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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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BMC Geriatrics
Published in: BMC Geriatrics 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Care | Research article

Improving medication appropriateness in nursing homes via structured interprofessional medication-review supported by health information technology: a non-randomized controlled study

Authors: Johanna Katharina Dellinger, Stefan Pitzer, Dagmar Schaffler-Schaden, Maria Magdalena Schreier, Laura Sandre Fährmann, Georg Hempel, Rudolf Likar, Jürgen Osterbrink, Maria Flamm

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

In nursing home residents (NHRs), polypharmacy is widespread, accompanied by elevated risks of medication related complications. Managing medication in NHRs is a priority, but prone to several challenges, including interprofessional cooperation. Against this background, we implemented and tested an interprofessional intervention aimed to improve medication appropriateness for NHRs.

Methods

A non-randomized controlled study (SiMbA; “Sicherheit der Medikamentherapie bei AltenheimbewohnerInnen”, Safety of medication therapy in NHRs) was conducted in six nursing homes in Austria (2016–2018). Educational training, introduction of tailored health information technology (HIT) and a therapy check process were combined in an intervention aimed at healthcare professionals. Medication appropriateness was assessed using the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI). Data was collected before (t0), during (t1, month 12) and after (t2, month 18) intervention via self-administered assessments and electronic health records.

Results

We included 6 NHs, 17 GPs (52.94% female) and 240 NHRs (68.75% female; mean age 85.0). Data of 159 NHRs could be included in the analysis. Mean MAI-change was − 3.35 (IG) vs. − 1.45 (CG). In the subgroup of NHRs with mean MAI ≥23, MAI-change was − 10.31 (IG) vs. −3.52 (CG). The intervention was a significant predictor of improvement in MAI when controlled for in a multivariable regression model.

Conclusions

Improvement of medication appropriateness was clearest in residents with inappropriate baseline MAI-scores. This improvement was independent of variances in certain covariates between the intervention and the control group. We conclude that our intervention is a feasible approach to improve NHRs’ medication appropriateness.

Trial registration

DRKS Data Management, ID: DRKS00012246. Registered 16.05.2017 – Retrospectively registered.
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Metadata
Title
Improving medication appropriateness in nursing homes via structured interprofessional medication-review supported by health information technology: a non-randomized controlled study
Authors
Johanna Katharina Dellinger
Stefan Pitzer
Dagmar Schaffler-Schaden
Maria Magdalena Schreier
Laura Sandre Fährmann
Georg Hempel
Rudolf Likar
Jürgen Osterbrink
Maria Flamm
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Care
Published in
BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01895-z

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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Live: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.

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