Teaching older adults to self-manage medications: preventing adverse drug reactions.
Older adults use more prescription and OTC medications than any other age group. Because their medication regimens often are complicated by many medications and different doses, times, and administration methods, older adults are at high risk for medication mismanagement. The most common errors associated with medication mismanagement include mixing OTC and prescription medications, discontinuing prescriptions, taking wrong dosages, using incorrect techniques, and consuming inappropriate foods with specific medications. Both human and environmental factors contribute to medication mismanagement among older adults. Human factors include faulty communication between the health care provider and the patient; the patient's lack of knowledge; ADRs; alcohol-drug interactions; use of OTC medications and herbal products; cognitive, sensory, and motor impairments; and polypharmacy. Environmental factors include high cost of prescribed medications, improper medication storage, and absence of clearly marked expiration dates. Nurses need to take advantage of both formal and informal teaching opportunities in all settings to prepare a patient for medication self-management. Teaching should be individualized and based on a thorough assessment of the patient's abilities to administer medication safely and the specific medication regimen. By involving older adults as active partners in their health care, many errors and medication-related health problems can be prevented. New technologies and devices have the potential for improving the patient's self-management of medications. The role of nurses in educating older adults and their families about proper medication management is vital.
Curry
Linda Cox
LC
Harris School of Nursing, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth 76129, USA.
Walker
Charles
C
Hogstel
Mildred O
MO
Burns
Paulette
P
D000368:Aged; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D016527:Drug Costs; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000191:economics; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012651:Self Medication
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations