Iatrogenic Disease
Conditions
Keywords
frailty, geriatric, elderly, polypharmacy
Brief summary
Polypharmacy is a common problem in elderly, leading among others to increased adverse drug events. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether a systematic medication evaluation by a geriatric consultation team using the RASP (Rationalisation of drugs on admission by an adjusted STOPP\*-list in older patients) list could reduce inappropriate prescribing for elderly admitted patients, admitted to non-geriatric departments. (\* = Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions)
Detailed description
Polypharmacy and (potentially) inappropriate prescribing is highly prevalent in the older population, associated with increase health care expenditures, morbidity and avoidable adverse events . The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether a systematic medication evaluation by a geriatric consultation team (GCT) using the RASP (Rationalisation of drugs on admission by an adjusted STOPP-list in older patients) list could reduce inappropriate prescribing for older admitted patients, admitted to non-geriatric departments. The GCT could offer the ideal format to deliver the intervention to a broad older hospitalised population.
Interventions
OTHERMedication review, based on but not limited to the RASP list
Systematic approach: 1. Medication reconciliation 2. Applying the RASP list 3. Expert review (not based on the RASP list) 4. Multidisciplinary discussion
Sponsors
Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
75 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Admitted to a non-geriatric ward * 75 years or older * Dutch speaking * Consultation by the GCT
Exclusion criteria
* End-of-life * No drugs on admission
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Number of medication-related recommendations by the geriatric consultation team. | The number was ascertained at time of discharge from the ward, taking into account an average hospital stay of 14 days. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Number of potentially inappropriate drugs at discharge, as identified by the RASP list. | The number was ascertained at time of discharge from the ward, taking into account an average hospital stay of 14 days. |
| Number of drugs at discharge, relative to the drugs on admission. | The number was ascertained at time of discharge from the ward, taking into account an average hospital stay of 14 days. |
| Acceptance rate of the GCT interventions by the treating physician. | Up to 72 hours after the GCT had given its recommendations. |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed