Evaluating the Anticholinergic Burden in Older Patients: Comprehensive Insights from a Nationwide Survey Among Emergency Medicine Specialists in the UK

Evaluating the Anticholinergic Burden in Older Patients: Comprehensive Insights from a Nationwide Survey Among Emergency Medicine Specialists in the UK | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 28 June 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Evaluating the Anticholinergic Burden in Older Patients: Comprehensive Insights from a Nationwide Survey Among Emergency Medicine Specialists in the UK Authors : Mr. Piyawat Dilokthornsakul 0000-0002-7024-4217 [email protected] , Carrie Stewart , Dr. Philip Moss , Roy Louis Soiza 0000-0002-1397-4272 , Selvarani Subbarayan , Fraser Birse , Athagran Nakham , phyo myint 0000-0003-3852-6158 , and Nantawarn Kitikannakorn Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175109043.33442727/v1 Published Geriatrics Version of record Peer review timeline 203 views 111 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Introduction Older patients are often exposed to medications with anticholinergic activity. Anticholinergic burden (ACB) from medicines is linked to adverse health outcomes. However, healthcare professionals’ familiarity with ACB remains poor, and there is a lack of literature in knowledge, attitudes, or practices (KAP) of ACB among Emergency department (ED) clinicians. Methods A nationwide survey of ACB (using https://www.acbcalc.com) based on a pilot survey was developed using the KAP framework and assessed for face and content validity by ACB experts. It was distributed to ED physicians across the UK using REDCap through social media and professional networks. Results Among the 108 ED physicians who responded, 54.6% (n=59) were aware of the term ACB, but 54.2% (n=32/59) of them were unable to describe it. Their mean scores for quantifying the ACB score and identifying side effects in older patients were 2.9 and 4.1 out of 10, respectively. 88.9% (n=96) believed that ACB is an important consideration in older patients. 67.6% (n=73) agreed that awareness of the consequences of prescribing anticholinergic medications to older patients is important. 50% (n=54) emphasized the importance of being able to assess and quantify the ACB score. Of the 75 physicians who prescribed these medications, 40% (n=30/75) were unaware of ACB. 38.7% (n=29/75) rarely considered ACB, 30.7% (n=23/75) never considered it, and only 1.3% (n=1/75) always considered it. The majority of respondents (88.9%, n=96) agreed that more education on ACB is needed in the ED. Conclusion ED physicians in the UK have limited knowledge and awareness of ACB management and prescribing practices for older patients. However, they show positive attitudes towards their role in ACB management and a willingness to receive further education. Supplementary Material File (pds-25-0250-file001.docx) Download 91.97 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 28 June 2025 Peer review timeline Published Geriatrics Version of Record 24 Oct 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords anticholinergic burden emergency medicine kap framework nationwide survey Authors Affiliations Mr. Piyawat Dilokthornsakul 0000-0002-7024-4217 [email protected] University of Aberdeen Institute of Applied Health Sciences View all articles by this author Carrie Stewart University of Aberdeen Institute of Applied Health Sciences View all articles by this author Dr. Philip Moss St George's Hospital View all articles by this author Roy Louis Soiza 0000-0002-1397-4272 University of Aberdeen Institute of Applied Health Sciences View all articles by this author Selvarani Subbarayan University of Aberdeen Institute of Applied Health Sciences View all articles by this author Fraser Birse The Royal College of Emergency Medicine View all articles by this author Athagran Nakham Naresuan University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences View all articles by this author phyo myint 0000-0003-3852-6158 University of Aberdeen Institute of Applied Health Sciences View all articles by this author Nantawarn Kitikannakorn Chiang Mai University Faculty of Pharmacy View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 203 views 111 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Mr. Piyawat Dilokthornsakul, Carrie Stewart, Dr. Philip Moss, et al. Evaluating the Anticholinergic Burden in Older Patients: Comprehensive Insights from a Nationwide Survey Among Emergency Medicine Specialists in the UK. Authorea . 28 June 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175109043.33442727/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.175109043.33442727/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'a0028ad29e904807',t:'MTc3OTUyMzM4Nw=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();