title: Inappropriate Medication Use Among Underserved Elderly African Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study is to identify correlates and the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use among underserved elderly African Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study recruited 400 elderly African Americans living in South Los Angeles, and used structured, face-to-face surveys. These elicited data pertaining to the type, frequency, dosage, and indications of all medications used by participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy percent of participants engaged in PIM use and used at least one medication that was classified as "Avoid" (27%) and "Use Conditionally" (43%) through Beers Criteria. Significant correlations emerged between PIM use and the number of autonomic and central nervous system, neurological and psychotherapeutic medications, medication duplications, and drug-drug interactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings point to the need for multidisciplinary team programs of health care providers that include primary and specialist physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and social workers. Together, they can improve health outcomes, enhance the quality of life, and reduce morbidity and mortality due to inappropriate medication use.
authors.affiliation: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, USA mobazarg@cdrewu.edu.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazargan
authors.affiliation: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazdanshenas
authors.affiliation: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orum
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: African American; Beers Criteria; PIM; elderly; potentially inappropriate medication