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Bell JS, La Caze A, Steeper M, Haines TP, Hilmer SN, Troeung L, Quirke L, Wesson J, Pond CD, Buys L, Ghahreman-Falconer N, Lawless MT, Shrestha S, Martini A, Ochieng N, Glamorgan F, Lagasca C, Walton R, Cenin D, Kitson A, Jung M, Bennett A, Cross AJ. Evidence-based Medication knowledge Brokers in Residential Aged CarE (EMBRACE): protocol for a helix-counterbalanced randomised controlled trial. Implement Sci 2024; 19:24. [PMID: 38438918 PMCID: PMC10913248 DOI: 10.1186/s13012-024-01353-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clinical practice guidelines recommend against the routine use of psychotropic medications in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Knowledge brokers are individuals or groups who facilitate the transfer of knowledge into practice. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using knowledge brokers to translate Australia's new Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Medications in People Living with Dementia and in Residential Aged Care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The Evidence-based Medication knowledge Brokers in Residential Aged CarE (EMBRACE) trial is a helix-counterbalanced randomised controlled trial. The 12-month trial will be conducted in up to 19 RACFs operated by four Australian aged care provider organisations in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. RACFs will be randomised to receive three levels of implementation strategies (knowledge broker service, pharmacist-led quality use of medications education activities and distribution of the Guidelines and supporting materials) across three medication contexts (antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants). Implementation strategies will be delivered by an embedded on-site aged care pharmacist working at a system level across each participating RACF. All RACFs will receive all implementation strategies simultaneously but for different medication contexts. The primary outcome will be a composite dichotomous measure of 6-month RACF-level concordance with Guideline recommendations and good practice statements among people using antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants for changed behaviours. Secondary outcomes will include proportion of residents with Guideline concordant use of antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants measured at the RACF-level and proportion of residents with psychotropic medication use, hospitalisation, falls, falls with injury, polypharmacy, quality of life, activities of daily living, medication incidents and behavioural incidents measured at the RACF-level. DISCUSSION The EMBRACE trial investigates a novel guideline implementation strategy to improve the safe and effective use of psychotropic medications in RACFs. We anticipate that the findings will provide new information on the potential role of knowledge brokers for successful and cost-effective guideline implementation. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12623001141639. Registered 6 November 2023 - retrospectively registered, https://www.anzctr.org.au/TrialSearch.aspx .
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Affiliation(s)
- J Simon Bell
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Adam La Caze
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Dutton Park, QLD, Australia
| | - Michelle Steeper
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Terry P Haines
- Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Frankston, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah N Hilmer
- Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
- New South Wales Therapeutic Advisory Group, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lakkhina Troeung
- Brightwater Research Centre, Brightwater Care Group, Inglewood, WA, Australia
| | | | - Jacqueline Wesson
- Ageing and Health Research Unit, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Constance Dimity Pond
- Wicking Dementia Research and Teaching Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Laurie Buys
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nazanin Ghahreman-Falconer
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Dutton Park, QLD, Australia
- Pharmacy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael T Lawless
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Shakti Shrestha
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Dutton Park, QLD, Australia
| | - Angelita Martini
- Brightwater Research Centre, Brightwater Care Group, Inglewood, WA, Australia
| | - Nancy Ochieng
- Lifeview Corporate Lifeview Pty Ltd., Carnegie, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Carmela Lagasca
- Anglicare Southern Queensland, Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia
| | - Rebecca Walton
- Brightwater Research Centre, Brightwater Care Group, Inglewood, WA, Australia
| | - Dayna Cenin
- Brightwater Research Centre, Brightwater Care Group, Inglewood, WA, Australia
| | - Alison Kitson
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Monica Jung
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | | | - Amanda J Cross
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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Sluggett JK, Caughey GE, Air T, Moldovan M, Lang C, Martin G, Carter SR, Jackson S, Stafford AC, Wesselingh SL, Inacio MC. Provision of a comprehensive medicines review is associated with lower mortality risk for residents of aged care facilities: a retrospective cohort study. Age Ageing 2022; 51:6632479. [PMID: 35794851 PMCID: PMC9259960 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afac149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background no studies have examined the impact of residential medication management review (RMMR, a 24-year government subsidised comprehensive medicines review program) in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) on hospitalisation or mortality. Objective to examine associations between RMMR provision in the 6–12 months after RACF entry and the 12-month risk of hospitalisation and mortality among older Australians in RACFs. Design retrospective cohort study. Subjects individuals aged 65–105 years taking at least one medicine, who entered an RACF in three Australian states between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2015 and spent at least 6 months in the RACF (n = 57,719). Methods Cox regression models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between RMMR provision and mortality. Adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios were estimated for associations between RMMR provision and next (i) emergency department (ED) presentation or unplanned hospitalisation or (ii) fall-related ED presentation or hospitalisation. Results there were 12,603 (21.8%) individuals who received an RMMR within 6–12 months of RACF entry, of whom 22.2% (95%CI 21.4–22.9) died during follow-up, compared with 23.3% (95%CI 22.9–23.7) of unexposed individuals. RMMR provision was associated with a lower risk of death due to any cause over 12-months (aHR 0.96, 95%CI 0.91–0.99), but was not associated with ED presentations or hospitalisations for unplanned events or falls. Conclusions provision of an RMMR in the 6–12 months after RACF entry is associated with a 4.4% lower mortality risk over 12-months but was not associated with changes in hospitalisations for unplanned events or falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet K Sluggett
- Address correspondence to: Janet K. Sluggett, UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide South Australia 5001, Australia.
| | - Gillian E Caughey
- UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Registry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tracy Air
- Registry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Max Moldovan
- Registry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Biometry Hub, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, South Australia, Australia
| | - Catherine Lang
- Registry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Grant Martin
- Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy, Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Stephen R Carter
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shane Jackson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Andrew C Stafford
- Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Steve L Wesselingh
- Registry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Maria C Inacio
- UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Registry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Wurmbach VS, Schmidt SJ, Lampert A, Bernard S, Meid AD, Frick E, Metzner M, Wilm S, Mortsiefer A, Bücker B, Altiner A, Sparenberg L, Szecsenyi J, Peters-Klimm F, Kaufmann-Kolle P, Thürmann PA, Haefeli WE, Seidling HM. Prevalence and patient-rated relevance of complexity factors in medication regimens of community-dwelling patients with polypharmacy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 78:1127-1136. [PMID: 35476124 PMCID: PMC9184426 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-022-03314-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To describe the prevalence of complexity factors in the medication regimens of community-dwelling patients with more than five drugs and to evaluate the relevance of these factors for individual patients. Methods Data were derived from the HIOPP-6 trial, a controlled study conducted in 9 general practices which evaluated an electronic tool to detect and reduce complexity of drug treatment. The prevalence of complexity factors was based on the results of the automated analysis of 139 patients’ medication data. The relevance assessment was based on the patients’ rating of each factor in an interview (48 patients included for analysis). Results A median of 5 (range 0–21) complexity factors per medication regimen were detected and at least one factor was observed in 131 of 139 patients. Almost half of these patients found no complexity factor in their medication regimen relevant. Conclusion In most medication regimens, complexity factors could be identified automatically, yet less than 15% of factors were indeed relevant for patients as judged by themselves. When assessing complexity of medication regimens, one should especially consider factors that are both particularly frequent and often challenging for patients, such as use of inhalers or tablet splitting. Trial registration The HIOPP-6 trial was registered retrospectively on May 17, 2021, in the German Clinical Trials register under DRKS-ID DRKS00025257. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00228-022-03314-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria S Wurmbach
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cooperation Unit Clinical Pharmacy, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steffen J Schmidt
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Anette Lampert
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cooperation Unit Clinical Pharmacy, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Bernard
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Andreas D Meid
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eduard Frick
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Metzner
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Wilm
- Institute of General Practice (ifam), Centre for Health and Society (chs), Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Achim Mortsiefer
- Institute of General Practice (ifam), Centre for Health and Society (chs), Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Professorship of Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Bettina Bücker
- Institute of General Practice (ifam), Centre for Health and Society (chs), Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Attila Altiner
- Institute of General Practice, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Lisa Sparenberg
- Institute of General Practice, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Joachim Szecsenyi
- Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Peters-Klimm
- Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petra Kaufmann-Kolle
- aQua-Institute for Applied Quality Improvement and Research in Health Care, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Petra A Thürmann
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
- Philipp Klee-Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, HELIOS University Clinic Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Walter E Haefeli
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cooperation Unit Clinical Pharmacy, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hanna M Seidling
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Cooperation Unit Clinical Pharmacy, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Sluggett JK, Hughes GA, Ooi CE, Chen EYH, Corlis M, Hogan ME, Caporale T, Van Emden J, Bell JS. Process Evaluation of the SImplification of Medications Prescribed to Long-tErm Care Residents (SIMPLER) Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial: A Mixed Methods Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18115778. [PMID: 34072223 PMCID: PMC8199013 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Complex medication regimens are highly prevalent, burdensome for residents and staff, and associated with poor health outcomes in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). The SIMPLER study was a non-blinded, matched-pair, cluster randomized controlled trial in eight Australian RACFs that investigated the one-off application of a structured 5-step implicit process to simplify medication regimens. The aim of this study was to explore the processes underpinning study implementation and uptake of the medication simplification intervention. A mixed methods process evaluation with an explanatory design was undertaken in parallel with the main outcome evaluation of the SIMPLER study and was guided by an established 8-domain framework. The qualitative component included a document analysis and semi-structured interviews with 25 stakeholders (residents, family, research nurses, pharmacists, RACF staff, and a general medical practitioner). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and reflexively thematically content analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantitative data extracted from key research documents. The SIMPLER recruitment rates at the eight RACFs ranged from 18.9% to 48.6% of eligible residents (38.4% overall). Participation decisions were influenced by altruism, opinions of trusted persons, willingness to change a medication regimen, and third-party hesitation regarding potential resident distress. Intervention delivery was generally consistent with the study protocol. Stakeholders perceived regimen simplification was beneficial and low risk if the simplification recommendations were individualized. Implementation of the simplification recommendations varied between the four intervention RACFs, with simplification implemented at 4-month follow-up for between 25% and 86% of residents for whom simplification was possible. Good working relationships between stakeholders and new remunerated models of medication management were perceived facilitators to wider implementation. In conclusion, the one-off implicit medication simplification intervention was feasible and generally delivered according to the protocol to a representative sample of residents. Despite variable implementation, recommendations to simplify complex regimens were valued by stakeholders, who also supported wider implementation of medication simplification in RACFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet K. Sluggett
- UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.E.O.); (E.Y.H.C.); (J.S.B.)
- NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW 2077, Australia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Georgina A. Hughes
- UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
| | - Choon Ean Ooi
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.E.O.); (E.Y.H.C.); (J.S.B.)
| | - Esa Y. H. Chen
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.E.O.); (E.Y.H.C.); (J.S.B.)
- NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW 2077, Australia;
| | - Megan Corlis
- UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
- NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW 2077, Australia;
| | - Michelle E. Hogan
- Helping Hand Aged Care, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia; (M.E.H.); (T.C.)
| | - Tessa Caporale
- Helping Hand Aged Care, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia; (M.E.H.); (T.C.)
| | - Jan Van Emden
- NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW 2077, Australia;
- UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
| | - J. Simon Bell
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.E.O.); (E.Y.H.C.); (J.S.B.)
- NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW 2077, Australia;
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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Liau SJ, Lalic S, Visvanathan R, Dowd LA, Bell JS. The FRAIL-NH Scale: Systematic Review of the Use, Validity and Adaptations for Frailty Screening in Nursing Homes. J Nutr Health Aging 2021; 25:1205-1216. [PMID: 34866147 PMCID: PMC8549594 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-021-1694-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate frailty prevalence, cross-sectional associations, predictive validity, concurrent validity, and cross-cultural adaptations of the FRAIL-NH scale. DESIGN Systematic review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Frail residents living in nursing homes. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched from January 2015 to June 2021 for primary studies that used the FRAIL-NH scale, irrespective of study designs and publication language. RESULTS Overall, 40 studies conducted across 20 countries utilized the FRAIL-NH scale; majority in Australia (n=14), followed by China (n=6), United States (n=3), and Spain (n=3). The scale has been translated and back-translated into Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Various cut-offs have been used, with ≥2 and ≥6 being the most common cut-offs for frail and most frail, respectively. When defined using these cut-offs, frailty prevalence varied from 15.1-79.5% (frail) to 28.5-75.0% (most frail). FRAIL-NH predicted falls (n=2), hospitalization or length of stay (n=4), functional or cognitive decline (n=4), and mortality (n=9) over a median follow-up of 12 months. FRAIL-NH has been compared to 16 other scales, and was correlated with Fried's phenotype (FP), Frailty Index (FI), and FI-Lab. Four studies reported fair-to-moderate agreements between FRAIL-NH and FI, FP, and the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Ten studies assessed the sensitivity and specificity of different FRAIL-NH cut-offs, with ≥8 having the highest sensitivity (94.1%) and specificity (82.8%) for classifying residents as frail based on FI, while two studies reported an optimal cut-off of ≥2 based on FI and FP, respectively. CONCLUSION In seven years, the FRAIL-NH scale has been applied in 20 countries and adapted into three languages. Despite being applied with a range of cut-offs, FRAIL-NH was associated with higher care needs and demonstrated good agreement with other well-established but more complex scales. FRAIL-NH was predictive of adverse outcomes across different settings, highlighting its value in guiding care for frail residents in nursing homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Liau
- Shin J. Liau, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 407 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. E-mail:
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