Léa Hoisnard1,2, Brigitte Santos-Eggimann3, Pauline Chauvin4, Anne Hiance-Delahaye1,2,5, Marie Herr6,7,8. 1. INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases, Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif, France. 2. Université de Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, UMR-S 1168, Montigny le Bretonneux, France. 3. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. 4. LIRAES (EA4470), Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France. 5. Service des consultations externes, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ile-de-France Ouest, site Sainte Périne, AP-HP, Paris, France. 6. INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases, Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif, France. marie.herr@uvsq.fr. 7. Université de Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, UMR-S 1168, Montigny le Bretonneux, France. marie.herr@uvsq.fr. 8. Département Hospitalier d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ile-de-France Ouest, site Sainte Périne, AP-HP, Paris, France. marie.herr@uvsq.fr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study assessed the level of knowledge among community-dwelling older individuals about the purpose of medications and the characteristics that influenced that knowledge. We focused on drugs frequently used and/or often involved in iatrogenic events. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey included 2690 community-dwelling older adults, aged 68 years and above, who reported using at least one drug of interest, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Participants reported drugs that they currently used and described their purpose. A good knowledge level was defined as knowledge of the exact purpose or identification of the anatomical system or organ targeted by the drug. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with a good knowledge level for all drugs of interest. Sampling weights were employed to provide representative estimates. RESULTS: On average, patients had good knowledge of 80.6% of the drugs reported. The highest knowledge levels were demonstrated for non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antidiabetics, analgesics, and endocrinological drugs and the lowest for platelet aggregation inhibitors, minerals, anticoagulants, and other narrow therapeutic index drugs. Overall, 66% of participants had good knowledge of the purpose of all the drugs of interest. Polypharmacy and receiving help with drug management were negatively associated with good knowledge (adjusted OR4-5 drugs 0.45; 95% CI 0.29-0.71, adjusted OR≥ 6 drugs 0.20; 95% CI 0.13-0.31, and adjusted ORhelp 0.42; 95% CI 0.18-0.99). CONCLUSION: This study showed that education about drugs was lacking among patients that received multiple drugs, particularly patients that used anticoagulants and antiplatelet inhibitors.
PURPOSE: This study assessed the level of knowledge among community-dwelling older individuals about the purpose of medications and the characteristics that influenced that knowledge. We focused on drugs frequently used and/or often involved in iatrogenic events. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey included 2690 community-dwelling older adults, aged 68 years and above, who reported using at least one drug of interest, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Participants reported drugs that they currently used and described their purpose. A good knowledge level was defined as knowledge of the exact purpose or identification of the anatomical system or organ targeted by the drug. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with a good knowledge level for all drugs of interest. Sampling weights were employed to provide representative estimates. RESULTS: On average, patients had good knowledge of 80.6% of the drugs reported. The highest knowledge levels were demonstrated for non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antidiabetics, analgesics, and endocrinological drugs and the lowest for platelet aggregation inhibitors, minerals, anticoagulants, and other narrow therapeutic index drugs. Overall, 66% of participants had good knowledge of the purpose of all the drugs of interest. Polypharmacy and receiving help with drug management were negatively associated with good knowledge (adjusted OR4-5 drugs 0.45; 95% CI 0.29-0.71, adjusted OR≥ 6 drugs 0.20; 95% CI 0.13-0.31, and adjusted ORhelp 0.42; 95% CI 0.18-0.99). CONCLUSION: This study showed that education about drugs was lacking among patients that received multiple drugs, particularly patients that used anticoagulants and antiplatelet inhibitors.
Entities:
Keywords:
Drugs; Knowledge; Old people; Primary care; Therapeutic education
Authors: Marilisa Franceschi; Carlo Scarcelli; Valeria Niro; Davide Seripa; Anna Maria Pazienza; Giovanni Pepe; Anna Maria Colusso; Luigi Pacilli; Alberto Pilotto Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2008 Impact factor: 5.606