Development of the Medicines Optimisation Assessment Tool (MOAT) v2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of the Medicines Optimisation Assessment Tool (MOAT) v2
IRAS ID
197298
Contact name
Bryony Dean Franklin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
UCL Data Protection Registration Number, Z6364106/2015/08/31; ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02582463
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Development of the Medicines Optimisation Assessment Tool (MOAT) - Targeting hospital pharmacists' input to reduce risks and improve patient outcomes
The overall goal of clinical pharmacy is to promote the appropriate use of medicines to optimise medication-related outcomes. Hospital clinical pharmacists have been shown to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care, but resources are finite and pharmacists often have to focus on those patients perceived as being at ‘highest risk’. Many potential risk factors have been identified (e.g. increasing age, poor kidney function, certain medicines), but currently there is no evidence-based method to predict which factors, or combination of factors, convey the greatest risks.
The aim of this research is to develop a prediction-tool, the Medicines Optimisation Assessment Tool (MOAT), to assist hospital pharmacists identify patients at highest risk of preventable medication related problems (MRPs). This has the potential to permit pharmacists to identify and focus on the small number of patients (approximately 6%) who are likely to experience a significant MRP while in hospital. The anticipated benefits include improvements in the health and wellbeing of patients, and more efficient use of NHS resources.
Information about 2,000 adult patients from the medical wards at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital will be included in the study. Data will be collected on risk (prognostic) factors together with details of MRPs that occur, and this will be analysed (using a statistical method called regression analysis) to develop the prediction-tool. Patients will not undergo any additional tests or questioning, and there will be no changes made to their treatment. All information will be anonymised.
Funding has been awarded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) as part of a 3-year Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
16/WA/0016
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion