system to identify existing good practices and exemplars of care which could be modelled in other areas.
• Develop knowledge of specific challenges and barriers academic and non-academics face in trying to set up and run these initiatives

We will host quarterly online meetings (recorded for those who cannot attend live) to discuss developments in anticholinergic burden reduction interventions, either our own work, and/or discuss the work of others. There will be opportunity for non-academics and junior members to seek support to develop and conduct their own projects from more experienced academic and non-academic researchers. There will be opportunity to develop collaborations with other network members to strengthen and enhance your existing work.

The network is open to all academic and non-academic professionals involved in the care and research of older people and medicine related harms.

You can register interest in becoming a member by completing a registration form here https://forms.office.com/e/vZkZruNYSw

This register (ARC-Hive) hosted by the University of Aberdeen, and led by Dr. Carrie Stewart, Prof. Phyo Myint and Prof. Roy Soiza, aims to showcase all anticholinergic reduction projects from across the U.K  so that knowledge, experiences and good practices are shared between those working in this area. This includes formal research and quality improvement studies.

The online registry aims to facilitate shared learning, especially for those operating out with the traditional research institutions (e.g. quality improvement projects within NHS services which are often not disseminated in traditional methods such as peer reviewed manuscripts). In addition to reporting what has been tried (i.e. the initiative to reduce use of anticholinergic medicines) reporters will be encouraged to also report any findings that they may have and reflections on the initiative (e.g. what went well, what went less well). It is envisaged that this repository will lead to reduced research wastage, improved initiatives and become a resource to guide the development of novel approaches.

• Be part of the solution towards reducing research wastage
• Promote the work of yourself and your team
• Create a permanent record of your efforts for your C.V. enhancing career development
• Be available to collaborate with others to strengthen and enhance your work

Yes, the register is open to all research and quality improvement initiatives. If you have any questions, please email acer@abdn.ac.uk and we can advise further.

Please email acer@abdn.ac.uk if you have any questions or comments about this register, the anticholinergic deprescribing network or our work on anticholinergic medicine reduction.