Clinical Decision Framework for Chronic Conditions in Older Adults

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byTimothy S Anderson, MD, MAS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn if providing a clinical decision framework for managing older adults chronic conditions during hospitalization to inpatient clinicians improves clinicians' ability to individualize chronic condition prescribing decisions for hospitalized older adults (65 and older). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Will the clinical decision framework lead to clinicians having greater confidence to individualize discharge prescribing? * Will clinicians using the framework discharge make fewer changes to hospitalized older adults with home diabetes and hypertension medications than they did prior to receiving the framework? * Will older adult patients of participating clinicians will report fewer gaps in understanding of medication changes after the clinician is exposed to the framework? Researchers will compare participating clinician survey responses and prescribing records from before and after an educational session presenting the clinical decision framework. Participants will be asked to * Attend a one-time educational session on the clinical decision framework * Complete 2 electronic surveys, one before and one following the educational session. * Agree for researchers to contact their patients, in order for patients to complete a one-time phone survey about changes made to home medications during hospitalization and quality of communication from the hospital team.

Research Team

Timothy S Anderson, MD, MAS

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for inpatient clinicians treating hospitalized older adults (65+) with chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Clinicians must be willing to attend an educational session, complete surveys before and after the session, and allow researchers to survey their patients.

Inclusion Criteria

Attending clinicians who practice on the general medicine or hospital medicine service at UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Montefiore, UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Mercy, or UPMC Magee-Women's Hospital campuses

Practicing on the general medicine or hospital medicine service. This population may include physicians with training in general internal medicine, hospital medicine, family practice, internal medicine subspecialties, as well as advance practice clinicians

I am 65 or older, was hospitalized, and am now discharged home.

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Exclusion Criteria

Anticipating leaving current clinical position within the next 3 months

Enrolled in hospice care

Less than 4 weeks of inpatient attending service scheduled within 3 months of recruitment

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Treatment Details

Interventions

Clinical Decision Framework for Managing older adults' chronic conditions during hospitalization (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial OverviewThe study tests a clinical decision framework aimed at helping clinicians personalize medication plans for elderly hospital patients with multiple chronic illnesses. It measures clinician confidence, changes in patient medications, and patient understanding of these changes.

Participant Groups

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Clinician ParticipantsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

All clinician participants will undergo the same intervention, an educational session providing a clinical decision framework for managing older adults' chronic conditions during hospitalization.