Overview
Background
Dr Shakti Shrestha is Deputy Director of Research and Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice and Medicines Management at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Queensland (UQ). His research program focuses on optimising medication use in older people and those with life‑limiting illness, with particular interests in deprescribing, medication safety, dementia and palliative care, quality use of medicines, and the implementation of evidence into practice.
Shakti conceived and co‑led the development of De‑TOPPLE, a deprescribing decision‑support framework designed to improve medication optimisation for older adults with limited life expectancy. He also served as a Research Fellow and Queensland site coordinator for the MRFF‑funded EMBRACE trial, evaluating strategies to enhance the implementation of evidence‑based psychotropic prescribing recommendations in Australian residential aged care. His broader research spans medicines optimisation, medication‑related quality of life, pharmacy practice, health services research, and implementation science, forming a coherent program aimed at reducing medication‑related harm and improving care outcomes for older populations, particularly those with palliative care needs.
He has published widely across ageing, medication safety, deprescribing and pharmacy practice, and received the 2025 Best Publication by an Early Career Researcher Award from the UQ School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He supervises PhD, postgraduate and undergraduate research projects in medicines optimisation, polypharmacy, deprescribing and medication use in older populations, integrating his research expertise into teaching and research training.
Shakti’s academic and research work is informed by extensive experience across pharmacy practice, clinical research, residential aged care and higher education in Australia, the United Kingdom and Nepal. He was awarded the 2018 Australian Research Training Scholarship for his PhD in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice at UQ and the 2022 Career Development Scholarship, through which he gained further clinical trail experiemce across Queensland Hospital and Health Services. He holds a Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacology with Distinction from the University of Aberdeen (UK), and Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences with Distinction from Pokhara University (Nepal). During his Master's training in the UK, he gained research experience working with SITS-ISTR (Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-International Stroke Thrombolysis Registry) data within NHS Grampian.
Availability
- Dr Shakti Shrestha is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pokhara University
- Masters (Coursework) of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen
- Doctor of Philosophy of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Quality Use of Medicines
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Medication optimisation / Deprescribing
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Older adults
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Palliative care
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Dementia
Research impacts
Shakti’s research on deprescribing and medication optimisation has informed clinical guidance, professional education, research tools and implementation approaches for older people with life-limiting illness.
His evidence syntheses on deprescribing have been used beyond academic publication. They have informed a Choosing Wisely Italy recommendation on lipid-lowering therapy in people with limited life expectancy, contributed to the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Making Healthcare Safer IV review, and been incorporated into CareSearch evidence collections supporting palliative-care practice. His work has also been selected by the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (BMJ) to inform practical evidence summaries for healthcare professionals.
Shakti conceived and co-led the development of De-TOPPLE, a person-centred deprescribing framework for older people with limited life expectancy. The framework has been incorporated into professional education, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s continuing pharmacy education and hospital-pharmacy education in Spain. He also developed the HATD tool, a validated measure of healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards deprescribing. The tool has been requested for translation and use by researchers internationally and is being used in subsequent intervention research.
Through the MRFF-funded EMBRACE trial, Shakti led implementation research examining how evidence-based recommendations for psychotropic medicine use can be translated into Australian residential aged care. His work with residents, family members and multidisciplinary health professionals identified practical strategies to address barriers to guideline implementation and quality improvement. This research has also been featured in Advanced Pharmacy Australia’s MedsScan, extending its reach to pharmacy professionals and aged-care practice.
Works
Search Professor Shakti Shrestha’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Implementing evidence in residential aged care facilities: a longitudinal multi-method evaluation of knowledge broker evolution
Tan, Madeleine, Bell, J Simon, Shrestha, Shakti, La Caze, Adam, Haines, Terry P, Ea, Annie ML, Hilmer, Sarah Nicole, Wesson, Jacqueline, Lawless, Michael, Blakeley, Brooke, Whittaker, Sara, Pond, Constance Dimity, Martini, Angelita, Ochieng, Nancy, Glamorgan, Francesca, Normoyle, Julie, Cenin, Dayna, Walton, Rebecca, Kitson, Alison, Bennett, Alexandra, Stapley, Amelia, Steeper, Michelle, Jung, Monica and Cross, Amanda J (2026). Implementing evidence in residential aged care facilities: a longitudinal multi-method evaluation of knowledge broker evolution. BMJ Quality & Safety, bmjqs-2026. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2026-020577
2026
Journal Article
Exploring anabasine excretion factor in individuals who use tobacco cigarettes: a preliminary estimate
Weng, Min-Tz, Zheng, Qiuda, Deng, Yao, Shrestha, Shakti, Fan, Wenqing, Thai, Phong K., Gartner, Coral E., Wang, Zhe and Steadman, Kathryn J. (2026). Exploring anabasine excretion factor in individuals who use tobacco cigarettes: a preliminary estimate. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 28 (8), 1357-1364. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntag042
2026
Journal Article
Implementing Australia’s psychotropic clinical practice guidelines in residential aged care: the EMBRACE helix counterbalanced randomised controlled trial comparing knowledge brokers with pharmacist education and passive distribution
Cross, Amanda J., Caze, Adam La, Haines, Terry P., Whittaker, Sara L., Shrestha, Shakti, Hilmer, Sarah N., Wesson, Jacqueline, Lawless, Michael T., Stapley, Amelia, Quirke, Lyntara, Pond, Constance Dimity, Martini, Angelita, Ochieng, Nancy, Glamorgan, Francesca, Normoyle, Julie, Cenin, Dayna, Walton, Rebecca, Kitson, Alison, Bennett, Alexandra, Tan, Madeleine S. A., Ea, Annie M. L., Steeper, Michelle, Jung, Monica, Blakeley, Brooke and Bell, J. Simon (2026). Implementing Australia’s psychotropic clinical practice guidelines in residential aged care: the EMBRACE helix counterbalanced randomised controlled trial comparing knowledge brokers with pharmacist education and passive distribution. Implementation Science. doi: 10.1186/s13012-026-01526-y
2026
Journal Article
Risk of cancer incidence and mortality in patients with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Lai, Chun Hei, Hefteh, Natalia, Kingsford, Sophie, La Caze, Adam, Sheikh, Mahdi, Shrestha, Shakti and Parat, Marie-Odile (2026). Risk of cancer incidence and mortality in patients with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 45 (2) 32, 2. doi: 10.1007/s10555-026-10341-2
2026
Journal Article
Shaping future deprescribing priorities: outcomes of a World Café stakeholder workshop
Olsen, William Manning, St Pierre, Kitty, Thompson, Wade, Weir, Kristie Rebecca, Freeman, Christopher Robert, Bohill, Ruth, Farrell, Barbara, Langford, Aili Veronica, O'Donnell, Lisa Kouladjian, Reeve, Emily, Liau, Shin J, McEvoy, Aisling Mary, Shrestha, Shakti, Tesfaye, Wubshet, Breen, Juanita, Etherton-Beer, Christopher, Yik, Jerry, Turner, Justin and Ailabouni, Nagham J. (2026). Shaping future deprescribing priorities: outcomes of a World Café stakeholder workshop. Expert review of clinical pharmacology, 19 (1), 85-96. doi: 10.1080/17512433.2025.2609659
2025
Journal Article
Exploration of perceptions of deprescribing practices among doctors in a low- and middle-income country: a mixed-methods study
Khadka, Anjan, Kaundinnyayana, Sammodavardhana, Roka, Kumar, Poudel, Arjun and Shrestha, Shakti (2025). Exploration of perceptions of deprescribing practices among doctors in a low- and middle-income country: a mixed-methods study. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, 137 (5) e70121. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.70121
2025
Journal Article
Knowledge, experiences, and practices on safe opioid use in patients recently discharged from hospitals in Western Nepal: a qualitative study
Adhikari, Sundar, Gurung, Roshani, Shrestha, Shakti, Alrasheedy, Alian A., Paudyal, Vibhu, Lamshal, Ramesh, Sharma, Pratima and KC, Bhuvan (2025). Knowledge, experiences, and practices on safe opioid use in patients recently discharged from hospitals in Western Nepal: a qualitative study. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 16 1572968, 1-8. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1572968
2025
Journal Article
Exploring quality improvement processes for psychotropic medication use in Australian residential aged care homes: a qualitative study
Shrestha, Shakti, Cross, Amanda J., Steeper, Michelle, Falconer, Nazanin, Buys, Laurie, Lagasca, Carmela, Martini, Angelita, Cenin, Dayna, Ochieng, Nancy, Glamorgan, Francesca, Bell, J. Simon and La Caze, Adam (2025). Exploring quality improvement processes for psychotropic medication use in Australian residential aged care homes: a qualitative study. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 18 (1) 2557873, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/20523211.2025.2557873
2025
Journal Article
A Scoping Review on the Prevalence of Potentially Inappropriate Medication and Polypharmacy among Older People in a Lower-middle Income Country
Khadka, Anjan, Poudel, Arjun and Shrestha, Shakti (2025). A Scoping Review on the Prevalence of Potentially Inappropriate Medication and Polypharmacy among Older People in a Lower-middle Income Country. JMA Journal, 8 (4), 1-8. doi: 10.31662/jmaj.2025-0091
2025
Journal Article
Opioid use and the risk of cancer incidence and mortality: a systematic review
Shrestha, Shakti, Foot, Holly, Sheikh, Mahdi, Parat, Marie-Odile and La Caze, Adam (2025). Opioid use and the risk of cancer incidence and mortality: a systematic review. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 44 (2) 54, 1-21. doi: 10.1007/s10555-025-10268-0
2025
Journal Article
A Systematic Review on Evaluation of WHO Core Prescribing Indicators Across Healthcare Facilities in Low Resource Asian Setting: A Case of Nepal
Agrawal, Rohit, Shrestha, Rajeev, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma and Shrestha, Shakti (2025). A Systematic Review on Evaluation of WHO Core Prescribing Indicators Across Healthcare Facilities in Low Resource Asian Setting: A Case of Nepal. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62 00469580251347136, 1-19. doi: 10.1177/00469580251347136
2025
Journal Article
Implementing Australia's new guidelines for appropriate psychotropic medication use in residential aged care: applying the consolidated framework for implementation research
Shrestha, Shakti, Cross, Amanda J., Steeper, Michelle, Martini, Angelita, Cenin, Dayna, Smith, Jertrude, Glamorgan, Francesca, Pond, Constance Dimity, Bell, J. Simon and La Caze, Adam (2025). Implementing Australia's new guidelines for appropriate psychotropic medication use in residential aged care: applying the consolidated framework for implementation research. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 44 (1) e70013, e70013. doi: 10.1111/ajag.70013
2025
Journal Article
Opioid accessibility for palliative care in Nepal: a review of achievement and remaining challenges
Shrestha, Rajeev, Shrestha, Sunil, Shrestha, Shakti, Shrestha, Amrita, Paudel, Bishnu Dutta and Munday, Daniel (2025). Opioid accessibility for palliative care in Nepal: a review of achievement and remaining challenges. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 31 (1) 74, 74-78. doi: 10.25259/ijpc_118_2024
2025
Journal Article
Factors influencing illicit drug substance abuse and its perceived psychosocial impact among individuals undergoing deaddiction treatment at male drug rehabilitation centers of eastern Nepal
Dahal, Prasanna, Shrestha, Shakti, Shrestha, Sunil, Shrestha, Rajeev, Kc, Bhuvan and Alam, Kadir (2025). Factors influencing illicit drug substance abuse and its perceived psychosocial impact among individuals undergoing deaddiction treatment at male drug rehabilitation centers of eastern Nepal. Addiction and Health, 17 1647, 1-9. doi: 10.34172/ahj.1647
2024
Journal Article
Combatting opioid misuse, overuse and abuse: a systematic review of pharmacists' services and outcomes
KC, Bhuvan, Alrasheedy, Alian A, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mohamed Izham, Paudyal, Vibhu, Christopher, Christina Malini, Shrestha, Sunil and Shrestha, Shakti (2024). Combatting opioid misuse, overuse and abuse: a systematic review of pharmacists' services and outcomes. Pain Management, 14 (9), 519-529. doi: 10.1080/17581869.2024.2411930
2024
Journal Article
Evidence-based Medication knowledge Brokers in Residential Aged CarE (EMBRACE): protocol for a helix-counterbalanced randomised controlled trial
Bell, J. Simon, La Caze, Adam, Steeper, Michelle, Haines, Terry P., Hilmer, Sarah N., Troeung, Lakkhina, Quirke, Lyntara, Wesson, Jacqueline, Pond, Constance Dimity, Buys, Laurie, Ghahreman-Falconer, Nazanin, Lawless, Michael T., Shrestha, Shakti, Martini, Angelita, Ochieng, Nancy, Glamorgan, Francesca, Lagasca, Carmela, Walton, Rebecca, Cenin, Dayna, Kitson, Alison, Jung, Monica, Bennett, Alexandra and Cross, Amanda J. (2024). Evidence-based Medication knowledge Brokers in Residential Aged CarE (EMBRACE): protocol for a helix-counterbalanced randomised controlled trial. Implementation science : IS, 19 (1) 24, 1-15. doi: 10.1186/s13012-024-01353-z
2024
Conference Publication
Examining factors influencing implementation of a new psychotropic guideline in Australian aged care setting
Shrestha, Shakti, La Caze, Adam, Cross, Amanda, Steeper, Michelle and Bell, Simon (2024). Examining factors influencing implementation of a new psychotropic guideline in Australian aged care setting. 56th Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 14-17 November 2023. Australian Association of Gerontology.
2023
Journal Article
Stroke epidemiology and outcomes of stroke patients in Nepal: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Paudel, Raju, Tunkl, Christine, Shrestha, Shakti, Subedi, Ram Chandra, Adhikari, Ayush, Thapa, Lekhjung, Gajurel, Bikram Prasad, Chandra, Avinash, Kharel, Ghanashyam, Jalan, Pankaj, Phuyal, Subash, Pokharel, Babu Ram, Acharya, Subi, Bogati, Kanchan, Jha, Pinky, Kharbuja, Naresh and Gumbinger, Christoph (2023). Stroke epidemiology and outcomes of stroke patients in Nepal: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Neurology, 23 (1) 337, 337. doi: 10.1186/s12883-023-03382-5
2023
Conference Publication
Ensuring appropriate use of psychotropic medicines in residential aged care: The people, processes and infrastructure
La Caze, Adam, Shrestha, Shakti, Cross, Amanda, Steeper, Michelle, Ghrahreman-Falconer, Nazanin, Buys, Laurie, Ochieng, Nancy and Bell, Simon (2023). Ensuring appropriate use of psychotropic medicines in residential aged care: The people, processes and infrastructure. 81st FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brisbane, Australia, 24-28 September. The Hague, Netherlands: International Pharmaceutical Federation. doi: 10.46542/pe.2023.236.435509
2023
Journal Article
Deprescribing Tool for Older PeoPle with Limited‐life Expectancy (De‐TOPPLE) version 1: development and validation using a modified Delphi technique
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Steadman, Kathryn J. and Nissen, Lisa M. (2023). Deprescribing Tool for Older PeoPle with Limited‐life Expectancy (De‐TOPPLE) version 1: development and validation using a modified Delphi technique. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, 134 (1), 15-27. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.13907
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Shakti Shrestha is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimising Medication Use in Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Esther Lau, Dr Wubshet Tesfaye
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing adherence in people at high risk of chronic kidney disease: Integrating AI technology with a pharmacist-led adherence-intensive review
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adam La Caze, Dr Meng-Wong Taing, Dr Jared Miles, Dr Wubshet Tesfaye
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing adherence in people at high risk of kidney disease: Leveraging an artificial intelligence(AI)-supported technology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adam La Caze, Dr Wubshet Tesfaye
Media
Enquiries
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