Adherence to pharmacological treatment in polymedicated elderly patients
Section: Cover story
How to quote
Martín Marín C et ál. Adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico de pacientes mayores polimedicados. Metas de Enferm oct 2011; 14(8): 24-30
Authors
1Cristina Martín Marín, 2Mercedes Guzmán Paredes , 2Pilar Otero Villullas , 2Rosario Tejedor Macho, 3Jesús Díez Ruiz , 3José Donis Domeque, 2Candelas Pérez Cuadrado
Position
1Técnico de Salud de la Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Palencia.2Enfermera. Centro de Salud de Saldaña (Palencia).3Médico. Centro de Salud de Saldaña (Palencia).
Contact address
Cristina Martín Marín Gerencia de Atención Primaria. C/ Alonso Fernández de Madrid, 1. 34001 Palencia.
Contact email: cmartinma@saludcastillayleon.es
Abstract
adherence to treatment in polymedicated patients over the age of 64 years in a rural setting of the province of Palencia.
Material and method: Cross-sectional descriptive study in patients over the age of 64 in a rural basic health care area of the province of Palencia who were on five or more medications for chronic conditions. A self-developed questionnaire was used, along with verification of the medical records. Variables studied included: gender, age, medication, dispensing and collection of medication (physician or pharmacists), forgetting to take medication in the last week, medication reminder, cessation when the patient feels better or worse, identification of the drug name and whether the patient knows what the medication is for. The Chi square or the Fisher exact tests were used in bivariate analysis.
Results: Ninety four patients were studied. 12,5% knew the name of the drug and 50% knew what it was for. 55,6% of cases vs 35,5% of male cases do not go to the pharmacy to pick up the medicines. 83,9% of men and 74,6% of women claimed not to have forgotten to take their medication in the last week. 44,7% remembered how and when to take the medication by leaving it near kitchen utensils. 33,3% stopped taking the medication if they felt bad and did not go to the doctor for prescriptions vs 12,7% of patients who did go to see their doctor.
Conclusions: The majority of patients claim not to have forgotten to take their medication in the last week but only half knows what they are for. Consequently, individual patient education is recommended to achieve greater individual patient responsibility in the taking of medication.
Keywords:
adherence; compliance; descriptive; elderly; medication; polymedicated; Primary Health Careresearch
Versión en Español
Título:
Adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico de pacientes mayores polimedicados
