Eligible Patients Are Aged 65 Years or More Admitted to One of the Five Medicines for Older People Wards, Who Have ACB Score of 3 or MoreDARTNCT07599735
The Feasibility and Acceptability of a Collaborative Deprescribing Intervention to Reduce Anticholinergic Burden Among Hospitalised Older Patients
An observational study of Eligible Patients Are Aged 65 Years or More Admitted to One of the Five Medicines for Older People Wards, Who Have ACB Score of 3 or More, run by University of Southampton at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
The feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative deprescribing intervention to reduce anticholinergic burden among hospitalised older patients Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Eligible Patients Are Aged 65 Years or More Admitted to One of the Five Medicines for Older People Wards, Who Have ACB Score of 3 or More
- What is being tested?
- Patients will receive a collaborative deprescribing intervention
- How many people
- 21 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 22 May 2025to 1 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Study population: Patients aged 65 years or more admitted to one of the five Medicine for Older People wards, who have ACB score of 3 or more
Who may be able to join
- Eligible patients aged 65 years or more admitted to one of the five Medicine for Older People wards, who have ACB score of 3 or more
Who cannot join
- Those who are expected to have a limited life expectancy, receiving palliative care will be excluded.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative deprescribing intervention to reduce anticholinergic burden among hospitalised older patients
Read the detailed description
Why this research is important? It is estimated that over one third of all older adults are prescribed medication which are known to have "anticholinergic" side effects. These anticholinergic side effects can include an increased risk of falls, delirium, and memory problems. People who have a high number of anticholinergic medications have an increased risk of these side effects. This can be measured as their anticholinergic burden (ACB). Several tools have been developed to assess the ACB score, by checking a person's medication list, with the aim of reducing these medications where possible (deprescribing).
The study aim The project team worked with a company to design an online tool which can calculate the total ACB score for patients using their electronic medication list. It can also list the individual anticholinergic medications contributing to that score. Patients with high ACB score will be highlighted to healthcare staff including pharmacists, nurses, and doctors. In this project, we plan to understand how this tool can be used by clinicians in older persons wards to reduce the number of anticholinergic medications prescribed where appropriate.
Our approach Working with doctors and pharmacists in one large hospital, we agreed how the tool should be used. First, pharmacists with check weekly using the digital tool how many patients have high ACB scores. Then they would highlight in patients' medical notes the list of medications with high anticholinergic effects using a sticker note. The doctor looking after the patient then sees the note which would prompt him/her to either stop the drug, reduce the dose or switch to a safer drug.
We will test this intervention among 50 patients admitted to older people wards. We will collect information before and after receiving the intervention including number and type of medications prescribed, quality of life, and cognition. We will also talk to staff and patients to understand their views about the intervention, any challenges, and how to improve the process.
Involving patients and public Two patient and public contributors have been actively involved in developing this research proposal. They represent an older person with comorbidity and polypharmacy and a carer, and both have lived experience of managing polypharmacy following hospital admission. They will continue to provide input on study procedures and materials and contribute to plans for sharing the findings.
Sharing the study findings We will share the findings with public, health professionals, researchers and policymakers through plain English summaries, social media, policy briefing documents, scientific papers, conferences and other meetings.
- Being tested
- Patients will receive a collaborative deprescribing intervention
- Keywords
- anticholinergic burden, older people, polypharmacy, frailty
- Medical subject headings
- Frailty
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Patients will receive a collaborative deprescribing interventionOther
Patients will receive a collaborative deprescribing intervention including: 1) pharmacist-led identification of patients using TRISCRIBE digital tool and highlighting anticholinergics medications on their clinical notes for targeted deprescribing, 2) doctor-led medication review to stop, reduce dose or switch to safer alternatives based on individual patient needs, and 3) highlighting and communicating medication changes to GP on discharge summaries.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
number of medications
number of medications
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
anticholinergic burden scores
anticholinergic burden scores
Measured: baseline and 3 months
Activities of Daily Living
Activities of Daily Living
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
frailty status
frailty status
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
cognition
cognition
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
Health related quality of life (SF36)
Heath related quality of life (SF36)
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
delirium
delirium
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Healthcare resouce use
Healthcare resource use
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
adverse events
adverse events
Measured: Baseline and 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 May 2026
- Study start22 May 2025
- Primary completion1 Feb 2026
- Study completion1 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Eligible Patients Are Aged 65 Years or More Admitted to One of the Five Medicines for Older People Wards, Who Have ACB Score of 3 or MoreStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Other
- Enrolment
- 21 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Southampton
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kinda Ibrahim, University of Southampton
- Investigators
- Kinda Ibrahim, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Southampton
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07599735
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- DART351020
- Acronym
- DART
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 14 May 2026
- Last updated
- 20 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The individual participant data (IPD) that support the findings of this study are not publicly available due to privacy and confidentiality restrictions. The dataset contains small sample size and potentially identifiable information, and sharing the raw data could compromise participant confidentiality. Aggregated data supporting the findings will be included within the published article.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Feasibility and Acceptability of a Collaborative Deprescribing Intervention to Reduce Anticholinergic Burden Among Hospitalised Older Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07599735
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DART / DART351020
- Keywords
- anticholinergic burden, older people, polypharmacy, frailty
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 21 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of SouthamptonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 May 2026 (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 feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative deprescribing intervention to reduce anticholinergic burden among hospitalised older patients
Detailed description
Why this research is important? It is estimated that over one third of all older adults are prescribed medication which are known to have "anticholinergic" side effects. These anticholinergic side effects can include an increased risk of falls, delirium, and memory problems. People who have a high number of anticholinergic medications have an increased risk of these side effects. This can be measured as their anticholinergic burden (ACB). Several tools have been developed to assess the ACB score, by checking a person's medication list, with the aim of reducing these medications where possible (deprescribing).
The study aim The project team worked with a company to design an online tool which can calculate the total ACB score for patients using their electronic medication list. It can also list the individual anticholinergic medications contributing to that score. Patients with high ACB score will be highlighted to healthcare staff including pharmacists, nurses, and doctors. In this project, we plan to understand how this tool can be used by clinicians in older persons wards to reduce the number of anticholinergic medications prescribed where appropriate.
Our approach Working with doctors and pharmacists in one large hospital, we agreed how the tool should be used. First, pharmacists with check weekly using the digital tool how many patients have high ACB scores. Then they would highlight in patients' medical notes the list of medications with high anticholinergic effects using a sticker note. The doctor looking after the patient then sees the note which would prompt him/her to either stop the drug, reduce the dose or switch to a safer drug.
We will test this intervention among 50 patients admitted to older people wards. We will collect information before and after receiving the intervention including number and type of medications prescribed, quality of life, and cognition. We will also talk to staff and patients to understand their views about the intervention, any challenges, and how to improve the process.
Involving patients and public Two patient and public contributors have been actively involved in developing this research proposal. They represent an older person with comorbidity and polypharmacy and a carer, and both have lived experience of managing polypharmacy following hospital admission. They will continue to provide input on study procedures and materials and contribute to plans for sharing the findings.
Sharing the study findings We will share the findings with public, health professionals, researchers and policymakers through plain English summaries, social media, policy briefing documents, scientific papers, conferences and other meetings.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Other
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
- Study population
- Patients aged 65 years or more admitted to one of the five Medicine for Older People wards, who have ACB score of 3 or more
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Eligible patients aged 65 years or more admitted to one of the five Medicine for Older People wards, who have ACB score of 3 or more
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Those who are expected to have a limited life expectancy, receiving palliative care will be excluded.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Patients will receive a collaborative deprescribing interventionPatients will receive a collaborative deprescribing intervention including: 1) pharmacist-led identification of patients using TRISCRIBE digital tool and highlighting anticholinergics medications on their clinical notes for targeted deprescribing, 2) doctor-led medication review to stop, reduce dose or switch to safer alternatives based on individual patient needs, and 3) highlighting and communicating medication changes to GP on discharge summaries. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
number of medications
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
number of medications
anticholinergic burden scores
Time frame: baseline and 3 months
anticholinergic burden scores
Activities of Daily Living
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Activities of Daily Living
frailty status
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
frailty status
cognition
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
cognition
Health related quality of life (SF36)
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Heath related quality of life (SF36)
delirium
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
delirium
2 secondary outcomes
Healthcare resouce use
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
adverse events
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 May 2026.
- DART websiteLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The individual participant data (IPD) that support the findings of this study are not publicly available due to privacy and confidentiality restrictions. The dataset contains small sample size and potentially identifiable information, and sharing the raw data could compromise participant confidentiality. Aggregated data supporting the findings will be included within the published article.
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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Kinda Ibrahim, PhD principal investigator
University of Southampton
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Eligible Patients Are Aged 65 Years or More Admitted to One of the Five Medicines for Older People Wards, Who Have ACB Score of 3 or More, run by University of Southampton at 1 site in United Kingdom.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 May 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 United Kingdom. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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 medications (time frame: Baseline and 3 months). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 20 May 2026.