Knowledge of prescription medications among elderly emergency department patients.
OBJECTIVE
We determine how knowledgeable elderly (>65 years old) patients seen in the emergency department are of their prescription medications.


METHODS
Patients older than 65 years who presented to the ED of an urban teaching hospital were interviewed concerning their prescription medications and the indications for their use. Medications and dosages were verified through the patients' pharmacies. Medication indications were assessed for accuracy by referencing the Physicians' Desk Reference.


RESULTS
Data on 88 patients were collected over a period of 2 months. Eleven patients were excluded from the study because of logistics (9) and rescinding of consent (2). Patients averaged 5.9 prescription medications on presentation to the ED. Patients correctly identified 78.4% (359/458) of these medications. Thirty-three (42.8%) patients were able to correctly identify all of their prescription medications. Furthermore, patients correctly identified 65.5% (236/359) of dosages (25 [32.5%] patients named all dosages correctly), 91.4% (328/359) of dosing intervals (44 [57.1%] patients named all intervals correctly), and 83.3% (299/359) of indications (49 [63.3%] patients named all indications correctly).


CONCLUSIONS
Elderly patients presenting to the ED have only a fair knowledge of their prescription medications.
Chung
Michael K
MK
Department of Emergency Medicine, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
Bartfield
Joel M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations