Measuring the quality of pharmaceutical care for
frail elderly with polypharmacy: Study design
Julie Heeren1, Peter Kemper1, Gepke Delwel2, Lutien Bakker2, Martine de Bruijne1, Cordula Wagner1,3
1
EMGO+ Institute for Health Care and Research, VU medical Center, Amsterdam
IGZ, The Health Care Inspectorate
3 NIVEL, Netherlands institute for health services research
2
Background
M edication-related adverse
events of hospitalised elderly*
Polypharmacy is a severe problem for frail elderly
3 5%
Pharmaceutical care for frail elderly with polypharmacy
(≥5 medicines) is frequently associated with medicationrelated preventable adverse events.
6 5%
Better understanding of the pharmaceutical care for frail
elderly with polypharmacy in the Netherlands will facilitate
the effective supervision by The Health Care Inspectorate.
preventable
*H. Merten, 2012: Adverse events in hospitalised
older patients (≥65 years).
Research questions
Results
How is pharmaceutical care for frail elderly with
polypharmacy currently carried out?
A validated instrument with a baseline
measurement
Which risk indicators can be used to supervise
pharmaceutical care for frail elderly with polypharmacy?
The results will provide validated
measurement instruments to be used for the
baseline measurement of pharmaceutical
care for frail elderly with polypharmacy in
2013. This and the proposed risk indicators
may facilitate the effective supervision on
polypharmacy in frail elderly by the Health
Care Inspectorate. Results will be described
in a report and research article.
Methods
The design of the study involves four phases over a period
of 12 months, starting in April 2013. The phases are:
Phase 1:
Development
questionnaire
A risk matrix will be constructed
to develop a questionnaire for
patients and health care
professionals.
Phase 2:
Baseline
measurement
The questionnaire of phase 1 is
conducted with a random sample
of health care professionals and
patients. In addition, an inventory
of initiatives will be made.
Phase 3:
Determination
indicators
Results of phase 1+2 are used to
determine structure-, process-,
and outcome indicators to
facilitate the supervision of
pharmaceutical care for frail
elderly with polypharmacy.
Phase 4:
Report and
follow-up
unavoidable
In order to conduct the follow-up
measurement, the results will be
outlined a report and presented in
a workshop for the Health Care
Inspectorate.
Conclusion
This study will provide the first step to
measure the effects of supervision on
the quality of pharmaceutical care for
frail elderly with polypharmacy
Contact details:
P.kemper@vumc.nl or M.heeren@vumc.nl
www.onderzoekpatientveiligheid.nl
This study is conducted within the Academic Collaborative centre
of the Health Care Inspectorate (‘Academische Werkplaats Toezicht’)
http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/programmas/programma-detail/effectief-toezicht
VUmc – Sociale
geneeskunde
Research Center Safety 4 Patients