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NCT Number: NCT04637750

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI): a Study to Improve Appropriate Prescriptions in the Elderly

Proton Pump Inhibitors(PPIs) are the leading evidence-based therapy for upper gastrointestinal disorders and prevention of antiplatelet or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induced ulcer. In Italy in 2015 nearly 3,5 millions of people were treated with PPI. Despite the extensive literature regarding PPI adverse event, their inappropriate prescription rate is still increasing, and Campania and Lombardy region are at the highest level. For this reason a cluster-randomised controlled trial will be performed, in order to evaluate if a low-cost informative intervention addressed to GPs is effective in improving PPIs prescription in older people. The threshold will be defined according to the distribution of the rate of appropriate PPI prescriptions for a 6 months lag time starting 1 year before randomisation (baseline assessment).

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Key information

Conditions

Proton Pump Inhibitor Primary Care

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

IRCCS MultiMedica- MultiMedica Spa, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Italy

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About this study

A cluster-randomized controlled trial will be performed in order to evaluate if a low-cost informative intervention addressed to GPs is effective in improving PPIs prescription in older people. All GPs of the Local Health Unit (LHU) of Caserta (southern Italy) and Bergamo (northern Italy) will be invited to participate to the study, because Caserta and Bergamo represent the areas with the highest level of inappropriate PPI prescription rate. All GPs involved in the study will receive an invitation letter illustrating the study purpose and containing information about aggregated data on PPI prescriptions out of AIFA reimbursement criteria in Italy and their local area. The GPs randomized to the intervention arm will also receive a feedback informing on their absolute number of patients treated with at least one PPI during the baseline period and if they have been prescribed above or below the median of appropriate prescriptions rate in their local area. They will be also provided with a scientific document including technical details on AIFA reimbursement criteria (NOTA 1 and 48), short hints about adverse events related to PPI long- term use in older patients and recommendation on how to discontinue PPI. After 4 months GPs will also receive a patient-focused intervention leaflet and poster for patients about their medicines: what are the PPI and their possible side effects, nutritional and behavioral advices to prevent gastric and reflux problems and how to step down the treatment. The appropriateness of PPI prescriptions will be defined according to the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) reimbursement rules (NOTA 1 and 48).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

All the GPs in Caserta and Bergamo will be invited to participate to the study by the local authorities.

Inclusion criteria

for GPs patients:

  • user of Proton Pump Inhibitors (at least one prescriptions in the period of interest)
  • aged 65 or above

Exclusion criteria

  • nursing homes residents

Treatment and study plan

Educational intervention

Behavioral

The GPs randomized to the intervention arm will receive a feedback informing on their absolute number of patients treated with at least one PPI during the baseline period and if they have been prescribed above or below the median of appropriate prescriptions rate in their local area. They will be also provided with a scientific document including technical details on AIFA reimbursement criteria (NOTA 1 and 48), short hints about adverse events related to PPI long- term use in older patients and recommendation on how to discontinue PPI therapy (i.e. gradual step down administration to avoid paradoxical effect).

Primary outcomes

  1. Short-term effectiveness

    Time frame: 6 months

    Evaluate the short-term (6 months) effectiveness of a low-cost informative intervention in order to improve the appropriateness of prescription of PPI in older people in primary care in agreement with AIFA reimbursement rules by NHS in comparison to the daily clinical practice. Generalised linear mixed model, with a proper link function, on the differences in the proportion of inappropriate prescriptions of PPIs after 6 months from intervention with respect to the baseline, will be used to assess the intervention effectiveness.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Long-term effectiveness

    Time frame: 12-18 months

    Evaluation of the persistence of the effectiveness of the intervention in the long-term at 12 and 18 months. Generalised linear mixed model, with a proper link function, on the differences in the proportion of inappropriate prescriptions of PPIs after 12-18 months from intervention with respect to the baseline, will be used to assess the intervention effectiveness.

Other outcomes

  1. Rate of 'paradoxical effect'

    Time frame: 12-18 months

    Evaluate the rate of 'paradoxical effect' (rebound acid hyper secretion) after gradual cessation of PPI therapy and the rate of the most frequent AEs (i.e. pneumonia, bone fractures, bacterial enteric infections, diminished vitamin absorption, gastric and colon cancer, myocardial infarction and overall mortality ).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research

Other

Collaborators

  • Federico II University
  • IRCCS Multimedica

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Low-cost Informative Intervention to Improve the Appropriate Prescription of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Older People in Primary Care: a Cluster- Randomized Controlled Study

Acronym: LAPTOP-PPI

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Nov 20, 2020
Registry last updated
Apr 10, 2024

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.

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