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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 May;64(5):336-343.
doi: 10.3349/ymj.2022.0620.

Effect of Pharmacist-Led Intervention in Elderly Patients through a Comprehensive Medication Reconciliation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Sunmin Lee  1   2   3 , Yun Mi Yu  1   2 , Euna Han  1   2 , Min Soo Park  1   4   5 , Jung-Hwan Lee  6 , Min Jung Chang  1   7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Pharmacist-Led Intervention in Elderly Patients through a Comprehensive Medication Reconciliation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Sunmin Lee et al. Yonsei Med J. 2023 May.

Abstract

Purpose: Polypharmacy can cause drug-related problems, such as potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use and medication regimen complexity in the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a collaborative medication review and comprehensive medication reconciliation intervention by a pharmacist and hospitalist for older patients.

Materials and methods: This comprehensive medication reconciliation study was designed as a prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial with patients aged 65 years or older from July to December 2020. Comprehensive medication reconciliation comprised medication reviews based on the PIM criteria. The discharge of medication was simplified to reduce regimen complexity. The primary outcome was the difference in adverse drug events (ADEs) throughout hospitalization and 30 days after discharge. Changes in regimen complexity were evaluated using the Korean version of the medication regimen complexity index (MRCI-K).

Results: Of the 32 patients, 34.4% (n=11/32) reported ADEs before discharge, and 19.2% (n=5/26) ADEs were reported at the 30-day phone call. No ADEs were reported in the intervention group, whereas five events were reported in the control group (p=0.039) on the 30-day phone call. The mean acceptance rate of medication reconciliation was 83%. The mean decreases of MRCI-K between at the admission and the discharge were 6.2 vs. 2.4, although it was not significant (p=0.159).

Conclusion: As a result, we identified the effect of pharmacist-led interventions using comprehensive medication reconciliation, including the criteria of the PIMs and the MRCI-K, and the differences in ADEs between the intervention and control groups at the 30-day follow-up after discharge in elderly patients.

Trial registration: (Clinical trial number: KCT0005994).

Keywords: Medication reconciliation; adverse drug event; elderly; medication regimen complexity; potentially inappropriate medication.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Patient flow diagram. ICU, intensive care unit.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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