ACMICS: A hospital anticholinergic clinical decision support system
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Designing and pilot testing an anticholinergic medication index clinical decision support system (ACMICS) for use in hospitals to support safer prescribing for older people at risk of medication-related harm.
IRAS ID
336201
Contact name
Aseel Abuzour
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background
Almost one in five older adults (aged 65+) are prescribed anticholinergic medicines for different issues (e.g. bladder or mood). Taking more than one anticholinergic medicine can lead to problems like confusion and falls, which are common reasons for going into hospital. There are around 88 commonly prescribed anticholinergic medicines. Not all healthcare professionals know them and sometimes patients leave the hospital with more anticholinergic medicines than when they came in. In previous work, we developed an Anticholinergic Medication Index calculator and training materials for General Practices. We want to develop this so that it can be used in hospital. This project will benefit older adults by reducing the risk of harm from anticholinergic medicines and the potential loss of independence. This could make a big difference for patients, the NHS and social care.
Aim
To design and test an Anticholinergic Medication Index Clinical Decision Support System (ACMICS) calculator for use in hospital electronic patient records to automatically identify patients at risk of harm from anticholinergic medicines.
Method
We will watch healthcare professionals in two Trusts to understand how they use the electronic patient record to handle patient’s medicines. We will analyse this, with help from healthcare professionals, patient groups and a computer expert, to design ACMICS. ACMICS will be tested in the hospital’s electronic patient records. We will create a plan for other hospitals to use it. With input from patient groups and healthcare professionals, we will change ACMICS training materials for hospital staff. We will interview healthcare professionals and patients to understand how ACMICS was used. This will help us make any necessary improvements. We will create a guide to help hospitals integrate ACMICS into work routines. Finally, we will collect routine inpatient data (e.g. falls, delirium), ACMI score changes, to assess trial feasibility.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0202
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion