Polypharmacy reviews among elderly populations project: assessing needs in patient-provider communication.
PubMed ID
23386990
Abstract
Adults sixty-five years of age and older are a growing population, and are the largest consumers of prescription and nonprescription medications in the United States with potentially increased medication interaction risks. Therefore, an investigation to determine if elderly populations at two minority serving, independent housing sites perceived any issues regarding their medication use, including any communication challenges with their providers. The data were collected using a survey in which participants had to recall information about their medication use and past provider interaction. Participants (N=21; 90.5% female; using 5.1 ± 2.6 medications) completed a needs assessment. Results indicated that patients felt comfortable talking to their doctors. However, the communication that occurs may not have included education on polypharmacy. Many participants did not believe that they could describe details about their medications, such as the purpose (47.6%), instructions (42.9%), side effects (66.7%), and the possible risk of addiction (42.9%). This assessment indicates a need for an intervention that is focused on communication about polypharmacy and medication review education.
Date Issued
2013-01
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
Elderly Adults Geriatric Multiple Medication Use Patient-Physician Communication Polypharmacy
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Takane, Alain K | |
Balignasay, Mia-Danica |
Journal
Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health
Publisher
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
ISSN
2165-8242
Access(Rights)
restricted