Overview
Definitive trial (1 February 2024 – Autumn 2026)
Within Work Package 4 we have now completed the definitive trial of the CHARMER intervention to establish whether it is safe, effective and good value for money. CHARMER is an evidence-based support package designed by geriatricians and pharmacists to increase opportunities and recognition for deprescribing on Older People’s Medicine wards in hospital.
As the largest hospital trial of its kind internationally, the CHARMER definitive trial involved 248 hospital doctors and pharmacists across 24 NHS hospitals, aiming to enhance the care of 40,000 older inpatients.
Read our press release here.
What happened during the CHARMER trial?
The CHARMER intervention has been tested as a stepped wedge trial in hospitals across England. Within the stepped wedge trial, all participating hospitals began at the same time (1 February 2024) acting as both control and intervention sites at different points in time. Hospitals were randomised into ‘steps’ and at each step the CHARMER intervention was introduced until the end of the trial. You can find out more about what a stepped wedge trial involves here.
During the trial we collected information to enable us to understand key aspects of the intervention, how it was delivered, and whether it worked. We also collected information to see whether the intervention is a good use of NHS money and whether doctors, pharmacists, patients and carers find the intervention acceptable. With the trial now complete, we are in the data analysis stage.
Patient and public involvement included supporting the management of the trial, development of trial materials, contributing to data analysis and dissemination of trial outputs.
jjjjPublic and Patient Involvement
Work Package Team
Collaborating Organisations
