Rationalisation of Polypharmacy by the Geriatric Consultation Team

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Iatrogenic Disease
• Interventions: Other: Medication review, based on but not limited to the RASP list

• Registration Number: NCT02165618
• Lead Sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-01
• Primary Completion: 2014-02
• Study Completion: 2014-02
• Status Verified: 2014-05
• Study First Submitted: 2014-05-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-06-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-06-13
• Study First Posted: 2014-06-17
• Last Update Posted: 2014-06-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
GCT-RASP	Medication review, based on but not limited to the RASP list	Medication review, based on but not limited to the RASP list

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
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 Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
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.
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.
Acceptance rate of the GCT interventions by the treating physician.	Up to 72 hours after the GCT had given its recommendations.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospitals Leuven; 🇧🇪 Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Belgium