Teaching Older Adults to Self-Manage Medications: PREVENTING ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS

Abstract

Older adults use more prescription and OTC medications than any other age group. Because their medication regimens often are complicated by many medications and different doses, times, and administration methods, older adults are at high risk for medication mismanagement. The most common errors associated with medication mismanagement include mixing OTC and prescription medications, discontinuing prescriptions, taking wrong dosages, using incorrect techniques, and consuming inappropriate foods with specific medications. Both human and environmental factors contribute to medication mismanagement among older adults. Human factors include faulty communication between the health care provider and the patient; the patient's lack of knowledge; ADRs; alcohol-drug interactions; use of OTC medications and herbal products; cognitive, sensory, and motor impairments; and polypharmacy. Environmental factors include high cost of prescribed medications, improper medication storage, and absence of clearly marked expiration dates. Nurses need to take advantage of both formal and informal teaching opportunities in all settings to prepare a patient for medication self-management. Teaching should be individualized and based on a thorough assessment of the patient's abilities to administer medication safely and the specific medication regimen. By involving older adults as active partners in their health care, many errors and medication-related health problems can be prevented. New technologies and devices have the potential for improving the patient's self-management of medications. The role of nurses in educating older adults and their families about proper medication management is vital.

Teaching Adults SAFE Medication Management

“…When personalizing the SAFE medication management program, rehabilitation nurses should consider the patient's abilities, knowledge, and background; their resources and support systems; and the list of instructions for specific medications (Curry, Walker, Hogstel, & Burns, 2005).…”

Polypharmacy among people with rheumatoid arthritis: the role of age, disease duration and comorbidity

“…It has been suggested that polypharmacy increases the risk of mismanagement, particularly in the elderly (Curry et al, 2005). Polypharmacy's relationship to adherence remains unclear: some studies suggest that it reduces adherence (Hughes, 2004), whereas other studies suggest that it may actually lead to greater adherence (Treharne et al, 2004(Treharne et al, , 2005, perhaps through a greater incorporation of medication-taking into the sense of self and increased vigilance facilitated by the use of aids such as dispensing devices, calendars or alarms.…”

How do older people experience their management of medicines?

“…When older people are responsible for their own medication, they need to have motivation, knowledge and skills to follow the recommended medication regimen (Cox Curry et al. 2005).…”

“…Clear-headed When older people are responsible for their own medication, they need to have motivation, knowledge and skills to follow the recommended medication regimen (Cox Curry et al 2005). Moreover, to benefit from taking drugs, according to Beers et al (2005), older people must remember not only to take the drugs, but also to take them in time and in the right way.…”