EHR nudges aim to curb dangerous pill overload in seniors
NCT ID NCT05656560
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether simple electronic alerts in doctors' charts can reduce high-risk polypharmacy—taking multiple medications that may interact dangerously—in older adults, especially those with dementia. About 786 patients from primary care clinics will be included. Doctors receive either a commitment nudge, a justification nudge, both, or none, and the study tracks changes in medication safety over 18 months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- behavioral nudges (commitment and justification prompts in electronic health records)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could give doctors a simple, low-cost tool to reduce dangerous medication combinations in older adults, potentially preventing falls and drug reactions.
- What could go wrong
- This is a pragmatic trial testing behavioral prompts, not a new drug. The effect may be small, and results might not apply to all clinics or patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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786 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2023
- Expected to finish
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May 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Northwestern Medicine or UPMC primary care clinic: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or General Practice or Geriatrics Exclusion Criteria: * None
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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UPMC
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Could a better medication review keep older adults out of the hospital?
- New program aims to cut unnecessary pills for dementia patients
- Hospital help: does a drug coordinator cut risky pill use?
- Learning to manage pills could save your kidneys
- New program aims to cut dangerous drug combinations in seniors
- Can a simple phone call keep seniors out of the hospital?