a collaborative approach to better, safer medication management
ASPIRE
TRIAL
A systems approach to enhancing community-based medication review
ABOUT
THE STUDY
Medication-related problems are common in the period after hospital admissions. During this transition of care, some people experience harm because their medicines have changed and they are unclear about which medicines to take. The risk of harm can be greater for older people and people who take multiple medicines. Medication reviews are government-funded services provided by GPs and accredited pharmacists to check that a person’s medicines are safe and appropriate. Currently, few people who might benefit are offered a medication review when they leave hospital.
In this study we are testing whether a new way of arranging a medication review when a person leaves hospital can prevent harm and the need for them to go back to hospital.
Hear more about the study in the video from Professor Timothy Chen.
WHERE
IS THE STUDY
TAKING PLACE
Four participating centres in New South Wales and Queensland:
NEWCASTLE
John Hunter Hospital
Hunter New England and Central Coast PHN
NORTHERN SYDNEY
Royal North Shore Hospital Northern Sydney PHN
BRISBANE NORTH
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Brisbane North PHN
MURRUMBIDGEE
Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
Murrumbidgee PHN
The Hospitals are the recruitment sites. People admitted to these hospitals who meet study criteria and may benefit from a medication review after discharge will be invited to join the study.
The Primary Care Networks (PHNs) are the coordination sites. In the intervention phase of the study, the PHN Medication Safety Hub will support GPs and accredited pharmacists to provide a medication review.
Participant’s home or aged care home is where medication reviews, where offered by GPs and consented to by participants, will be conducted by an accredited pharmacist together with the participant. The medication review will be conducted according to the government’s Medication Management Programs guidelines.
ANSWERING
YOUR
QUESTIONS
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Who can take part in the study?People admitted to a study hospital who are 45 years and over who meet screening criteria and are assessed by the research pharmacist as being at risk of medication harm after discharge will be invited to take part. Participation in the study is entirely voluntary.
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How are GPs and pharmacists involved?The study involves setting up a new way of arranging a medication review for people likely to benefit from one when they leave hospital. A Medication Safety Hub (the Hub) will be set up at each participating PHN in the intervention phase. The Hub will support GPs and accredited pharmacists to offer, and provide, timely medication reviews to study participants. The Hub will also run professional development activities on medication topics for GPs and pharmacists.
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Who is running the study?A multidisciplinary team of researchers, led by Professor Timothy Chen, School of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney, is responsible for running the study. The team includes researchers from the University of Sydney, University of Newcastle, University of South Australia, Curtin University and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. It also includes local researchers responsible for running the study at each centre.
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When is the study starting and how long will it last?The study started in March 2023 and will run for about 2 years. Participants will be in the study for about 3 months.
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How many people will take part in the trial and how long will the trial last?More than 2100 across the four centres.
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PARTNERS AND
SUPPORTERS
The ASPIRE trial is funded by a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant.
The trial is sponsored by The University of Sydney.
Northern Sydney Local Health District
The Northern Sydney PHN: Sydney North Health Network
Hunter and New England Local Health District
Queensland Health Metro North Hospital and Health Service
Brisbane North Primary Health Network
The Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network
Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
Murrumbidgee
Local Health District
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network
CONTACT
THE ASPIRE
TRIAL
Study Coordinator
The ASPIRE Trial
A16 Badham Building
School of Pharmacy
Science Road
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF COUNTRY
We acknowledge the tradition of custodianship and law of the Country on the locations in which this study is taking place. We pay our respects to those who have cared and continue to care for Country.
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