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Medication reviews (MRs) are critical for ensuring the safety of nursing home residents. However, these reviews often prove time-consuming for healthcare providers. A recent pilot study explored the use of electronic medication review tools to assist community pharmacists in detecting potential drug-related problems (pDRPs). By automating parts of the screening process, clinicians can focus more on interdisciplinary interventions and direct patient care.
Researchers conducted the study in a nursing home between January and July 2024. The protocol involved a three-step medication review process. First, pharmacists used the GheOP³S-tool and EBMeDS®CMR for record analysis. Second, an interdisciplinary team comprising a pharmacist, general practitioner (GP), and nurse discussed the findings. Finally, the team conducted a three-month follow-up to evaluate clinical and economic outcomes. This structured approach ensures that no potential issue goes unnoticed during the review.
The electronic screening tools identified 508 potential drug-related problems among 54 residents. Specifically, the GheOP³S-tool detected 41.7% of these problems exclusively, while EBMeDS®CMR identified 29.5%. Interestingly, the two tools overlapped in only 28.7% of cases. This finding suggests that using multiple tools provides a more comprehensive overview of resident health. Furthermore, pharmacists appended an additional 252 pDRPs through implicit screening, proving that professional expertise remains indispensable.
Clinical outcomes significantly improved following the interventions. The study reported a substantial reduction in the total number of medications and the use of fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs). Moreover, the Drug Burden Index (DBI) and overall medication costs decreased. Although the implementation rate for recommendations was 37.5%, the overall resolution rate reached 40.1%. These results highlight the efficiency of combining software-driven alerts with clinical judgment.
The integration of digital health technologies simplifies the identification of inappropriate prescribing. These tools effectively flag high-risk medications, such as those with strong anticholinergic effects or those requiring dose adjustments. Consequently, GPs and pharmacists can collaborate more effectively to deprescribe unnecessary drugs. This interdisciplinary model not only enhances resident safety but also reduces the economic burden on the healthcare system.
The tools specifically identify fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs). By flagging these medications, the interdisciplinary team can consider safer alternatives or deprescribing, which lowers the physical risk of falls among elderly residents.
No, they cannot. While electronic tools detect a high volume of potential issues, the pharmacist in this study appended many additional problems through implicit screening. Human expertise is essential to interpret alerts within the context of an individual patient's clinical status.
The DBI is a measure used to quantify a patient's total exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications. Reducing the DBI is a key goal in geriatric care to prevent cognitive impairment and physical frailty.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice or establish a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition. Refer to the latest local and national guidelines for clinical practice.
References
Carrein M et al. Electronic tools to facilitate medication review in nursing homes: a pilot study. Acta Clin Belg. 2026 Mar 08. doi: 10.1080/17843286.2026.2641098. PMID: 41795799.
O’Mahony D et al. STOPP/START criteria for potentially inappropriate prescribing in older people: version 2. Age Ageing. 2015;44(2):213-218.
Belmans L et al. Use of the GheOP3S-tool to optimize prescribing in nursing home residents. Int J Clin Pharm. 2018;40(4):816-823.
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A pilot study explores how electronic screening tools assist pharmacists in identifying drug-related problems and reducing medication costs in nursing homes...
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