Feasibility study of a clinical decision support system for polymedicated patients in primary care

Abstract

Age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, multimorbidity, frailty, and cognitive impairment represent challenges for drug treatments. Moreover, older adults are commonly exposed to polypharmacy, leading to increased risk of drug interactions and related adverse events, and higher costs for the healthcare systems. Thus, the complex task of prescribing medications to older polymedicated patients encourages the use of Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). This paper evaluates the CDSS miniQ for identifying potentially inappropriate prescribing in poly-medicated older adults and assesses the usability and acceptability of the system in health care professionals, patients, and caregivers. The results of the study demonstrate that the miniQ system was useful for Primary Care physicians in significantly improving prescription, thereby reducing potentially inappropriate medication prescriptions for elderly patients. Additionally, the system was found to be beneficial for patients and their caregivers in understanding their medications, as well as usable and acceptable among healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers, highlighting the potential to improve the prescription process and reduce errors, and enhancing the quality of care for elderly patients with polypharmacy, reducing adverse drug events, and improving medication management.