Predictors of older adults' capacity for medication management in a self-medication program: a retrospective chart review.
The aim of this project was to identify variables that predicted older adults' ability to manage medications.


METHODS
The study used a retrospective cohort design and was set in a self-medication program within a rehabilitation hospital. A random sample of charts from 301 participants in the self-medication program was reviewed.


RESULTS
Logistic regression models accounted for 26.7% and 55.8% of the variance in the probability of making one or more self-medication errors during the initial and final weeks of the program, respectively. The importance of cognition in predicting medication management capacity was seen in bivariate and multivariate analyses and through a number of interactions with other predictors. Statistically significant predictors in one or both analyses included medication regimen complexity, Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score, duration of institutionalization, depression, and interactions between (a) medication regimen complexity and MMSE score and (b) ability to cook and MMSE score.


CONCLUSIONS
The direct effects of cognition and medication regimen complexity were important predictors of medication management capacity.
Maddigan
Sheri L
SL
University of Alberta
Farris
Karen B
KB
Keating
Norah
N
Wiens
Cheryl A
CA
Johnson
Jeffrey A
JA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D003071:Cognition; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012646:Self Administration