Medication ReviewSINERGICNCT07283055
A Swiss Interprofessional Network for Reviewing Inappropriate Medication in Primary Care
A study testing Medication review in people with Medication Review and Primary Care, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
The aim of the SINERGIC pilot study is to assess the feasibility in the Swiss context of implementing interprofessional medication reviews between GP and pharmacists, as part of a shared decision-making process with patients. The acceptability and potential effectiveness of such an intervention will also be assessed. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Medication Review, Primary Care
- What is being tested?
- Medication review
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 250 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 2 Feb 2026to 30 Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 65 years old;
- Regular use of at least 5 medications (chronic treatments, > 3 months);
- Patients with a minimum of 3 chronic diseases;
- Regular follow-up in a GP practice taking part in the project;
- Adequate understanding of French.
- Written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Residence in an institution (residential care facility, nursing home, etc.) ;
- Cognitive impairment preventing understanding or obtaining informed consent;
- Any other clinical situation deemed incompatible with participation, as decided by the GP in charge.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: A Swiss Interprofessional Network for Reviewing Inappropriate Medication in Primary Care: a Pilot Study
The aim of the SINERGIC pilot study is to assess the feasibility in the Swiss context of implementing interprofessional medication reviews between GP and pharmacists, as part of a shared decision-making process with patients. The acceptability and potential effectiveness of such an intervention will also be assessed.
This assessment will enable the investigators to take into account the determining factors for setting up a large-scale study to support the sustainable financing of this service in the long term.
Read the detailed description
The ageing population is leading to an increase in the prevalence of chronic conditions among older adults, often resulting in excessive polypharmacy. Polypharmacy, as well as the prescription of high-risk medications in this population, exposes them to more adverse effects, which can lead to falls and hospitalisation. This problem is of concern to healthcare professionals, whether they be general practitioners (GP), who have an overview of medical records, or dispensing pharmacists, who have an overview of medication. In Switzerland, these two professions still operate often in isolation from each other, but genuine collaboration is essential if we are to improve and manage polypharmacy among the elderly and limit the risks. Medication reviews are recognised as promising strategies for improving the quality of prescribing in patients with multiple medications.
This pilot trial does not randomly select participants and does not include a control group. It is a hybrid study that aims both to test the effectiveness of the intervention and to prepare for its implementation.
The study plans to include at least 250 patients from three groups of general practices in different settings. Participants will be aged 65 or older, take at least five chronic medications, and suffer from at least three chronic conditions. Individuals living in medical institutions will not be included.
Intervention:
- Step 1 (optional): Patients taking at least 10 chronic medications and experiencing adherence or side effect issues may benefit from a specialised consultation with a pharmacist.
- Step 2: The pharmacist identifies any medication-related issues for each patient and discusses them directly with the general practitioner in order to agree on the necessary adjustments.
- Step 3: During a medical appointment, the doctor and patient will decide together whether to implement the proposed changes.
- Step 4: The pharmacist will follow up after a few days and then again after 3 months.
Main objective: To assess whether this service is feasible in the context of the study.
Secondary objectives: Measure whether the intervention is well accepted (questionnaires and interviews) by the patients and healthcare professionals involved.
Exploratory objectives: Study the impact of the intervention on the quality of drug treatments, patients' quality of life and drug costs.
- Conditions
- Medication Review, Primary Care
- Being tested
- Medication review
- Keywords
- Clinical pharmacist, Medication review, Pharmaceutical service, Interprofessionality
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Medication reviewOther
- Step 1 (optional): Patients taking at least 10 chronic medications and experiencing adherence or side effect issues may benefit from a specialised consultation with a pharmacist.
- Step 2: The pharmacist identifies any medication-related issues for each patient and discusses them directly with the general practitioner in order to agree on the necessary adjustments.
- Step 3: During a medical appointment, the doctor and patient will decide together whether to implement the proposed changes.
- Step 4: The pharmacist will follow up after a few days and then again after 3 months.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patient with medication review | Other | Not described Receives: Other: Medication review |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of participants recruited and percentage of participants retained
To assess the ability to recruit patients and retain patients for the duration of the follow-up and, if necessary, to explore the causes leading to their exit from the study; Measure: percentage
Measured: End of the study, expected to be on average after 4-6 months
Number of GPs recruited and percentage of GPs retained
To assess the ability to recruit patients and retain patients for the duration of the follow-up and, if necessary, to explore the causes leading to their exit from the study; Measure: percentage
Measured: End of the study, expected to be on average after 18 months
Secondary outcomes (7)
Score of participants' acceptability of the intervention (Patients Reported Experience Measures)
Patients' acceptability of the service is assessed using a questionnaire adapted from the Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS). This is a short, 6 to 7-item scale used to assess patients' perceptions of the effectiveness of their treatments, and can help identify ways of improving a practice or intervention and responding to patients' concerns. Scale from 1 to 5, with higher values representing higher acceptance
Measured: End of the study, expected to be on average after 4-6 months
Score of the healthcare professionals' acceptability of the intervention
GPs' acceptability of the service is assessed using an online questionnaire inspired by the Collaboration and Satisfaction About Care Decisions (CSACD) questionnaire and the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale (AITCS-II). A 6-items scale from 1 to 5, with higher values representing higher acceptance
Additional semi-structured interviews based on a convenience sample will be conducted with health care professionals taking part to the main study by a trained student, in order to explore the conditions for implementing this new service in ambulatory care.
Measured: End of the study, up to 18 months
Qualitative evaluation of healthcare professionals' acceptability
Semi-structured interviews based on a convenience sample will be conducted with health care professionals taking part to the main study by a trained student, in order to explore the conditions for implementing this new service in ambulatory care.
Free text, qualitative analysis
Measured: End of the study, up to 18 months
Number and percentage of clinically relevant drug related problems resolved
The quality of medication therapy is assessed using a composite criterion based on five types of clinically relevant DRPs, taken from the recommendations of Beuscart et al. These DRPs will be documented using the validated PharmDisc tool adapted to our context. These DRPs reflect the appropriateness of prescribing. Their high frequency reflects poor prescribing quality. In order to standardise their identification, clinical pharmacists will be trained and using a protocol. PIMs will be identified according to the EU(7)-PIM list, which is a Europe-wide list.
Measured: 3 months after medical consultation
Amount of drug cost savings
Savings in drug costs (in CHF) calculated for medications that were modified following the medication review and maintained three months later. The cost difference will be estimated using the change in drug daily dose multiplied by the public price per unit.
Measured: 3 months after medical consultation
Cost of the service
Median cost of the intervention (in CHF) is calculated as the time invested by healthcare professionals (GPs, pharmacists) to conduct it multiplied by their average hourly wage.
Measured: During interprofessional meeting between GP and pharmacist
Score on health-related quality of life (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures or PROMs)
PROMs will be collected using a questionnaire adapted from the iSIMPATHY project, incorporating the EQ-5D-5L. The questionnaire assesses several dimensions: mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression, as well as the patient's priorities in relation to their medication. A convenience sample will be drawn up with a minimum of 10 patients per group of GP practices.
A five-items scale from 1 to 3, with higher values representing worst clinical outcomes
Measured: 3 months after medical consultation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Dec 2025
- Study start2 Feb 2026
- Primary completion30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Medication ReviewStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of BernThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Pilot trial; Before/after comparison
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 250 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Bern
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Camille Lanfranchi, MSc, Study chair, University of Bern (BIHAM)Juliane Fringeli, MSc, Study chair, University of Bern (BIHAM)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07283055
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SINERGIC_01
- Acronym
- SINERGIC
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Once fully anonymized, quantitative data will be annotated and structured to make them sharable, and registered in a FAIR-compliant data repository.
Publications
Mallet L, Spinewine A, Huang A. The challenge of managing drug interactions in elderly people. Lancet. 2007 Jul 14;370(9582):185-191. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61092-7.
PubMed 17630042Liew TM, Lee CS, Goh SKL, Chang ZY. The prevalence and impact of potentially inappropriate prescribing among older persons in primary care settings: multilevel meta-analysis. Age Ageing. 2020 Jul 1;49(4):570-579. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaa057.
PubMed 32365168Cole JA, Goncalves-Bradley DC, Alqahtani M, Barry HE, Cadogan C, Rankin A, Patterson SM, Kerse N, Cardwell CR, Ryan C, Hughes C. Interventions to improve the appropriate use of polypharmacy for older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Oct 11;10(10):CD008165. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008165.pub5.
PubMed 37818791
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Swiss Interprofessional Network for Reviewing Inappropriate Medication in Primary Care: a Pilot Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07283055
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SINERGIC / SINERGIC_01
- Conditions
- Medication Review, Primary Care
- Keywords
- Clinical pharmacist, Medication review, Pharmaceutical service, Interprofessionality
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 250 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of BernUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of the SINERGIC pilot study is to assess the feasibility in the Swiss context of implementing interprofessional medication reviews between GP and pharmacists, as part of a shared decision-making process with patients. The acceptability and potential effectiveness of such an intervention will also be assessed.
This assessment will enable the investigators to take into account the determining factors for setting up a large-scale study to support the sustainable financing of this service in the long term.
Detailed description
The ageing population is leading to an increase in the prevalence of chronic conditions among older adults, often resulting in excessive polypharmacy. Polypharmacy, as well as the prescription of high-risk medications in this population, exposes them to more adverse effects, which can lead to falls and hospitalisation. This problem is of concern to healthcare professionals, whether they be general practitioners (GP), who have an overview of medical records, or dispensing pharmacists, who have an overview of medication. In Switzerland, these two professions still operate often in isolation from each other, but genuine collaboration is essential if we are to improve and manage polypharmacy among the elderly and limit the risks. Medication reviews are recognised as promising strategies for improving the quality of prescribing in patients with multiple medications.
This pilot trial does not randomly select participants and does not include a control group. It is a hybrid study that aims both to test the effectiveness of the intervention and to prepare for its implementation.
The study plans to include at least 250 patients from three groups of general practices in different settings. Participants will be aged 65 or older, take at least five chronic medications, and suffer from at least three chronic conditions. Individuals living in medical institutions will not be included.
Intervention:
- Step 1 (optional): Patients taking at least 10 chronic medications and experiencing adherence or side effect issues may benefit from a specialised consultation with a pharmacist.
- Step 2: The pharmacist identifies any medication-related issues for each patient and discusses them directly with the general practitioner in order to agree on the necessary adjustments.
- Step 3: During a medical appointment, the doctor and patient will decide together whether to implement the proposed changes.
- Step 4: The pharmacist will follow up after a few days and then again after 3 months.
Main objective: To assess whether this service is feasible in the context of the study.
Secondary objectives: Measure whether the intervention is well accepted (questionnaires and interviews) by the patients and healthcare professionals involved.
Exploratory objectives: Study the impact of the intervention on the quality of drug treatments, patients' quality of life and drug costs.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Pilot trial; Before/after comparison
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patient with medication review | Other | Other: Medication review |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age ≥ 65 years old;
- Regular use of at least 5 medications (chronic treatments, > 3 months);
- Patients with a minimum of 3 chronic diseases;
- Regular follow-up in a GP practice taking part in the project;
- Adequate understanding of French.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Residence in an institution (residential care facility, nursing home, etc.) ;
- Cognitive impairment preventing understanding or obtaining informed consent;
- Any other clinical situation deemed incompatible with participation, as decided by the GP in charge.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Medication review* Step 1 (optional): Patients taking at least 10 chronic medications and experiencing adherence or side effect issues may benefit from a specialised consultation with a pharmacist. * Step 2: The pharmacist identifies any medication-related issues for each patient and discusses them directly with the general practitioner in order to agree on the necessary adjustments. * Step 3: During a medical appointment, the doctor and patient will decide together whether to implement the proposed changes. * Step 4: The pharmacist will follow up after a few days and then again after 3 months. | Other | Patient with medication review |
Primary outcome
Number of participants recruited and percentage of participants retained
Time frame: End of the study, expected to be on average after 4-6 months
To assess the ability to recruit patients and retain patients for the duration of the follow-up and, if necessary, to explore the causes leading to their exit from the study; Measure: percentage
Number of GPs recruited and percentage of GPs retained
Time frame: End of the study, expected to be on average after 18 months
To assess the ability to recruit patients and retain patients for the duration of the follow-up and, if necessary, to explore the causes leading to their exit from the study; Measure: percentage
7 secondary outcomes
Score of participants' acceptability of the intervention (Patients Reported Experience Measures)
Time frame: End of the study, expected to be on average after 4-6 months
Score of the healthcare professionals' acceptability of the intervention
Time frame: End of the study, up to 18 months
Qualitative evaluation of healthcare professionals' acceptability
Time frame: End of the study, up to 18 months
Number and percentage of clinically relevant drug related problems resolved
Time frame: 3 months after medical consultation
Amount of drug cost savings
Time frame: 3 months after medical consultation
Cost of the service
Time frame: During interprofessional meeting between GP and pharmacist
Score on health-related quality of life (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures or PROMs)
Time frame: 3 months after medical consultation
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 17630042Mallet L, Spinewine A, Huang A. The challenge of managing drug interactions in elderly people. Lancet. 2007 Jul 14;370(9582):185-191. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61092-7.
- Background: PubMed 32365168Liew TM, Lee CS, Goh SKL, Chang ZY. The prevalence and impact of potentially inappropriate prescribing among older persons in primary care settings: multilevel meta-analysis. Age Ageing. 2020 Jul 1;49(4):570-579. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaa057.
- Background: PubMed 37818791Cole JA, Goncalves-Bradley DC, Alqahtani M, Barry HE, Cadogan C, Rankin A, Patterson SM, Kerse N, Cardwell CR, Ryan C, Hughes C. Interventions to improve the appropriate use of polypharmacy for older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Oct 11;10(10):CD008165. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008165.pub5.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Once fully anonymized, quantitative data will be annotated and structured to make them sharable, and registered in a FAIR-compliant data repository.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Camille Lanfranchi, MSc study chair
University of Bern (BIHAM)
Juliane Fringeli, MSc study chair
University of Bern (BIHAM)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Medication review in people with Medication Review and Primary Care, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of participants recruited and percentage of participants retained (time frame: End of the study, expected to be on average after 4-6 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07283055, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Feb 2026.