Medication Use & Patient Safety

Research overview

Americans are using more prescription drugs than ever. Consequently, they’re worrying about side effects, drug interactions, and cost, especially if they’re using multiple medications. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) scientists are on the forefront of answering questions about these concerns. We’re studying the beneficial and harmful effects of medications in real-world settings, and innovating better ways to manage and monitor drug use.

“We can dramatically improve health care by making sure people get the right medicines at appropriate doses,” said Denise Boudreau, PhD, KPWHRI senior investigator. “The institute contributes to this effort by participating in national initiatives to monitor medication safety. At the personal level, we’re providing information to doctors and patients for weighing the risks and benefits of various prescription drugs.”

Funders of KPWHRI medication use and patient safety research include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and other sources. A few projects include:

• exploring patient and clinical risk factors for opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction;
• evaluating an intervention for patients taking long-term high-dose opioids to successfully taper their use by without negatively impacting pain management and quality of life;
• proactive monitoring of medical products through the FDA Sentinel Initiative;
• studying medication safety for pregnant people and older adults;
• monitoring vaccine safety and effectiveness;
• investigating how medications affect risk of cognitive decline and dementia in late life; and
• engaging in quality improvement efforts to reduce medication-related falls in older people.

“Our work gives patients and providers evidence about the outcomes of medication use—both harmful and beneficial—to help them make informed personal decisions about prescription drug use,” said senior investigator Sascha Dublin, MD, PhD.

Affiliate researchers

Susan Heckbert, MD, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Epidemiology; UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit

David Siscovick, MD, MPH
UW Department of Medicine; UW Department of Epidemiology; UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit

Leslie Spangler, PhD
Amgen

video

Ensuring safe medications for older adults & pregnant women

(Vimeo, 1:40)