title: [Potential functional disability in elderly individuals due to self-treatmetnt with analgesics].
abstract: The aim of this study was to verify the elderly's status of knowledge concerning analgesics. The study was based on a questionnaire conducted in 90 subjetcs over 65 y.o. (72 females and 18 males) mean age: 70.1 +/- 6.5 years [range: 60-85 years], median: 70). Nearly half of respondents (n = 43 [48%]) modified the dose of analgesic ordered by the physician while 33% of respondents (n = 29) set the drug dose by themselves. Better educated subjects and females were more likely to set the dose using drug leaflet (respectively 14 [23.3%] vs 1 [3.3%], p <0.05, 15 [20.8%] vs 0 [11.1 %], p < 0.05). The most commonly used groups of drugs were paracetamol (n = 24 [51%] and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 49 [54.4%] of which 26 people declared simultaneously consumption of more than one medication within this group of drugs). The study results indicate the urgent need for education concerning self-medication particulary addressed to the elderly.
authors: Katedra Geriatrii i Gerontologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. K. Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu. ar-n@wp.pl
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Neumann-Podczaska
authors: Karolina
authors: K
authors: Wawszczyk
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Wieczorowska-Tobis
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012646:Self Administration; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D000082:Acetaminophen