Ana Rita Paiva1, Ana Isabel Plácido1,2, Isabel Curto3, Manuel Morgado1,2,4,5, Maria Teresa Herdeiro6, Fátima Roque1,2,4. 1. Health Sciences School, Polytechnic of Guarda, Rua da Cadeia, 6300-035 Guarda, Portugal. 2. Research Unit for Inland Development, Polytechnic of Guarda (UDI-IPG), Av. Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro 50, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal. 3. Pharmacy Mousaco Torrão, Estrada Municipal 506 11, R/C, 6200-571 Ferro, Portugal. 4. Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. 5. Pharmaceutical Services of University Hospital Centre of Cova da Beira, 6200-251 Covilhã, Portugal. 6. Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro (iBIMED-UA), 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aging-related comorbidities predispose older adults to polypharmacy and consequently an increased risk of adverse drug reactions and poor compliance. Pharmacists' interventions can have a beneficial impact on the improvement of clinical outcomes. Thus, this work aimed to assess the acceptance of Portuguese home-dwelling older adults regarding a pharmaceutical service paid by patients for medication management and pharmacotherapy follow-up. We also intended to analyze medication, characterize the medication consumption profile, and identify the main difficulties of our sample during their daily medication management. METHODS: A questionnaire on adherence and medication therapy management was applied to polymedicated patients ≥65 years old, in a community pharmacy. RESULTS: Of the 88 participants, 92.2% would be willing to pay for a pharmacotherapy management service, and 75.6% answered that they would be willing to pay for an individual medication preparation service. In addition, 45.7% of the participants were categorized as lower adherents to a medication therapeutic regimen. Our sample reported that during their daily lives, they felt difficulty: to remember to take their pills (17%), to manage so many medicines (15.9%), and to swallow the pills (9.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Polymedicated older adults are willing to pay for a service to improve the management of their medicines, suggesting that they recognize the role of pharmacists in medication management. This study provides useful information for the conceptualization of a pharmacotherapy management service that includes medication review and a pharmacotherapy follow-up.
BACKGROUND: Aging-related comorbidities predispose older adults to polypharmacy and consequently an increased risk of adverse drug reactions and poor compliance. Pharmacists' interventions can have a beneficial impact on the improvement of clinical outcomes. Thus, this work aimed to assess the acceptance of Portuguese home-dwelling older adults regarding a pharmaceutical service paid by patients for medication management and pharmacotherapy follow-up. We also intended to analyze medication, characterize the medication consumption profile, and identify the main difficulties of our sample during their daily medication management. METHODS: A questionnaire on adherence and medication therapy management was applied to polymedicated patients ≥65 years old, in a community pharmacy. RESULTS: Of the 88 participants, 92.2% would be willing to pay for a pharmacotherapy management service, and 75.6% answered that they would be willing to pay for an individual medication preparation service. In addition, 45.7% of the participants were categorized as lower adherents to a medication therapeutic regimen. Our sample reported that during their daily lives, they felt difficulty: to remember to take their pills (17%), to manage so many medicines (15.9%), and to swallow the pills (9.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Polymedicated older adults are willing to pay for a service to improve the management of their medicines, suggesting that they recognize the role of pharmacists in medication management. This study provides useful information for the conceptualization of a pharmacotherapy management service that includes medication review and a pharmacotherapy follow-up.
Entities:
Keywords:
community pharmacy; medication adherence; older adults; polypharmacy