Healthcare utilisation and knowledge concerning prescribed drugs among older people.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore healthcare consumption in relation to more versus less knowledge concerning prescribed drugs among older people with functional dependency and repeated healthcare contacts, and to explore the determinants of more versus less knowledge


METHODS
The sample comprised 63 persons (mean age 82.8 years). Data concerning use and knowledge about drugs, demographics, health complaints and self-reported diseases were collected from the baseline measure in an ongoing randomised controlled trial (RCT) and merged with data from two public registers about healthcare consumption 2 years prior to baseline measurement. Data were analysed descriptively and using regression analysis.


RESULTS
Fifty-two percent of the sample (n = 33) had less knowledge (defined as not knowing the indications for 50% or less of their prescribed drugs) and these had more acute hospitals stays (median 2 vs 0), more total hospital stays (median 2 vs 1) and more bed days in hospital (median 18 vs 3) than those with more knowledge. Bed days and visits to other outpatient staff groups were associated with less knowledge; visits to physicians were associated with more knowledge.


CONCLUSIONS
The healthcare consumption pattern of those with less knowledge differed from that of those with more knowledge in terms of more acute inpatient care. The results indicate that there is a need for the health system to create mechanisms to ensure that patients do not lose their knowledge about their drugs when admitted in an acute situation; there is also an apparent need for educational intervention with patients, starting at the time of admission.
Kristensson
Jimmie
J
Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, 221 00 Lund, Sweden. Jimmie.Kristensson@med.lu.se
Modig
Sara
S
Midlöv
Patrik
P
Hallberg
Ingalill Rahm
IR
Jakobsson
Ulf
U
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012042:Registries; D012107:Research Design; D013548:Sweden
D055553:Prescription Drugs