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Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach

Polypharmacy in older adults is frequently associated with incorrect management of medicines, which causes drug-related problems and, subsequently, poor health outcomes. Understanding why older adults incorrectly manage their medicines is fundamental to health outcomes, however, it is an issue that...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Plácido, Ana Isabel, Herdeiro, Maria Teresa, Simões, João Lindo, Amaral, Odete, Figueiras, Adolfo, Roque, Fátima
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7560157/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32899636
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443
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author Plácido, Ana Isabel
Herdeiro, Maria Teresa
Simões, João Lindo
Amaral, Odete
Figueiras, Adolfo
Roque, Fátima
author_facet Plácido, Ana Isabel
Herdeiro, Maria Teresa
Simões, João Lindo
Amaral, Odete
Figueiras, Adolfo
Roque, Fátima
author_sort Plácido, Ana Isabel
collection PubMed
description Polypharmacy in older adults is frequently associated with incorrect management of medicines, which causes drug-related problems and, subsequently, poor health outcomes. Understanding why older adults incorrectly manage their medicines is fundamental to health outcomes, however, it is an issue that remains poorly explored. The aim of this study is to examine older people’s perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and concerns in the central region of Portugal. Thirteen focus groups with sixty-one older adults taking five or more prescription medicines were conducted to explore older patients’ perceptions and beliefs about and management of their medication. Sampling was conducted until theme saturation had been achieved. Transcripts were coded and data were obtained using the NVivo qualitative data-analysis software programme. Older adults recognise the importance of medicines for ensuring healthy ageing. Owing to a lack of literacy, however, they frequently commit medication mistakes and compromise their health outcomes. Promoting the literacy and empowerment of older patients, as well as strengthening the relationship between health professionals and patients, is crucial when it comes to addressing drug-related problems and improving health outcomes.
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spelling pubmed-75601572020-10-22 Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach Plácido, Ana Isabel Herdeiro, Maria Teresa Simões, João Lindo Amaral, Odete Figueiras, Adolfo Roque, Fátima Int J Environ Res Public Health Article Polypharmacy in older adults is frequently associated with incorrect management of medicines, which causes drug-related problems and, subsequently, poor health outcomes. Understanding why older adults incorrectly manage their medicines is fundamental to health outcomes, however, it is an issue that remains poorly explored. The aim of this study is to examine older people’s perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and concerns in the central region of Portugal. Thirteen focus groups with sixty-one older adults taking five or more prescription medicines were conducted to explore older patients’ perceptions and beliefs about and management of their medication. Sampling was conducted until theme saturation had been achieved. Transcripts were coded and data were obtained using the NVivo qualitative data-analysis software programme. Older adults recognise the importance of medicines for ensuring healthy ageing. Owing to a lack of literacy, however, they frequently commit medication mistakes and compromise their health outcomes. Promoting the literacy and empowerment of older patients, as well as strengthening the relationship between health professionals and patients, is crucial when it comes to addressing drug-related problems and improving health outcomes. MDPI 2020-09-04 2020-09 /pmc/articles/PMC7560157/ /pubmed/32899636 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443 Text en © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Article
Plácido, Ana Isabel
Herdeiro, Maria Teresa
Simões, João Lindo
Amaral, Odete
Figueiras, Adolfo
Roque, Fátima
Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach
title Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach
title_full Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach
title_fullStr Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach
title_full_unstemmed Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach
title_short Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach
title_sort voices of polymedicated older patients: a focus group approach
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7560157/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32899636
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443
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