Integrating pharmacists into aged care facilities to improve the quality use of medicine (PiRACF Study): Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: kosari sam , Koerner Jane , Naunton Mark , Peterson Gregory M , Haider Ibrahim , Lancsar Emily , Wright David , Niyonsenga Theo , Davey Rachel 
Published: November 2020

BackgroundMedication management in residential aged care facilities is an ongoing concern. Numerous studies have reported high rates of inappropriate prescribing and medication use in aged care facilities, which contribute to residents’ adverse health outcomes. There is a need for new models of care that enhance inter-disciplinary collaboration between residential aged care facility staff and healthcare professionals, to improve medication management. Pilot research has demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of integrating a pharmacist into the aged care facility team to improve the quality use of medicines. This protocol describes the design and methods for a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the outcomes and conduct economic evaluation of a service model where on-site pharmacists are integrated into residential aged care facility healthcare teams to improve medication management.MethodsIntervention aged care facilities will employ on-site pharmacists to work as part of their healthcare teams. Pharmacists will assume responsibility for medication management, and collaborate with facility nurses, prescribers, community pharmacists, residents and families to improve the quality use of medicines. The intervention will last for 12 months. Aged care facilities in the control group will continue usual care. The target sample size is 1,188 residents from a minimum of 13 aged care facilities. The primary outcome is the appropriateness of prescribing, measured by the proportion of residents who are prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medicine according to the 2019 Beers Criteria. Secondary outcomes include hospital and Emergency Department presentations, fall rates, prevalence and dose of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Score, staff influenza vaccination rate, time spent on medication rounds, appropriateness of dose form modification and completeness of resident’s allergy and adverse drug reaction documentation. A cost-consequence and cost-effectiveness analysis will be embedded in the trial.DiscussionThe results of this study will provide information on clinical and economic outcomes of a model that integrates on-site pharmacists into Australian residential aged care facilities. The results will provide policymakers with recommendations relevant to further implementation of this model.Trial registrationACTRN: ACTRN12620000430932, retrospectively registered with ANZCTR on 1 April 2020. Available from https://www.anzctr.org.au/TrialSearch.aspx#&&conditionCode=&dateOfRegistrationFrom=&interventionDescription=&interventionCodeOperator=OR&primarySponsorType=&gender=&distance=&postcode=&pageSize=20&ageGroup=&recruitmentCountryOperator=OR&recruitmentRegion=&ethicsReview=&countryOfRecruitment=&registry=&searchTxt=ACTRN12620000430932&studyType=&allocationToIntervention=&dateOfRegistrationTo=&recruitmentStatus=&interventionCode=&healthCondition=&healthyVolunteers=&page=1&conditionCategory=&fundingSource=&trialStartDateTo=&trialStartDateFrom=&phase=