Dr Shakti Shrestha
Research Officer & Research Fellow
School of Pharmacy
+61 7 334 61940
Researcher biography
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with academic role at the School of Pharmacy of The University of Queensland. My Postdoctoral position is funded by 2020 Dementia Ageing and Aged Care Mission Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) on Quality Use of Medicine for Residential Aged Care. I have research expertise in the field of geriatric and palliative medication use and safety, quality use of medicine, pharmacy practice and health services. I have research methodology expertise on systematic review, clinical research design, predictive model development, meta-analysis, medical statistics and qualitative research. I have more than 10 years of experience working in research, academic and clinical roles nationally and internationally.
My PhD at the University of Queensland (UQ) focused on optimising medication use in older adults with limited life expectancy, drawing my extensive experience working and researching in a clinical medicine and aged care environment. I received my postgraduate degree in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of Aberdeen (UK) in 2010 and had an opportunity to work with the International Stroke Registry data called SITS-ISTR (Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-International Stroke Thrombolysis Registry) in National Health Service (NHS) Grampian Hospital, UK. I received my undergraduate Pharmacy degree from Pokhara University (Nepal) in 2007.
I was a recipient of the 2018 Australian Research Training Scholarship at the University of Queensland for my doctoral degree. I also received the 2022 Career Development Scholarship from the University of Queensland that allowed me to develop clinical trial skills at Queensland Health - Office of Precision Medicine and Research (OPMR) within the Queensland Clinical Trial Coordination Unit (QCTCU) as well as Queensland's Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Townsville University Hospital and Gold Coast Private Hospital.
Journal Articles
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
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
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
Ghimire, M. R., Thapa, M., Shrestha, A. M., Bhattrai, S., Ghimire, S., Sharma, N., Soti, B., Dutta, Ashish, Shrestha, S., Pokharel, M., Poudel, R. and Thapa, Lekhjung (2023). Clinical profile and knowledge, attitude and practice of patients presenting with headache. Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 21 (82), 338-344.
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Forough, Ayda S., Steadman, Kathryn J. and Nissen, Lisa M. (2023). A systematic review on methods for developing and validating deprescribing tools for older adults with limited life expectancy. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 31 (1), 3-14. doi: 10.1093/ijpp/riac094
Sharma Poudel, Ramesh, Shrestha, Shakti, Erku, Daniel Asfaw, Lamichhane, Praves, Karki, Sharad, Maskey, Dipesh and Adhikari, Shital (2022). Inhaler competence in Nepalese patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmunory disease: a systematic review. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 20 (2), 279-288. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v20i02.4113
Khatiwada, Dipendra, Baral, Rojina, Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma and Chalise, Hari Prasad (2022). Psychosocial Well-Being of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Chitwan District, Nepal: a Mixed Method Study. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 20 (1), 115-123. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v20i01.3993
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Reeve, Emily, Linsky, Amy M., Steadman, Kathryn J. and Nissen, Lisa M. (2022). Development and validation of a tool to understand health care professionals' attitudes towards deprescribing (HATD) in older adults with limited life expectancy. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 18 (9), 3596-3601. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.03.002
Paudel, Nabina, Shrestha, Shakti, Marasine, Nirmal Raj, Khanal, Pitambar, Aryal, Sushant, Erku, Daniel and Poudel, Arjun (2022). Impact of hospital pharmacist-delivered individualised pharmaceutical service intervention on clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients with hypertension: a randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 30 (6) 002512, ejhpharm-2020. doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2020-002512
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti and Adhikari, Shital (2021). Dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription by community pharmacies in Nepal: A call for action. Public Health in Practice, 2 100117, 100117. doi: 10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100117
Marasine, Nirmal Raj, Shrestha, Shakti, Sankhi, Sabina, Paudel, Nabina, Gautam, Ashish and Poudel, Arjun (2021). Antibiotic utilization, sensitivity, and cost in the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal. Sage Open Medicine, 9, 205031212110437. doi: 10.1177/20503121211043710
Erku, Daniel, Shrestha, Shakti and Scuffham, Paul (2021). Cost-Effectiveness of Medicinal Cannabis for Management of Refractory Symptoms Associated With Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations. Value in Health, 24 (10), 1520-1530. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2021.04.1276
Erku, Daniel A., Bauld, Linda, Dawkins, Lynne, Gartner, Coral E., Steadman, Kathryn J., Noar, Seth M., Shrestha, Shakti and Morphett, Kylie (2021). Does the content and source credibility of health and risk messages related to nicotine vaping products have an impact on harm perception and behavioural intentions? A systematic review. Addiction, 116 (12), 3290-3303. doi: 10.1111/add.15473
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Steadman, Kathryn J. and Nissen, Lisa M. (2021). Deprescribing tool for use in older Australians with life-limiting illnesses and limited life expectancy: a modified-Delphi study protocol. BMJ Open, 11 (4) e043766, 1-5. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043766
Thapa, Lekhjung, Shrestha, Shakti, Kandu, Rashmi, Ghimire, Mahesh Raj, Ghimire, Sulochana, Chaudhary, Navin Kumar, Pahari, Bishnu, Bhattarai, Suman, Kharel, Ghanshyam, Paudel, Raju, Jalan, Pankaj, Chandra, Avinash, Phuyal, Subash, Adhikari, Bhojraj, Aryal, Nirmal and Kurmi, Om P. (2021). Prevalence of stroke and stroke risk factors in a south-western community of Nepal. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 30 (5) 105716, 105716. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.105716
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Cardona, Magnolia, Steadman, Kathryn J. and Nissen, Lisa M. (2021). Impact of deprescribing dual-purpose medications on patient-related outcomes for older adults near end-of-life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 12 204209862110523, 204209862110523. doi: 10.1177/20420986211052343
Shrestha, Shakti, Giri, Roshan, Sapkota, Hari Prasad, Danai, Siddhartha Sharma, Saleem, Ahsan, Devkota, Shreeshab, Shrestha, Sagar, Adhikari, Bhojraj and Poudel, Arjun (2021). Attitudes of ambulatory care older Nepalese patients towards deprescribing and predictors of their willingness to deprescribe. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 12, 204209862110193. doi: 10.1177/20420986211019309
Goswami, Nikita, Dahal, Prasanna, Shrestha, Shakti, KC, Bhuvan and Mallik, Shyam Kumar (2020). Community pharmacy personnel understanding of antibiotic dispensing in Eastern Nepal. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, Volume 13, 1513-1522. doi: 10.2147/rmhp.s264192
Adhikari, Shital, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti and Bhandari, Nisha (2020). Outcome predictors in scrub typhus requiring ventilator and vasopressor support. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 17 (4), 485-490. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v17i4.1991
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti and Poudel, Arjun (2020). Immense price variation of branded generic medicines in low-income countries: the need for an inclusive price control policy. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 16 (9), 1326-1327. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.05.002
Poudel, Arjun, Kc, Bhuvan, Shrestha, Shakti and Nissen, Lisa (2019). Access to palliative care: discrepancy among low-income and high-income countries. Journal of Global Health, 9 (2) 020309, 020309. doi: 10.7189/jogh.09.020309
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma and Shrestha, Shakti (2019). Underestimation of the prevalence of medication errors in nursing homes. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 68 (2) jgs.16221, 443-444. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16221
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Steadman, Kathryn and Nissen, Lisa (2019). Outcomes of deprescribing interventions in older patients with life‐limiting illness and limited life expectancy: a systematic review. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 86 (10) bcp.14113, 1931-1945. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14113
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti and Adhikari, Shital (2019). Healthcare professionals' competence in using inhaler devices: a wake-up call for immediate action in low-income countries. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 15 (11), 1377-1378. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.08.007
Baral, Sanjay Raj, Parajuli, Daya Ram, Shrestha, Shakti, Acharya, Santosh Raman, Dahal, Prasanna, Poudel, Prakash, Ghimire, Saruna, Palaian, Subish and Shrestha, Naveen (2019). Undergraduate pharmacy students’ attitudes and perceived barriers toward provision of pharmaceutical care: a multi-institutional study in Nepal. Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice, 8, 47-59. doi: 10.2147/iprp.s203240
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Pradhan, Saroj, Adhikari, Aashutosh, Giri, Arjun and Poudel, Arjun (2019). Factors predicting home medication management practices among chronically ill older population of selected districts of Nepal. BMC Geriatrics, 19 (1) 55, 55. doi: 10.1186/s12877-019-1081-7
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Poudel, Bhupendra Kumar, Shrestha, Shakti and Piryani, Rano Mal (2018). Variation in prices of medicines used for the long-term management of non-communicable diseases available in the pharmacy of a tertiary care hospital of Nepal. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 9 (4), 293-296. doi: 10.1111/jphs.12237
Adhikari, Shital , Poudel, Ramesh Sharma , Rajbanshi, Laxmi and Shrestha, Shakti (2018). Assessment of insulin injection practice of nurses working in a tertiary healthcare center of Nepal. Nursing Research and Practice, 2018 375067, 9375067-6. doi: 10.1155/2018/9375067
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti, Thapa, Santosh, Poudel, Bhupendra Kumar and Chhetri, Muniraj (2018). Assessment of primary labeling of medicines manufactured by Nepalese pharmaceutical industries. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 11 (1) 13. doi: 10.1186/s40545-018-0139-9
Adhikari, Shital, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti and Lamichhane, Praves (2018). Predictors of mortality in scrub typhus infection requiring intensive care admission in tertiary healthcare centre of Nepal. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases, 2018 4867958, 4867958-6. doi: 10.1155/2018/4867958
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Thapa, Priyanka, Baniya, Susmita and KC, Bhuvan (2018). Perception of patients towards the role of pharmacist: a cross-sectional study from selected three hospitals in Central Nepal. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 9 (2), 145-151. doi: 10.1111/jphs.12217
Pandey, Araniko, Shrestha, Shakti, Malla Bhari, Arjun, Jung Thapa, Lekh, DeBuc, Delia and Khatri, Anadi (2018). A hospital based cross-sectional study to assess various types of non-glaucomatous optic neuropathies. New Frontiers in Ophthalmology, 4 (6). doi: 10.15761/nfo.1000222
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti, Bhandari, Sushma, Piryani, Rano Mal and Adhikari, Shital (2018). Diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control as a consequence of inappropriate injection technique. Case Reports in Endocrinology, 2018, 1-4. doi: 10.1155/2018/7236452
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti, Prajapati, Aastha and Piryani, Rano Mal (2017). Factors affecting the medication taking behaviour of psychiatric patients: a preliminary study from central Nepal. Journal of Chitwan Medical College, 7 (4), 44-50. doi: 10.3126/jcmc.v7i4.23702
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Piryani, Rano Mal, Shrestha, Shakti, Chaurasiya, Roshan and Niure, Bed Prakash (2017). Opinion of hospital pharmacy practitioners toward the Continuing Pharmacy Education program: a study from a tertiary care hospital in central Nepal. Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice, 6, 157-161. doi: 10.2147/IPRP.S145026
Pandey, Saraswati, Pandey, Araniko, Bajracharya, Kabindra, Thapa, Hari B, Shrestha, Shakti, Bhari, Arjun M and Rai, Salma KC (2017). An assessment of surgical outcome with the influencing factors of horizontal strabismus surgery. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 8 (5), 54-57. doi: 10.3126/ajms.v8i5.17634
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti, Bhatta, Pawan and Piryani, Rano Mal (2017). Do face-to-face training and telephonic reminder improve dry powder inhaler technique in patients with COPD?. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications, 2017 5091890, 1-6. doi: 10.1155/2017/5091890
Piryani, R. M., Poudel, R. S., Shrestha, S. and Prajapati, A. (2017). Assessment of nurses’ knowledge on rotahaler device in a teaching hospital of central Nepal. Journal of Chitwan Medical College, 5 (4), 27-32. doi: 10.3126/jcmc.v5i4.16548
Thapa, Lekhjung, Bhandari, Tirtha Raj, Shrestha, Shakti and Poudel, Ramesh Sharma (2017). Knowledge, beliefs, and practices on epilepsy among high school students of Central Nepal. Epilepsy Research and Treatment, 2017, 6705807-7. doi: 10.1155/2017/6705807
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti, Piryani, Rano Mal, Basyal, Bijaya, Kaucha, Kalpana and Adhikari, Shital (2017). Assessment of insulin injection practice among diabetes patients in a tertiary healthcare centre in Nepal: a preliminary study. Journal of Diabetes Research, 2017 8648316, 1-6. doi: 10.1155/2017/8648316
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Piryani, Rano Mal, Shrestha, Shakti and Prajapati, Aastha (2016). Benefit of hospital pharmacy intervention on the current status of dry powder inhaler technique in patients with asthma and COPD: a study from the Central Development Region, Nepal. Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice , 2017 (6), 7-13. doi: 10.2147/IPRP.S119202
Thapa, Lekhjung, Sharma, Nooma, Poudel, Ramesh, Bhandari, Tirtha, Bhagat, Riwaz, Shrestha, Ashis, Shrestha, Shakti, Khatiwada, Dipendra and Caplan, Louis (2016). Knowledge, attitude, and practice of stroke among high school students in Nepal. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 7 (4), 504-509. doi: 10.4103/0976-3147.188635
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti and Piryani, Rano Mal (2016). Knowledge on obstructive airway diseases and inhaler techniques among nurses. Saudi Journal for Health Sciences, 5 (1), 25-27. doi: 10.4103/2278-0521.182862
Shrestha, Shakti, Adhikari, Bhojraj, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Thapaliya, Kailash, Kharal, Tikaram, Bastakoti, Mahanath and Bhatta, Nanda Kishor (2016). Knowledge, attitude and practice on hypertension among antihypertensive medication users. Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 55 (204), 86-92. doi: 10.31729/jnma.2848
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Khatiwada, Dipendra and Thapa, Lekhjung (2015). Stroke subtype, age, and baseline NIHSS score predict ischemic stroke outcomes at 3 months: a preliminary study from central Nepal. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 8, 443-448. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S90554
Poudel, R. S., Piryani, R. M., Shrestha, S., Prajapati, A. and Adhikari, B. (2015). Prescription errors and pharmacist intervention at outpatient pharmacy of Chitwan Medical College. Journal of Chitwan Medical College, 5 (2), 20-24. doi: 10.3126/jcmc.v5i2.13150
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti, Piryani, Rano Mal, Prajapati, Aastha and Khatiwada, Dipendra (2015). Face-to-face training as an effective approach for instructing rotahaler technique in newly diagnosed cases of asthma and COPD: a pilot study. Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 53 (198), 150-152. doi: 10.31729/jnma.2780
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Thapa, Lekhjung, Shrestha, Shakti, Khatiwada, Dipendra, Upadhyay, Nijan, Bhandari, Tirtha Raj and Shrestha, Asis (2015). Efficacy of combined antithrombotic, statins and anti-hypertensive agents in acute ischemic stroke. Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 53 (197), 5-11. doi: 10.31729/jnma.2696
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Ramesh S.harma, Thapa, Lekh J.ung and Khatiwada, Dipendra (2014). Intravenous Thrombolysis and Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke. JNMA: Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 52 (193), 745-750. doi: 10.31729/jnma.2615
Thapa, Lekhjung, Shrestha, Asis, Pradhan, Manohar, Bhandari, Tirtha Raj, Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Pokhrel, Baburam and Poudel, Raju (2014). Status of vitamin D and its association with stroke risk factors in patients with acute ischemic stroke in a tertiary care hospital. Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 52 (195), 935-939. doi: 10.31729/jnma.2719
Conference Papers
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.
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
Shrestha, S., Poudel, A., Steadman, K. J. and Nissen, L. M. (2022). Development and validation of a deprescribing decision aid tool for use in older adults with limited life expectancy using a modified Delphi technique. 1st International Conference on Deprescribing, Kolding, Denmark, 5-7 September 2022.
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Reeve, Emily, Linsky, Amy M., Steadman, Kathryn J. and Nissen, Lisa M. (2021). Stakeholders' attitudes towards deprescribing in older adults with a limited life expectancy: a tool development study. 54th Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Virtual, 9-12 November 2021.
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Reeve, Emily, Linsky, Amy M., Steadman, Kathryn J. and Nissen, Lisa M. (2021). Attitude of Australian doctors, nurses and pharmacists towards deprescribing in older adults with limited life expectancy. APSA 2021 Annual Conference: Pharmacy and pharmaceutical science: rising to the global challenges before us, Online, 6 - 8 December 2021.
Shrestha, Shakti, Poudel, Arjun, Steadman, Kathryn and Nissen, Lisa (2019). Do deprescribing interventions improve quality of life and prevent death acceleration in elderly with life-limiting illness and limited life expectancy?. APSA 2019 Annual Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 1-4 December 2019.
Ghimire, Sulochana, Shrestha, Shakti and Thapa, Lekhjung (2018). Factors influencing stroke awareness among patients with hypertension in a tertiary hospital of Nepal: a cross-sectional study. American Academy of Neurology 70th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, United States, 22-27 April 2018. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Kandu, Rashmi, Magar, Lishra, Gurung, Rita, Ghimire, Mahesh Raj, Basnet, Dhan Bahadur, Shrestha, Shakti and Thapa, Lekhjung (2018). Improvement in Headache-Related Disability at One and Three Months Among Patients With Headache at Neurological Clinic of Nepal. In: 16th Asian Oceanian Congress of Neurology (AOCN): 7th Asian Regional Conference for Headache, Seoul, Korea, (). 8-11 November 2018.
Poudel, Ramesh Sharma, Shrestha, Shakti, Prajapati, Aastha and Piryani, Rano Mal (2016). Factors affecting the medication taking behaviour of psychiatric patients: a preliminary study from central Nepal. Second National Summit of Health and Population Scientists in Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal, 11-12 April 2016. Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal Health Research Council.
Thesis
Shrestha, Shakti (2023). Optimising medication use in older adults with limited life expectancy. PhD Thesis, School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/8d8ed8d