Narrative medicine-based intervention in primary care to reduce polypharmacy: results from the cluster-randomised controlled trial MultiCare AGENDA.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine if patient-centred communication leads to a reduction of the number of medications taken without reducing health-related quality of life.

Design

Two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Setting

55 primary care practices in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Rostock, Germany.

Participants

604 patients 65 to 84 years of age with at least three chronic conditions.

Interventions

Within the 12-month intervention, general practitioners (GPs) had three 30 min talks with each of their patients in addition to routine consultations. The first talk aimed at identifying treatment targets and priorities of the patient. During the second talk, the medication taken by the patient was discussed based on a 'brown bag' review of all the medications the pa

SUBMITTER: Schafer I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5786138 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature