title: An intervention to maximize medication management by caregivers of persons with memory loss: Intervention overview and two-month outcomes.
abstract: Overseeing medication-taking is a critical aspect of dementia caregiving. This trial examined a tailored, problem-solving intervention designed to maximize medication management practices among caregivers of persons with memory loss. Eighty-three community-dwelling dyads (patient + informal caregiver) with a baseline average of 3 medication deficiencies participated. Home- and telephone-based sessions were delivered by nurse or social worker interventionists and addressed basics of managing medications, plus tailored problem solving for specific challenges. The outcome of medication management practices was assessed using the Medication Management Instrument for Deficiencies in the Elderly (MedMaIDE) and an investigator-developed Medication Deficiency Checklist (MDC). Linear mixed modeling showed both the intervention and usual care groups had fewer medication management problems as measured by the MedMaIDE (F = 6.91, p < .01) and MDC (F = 9.72, p < .01) at 2 months post-intervention. Reduced medication deficiencies in both groups suggests that when nurses or social workers merely raise awareness of the importance of medication adherence, there may be benefit.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA. Electronic address: linglerj@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lingler
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sereika
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Amspaugh
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arida
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Happ
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Houze
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Tamres
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, USA.
authors.forename: Fengyan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Erlen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008569:Memory Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Informal caregiver; Medication adherence; Medication management; Memory loss