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E-learning to improve the drug prescribing in the hospitalized elderly patients: the ELICADHE feasibility pilot study

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Abstract

Background

E-learning is an efficient and cost-effective educational method.

Aims

This study aimed at evaluating the feasibility of an educational e-learning intervention, focused on teaching geriatric pharmacology and notions of comprehensive geriatric assessment, to improve drug prescribing to hospitalized elderly patients.

Methods

Eight geriatric and internal medicine wards were randomized to intervention (e-learning educational program) or control. Clinicians of the two groups had to complete a specific per group e-learning program in 30 days. Then, ten patients (aged ≥75 years) had to be consecutively enrolled collecting clinical data at hospital admission, discharge, and 3 months later. The quality of prescription was evaluated comparing the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications through Beer’s criteria and of potential drug–drug interactions through a specific computerized database.

Results

The study feasibility was confirmed by the high percentage (90 %) of clinicians who completed the e-learning program, the recruitment, and follow-up of all planned patients. The intervention was well accepted by all participating clinicians who judged positively (a mean score of >3 points on a scale of 5 points: 0 = useless; 5 = most useful) the specific contents, the methodology applied, the clinical relevance and utility of e-learning contents and tools for the evaluation of the appropriateness of drug prescribing.

Conclusions

The pilot study met all the requested goals. The main study is currently ongoing and is planned to finish on July 2015.

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Acknowledgments

ELICADHE Study was approved and financially supported by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) according to the 2008 Italian Program for Independent Research (Project No. FARM87SA2B).

Conflict of interest

None declared.

Ethical approval

This study was conducted with the approval of Ethics Committees of the all participating centers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Quality Assessment of Geriatric Therapies and Services, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS—Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Giuseppe La Masa, 19, 20156, Milan, Italy

    C. Franchi, M. Tettamanti, L. Pasina, C. D. Djade & A. Nobili

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, University of Milan and IRCCS Ca’ Granda Maggiore Hospital Foundation, Milan, Italy

    D. Mari

  3. Scientific Direction, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Maggiore Hospital Foundation, Milan, Italy

    P. M. Mannucci

  4. Department of Geriatrics, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    G. Onder & R. Bernabei

  5. FADOI Foundation Research Department, Milan, Italy

    G. Gussoni

  6. IRCCS, San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy

    S. Bonassi

Authors
  1. C. Franchi
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  2. D. Mari
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  3. M. Tettamanti
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  4. L. Pasina
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  5. C. D. Djade
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  6. P. M. Mannucci
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  7. G. Onder
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  8. R. Bernabei
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  9. G. Gussoni
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  10. S. Bonassi
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  11. A. Nobili
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Consortia

On behalf of ELICADHE Investigators

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Franchi.

Appendix

Appendix

Investigators and co-authors of the ELICADHE* Feasibility Pilot Study Group are as follows: *(E-Learning Intervention focused on Comprehensive geriatric Assessment to improve the quality of Drug prescribing in Hospitalized Elderly).

Steering committee Alessandro Nobili, Carlotta Franchi, Mauro Tettamanti, Luca Pasina (IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Milano), Pier Mannuccio Mannucci (Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano), Graziano Onder, Roberto Bernabei (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Policlinico “Agostino Gemelli”, Roma), Gualberto Gussoni (Centro Studi FADOI, Milano), Stefano Bonassi (IRCCS, San Raffaele Pisana, Roma).

Study coordinating group Alessandro Nobili, Carlotta Franchi (IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Milano).

Clinical data monitoring and revision Carlotta Franchi, Eleonora Sparacio, Stefania Alborghetti, Rosa Di Costanzo (IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Milano).

Database management and statistics Mauro Tettamanti, Codjo Djignefa Djade (IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Milano).

Investigators of the feasibility pilot study Alberto Tedeschi, Raffaella Rossio, Guido Moreo, Barbara Ferrari (Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano; Medicina Interna); Francesco Salerno, Giovanna Squiccimarro, Valentina Monti (Policlinico IRCCS San Donato, San Donato Milanese,Milano; Medicina Interna); Giuseppe Licata, Salvatore Corrao, Luigi Calvo (Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico “Paolo Giaccone”, Palermo; Medicina Interna); Cipriani Luca, Rachele Ruggiero (Istituto Nazionale Ricovero e Cura Anziani, Roma; Geriatria); Roberto Bernabei, Graziano Onder, Michele Ciaburri, Christian Barillaro (Università cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli”, Roma; Geriatria); Dario Manfellotto, Irene Caridi (Ospedale Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina, Roma; UOC di Medicina Interna, AFaR); Franco Barzizza, Andrea Staniscia (Policlinico San Matteo, Presidio di Belgioioso, Belgioioso; Medicina Interna); Enzo Lancia, Andrea Giorgi, Alessandra Forgione (IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Roma; Medicina Interna).

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Franchi, C., Mari, D., Tettamanti, M. et al. E-learning to improve the drug prescribing in the hospitalized elderly patients: the ELICADHE feasibility pilot study. Aging Clin Exp Res 26, 435–443 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0187-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0187-6

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