The Institute of Nursing Science, represented by Assoc.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Gerhard Müller, is one of six project partners including Université Laval, Québec (QC), Centre intégré universitaire de soins et de services de santé de la Capitale Nationale (CIUSSSCN), McGill University, Montreal (QC), Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre, and University of Toronto, Toronto (Ont), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre collaborating on the project PEP Reducing inappropriate use of antipsychotics by PErsonalizing Pharmaceutical care and optimal use of professional resources in long-term care: a controlled demonstration study (PEP). This project is funded by the Canadian Frailty Network: 2017 Catalyst Grant Competition with a project duration of one and a half years.
The PErsonalized approach to Pharmaceutical care intervention includes a critical medication review for long-term care residents suffering from dementia, using validated appropriateness criteria, as well as empowerment of and improved communication between nurses, pharmacists and physicians. It will result in the deprescribing of psychotropic medications (antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants) and an increased use of non-pharmacological approaches to improve the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia.
The aims of the study are to evaluate whether the PEP intervention will succeed in (1) reducing the use of (deprescribing) inappropriate psychotropics (antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants) and other inappropriate medications; (2) increasing the use of non-pharmacological approaches as a result of decreased use of psychotropics, to improve the treatment of neurocognitive symptoms of dementia; (3) being beneficial or at least neutral regarding medication related negative health outcomes for the residents (emergency visits, hospital transfers, falls).