Knowledge on and use of the FORTA (“Fit fOR The Aged”)-list and the FORTA App by general practitioners in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

PURPOSE: Drug treatment of older people is complicated as multimorbidity and polypharmacy are highly prevalent. To increase the drug appropriateness in older people, the FORTA (“Fit fOR The Aged”)-list was developed. A survey was designed to describe knowledge and use of the FORTA list and the related FORTA App in a German state. METHODS: Survey conducted among 872 general practitioners (GP) from districts (n = 694; 79.6%) or from district-free cities (n = 178; 20.4%) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany who were contacted by e-mail and/or phone. RESULTS: The response rate was 9.4%. 48% of GP claim to know the FORTA list, 54.5% the FORTA App. 32.5% use one of them regularly, 27% at least once a week. CONCLUSIONS: Responding GP expose knowledge and use of the FORTA list and/or the App exceeding expectations given the limited time since the wider appearance of either tool. These results, though limited by a low response rate, tentatively indicate their successful dissemination underlining utility, implementability and teachability.