Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With Polypharmac
Introduction: The physiological changes with increasing age make older adults more prone to acquiring chronic diseases, and their treatment needs multiple drug regimens. However, the extensive use of medications is accompanied by an increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), partly due to poly...
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Guilan University of Medical Sciences
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery |
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| Online Access: | http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2368-en.pdf |
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| author | Farideh Bastani Hamid Haghani Mahdi Maleki |
| author_facet | Farideh Bastani Hamid Haghani Mahdi Maleki |
| author_sort | Farideh Bastani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The physiological changes with increasing age make older adults more prone to acquiring chronic diseases, and their treatment needs multiple drug regimens. However, the extensive use of medications is accompanied by an increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), partly due to polypharmacy (concomitant use of multiple drugs). Both polypharmacy band medication adherence are considered major public health concerns, which are growing worldwide.
Objective: This study was conducted to determine drug adherence in older adults with polypharmacy referred to selected educational medical centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran City, Iran, in 2021.
Materials and Methods: The present study is a descriptive cross-sectional analytical study. The sample consisted of 243 older people. The participants were selected using a non-probability sampling method (continuous method with categorical proportional allocation). The inclusion criteria were older adults taking polypharmacy (five or more prescribed drugs). Data collection tools were a demographic personal and clinical characteristics form, a drug compliance questionnaire, and a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) of self-perception of health. After the participants had completed the questionnaires, the raw data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods, including analysis of variance, independent t-test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level was considered P<0.05.
Results: The mean age of the subjects was 69.38±6.6 years; their mean perception of health was 5.83±2.33, and the mean number of underlying diseases was 2.3±1.19. The study participants showed moderate drug adherence, which was insufficient. No significant relationship was found between demographic and clinical variables with drug adherence. The Pearson correlation test results showed a weak correlation between age and medication adherence (r= 0.029, P=0.001), as well as age and number of underlying diseases (r=0.031, P=0.001).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated moderate drug adherence in older adults with polypharmacy, which is not optimal. Healthcare professionals involved in patients’ medication use play a key role in providing essential education to older adults with polypharmacy to improve drug adherence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ff7cc2556ee148f99fef19e24a653fb6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2588-3712 2588-3720 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Guilan University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery |
| spelling | doaj-art-ff7cc2556ee148f99fef19e24a653fb62025-08-20T03:05:34ZengGuilan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery2588-37122588-37202024-06-01343201210Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With PolypharmacFarideh Bastani0Hamid Haghani1Mahdi Maleki2 Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing and Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. MSc in Geriatric Nursing, Department of Community Health Nursing and Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Introduction: The physiological changes with increasing age make older adults more prone to acquiring chronic diseases, and their treatment needs multiple drug regimens. However, the extensive use of medications is accompanied by an increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), partly due to polypharmacy (concomitant use of multiple drugs). Both polypharmacy band medication adherence are considered major public health concerns, which are growing worldwide. Objective: This study was conducted to determine drug adherence in older adults with polypharmacy referred to selected educational medical centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran City, Iran, in 2021. Materials and Methods: The present study is a descriptive cross-sectional analytical study. The sample consisted of 243 older people. The participants were selected using a non-probability sampling method (continuous method with categorical proportional allocation). The inclusion criteria were older adults taking polypharmacy (five or more prescribed drugs). Data collection tools were a demographic personal and clinical characteristics form, a drug compliance questionnaire, and a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) of self-perception of health. After the participants had completed the questionnaires, the raw data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods, including analysis of variance, independent t-test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level was considered P<0.05. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 69.38±6.6 years; their mean perception of health was 5.83±2.33, and the mean number of underlying diseases was 2.3±1.19. The study participants showed moderate drug adherence, which was insufficient. No significant relationship was found between demographic and clinical variables with drug adherence. The Pearson correlation test results showed a weak correlation between age and medication adherence (r= 0.029, P=0.001), as well as age and number of underlying diseases (r=0.031, P=0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated moderate drug adherence in older adults with polypharmacy, which is not optimal. Healthcare professionals involved in patients’ medication use play a key role in providing essential education to older adults with polypharmacy to improve drug adherence.http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2368-en.pdfpolypharmacydrug adherenceaging |
| spellingShingle | Farideh Bastani Hamid Haghani Mahdi Maleki Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With Polypharmac Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery polypharmacy drug adherence aging |
| title | Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With Polypharmac |
| title_full | Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With Polypharmac |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With Polypharmac |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With Polypharmac |
| title_short | Evaluation of Drug Adherence in Older Adults With Polypharmac |
| title_sort | evaluation of drug adherence in older adults with polypharmac |
| topic | polypharmacy drug adherence aging |
| url | http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2368-en.pdf |
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