title: Detection of drug related problems in an interdisciplinary health care model for rural areas in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The disparity between an increasing complexity of patients' treatment and the declining number of general practitioners (GP) require action. The AGnES-concept (general practitioner-relieving, community-based, e-health assisted, systemic intervention) is based on the delegation of original physician-activities to qualified AGnES-practice assistants. Purposes of AGnES part 1 were to determine the feasibility of community-based home medication reviews (HMR) and the establishment of a health professional network to identify drug related problems (DRP) in the domicile of elderly patients. Two consecutive studies (AGNES 2 + 3) were conducted to implement HMR.
  
  
  METHODS
  General practices on the isle of Rugia in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a German rural area. Patients who receive regular home visits by their GP were addressed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study-instruments for the feasibility study (AGnES 1) were designed by an expert panel and modified for the implementation (AGnES 2 + 3) studies. HMR were conducted by additionally qualified AGnES-practice assistants regarding DRP like drug-drug interaction (DDI), adverse drug reactions (ADR), and compliance. DRP-selection was inspired by the coding system Pi-Doc. Pharmacists checked DRP and intervened, if necessary. 18 (AGnES 1) and 60 (AGnES 2 + 3) geriatric patients received a minimum of two home visits by an AGnES-practice assistant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feasibility was assessed by patients' satisfaction with care provided by the AGnES-practice assistant. For implementation reported DRP and the conducted interventions were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During AGnES 1 a documentation sheet was developed and tested. 56 potential DDI were identified. 37 of 112 drugs which caused potential interactions were attributed to OTC medication and food components. 84% of respondents judged the systematic evaluation of their pharmacotherapy as helpful. During AGnES 2 + 3 local pharmacists identified DDIs in 45% of patients. Seven patients (11.6%) reported at least one ADR attributable to their current medication. Those patients who received a second HMR (n = 29) during AGnES 2 + 3 rated the HMR as reasonable 65.5% (n = 19), and partly reasonable 24.1% (n = 7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By comprehensive HMR conducted by AGnES-practice assistants in delegation of the patients' GPs in cooperation with local pharmacists we could identify a considerable prevalence of DRP under real-life conditions. Further studies should recruit more participants including a control group with usual care.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Ellernholzstr. 1-2, 17487, Greifswald, Germany. Thomas.Fiss@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fiss
authors.forename: Christoph Alexander
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alte
authors.forename: Neeltje
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D032022:Delegation, Professional; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D004347:Drug Interactions; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*