[Efficacy of a reconciliation intervention by a specialized pharmacist to resolve medication-related problems of elderly patients admitted to an emergency department short-stay unit: a randomized clinical trial].
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect on medication-related problems (MRPs) of a process of medication reconciliation carried out by a specialized pharmacist for patients aged 65 years or older admitted to an emergency department short-stay unit (SSU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trial of 17 months (February 2013-June 2014) in the SSU of a hospital emergency department. Patients were aged 65 years or older at high risk of MRPs. A total of 130 patients were randomized to a control group (n = 65) or the intervention group (n = 65). The reconciliation process (intervention) was carried out by a specialized pharmacist. The main outcome was the number of MRPs resolved in each group. RESULTS: A total of 3081 medications for 130 patients were reviewed. The patients' mean (SD) age was 79 (7.6) years and 66 (50.8%) were men. Discrepancies affecting 1901 medications (61.7%) were detected. The distributions of age, sex, and number of medication discrepancies were similar in the control and intervention groups. A total of 213 MRPs were detected; 110 (51.6%) were in the control group and 103 (48.4%) in the intervention group (P = .380). Through the pharmacist's reconciliation, significantly more of the MRPs were resolved in the intervention group (83.5%) than in the control group (26.4%) (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Medication reconciliation by a specialized pharmacist in the emergency department reduces MRPs for at-risk elderly patients in a SSU.
Source: PubMed
Language: Spanish
Subfield: Geriatrics and Gerontology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2321257867