title: [Suitability of pharmacological treatment in patients with multiple chronic conditions].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify tools for measuring the appropriateness of drug therapy useful in patients with multiple chronic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a literature review.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following database were consulted (December 2009): Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Spanish Medical Index (IME) to detect tools for measuring the appropriateness of treatment in patients with multiple chronic conditions, or otherwise elderly or polypharmacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were identified both qualitative and quantitative methodology, both theoretical and field work, both original and revised work and included work from all areas of the health system. 108 articles were retrieved, of which we selected 59. The consultation of their references include 20 jobs allowed, resulting in a total of 59 articles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of all the tools identified, the researchers performed a selection of those with possible utility for classified PP. The articles were classified into implicit and explicit methods and the characteristics of the field works were tabulated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified two implicit methods (MAI and Hamdy) and 6 explicit methods (Beers criteria, IPET, STOPP/START, ACOVE, CRIME and NORGEP). None was specific to patients with multiple chronic conditions. The questionnaire MAI, the Beers criteria and its modifications are most often used in literature. The advantages of explicit criteria means that many of them have been developed recently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are several tools to measure the appropriateness and none of them has been designed for a population of patients with multiple chronic conditions yet, which by its nature requires a specific approach spreads.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España. mercedes.galvan.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galván-Banqueri
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santos-Ramos
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Vega-Coca
authors.forename: Eva Rocío
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Alfaro-Lara
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nieto-Martín
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez-Guerrero
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans