In the autumn of 2024, the European project STOP IATRO, funded by the European Union under the Interreg SUDOE program, reached a decisive turning point with two key events. This project, which brings together a consortium of renowned partners from Southwest Europe, aims to prevent iatrogenesis—the adverse effects of medication and healthcare on the health of seniors in the region—thereby promoting healthy aging.
1—The first objective, encompassing this year’s activities, focuses on conducting a comprehensive assessment of the knowledge and practices that enable the prevention of medication- and care-related iatrogenesis.
2 – The second objective aims to provide specialized training for healthcare professionals to support them in optimizing therapeutic strategies and preventing iatrogenic dependency in elderly patients.
3 – The third objective involves testing pilot actions within hospital services, outpatient care, and directly with seniors.
The third quarter of 2024, marking the conclusion of this initial diagnostic phase was characterized by dynamic exchanges and initiatives. It was particularly notable for two significant events.
The first in-person co-piloting meeting
Firstly, the STOP IATRO teams, consisting of partners from France, Spain, and Portugal, gathered at the University of Guarda and the University of Aveiro for the first in-person co-piloting meeting. After a year of videoconferences, these two days allowed for constructive exchanges and moments of camaraderie, strengthening team cohesion and shared commitment.
Each stakeholder presented their progress and the challenges encountered during the first year. One goal of the meeting was to identify common solutions to these challenges and plan the next steps for the STOP IATRO project.
Collective intelligence workshops with healthcare professionals’ participation
Meanwhile, workshops were organized in Occitania (France), in collaboration with FECOP. The pharmacy department of the Toulouse University Hospital was pleased to organize collective intelligence workshops with the participation of healthcare professionals from the Lavaur Hospital Center, the Geriatric Hospital, and the Adour Madiran Health Center in Vic-en-Bigorre, as well as the Multi-Professional Health Center (MSP) Arsenal Castors in Tarbes. These workshops, led by OpenCommunities Consulting, provided a rich environment for exchanges and reflections.
Doctors, pharmacists, nurses, nursing assistants, and occupational therapists present at the workshops collaborated interprofessionally to co-create the initial ideas for preventing iatrogenic dependency. To continue this collaborative momentum, a new series of workshops is already scheduled for November.
