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Dimitrow M, Saarenmaa R, Airaksinen M, Hassan G, Puumalainen E, Pitrová M, Kivelä SL, Fialová D, Puustinen J, Toivo T. Medication risk checklist for older adults (LOTTA) - development and validation of a self-assessment tool. Ann Med 2023; 55:2287707. [PMID: 38035545 PMCID: PMC10732188 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2287707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient safety strategies highlight patients' own active involvement in ensuring medication safety. A prerequisite for involving patients in their medication therapy is having tools that can assist them in ensuring safe medicine use. Older home-dwelling adults with multiple medications are at high risk for medication-related problems, yet only a few age-specific patient self-administered medication risk screening tools exist. This study aimed to develop, validate, and assess the feasibility of a self-administered medication risk checklist for home-dwelling older adults ≥65 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS The draft checklist was formed based on a validated practical nurse-administered Drug Related Problem Risk Assessment Tool supplemented with findings from two systematic literature reviews. The content validity of the draft checklist was determined by a three-round Delphi survey with a panel of 19 experts in geriatric care and pharmacotherapy. An agreement of ≥80% was required. A feasibility assessment (i.e. understandability of the items, fill-out time of the checklist) of the content-validated checklist was conducted among older adults ≥65 years (n = 87) visiting community pharmacies (n = 4). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS The final validated and feasibility-tested Medication Risk Checklist (LOTTA) for home-dwelling older adults consists of eight items screening the highest priority systemic risks (three items), potentially drug-induced symptoms (one item), adherence, and self-management problems (four items). The checklist proved feasible for self-administration, the mean fill-out time being 6.1 min. CONCLUSIONS A wide range of potential medication risks related to the medication use process can be identified by patient self-assessment. Screening tools such as LOTTA can enhance early detection of potential medication risks and risk communication between older adults and their healthcare providers. A wider and more integrated use of the checklist could be facilitated by making it electronically available as part of the patient information systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarit Dimitrow
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roosa Saarenmaa
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marja Airaksinen
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ghada Hassan
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emmi Puumalainen
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markéta Pitrová
- Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Family Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Daniela Fialová
- Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Juha Puustinen
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Service Unit of Neurology, Satasairaala Central Hospital, Wellbeing County of Satakunta, Pori, Finland
| | - Terhi Toivo
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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