This 3 page research paper summaries two research articles, which concern computerized system for reducing the incidence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for patients over 65, that are proposed for inclusion in a systematic review. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: KL9_kh2artpims.doc
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
focuses on computer systems tools and the goal of decreasing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for patients over 65. Raebel, et al, (2007) conducted a randomized, prospective trial with the
principal objective of determining if a computerized system designed to alert pharmacists when a patient over 65 has been prescribed a PIM would be effective at decreasing the number of
patients receiving these medications. All of the patients enrolled by a US health maintenance organization (HMO) were randomized either to intervention group, for whom pharmacists received alerts, or to the
control group, which received usual care. Eleven medications were included on the alert list. Over the course of the yearlong study, 543 patients in the intervention group received a
PIM, as compared to 644 patients in the control group (P=.002). In regards to use indications, which indicate that a pharmaceutical intervention should occur, the dispensation of both amitriptyline (P<.001)
and diazepam (P=.02) were significantly reduced. The researchers, therefore, conclude based on this result that the computerized alert system, used in conjunction with collaboration between colleagues, was effective at reducing
the number of PIMs dispensed to elderly patients. Tamblyn, et al (2003) conducted a randomized controlled trial designed to deduce the number of PIMs being prescribed by testing the
effectiveness of a computer-based access that informed primary care physicians of all prescriptions dispensed to specific patients. The system also issued alerts concerning potential problems in regards to prescriptions. The
participant group consisted of 107 physicians whose clientele included a minimum of 100 patients aged 66 or older. The physicians were either assigned to the intervention group, which received computerized
decision-making support (CDS) or to the control group. The CDS program alerted the physicians in the intervention group if one of 159 clinical prescribing problems included in its software