Team Alice's Medication Safety and Empowerment Curriculum (MedSEC) helps older adults and caregivers learn how to safely manage medications. Many seniors take multiple medications, which can lead to harmful side effects or unnecessary treatments. This program, developed at the University at Buffalo, will be offered at senior centers in Western New York. It includes two interactive sessions that teach participants how to recognize medication risks and talk with their doctors about safer options. The curriculum uses videos, group discussions, and hands-on tools to build confidence and knowledge. It follows the "4Ms" of Age-Friendly Health Systems: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. A "Train-the-Trainer" model will help senior center staff continue the program long-term. The goal is to reduce medication harm, improve communication with healthcare providers, and support healthy aging in the community.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
125
A two-part interactive curriculum that will improve medication safety awareness and empower participants to engage in conversations with healthcare providers. The focus of this study will be to evaluate the impact of the MedSEC on patient/care-partner knowledge and medication management patient activation levels. A pre/post study that surveys older adults/caregivers pre-curriculum intervention and post-curriculum intervention, in addition to 6 months after program completion.
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, United States
RECRUITINGEvaluate the impact of the MedSEC on patient/care-partner knowledge and activation levels in managing medications through the Patient Activation Measure (PAM)
Study seeks to enhance patient and care-partner activation, reduce polypharmacy and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and improve shared decision-making through the Patient Activation Measure (PAM).
Time frame: Change from baseline (Day 1), post-program assessment (immediately after educational session 2, Day 7), and 6 months after program completion.
Evaluate the impact of the MedSEC on patient/care-partner knowledge and activation levels in managing medications through the Revised Patient Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaires.
Study seeks to enhance patient and care-partner activation, reduce polypharmacy and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and improve shared decision-making through the Revised Patient Attitudes Towards Deprescirbing (rPATD) questionnaires.
Time frame: Change from baseline (Day 1), post-program assessment (immediately after educational session 2, Day 7), and 6 months after program completion.
Change from Baseline in participant understanding of medication safety risks at 6 Months.
85% of participants will demonstrate an understanding of medication safety risks through pre- and post-program patient/caregiver questionnaires, including the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) and Revised Patient Attitudes to Deprescribing (rPATD). Additional questions pertaining to knowledge retention and actionability will be asked at 6 months.
Time frame: Change from baseline (Day 1), post-program assessment (immediately after educational session 2, Day 7), and 6 months after program completion.
Participants will demonstrate knowledge of the 4Ms (Age-Friendly Health System) framework through pre/post/6 month follow up questionnaires.
By the end of the program, 80% of participants will demonstate knowledge of the 4Ms framework, measured by four questions related to the 4Ms and the Age-Friendly Health System taken prior to the program, immediately post-program, and 6 months after program completion.
Time frame: Change from baseline, post-program assessment (immediately after program completion), and 6 months after program completion.
Change in patient engagement as measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) from baseline to 6 months post program.
6 months post-program, 65% of participants will show improved patient engagement, as measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) questionnaire.
Time frame: Change from baseline (Day 1), post-program assessment (immediately after educational session 2, Day 7), and 6 months after program completion.
Change from baseline in the mean of medications after 6 months follow-up
Within 6 months of completing program, 50% of participants with polypharmacy will have reduced medication usage by 10%. (mean # of medications.)
Time frame: Change from baseline and 6 months after program completion.
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