Completed

NCT Number: NCT00661310

Optimizing Drug-Therapy in Patients 80 Years and Older

The purpose of this study is to measure the effects of an enhanced service where a pharmacists is part of the healthcare team on the ward (focusing on drug-related problems and transferring information between primary and secondary care). Primary outcome measure is visits to hospital during a 12-month follow-up period, and the population is patients 80 years and older.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Drug-Related Problems

Age range

80 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Uppsala University hospital

Uppsala, 75185, Sweden

About this study

Optimising drug-therapy for patients, 80 years and older, to reduce hospital visits

Background and Objective:

Results from a pilot-study performed in 2004 at the Academic Hospital, Uppsala, including 214 consecutive patients (80 years old or older) showed that 9.4%-13.6% of the patients were acutely admitted to hospital due to a drug related problem1. Other similar international studies show that the frequency of drug-related hospital admissions stands for at least 14% of the acute admissions (14%-30.4%). Of these admissions it was estimated that 32%-69% were preventable 2,3,4.

A study from Antrim Hospital, Northern Ireland, showed that pharmacists´ involvement in the health care team can reduce the number of acute hospital admissions and improve quality of drug use5.

In view of these findings this study was initiated in 2005 with fundings from the Drug and Therapeutics committee, the County Council of Uppsala, the Division of Acute-Medicine and the Pharmacy Department at the Academic Hospital in Uppsala

Aim and objectives:

The Study Aim was to optimize drug-prescribing and drug use for patients 80 years and older.

The main objective was to reduce the number of hospital visits for patients 80-years old or older.

Design:

A randomized, controlled trial including 400 patients (200+200). Patients in the intervention group (I) received a patient interview on admission, drug counseling on discharge and a drug review - all performed by a clinical pharmacist. Patients in the control group (C) received standard care, without pharmacists´ involvement.

Patients were included between Oct 2005 and June 2006.

Setting:

Two wards at the Division of Acute-Medicine at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden

Main Outcome Measures:

Frequency of hospital visits 12 months after (last included patient) discharge from hospital for (I) and (C).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

80 years and older
Acute admission to study ward

Exclusion criteria

<80 years
Scheduled admission
Previously admitted to studyward during study period

Treatment and study plan

Drug review 80+ -To reduce usage of hospital care

Other

drug review performed by multiprofessional team, including clinical pharmacist, in order to optimize drug therapy and reduce usage of hospital care. Also patient education and follow-up

Primary outcomes

Effects on hospital visits

Time frame: 1 year

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Uppsala University Hospital

Other

Collaborators

Uppsala University

Registry information

Official study title

Optimizing Drug-Therapy in Patients, 80 Years and Older, in Order to Reduce Drug-Related Morbidity and Usage of Secondary Care - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2005
Primary completion: 2006
Study completion: 2007
First posted: Apr 18, 2008
Registry last updated: Dec 5, 2008

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.