Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Effectiveness of person-centred versus usual care in elderly patients: findings from a multicentre randomised
C Rovira1,2,3,4, M Casanovas1, E Vizcaino1
1Primary and Community Care Management of Central Catalonia, Institut Català de la Salut, Sant Fruitós de Bages, Spain.
Background:
The person-centred care model involves a multidisciplinary team providing individualised health and social care aligned with patient preferences and health goals. Although some evidence supports its use in primary care, it remains under-evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Collaborative Medication Management (CMM) approach in optimising pharmacotherapy plans versus usual care among polymedicated older adults.
Methods:
A randomised, open-label, multicentre, parallel clinical trial was conducted across 11 Primary Care Teams in Spain (Sept 2020-Jan 2024), including patients aged ≥75 years taking ≥8 chronic medications with complex or advanced conditions. The intervention group (IG, n = 102) received CMM delivered by a multidisciplinary team, including structured medication review, development of a patient-centred care plan, and follow-up at 6 and 12 months. The control group (CG, n = 106) received usual care. Primary outcomes were number of medications, drug-related prescriptions (DRP), changes to pharmacotherapy plans, and hospital admissions. Secondary outcomes included persistence of changes at 12 months and medication-related safety incidents.
Results:
A total of 208 subjects were included (65.4% women; mean age 83.6 ± 6.3 years). IG showed a mean reduction of 1.8 ± 2.1 medications/patient vs. an increase of 0.3 ± 1.4 in CG (p = 0.004); a mean reduction of 2.9 ± 2.5 DRP/patient in IG vs. An increase of 0.2 ± 1.2 in CG (p = 0.004); a mean of 4.3 ± 2.9 changes to pharmacotherapy plans in IG vs. 2.6 ± 3.3 in CG (p = 0.004); a mean of 0.3 ± 0.7 hospital admissions in IG vs. 0.3 ± 0.8 in CG (p = 1.000). Persistence of changes at 12 months was 3.8 ± 2.7 in IG vs. 2.2 ± 2.9 in CG (p < 0.001). In addition, a mean of 0.5 ± 0.7 safety incidents was reported in IG vs. 0.5 ± 1.0 in CG (p = 0.676).
Conclusion:
The person-centred care model proved effect in optimising medication use in polymedicated older adults.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04188470.
Related Concept Videos
Patient-centered Care
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview
Trial and Error and Algorithm
Finding the Center of Gravity

