Educational Brochure for Overmedication

Overseen By Patricia Kim

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Must be taking: PPIs, Benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

50 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how an educational brochure for deprescribing can help reduce overmedication in World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers. It focuses on assisting these individuals and their doctors in discussing the cessation of unnecessary medications. The trial targets WTC responders aged 50 or older who are taking medications such as certain heartburn drugs, sedatives, antihistamines, or muscle relaxants. The goal is to support healthier aging by reducing potentially unnecessary medications. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to important research that could enhance medication management for many.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it focuses on reducing unnecessary medications, so you might discuss changes with your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this educational approach is safe for WTC responders?

Research has shown that using an educational brochure to help stop unnecessary medications can be safe. Deprescribing, which involves stopping medicines that aren't needed, helps reduce the number of drugs a person takes. Studies have found that this can lower the risk of adverse reactions often linked with taking many medications.

One study assessed safety by examining whether people had fewer hospital or emergency room visits after stopping some medications. The results showed no increase in these visits, suggesting that it's a safe approach. However, healthcare providers must closely monitor patients to ensure safety. Overall, using educational materials to guide conversations between patients and doctors about medication use has proven to be a well-tolerated method. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike traditional medication-based approaches to managing overmedication, the educational brochure for deprescribing is unique because it empowers patients with knowledge. Instead of relying on pharmaceuticals, this method focuses on educating individuals—specifically, World Trade Center (WTC) responders—about the risks of overmedication and how to reduce unnecessary drug use safely. Researchers are excited about this approach because it promotes patient involvement and informed decision-making, potentially leading to safer medication practices and improved health outcomes without the need for additional drugs.

What evidence suggests that this educational brochure is effective for reducing polypharmacy?

Research has shown that educating patients and doctors about reducing unnecessary medications can improve health. In this trial, participants will receive an educational brochure for deprescribing. One study found that when patients and doctors learn about "deprescribing" (cutting down on unneeded medicines), health outcomes improve. Specifically, taking fewer medications can help people live longer, especially older adults. Reviews suggest that these educational methods work well in regular doctor visits, leading to better conversations between patients and their doctors. Overall, evidence supports that educational tools, like brochures, are important for safely reducing medication use. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Fred Ko, MD

Principal Investigator

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for World Trade Center responders who are aging and may be taking five or more medications, putting them at risk of overmedication. The study aims to help these individuals reduce unnecessary medication through education.

Inclusion Criteria

A WTC responder already enrolled in the 'Promoting Healthy Aging Among WTC Responders: Frailty Trajectories and Intervention Strategies' study cohort

I am 50 years old or older.

I am currently taking medication from one of the specified classes (PPIs, BZs, Z-drugs, FGAs, or SMRs).

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline surveys about beliefs and attitudes regarding medications and de-prescribing

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants review educational brochures and discuss deprescribing options with their prescriber

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in medication management and attitudes towards deprescribing

6 months

2 visits (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Educational brochure for deprescribing

Trial Overview The intervention being tested is an educational brochure designed to guide WTC responders on deprescribing, encouraging informed conversations with their doctors about managing multiple medications.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: World Trade Center (WTC) Responders Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers (responders).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Lead Sponsor

Trials

933

Recruited

579,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12542571/

Effectiveness of educational interventions in general practice ... The objective of this review is to identify, describe and evaluate educational interventions targeting GPs, aimed at improving medication ...

2. bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.16200

The effect of deprescribing interventions on mortality and ... Previous systematic reviews suggest that deprescribing may improve survival, particularly in frail older people.

3. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2790390

Deprescribing Education vs Usual Care for Patients With ... This cluster randomized clinical trial examines the effectiveness of educating patients and clinicians about the potential to deprescribe ...

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41120162/?utm_source=FeedFetcher&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=None&utm_content=1PyjUGRaEF2PUMF71dh0e7P325WvwCXlURDt9bVV0cAZHNdYg9&fc=None&ff=20251022223901&v=2.18.0.post22+67771e2

Effectiveness of educational interventions in general ... The objective of this review is to identify, describe and evaluate educational interventions targeting GPs, aimed at improving medication ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667032125000411

Polypharmacy and deprescribing among geriatric patients Polypharmacy is increasingly common among middle-aged and geriatric patients, raising concerns about overprescribing, adverse outcomes, and healthcare costs ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11420822/

Patient-Directed Education to Promote Deprescribing Nearly 1 in 5 (17.1%) US adults take 5 or more medications, a commonly accepted threshold for polypharmacy, escalating to 50% among older adults ...

7. pharmacy.uconn.edu pharmacy.uconn.edu/course/polypharmacy/

Patient Safety: Polypharmacy in Vulnerable Older Adults Deprescribing is the process of healthcare professional-supervised medication withdrawal with the goal of managing polypharmacy and improving ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/375772503_Evaluating_the_Safety_of_an_Educational_Deprescribing_Intervention_Lessons_from_the_Optimize_Trial

Evaluating the Safety of an Educational Deprescribing ... Safety outcomes included mortality, hospitalisations and emergency department visits as these are the most commonly used outcome measures in deprescribing ...

9. ismpcanada.ca ismpcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/ISMPCSB2018-03-Deprescribing.pdf

Managing Medications to Reduce Polypharmacy Deprescribing requires close, consistent monitoring of the patient to ensure that the medication taper or discontinuation is both safe and ...

10. psnet.ahrq.gov psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/deprescribing-patient-safety-strategy

Deprescribing as a Patient Safety Strategy | PSNet Current data suggest that the risk for experiencing an ADE is 88% higher among patients taking five or more medications compared to patients ...