Optimizing PharmacoTherapy In the Multimorbid Elderly in Primary CAre: a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (the OPTICA Trial)

STRIPA is a Dutch software-based tool for the support of the pharmaceutical analysis by 1) taking into account the predictable adverse medication effects, 2) advising safe and appropriate therapy using established STOPP/START criteria, 3) interaction monitoring, and 4) appropriate dosing in accordance with renal function. It represents a highly efficient and user-friendly software engine, which is capable of individually screening the clinical status and pharmacological therapy of older patients with multimorbidity, which can define optimal drug therapy, and which can highlight the adverse drug reaction risk. A summary of these outputs will be used as STRIPA recommendations, which will, if applicable, be implemented by GPs and patients. Prior to the STRIPA medication review, the necessary patient information will be loaded from the FIRE database that contains data from more than 300 Swiss GP practices.

Patients being assigned to the control arm will be treated in accordance with standard care. They will receive a sham intervention, which consists of a usual medication review by their GP and a shared decision making between patient and GP.