Discrepancies between elderly patient’s self‐reported and prescribed medications: a social investigation

Abstract

Some aspects of elderly people were evaluated regarding their medication knowledge. Almost two-third of the patients did not take their drugs in the proper way. The results of the study highlight the importance of taking several actions by all healthcare workers and by the community to optimise health care provided for elderly people.

The Effect of Lighting on Performance of Tasks Requiring Near Vision in Older Adults

“…Because visual function is an important part of IADL performance (Berger & Porell, 2008;Grue et al, 2009;Ishihara et al, 2004;Sloan et al, 2005), this dissertation study will address three occupational tasks that require visual abilities and with which older adults experience difficulty: selecting clothing by color (Barstow et al, 2011;Brunnstrom, Sorensen, Alsterstad, & Sjostrand, 2004;Cook, 2009;Owsley, McGwin, Sloane, Stalvey, & Wells, 2001), reading a prescription label and sorting medications (Henriques, Costa, & Cabrita, 2012;Lam, Elliott, & George, 2011;MacLaughlin et al, 2005;Owsley et al, 2001;Skomrock & Richardson, 2010;Windham et al, 2005;Yasein, Barghouti, Irshaid, & Suleiman, 2013).…”

“…Consequently, non-adherence to and poor management of medication routines are identified problems that present major health concerns (Henriques et al, 2012;Lam et al, 2011). These problems may be due in part to aging vision (Yasein et al, 2013), which makes it difficult for older adults to read prescription labels, differentiate tablet colors, and open medication vials (MacLaughlin et al, 2005). Windham et al (2005) assessed the relationship between vision and the ability to implement a medication routine.…”

“…The investigator's selection of occupational tasks for this dissertation study was validated by the aforementioned studies. The difficulty older adults experience when selecting clothing has been documented (Barstow et al, 2011;Brunnstrom et al, 2004;Cook, 2009;Owsley et al, 2001) as have the difficulties with reading a prescription label and sorting medications (Henriques et al, 2012;Lam et al, 2011;MacLaughlin et al, 2005;Owsley et al, 2001;Skomrock & Richardson, 2010;Windham et al, 2005;Yasein et al, 2013). The impact that lighting has on the older adults' ability to complete these occupational tasks requiring near vision or the difficulty they experience in completing these tasks under different lighting levels has not been studied in the literature.…”

“…Poor lighting affects ambulation in older adults (Kuyk & Elliott, 1999;Reed et al, 2006) and poses a fall risk within the home (Tideiksaar, 2003;Woodland & Hobson, 2003). Additionally, poor lighting has implications for older adults as they attempt to perform the everyday tasks of life, such as matching clothing (Barstow et al, 2011;Brunnstrom et al, 2004;Cook, 2009;Owsley et al, 2001) and managing medications (Henriques et al, 2012;Lam et al, 2011;MacLaughlin et al, 2005;Owsley et al, 2001;Skomrock & Richardson, 2010;Windham et al, 2005;Yasein et al, 2013).…”

“…The occupational tasks were chosen because they are visually challenging and because they are tasks with which older adults experience difficulty (Barstow et al, 2011;Brunnstrom et al, 2004;Cook, 2009;Henriques et al, 2012;Lam et al, 2011;MacLaughlin et al, 2005;Owsley et al, 2001;Skomrock & Richardson, 2010;Windham et al, 2005;Yasein et al, 2013). Normal age-related changes in vision can make occupational tasks requiring near vision difficult and can negatively affect occupational performance (Robnett, 2008).…”