title: [The elderly and drugs: the possible role of a home visit in improving a "difficult relationship". I. The results of an epidemiological study of drug prescription and use by the elderly conducted in the area of local health unit No. 1-23 in Turin].
abstract: A random sample of 46 general practitioners of the Unità Sanitaria Locale in Torino recruited 802 elderly outpatients and collected information about complaints and current drug treatment. Within a week each patient received a home interview and details were collected on drug compliance and use of drugs other than those reported by the GP. On average, each patient was taking 3.6 drugs of which 2.9 were correctly reported by the GP and 0.7 were un reported. Among the most prescribed therapeutic groups there were drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (cardiovascular drugs, diuretics, psychotropic agents) and substances whose efficacy has never been fully documented ("cerebroactive/vasoactive"). Age and number of compliants were positively and significantly correlated with number of prescribed drugs. The most common reason for non-compliance was fear of side-effects.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frattura
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ostino
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Borga
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maggiorotti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Todisco
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pratichizzo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004358:Drug Therapy; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
vernacular_title: Anziani e farmaci: possibile ruolo di una visita a domicilio nel miglioramento di una "relazione difficile". Parte I: risultati di uno studio epidemiologico sulla prescrizione e l'uso dei farmaci nell'anziano condotto nel territorio dell'U.S.L. 1-23 de Torino.