Development of a patient-centred medication management model for polymedicated home-dwelling older adults after hospital discharge: results of a mixed methods study

Data from explanatory, sequential, mixed methods study (Switzerland) based on detailed quantitative & qualitative findings reported previously were used to design a collaborative, patient-centred model for optimising medication management & preventing medication-related problems.

SPS commentary:

The quantitative strand of study retrospectively examined 3 years of hospital electronic patient records (n=53,690 hospitalisations of inpatients aged ≥65 years) to identify different profiles of those at risk of 30-day hospital readmission and unplanned nursing home admission. The qualitative strand explored the perspectives of older adults (n=28), their informal caregivers (n=17) and healthcare professionals (n=13) on medication management after hospital discharge.

The resulting model comprises four interactive fields of action:

  • Listening to polymedicated home-dwelling older adults and their informal caregivers
  • Involving older adults and their informal caregivers in shared medication-related decisions
  • Empowering older adults and their informal caregivers for safe medication self-management
  • Optimising collaborative medication management practices

BMJ Open