title: Use of the Brazilian People's Pharmacy Program by older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and factors associated with the use of the expanded Brazilian People's Pharmacy Program among older adults and the reasons for not using it.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this population-based cross-sectional study conducted in the urban area of Pelotas, RS, Southern Brazil, we evaluated 1,305 older adults (aged 60 years or over) who had used medication in the last 15 days. Independent variables were socioeconomic factors, economic status, household income in minimum wages, educational attainment in years of schooling and occupational status. Demographic variables were sex, age, marital status, and self-reported skin color/race. Poisson regression was employed to analyze the factors associated with the use of the program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of use was 57.0% whilst the prevalence of knowledge of the program was 87.0%. In individuals aged 80 years or over, use of the program was 41.0%. As to the origin of the prescriptions used by older adults, 46.0% were from the Brazilian Unified Health System. The main reasons for not using the program were: difficulty in getting prescriptions, medication shortage, and ignorance about the medications offered and about the program. Higher age, lower income, presence of chronic diseases, and use of four or more medications were associated with use of the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to expand the knowledge and use of the Brazilian People's Pharmacy Program, especially among older adults, and to improve the dissemination of its list of medications to users and physicians. Thus it will be possible to reduce spending on long-term medications, which are especially important for this population.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Iribarrem Avena
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Anaclaudia Gastal
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fassa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Social, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Dalke
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Social, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Bárbara Heather
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lutz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population