title: Medication Use Among Ethnically Diverse Older Adults in the United States.
abstract: As primary consumers of health care and prescription medication, older adults are more susceptible to potential drug-related adverse effects and medication interactions. With growing diversity among the older adult population, understanding ethnic differences in medication use becomes increasingly important. The current study describes polypharmacy and the occurrence of underprescribing among community-dwelling, low-income individuals 55 and older from four ethnic groups: (a) African American, (b) Afro-Caribbean, (c) European American, and (d) Hispanic American. Results revealed that number of illnesses, income level, and age were three major predictors associated with polypharmacy. No underprescription was identified. Overall, prevalence of polypharmacy was 47.5%. European American individuals had the highest prevalence followed by Hispanic American, African American, and Afro-Caribbean individuals. When caring for older adults from various ethnic groups, nurses should focus their efforts on those who have multiple illnesses and sufficient income to purchase medications to reduce the risk of polypharmacy.
authors.forename: Lenny
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiang-Hanisko
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tappen
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016903:Drug Monitoring