D.I.Ri.M.O. project: deprescription, inappropriateness evaluation and therapeutic reconciliation in hospital medicine.

Abstract

Background: In the Italian healthcare landscape, the management of chronic pathologies is a priority. Often, the elderly patient suffers from several pathologies at once and is commonly on polytherapy: this can easily bring potentially harmful errors in drug therapy. The D.I.Ri.M.O. project took place in an Internal Medicine department and aimed to reduce medication errors and improve the state of health through the Pharmacological Reconciliation procedure.

Methods: From June to October 2022, the team archived therapies for 70 hospitalized patients aged over 65 years and suffering from two or more chronic diseases. For each patient enrolled, the team developed a reconciliation board; afterward, the physician and the pharmacist proceeded to remodulate therapies, especially in those patients with serious interactions.

Results: The team collected 287 drug interactions and then classified them according to the Intercheck Web software classification: 36 class D (very serious), 49 class C (major), 174 class B (moderate), and 28 class A (minor). The modified therapies at discharge were 77.14%. This restriction brought about the removal of unnecessary drugs. After six months, the team observed an improvement in the health conditions of the patients enrolled.

Conclusions: By increasing the patient's awareness and reducing the number of potentially inappropriate prescriptions, it is possible to improve the effectiveness of therapies. It is also possible to look at a saving policy to make the economic resources better allocated.