title: Factors associated with appropriate knowledge of the indications for prescribed drugs among community-dwelling older patients with polypharmacy.
abstract: polypharmacy contributes to patients' non-adherence with physicians' prescriptions. Patients' knowledge about the indications for their medicines is one of the factors influencing adherence.
  
  
  
  to identify factors associated with appropriate knowledge about the indications for drugs prescribed to older patients with polypharmacy.
  
  
  
  in a primary care setting, using home interviews and postal questionnaires, patients aged 60 and over who were taking five or more prescribed drugs simultaneously were asked about their medication. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association (odds ratio, OR) between medication knowledge and explanatory variables like medication use, sex, age, living situation and educational level.
  
  
  
  seven hundred and fifty-four participants (mean age 73.2 years) reported an average daily intake of nine (SD 3.0) prescribed drugs. Only 15% of the patients were able to recall the indication for each of their prescribed drugs. Variables that were negatively associated with correct reporting of all indications were taking many prescribed drugs (e.g. ≥10 versus ≤5: OR 0.05), age 80 years or over (versus 60-69 years: OR 0.47) and male sex (OR 0.53). Patients living with a partner were more knowledgeable than patients living alone (OR 2.11). We did not find an association with educational level.
  
  
  
  among older patients using five or more prescribed drugs, there was little understanding of the indications for their drugs, especially among patients taking the highest number of drugs, patients aged 80 or over, and men. Patients living independently with a partner were more knowledgeable than others.
authors.affiliation: School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAHPRI), Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosch-Lenders
authors.affiliation: School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAHPRI), Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Denny W H A
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Maessen
authors.affiliation: School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAHPRI), Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henri E J H Jelle
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Stoffers
authors.affiliation: School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAHPRI), Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J André
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knottnerus
authors.affiliation: School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAHPRI), Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bjorn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winkens
authors.affiliation: School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAHPRI), Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands Department of General Practice, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Akker
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019338:Polypharmacy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: aged; medication knowledge; older people; polypharmacy; prescription drugs; primary care