The Geriatric Emergency Department Pharmacologic Harm Prevention Project
Florida Atlantic University
Summary
The goal of this project is to determine whether pharmacogenomic testing (using participants' DNA) can help optimize medication prescribing and reduce side effects in older adults taking five or more medications. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can DNA-based prescribing reduce medication-related side effects, especially falls and fall-related injuries? * Does providing pharmacogenomic results to primary care physicians improve medication safety compared with usual care? Researchers will compare two groups: 1. DNA Care Pathway: Physicians receive patients' DNA results to guide prescribing. 2. Emergency Department Care Pathway: Physicians provide usual care; DNA results are shared only after study completion. Participants will: * Provide a cheek swab sample for DNA analysis (1 minute). * Receive monthly follow-up phone calls for 6 months to track falls, injuries, medication changes, and side effects. * Complete a fall and medication calendar. * Allow researchers to review primary care physician medical records for study outcomes. Approximately 1,000 participants will take part, with follow-up lasting about 6-7 months.
Description
Background and Rationale Medication prescribing is one of the most common medical interventions. In the U.S., 81% of adults report taking at least one medication in the past week, and 50% take prescription medications. Among older adults, 39% meet the criteria for polypharmacy, defined as the use of five or more chronic medications. Polypharmacy is strongly associated with adverse drug events (ADEs). Each day, approximately 750 older adults in the U.S. are hospitalized due to ADEs, with half of these patients taking five or more medications. Nearly 60% of older adults are prescribed at least…