Knowledge and perspectives of Dutch home healthcare nurses regarding medication frequently used by older people.
BACKGROUND
Home healthcare nurses in their roles as caregivers, educators and administrators of medications are particularly well positioned to act on a preventive way to be alert of adverse drug reactions. However, knowledge about medication and a professional attitude is required.


OBJECTIVE
To describe medication-related knowledge and perspectives of Dutch home healthcare nurses regarding frequent used medication by older people.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted among home healthcare nurses (n=146) in the Netherlands based on the ten most frequently used drugs by older people.


RESULTS
The mean score for total medication knowledge was 76.2% of the maximum score. Most home healthcare nurses (80.3%) felt responsible for improving older patients' medication use. Three-quarters of the home healthcare nurses agreed with the statement: "By taking appropriate action at the right time, I am able to prevent a medication-related hospital admission".


CONCLUSIONS
Although most home healthcare nurses felt responsible for their older patients' proper medication use and agreed with the statement that they played a role in preventing older patients' medication-related hospital admissions, their knowledge regarding medications could be improved.


CONCLUSIONS
Home healthcare nurses should profit as a professional from gaining more knowledge of medication frequently used by older people.
Research Centre for Innovation in Health Care, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. carolien.sino@hu.nl
Carolien G M
CG
Sino
Aukje
A
Munnik
Marieke J
MJ
Schuurmans
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult