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Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025)

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September 21, 2026
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December 31, 2025

Copyright (c) 2025 HILAL KHALAF HILAL ALENEZI, Eman Mohammed Abdullah Al Hazim, MOHAMMED AYED A ALANAZI, Sakare Mhrose Alsobhi, IBTIHAJ MUHARI SUWAILEM ALRAWILI, AWALI ABDULRAZAQ Alenezi, SANA MUTAYIB ALANAZI, ALJAWHARAH HAMDAN ALANAZI, WASAYF SALEH ALANAZI, Reham Aedh Lafi Alenazi, ALHADDAD, EMAN ABDULMOHSEN S, Maraheb Ali Mudhin Alenezi

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Systematic Review of Medication Safety in Older Adults with Polypharmacy in Saudi Arabia:Contributions of Nursing, Health Assistant, and Medical Secretary

https://doi.org/10.64483/202522784
HILAL KHALAF HILAL ALENEZI
Nursing Technician,Maternity and Children Hospital,Northern Borders Health Cluster – Ministry of Health ,Arar,Northern Borders Region, Saudi Arabia
Eman Mohammed Abdullah Al Hazim
Nursing Specialist,Ministry of Health,Riyadh Health Cluster ,Ministry of Health ,Riyadh ,Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
MOHAMMED AYED A ALANAZI
Nursing Technician ,North Medical Tower ,Northern Borders Health Cluster ,Ministry of Health ,Arar ,Northern Borders Region , Saudi Arabia
Sakare Mhrose Alsobhi
Nursing Technician ,Al Wajh General Hospital ,Tabuk Health Cluster ,Ministry of Health ,Al Wajh,Tabuk Region , Saudi Arabia
IBTIHAJ MUHARI SUWAILEM ALRAWILI
Nursing Specialist , King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital ,Al Jouf Health Cluster,Ministry of Health , Sakaka , Al Jouf Region , Saudi Arabia
AWALI ABDULRAZAQ Alenezi
Nursing Technician , Medical Rehabilitation and Care Hospital , Northern Borders Health Cluster m Ministry of Health , Arar , Northern Borders Region , Saudi Arabia
SANA MUTAYIB ALANAZI
)Nursing Technician ,Branch of the Ministry of Health in the Northern Borders Region , Ministry of Health , Arar , Northern Borders Region , Saudi Arabia
ALJAWHARAH HAMDAN ALANAZI
Nursing Technician , Forensic Medicine Department in the Northern Borders Region , Northern Borders Health Cluster , Ministry of Health , Arar , Northern Borders Region , Saudi Arabia
WASAYF SALEH ALANAZI
Nursing Technician , Al Aziziyah Primary Health Care Center , Northern Borders Health Cluster , Ministry of Health , Arar , Northern Borders Region , Saudi Arabia
Reham Aedh Lafi Alenazi
Nursing Specialist , Maternity and Children Hospital , Northern Borders Health Cluster , Ministry of Health , Arar ,Northern Borders Region , Saudi Arabia
ALHADDAD, EMAN ABDULMOHSEN S
Health Care Assistant , Contracts and Procurement Department (Medical Supply) , Eastern Health Cluster , Ministry of Health , Dammam , Eastern Region , Saudi Arabia
Maraheb Ali Mudhin Alenezi
Medical Secretary Technician , Long-Term Care Hospital , Northern Borders Health Cluster , Ministry of Health , Arar , Northern Borders Region , Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author(s) : HILAL KHALAF HILAL ALENEZI

hilalka@moh.gov.sa

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025)

Abstract


Background: Polypharmacy, defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications, is highly prevalent among older adults in Saudi Arabia and is associated with adverse outcomes including falls, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), drug-drug interactions (DDIs), and medication nonadherence.




Objective: This systematic review synthesized evidence on medication safety in older adults with polypharmacy in Saudi Arabia, with particular focus on contributions of nursing, health assistants, and medical secretaries.




Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted. Studies published within five years examining polypharmacy in Saudi adults aged ≥60 years were included. Quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Narrative synthesis was performed due to heterogeneity.




Results: Twelve studies were included. Polypharmacy prevalence ranged from 39.3% to 97.2%. Significant associations were found between polypharmacy and falls (55% fall risk), PIMs (66.25%), DDIs (85.3%), medication nonadherence (57.5%), sarcopenia (47.9%), and frailty. Associated factors included older age, female sex, diabetes, hypertension, depression, and multimorbidity. Notably, no studies examined contributions of health assistants or medical secretaries to medication safety.




Conclusion: Polypharmacy affects nearly half of Saudi older adults and correlates with multiple adverse outcomes. Systematic medication reviews, improved prescribing practices, and interprofessional collaboration are urgently needed. Future research should explore the roles of nursing, health assistants, and medical secretaries in medication safety.


Keywords

Polypharmacy, medication safety, older adults, Saudi Arabia, nursing, medication adherence, drug interactions, geriatric care
ALENEZI, H. K. H., Al Hazim, E. M. A., A ALANAZI, M. A., Alsobhi, S. M., ALRAWILI, I. M. S., Alenezi, A. A., … Alenezi, M. A. M. (2025). Systematic Review of Medication Safety in Older Adults with Polypharmacy in Saudi Arabia:Contributions of Nursing, Health Assistant, and Medical Secretary. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 2(2), 3862–3873. https://doi.org/10.64483/202522784
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