PARTNER study: Reducing drug risks through innovative cooperation between doctors and pharmacists

Taking five or more medications at the same time, known as multi-medication, is now the norm for many older patients. Multimedication can be appropriate, but it increases the risk of serious side effects that can have a lasting impact on the quality of life of senior citizens - for example through cognitive impairment, bleeding or falls that can lead to bone fractures. Closer cooperation between pharmacies and GP practices is a promising way to avoid such consequences. It is to be trialled in the new PARTNER study.

Almost nine million hospital admissions in Europe every year are attributed to adverse drug reactions - around half of these could be avoided. According to a study conducted at four large university hospitals in Germany, 6.5% of all emergency department admissions are caused by adverse drug reactions. The risk is particularly high for patients over 65 with multiple medications.

Review prescriptions regularly

Medical guidelines for the prevention of side effects with multi-medication recommend a regular review of prescriptions. In many cases, a supplementary structured analysis is useful: it promotes patient consent and motivation to take the medication. In addition, the effects of medication changes can be monitored in this way; doctors can react promptly.

"In order to sustainably increase medication safety with multi-medication, GPs, pharmacists and patients must pull together. Instruments have been developed for this purpose and we now want to test their use and effects in the PARTNER study," says Prof Dr Achim Mortsiefer, who is leading the study at Witten/Herdecke University. "We have already recruited several GP practices and pharmacies that want to take part in testing the intensified collaboration for some patients," reports Sophie Peter, project coordinator at the Witten site.

Key data on the study

The project is being subsidised by public funds from the Innovation Fund (G-BA) with around 2.05 million euros. The Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (iamag) at Witten/Herdecke University is participating as one of three study centres alongside Bielefeld University and LMU Munich. The consortium is led by Prof Tobias Dreischulte, Institute of General Practice at LMU Munich Hospital.

The PARTNER study will run until 31 May 2025. GP practices, pharmacies and patients who are interested in participating or would like further information are welcome to contact projekt-partner@uni-wh.de. You can also find information on the project website: https://www.partner-studie.de/partner