Simulating age-related changes in color vision to assess the ability of older adults to take medication.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if simulated, age-related changes in color vision can adversely affect one's ability to properly take medication as simulated by bead selection.


METHODS
Randomized controlled study.


METHODS
University site.


METHODS
University students 18 to 26 years of age without eye disorders that would affect color vision.


METHODS
Yellow-lens glasses to represent age-related color vision changes.


METHODS
The number of correct beads selected and rating of task difficulty. The secondary outcomes were participants' responses based on which colors and color pairs were most difficult to discern and strategies they might have used to select beads.


RESULTS
The control group had no difficulties in selecting the appropriate beads, while the experimental group had significantly more mistakes, particularly with colors in the blue-violet spectrum. Average scores for the total number correct for the control and experimental groups were 36 (100%) and 27 (74.4%), P < 0.001, respectively, out of a possible 36 correct.


CONCLUSIONS
Declines in color vision with age can adversely affect an individual's abilities to appropriately select medications. For patients taking several medications, declines in color vision should be considered when counseling older persons on strategies for compliance. Although more studies are still needed to further generalize these findings to the geriatric population, this study has shown color vision can adversely affect medication compliance.
Skomrock
Lindsay K
LK
College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Richardson
Virginia E
VE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D003119:Color Perception Tests; D055253:Color Vision / Q000502:physiology; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D055815:Young Adult