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.
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Funding
The 2012 survey was funded by the Canton of Vaud Department of Public Health. Since 2004, the Lc65+ project was funded by the University of Lausanne Hospital; the Canton of Vaud Department of Public Health; the University of Lausanne Faculty of Biology and Medicine; the Loterie Romande (non-profit organization supporting research and social projects); the Fondation Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Lausanne; and the City of Lausanne.
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Contributions
LH: analysis and interpretation, drafting the article.
BSE: study conception and design, interpretation, critical revision, final approval.
MH: study conception and design, interpretation, critical revision, final approval.
PC and AHD: interpretation, critical revision, final approval.
Sponsor’s role: the funding bodies did not contribute or influence the study design or findings.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in the study.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Hoisnard, L., Santos-Eggimann, B., Chauvin, P. et al. Do older adults know the purpose of their medications? A survey among community-dwelling people. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 75, 255–263 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-018-2575-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-018-2575-5