Reducing Medication Errors on Basis of an Individual Risk Assessment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Background: Medication reviews performed on admission to hospitals reduce medication errors; however, evidence of effect on morbidity and mortality is currently inconsistent. It is known that patients' risks of experiencing medication errors are dependent on both patient- and drug factors, e.g. age, co-morbidity, number of drugs, risk of side effects. Aim and hypothesis: The aim of this pilot study is to study acute medical patients' risk of getting a medication error based on an algorithm that takes into account both patient and drug related factors. Secondary, the investigators will explore whether our methods are applicable in a randomised controlled trial. The investigators will also decide the number of patients in a randomised controlled trial based on this pilot study. The hypothesis is that an algorithm that has already been developed can stratify patients according to their risk of experiencing a medication error. Methods: 100 acute admitted patients will be risk stratified at admission (>8 hours after). The patients who have highest risks of medication errors will receive a medication review performed by either a clinical pharmacist or a clinical pharmacologist.

Official Title
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Differentiated Intervention Aimed at Reducing Medication Errors on Basis of an Individual Risk Assessment - a Pilot Study

Conditions
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Drug Safety

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Medication review


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Acutely admitted patients Age>17 years Exclusion Criteria: Dying patients Suicial patients

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Medication review<br>Medication review performed by either a clinical pharmacist or a clinical pharmacologist | Other: Medication review<br>* Medication review performed by either a clinical pharmacist or a clinical pharmacologist<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Medication errors | The patients' electronic medical record will be assessed for medication errors during the patients' hospitalization. It will be assesed by a clinical pharmacologist to assess the validity of the algorithm. Medication errors are defined as errors in prescriptions that either harm or have the potential to harm the patients. | During the patients' hospital stay | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Medication errors, Medication review, Risk stratification, Patient safety