Safe Use of Medication at Home by Caregivers. Experimental Study

NCT ID: NCT05247801

Last Updated: 2025-06-26

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

142 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-04-11

Study Completion Date

2024-12-12

Brief Summary

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Experimental study to test the effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention using virtual reality, aimed at caregivers of multi-pathological and polypharmacy persons to promote safer medication use at home. Experimental design with two groups (experimental and control), pre-post measures, and participants assignment to groups by simple randomization.

Null hypothesis. There will be no differences in the frequency of medication errors at home, the severity of the consequences of medication errors, perceived self-efficacy, and health literacy between caregivers using a dosing device (control group) and caregivers using a dosing device with the reinforcement of a psychoeducational intervention designed ad hoc (experimental group).

Detailed Description

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Background. Population aging is leading to an increase in the number of multi-pathological and polymedicated patients. These patients are at increased risk of suffering adverse events due to medication errors (ME), especially if Barthel≤55. The management of their medication places an added burden of stress on those who assume responsibility for their care. This task, due to the existing gender gap, falls more often on women.

Objective. To promote the safe use of medication in the home by those who assume the role of caregivers of these patients.

Method. Mixed research study. First: Nominal groups (N=128) and survey (N=1255) to design a psychoeducational intervention aimed at caregivers based on the identification of ME, its causes and consequences, and risk factors that contribute to ME. Second: Single-subject experimental design (two groups, experimental and control, with pre-post measures) to determine the effectiveness of the psycho-educational intervention (n=142).

Setting. Primary care centers and caregivers' associations and training schools in Alicante, Granada, Madrid, Pamplona, Seville, and Zaragoza.

Expected results. Identify critical elements for medication risk management in the home by caregivers. Low-cost psycho-educational intervention for safer use of medication adjusted to the possible different needs of male and female caregivers. The transfer of results will be mainly oriented to reinforce the action carried out by nursing and caregivers' training schools.

Conditions

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Caregivers of Multi-pathological and Polypharmacy Adults

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Participants. Caregivers of multi-pathological and polypharmacy patients (Barthel equal to or lower than 55). Recruitment will be carried out by simple randomization based on the diaries of patients seen in the last 18 months in the collaborating centers.

Intervention. Psychoeducational intervention based on virtual reality aimed at increasing self-efficacy and health literacy in medication use.

Procedure. By simple randomization, participants will be assigned to one of the two groups (control or experimental) after giving their informed consent. They will not know to which group they belong.

Treatments. The subjects in the control group will use a dosing device and will receive information on how to use it to avoid medication errors. The experimental group will receive the psychoeducational intervention and the same medication device. The experimental group will receive the psychoeducational intervention. Intervention period: 15 days. Follow-up: 6 months.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Caregivers

Study Groups

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Experimental Group (Psychoeducational Intervention)

Seventy one caregivers of multi-pathological and polypharmacy patients will receive psychoeducational intervention based on virtual reality and a dosing device for safer medication use at home. The intervention will be developed in a previous project phase using a mixed methodology (observational study and qualitative techniques). The intervention will be group-based and consist of motivational discussions and a review of audiovisual materials to promote self-efficacy and health literacy on the safe use of medication at home (most frequent errors, preventive strategies, etc.). Study period: 15 days intervention and follow-up 6 months.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Psychoeducational intervention for safe medication use at home + Medication dosing device

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The intervention is yet to be defined. Psychoeducational intervention based on virtual reality, demonstrations, and psychoeducational content using virtual reality. Contents:

Most frequent medication errors at home. Approaches to risk management in the home. Correct use of the most common medications in different patient profiles. Strategies to avoid medication errors. Guidance to alleviate the burden of responsibility suffered by women as a result of the gender bias derived from assuming the caregiver role.

Other.

Control Group (Dosing Device)

The 71 subjects assigned to the control group will use a medication dosing device and will receive information on how to use it for medication errors. Study period: 15 days intervention and follow-up 6 months.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Medication dosing device

Intervention Type DEVICE

Use of medication dosing device.

Interventions

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Psychoeducational intervention for safe medication use at home + Medication dosing device

The intervention is yet to be defined. Psychoeducational intervention based on virtual reality, demonstrations, and psychoeducational content using virtual reality. Contents:

Most frequent medication errors at home. Approaches to risk management in the home. Correct use of the most common medications in different patient profiles. Strategies to avoid medication errors. Guidance to alleviate the burden of responsibility suffered by women as a result of the gender bias derived from assuming the caregiver role.

Other.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Medication dosing device

Use of medication dosing device.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Caregivers of multi-pathological and polypharmacy patients (Barthel equal to or less than 55).
* Residence in Alicante, Granada, Madrid, Pamplona, Seville, or Zaragoza (in the patient's home or the family member's home).
* At patient's charge for at least six months during the year.

Exclusion Criteria

* Caregivers of patients who are institutionalized a minimum of 3 months per year.
* Caregivers with experience of more than six months in the use of medication dosing devices.
* Health education/profession.
* Filing of a property claim in the last 5 years.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Servicio Aragonés de Salud (SALUD)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fondo de Investigación en Salud (FIS)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital General de Elda

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Servicio Navarro de Salud - Osasunbidea

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital Universitari Sant Joan d'Alacant

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital Universitario San Cecilio

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fundación Pública Andaluza Progreso y Salud

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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José Joaquín Mira

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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José Joaquín Mira, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Univ. Miguel Hernández; Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la CV

Locations

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Miguel Hernández University

Elche, Alicante, Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

References

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Other Identifiers

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PI21/00646

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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