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Proactive inter-disciplinary CME to improve medication management in the elderly population
S Traina1, L G Armando2, A Diarassouba3
1Drug Science and Technology Department, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy.
Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy : RSAP
|September 13, 2020
Summary
Collaboration between healthcare professionals, supported by a clinical decision support system (CDSS), improved medication management for elderly patients. This continuing medical education (CME) initiative reduced potentially inappropriate prescriptions and drug-drug interactions in polytherapies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Lack of collaboration among health professionals negatively impacts prescription quality, particularly for elderly patients with polytherapies.
- Elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions often face challenges with medication adherence and polypharmacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance medication adherence in elderly patients with multiple diseases through interpersonal continuing medical education (CME).
- To improve the management of chronic therapies and de-prescription awareness among general practitioners (GPs).
Main Methods:
- Hospital pharmacists (HPs) and university pharmacists delivered face-to-face CME to GPs.
- Therapy reconciliation and Illustrated Therapy Schedules (ITS) were utilized.
- A clinical decision support system (CDSS - NavFarma©) assessed polytherapies for appropriateness (Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions - PIPs using 2019 Beers Criteria) and drug-drug interactions (DDIs).
Main Results:
- 215 elderly patients (average age 76.4) were enrolled.
- An average of 2.5 PIPs and 2.1 DDIs per patient were identified.
- 12.9% of identified DDIs were resolved due to the CME intervention.
Conclusions:
- Interprofessional collaboration, facilitated by a CDSS, enhances the quality of polytherapies for elderly patients.
- Clinician engagement in CME is crucial for improving quality, safety, professionalism, and communication in healthcare processes.
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