Implementation of a self-administered questionnaire to identify patients at risk for medication-related problems in a family health center.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine if a self-administered questionnaire can improve the identification of patients at risk for medication-related problems (MRPs) compared with usual methods of referral to a pharmacist.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized controlled study.

SETTING

Multiprofessional primary care clinic at a tertiary care teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred ninety-four ambulatory patients aged 18 years or older who were taking at least two drugs.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patients completed a five-item, self-administered questionnaire modified from a tool that was previously validated in another population and statistically correlated with the risk of MRPs. Of 194 patients who completed the questionnaire, 89 were randomized to the control group (referral by usual methods) and 105 were referred according to their responses on the questionnaire (intervention group). Primary outcomes were the rate of referral and the number of at-risk patients identified. Referral rates were higher with the questionnaire than with usual methods (20% vs 6%, p=0.003). Of five patients referred by usual methods, one was at risk for MRPs according to questionnaire results. Of 84 patients in the control group who were not referred, 12 (14%) were at risk according to the questionnaire results; this finding suggested that several at-risk patients who were not referred by usual methods might have benefitted from a referral for a pharmacist's assessment.

CONCLUSION

This self-administered medication risk assessment questionnaire effectively complemented the usual practices for identifying and referring patients at risk for MRPs.