Multiple medication use among seniors.
OBJECTIVE
This article examines the prevalence of medication use among Canadian seniors. Indicators of patient-physician and patient-pharmacist communication were also investigated.


METHODS
Health Canada-sponsored supplementary questions to the 1994/95 National Population Health Survey (NPHS) were used in this analysis.


METHODS
All estimates were weighted to represent the Canadian population on the data of the survey. Summary rates by sex were age-standardized to the estimated survey population for both sexes. Respondents who reported taking five or more drugs in the two days before their NPHS interview were considered to be multiple-medication users.


RESULTS
In 1994/95, 10% of Canadians aged 65 to 74, and 13% of those aged 75 and older were multiple-medication users. For certain drug-related information, there was a decline with advancing age in the percent of the population who reported that they received this information from their physician and from their pharmacist.
Millar
W J
WJ
Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa.
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002170:Canada; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations