Reducing Injuries From Medication-Related Falls Using Computerized Alerts for High Risk Patients (NCT00818285) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Reducing Injuries From Medication-Related Falls Using Computerized Alerts for High Risk Patients
Canada5,628 participantsStarted 2008-09
Plain-language summary
Drug-related illness accounts for 5% to 23% of hospital admissions, and is now claimed to be the sixth leading cause of mortality. Older adults are at higher risk of adverse drug-related events, and medication-related fall injuries are the most common adverse event that could be potentially prevented. There are 1.2 million falls per year among Canadian elderly, at a cost of $2.4 billion in health care services, and substantial risk of loss of independence.
The overall purpose of this research program is to reduce medication-related fall injuries by using computerized electronic prescribing and drug management systems to identify high risk patients and provide physicians with patient-specific recommendations for modifying psychotropic medication use to reduce this risk.
Who can participate
Age range
65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Physicians are eligible for inclusion if they are general practitioners or family physicians in full-time (≥ 4 days/week), fee-for-service practice in Quebec-patients where the study physician has written or dispensed psychotropic medications
Exclusion Criteria:
* under 65 years old
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial focused on using computerized alerts to flag high-risk patients on psychotropic medications that might increase fall risk — can you check whether any of my current medications fall into that 'potentially inappropriate' category it was studying?
2Since this trial has already been completed, has your hospital or clinic adopted any kind of computerized alert system like the one tested here, and if so, does it apply to my care?
3The trial was measuring rates of 'potentially inappropriate psychotropic medication' — what does that term mean in practice, and how do you decide when a medication's fall risk outweighs its benefit for someone in my situation?
4Because this was a systems-level study rather than a treatment trial, would its findings change how you currently monitor and adjust my medications to help prevent a fall-related injury?
5Are there non-medication strategies — like physical therapy, balance training, or home safety assessments — that work alongside medication reviews like the ones studied in this trial that we should also be considering for me?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
rate of potentially inappropriate psychotropic medication