Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Medico-economic Analysis of Clinical Pharmacy Activities

This study aims to understand if having pharmacists work directly with patients in hospitals, particularly after a stroke, heart attack, or for older patients, can lead to better outcomes. Researchers want to see if the cost of employing these pharmacists is offset by fewer medicine-related problems for patients. They will compare patients who receive this additional pharmacist care with those who get standard care, tracking their health and any medicine side effects for several months after leaving hospital. The study hopes to show how valuable these pharmacist services are and eventually help them get better recognition and funding within the health system. It's an observational study, meaning patients receive their usual care, and researchers simply record what happens.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Hospices Civils de Lyon

Enrolment target

240

Start

01 Feb 2025

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2025

Stroke Geriatrics Acute Coronary Syndrome Orthogeriatric

What is this study about?

This research study is looking into the role of hospital pharmacists who work directly with patients to manage their medicines. In France, where this study is based, there have been some new ideas about how pharmacists can get more involved in patient care, for example, by helping to review and adjust prescriptions.

The main idea behind this study is to see if having pharmacists spending more time with patients can actually lead to better health outcomes and even save money in the long run. The researchers believe that by having pharmacists actively involved, patients might experience fewer side effects from their medications, which in turn could reduce the need for emergency hospital visits or readmissions. They are trying to work out if the cost of these extra pharmacist services is balanced by avoiding these problems.

To do this, they will compare different hospitals. Some hospitals will have pharmacists actively involved in patient care (the 'active' group), while others will continue with their usual care (the 'comparison' group). The study will focus on patients recovering from conditions like stroke, heart attacks, or older patients. Researchers will simply observe what happens to these patients, collecting information about any medicine-related issues they experience both during their hospital stay and for six months after they go home.

Key takeaways

This study looks at the benefits of pharmacists working closely with patients in hospitals.
It covers patients recovering from stroke, heart attack, and older medical or orthopaedic patients.
You won't get any special treatment; you receive your usual care.
Researchers will observe your health for six months after hospital discharge.
The aim is to improve understanding of pharmacist roles and potentially make healthcare safer and more efficient.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you would need to be an adult patient admitted to the hospital. You would be included if you are being treated for specific conditions like recovering from a stroke, a heart attack (acute coronary syndrome), or if you are an older patient. This also includes patients being treated for bone or joint issues in older age (orthogeriatric).

There are also some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. If you don't want to be in the study, or if you are under a legal arrangement that affects your ability to make decisions (like guardianship), or if you are unable to clearly say whether you agree, then you wouldn't be included. Also, people who are detained by law or receiving compulsory psychiatric care would not be eligible.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you an adult patient?
Are you being treated for a stroke, heart attack, or are you an older patient (geriatric/orthogeriatric)?
Have you been admitted to the hospital recently?
Can you clearly express if you do or don't want to participate?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you are part of this study, you will receive your usual hospital care. You won't be asked to do anything extra or different from what your doctors and nurses normally plan for you. If you happen to be in a hospital ward where pharmacists are actively involved with patients, then you will just receive that care as part of your normal treatment.

Researchers will collect information about your care while you are in hospital. After you leave, they will look at your electronic medical records at 3 and 6 months to see if you have had any medicine-related problems, like needing to visit a hospital emergency room. They might also give you a phone call at 3 and 6 months after you leave hospital to ask about your health and any medicine issues you've experienced. The call at 3 months is optional. In total, the study will collect information about you for up to six months after your hospital stay.

Potential risks and benefits

Because this is an observational study, meaning you just receive your regular care, there are very few direct risks to taking part. You will not be given any new medicines or treatments specifically for the study. The potential benefit is that if the study shows that pharmacists working directly with patients is helpful, it could lead to better pharmacy services for everyone in the future, improving safety and reducing medicine-related problems. You always have the right to say you don't want your information to be used in the study at any time, and this will not affect your medical care.

Locations (6)

Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital Louis Pradel
Verified postcode
Bron, France
Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital Renée Sabran
Verified postcode
Hyères, France
Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital Edouard Herriot
Verified postcode
Lyon, France
Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse
Verified postcode
Lyon, France
Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital Lyon Sud
Verified postcode
Oullins, France
Hospices Civils de Lyon - Hôpital des Charpennes
Verified postcode
Villeurbanne, France

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The study wants to see if hospital pharmacists working closely with patients can improve care and prevent medicine side effects, potentially saving money.

Will I have to take any new medicines?

No, you will not be given any new medicines or treatments as part of this study. You will receive your usual care.

Who is eligible to participate?

Adult hospital patients recovering from conditions like stroke, heart attack, or older patients receiving general or orthopaedic care.

What will I have to do if I'm in the study?

You won't have to do anything extra. Researchers will simply collect information from your medical records and possibly call you for a check-up at 3 and 6 months after leaving hospital.

How long does the study follow patients?

The study will collect information about your health for up to six months after you leave the hospital.