Assessment of geriatric pharmacology information design: a survey
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13433969 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13433969 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | McMaster University |
| Funder | Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation |
- Submission date
- 27/06/2019
- Registration date
- 08/07/2019
- Last edited
- 03/09/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Multiple diseases, medications and age-related changes put older adults at increased risk of harm from drugs. The majority of drug-related hospital visits are due to errors in prescribing and monitoring. Currently available text-based drug information resources can be lengthy for time-pressed clinicians and may not provide sufficient specific information regarding older adults. The researchers have developed concise, evidence-based, geriatric drug information resources (GPIDs) that use graphic design to facilitate learning. The aim of this study is to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of GPIDs. This is achieved by measuring the amount of time it will require prescribing clinicians to answer 5 case-based questions regarding prescribing for complex older adults using either GPIDs or usual drug information resources. Other aims include measuring knowledge retention using a knowledge-retention test, and assessing user-friendliness and overall reading experience of the GPIDs. The researchers will also investigate how various learning styles may impact the effectiveness and efficiency of the GPIDs.
Who can participate?
Prescribing clinicians (physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners) of any age currently practicing in Canada
What does the study involve?
The study involves randomly allocating prescribing clinicians (physicians, pharmacists and nurse practitioners) to one of two groups and instructing both to solve 5 identical case-based questions: one group is instructed to use only GPIDs and the other group is instructed to use their usual drug information resources. After this intervention, the researchers examine the required time for each group to answer the 5 questions. Next, both groups complete a series of questionnaires and tests in the following order: demographic questions, Health Professionals Inventory of Learning Styles (HPILS), knowledge retention test, open-ended questions about the GPIDs and finally questions about perceived user-friendliness and overall reading experience.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no risks or direct benefits related to participation in the study.
Where is the study run from?
The study is being run by the principle investigators based out of McMaster University and GeriMedRisk (Waterloo, Ontario) and takes place on the Surveymonkey platform.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2017 to July 2019
Who is funding the study?
Peer-reviewed grant from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI)
Who is the main contact?
1. Dr Joanne Ho
joanneho@mcmaster.ca
2. Dr Jennifer Tung
Jennifer.tung@gerimedrisk.com
Contact information
Scientific
3rd floor, 10B Victoria St. S.
Kitchener
N2G 1C5
Canada
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-8252-2034 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +1 (0)855 261 0508 |
| joanneho@mcmaster.ca |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multicentre double-blind randomized control trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Assessment of geriatric pharmacology information design: a randomized control trial |
| Study objectives | It is hypothesized that using geriatric pharmacology information design materials (GPIDs) will facilitate learning about prescribing medications to older adults. It is hypothesized that prescribing clinicians will find GPIDs to be a more user-friendly, efficient and effective format of learning about geriatric pharmacology compared to current, text-based formats. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 25/06/2018, Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HiREB) (293 Wellington Street North, Suite 102, Hamilton ON, L8L 8E7, Canada; Tel: +1 (0)905 521 2100 ext 70014; Email: erebhelpdesk@hhsc.ca), Project #: 4790 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Prescribing practices for older adults |
| Intervention | The study involves randomly assigning prescribing clinicians (physicians, pharmacists and nurse practitioners) to one of two treatment groups and instructing both to solve 5 identical case-based questions: one group will be instructed to use only GPIDs and the other group will be instructed to use their usual drug information resources. After this intervention, the researchers will examine the required time for each group to answer the 5 questions. Next, both groups will complete a series of questionnaires and tests in the following order: demographics questions, Health Professionals Inventory of Learning Styles (HPILS), knowledge retention test, open-ended questions about the GPIDs and finally questions about perceived user-friendliness and overall reading experience. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Time required by prescribing clinicians to complete 5 case-based questions about prescribing to older adults (start defined as time when online survey was accessed, stop defined as time when online survey completion button pressed; as measured by Survey Monkey). Measured at a single timepoint. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Measured at a single timepoint: |
| Completion date | 31/07/2019 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Health professional |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 100 |
| Total final enrolment | 43 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Prescribing clinicians |
| Key exclusion criteria | Health professionals involved in the development of the Geriatric Pharmacology Information Design Materials |
| Date of first enrolment | 10/02/2019 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/07/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Canada
Study participating centre
Kitchener
N2G 1C5
Canada
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 12/06/2021 | 03/09/2021 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
03/09/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
05/07/2019: Trial's existence confirmed by ethics board.
