英文摘要 |
This study describes a survey report on the potential improper use of medication for the home care elderly. It analyzes the risk for medication safety, storage of medication, and medication compliance in the home care elderly. The surveyed subjects were the residents with the age of 65 and above in a nursing home at Taoyuan, Taiwan. 107 samples were collected. The survey form was a structured questionnaire, including assessment of the risk factors of medication, medication use, and medication storage. The study showed that the surveyed subjects suffered from various diseases with average of 4.13 different diagnosis per person. The top two listed diseases are stroke (21.8%) and diabetes (13.5%). More than half of the surveyed subjects took four or more different medications at scheduled medication time. 41.1% of the subjects took nine or more medicines daily. The prevalence of the subjects at high-risk for medications safety was 0.93%. The top two categories of medications the subjects ook is theophylline (16.8%), and anticonvulsants most (27.1%). According to the Beers criteria, the prevalence rate for potential improper use of medication was 12.1%. Dipyridamole (3.7%) and hydrochlorothiazide (2.8%) are major two medication problems. 34.9% of subjects have the problem of poor compliance. Conclusively, potential improper use of prescriptive medications for the elderly home care is a problem currently. To eliminate the risk, a long-term care policy should be established to facilitate the communications between physicians and pharmacists in the near future. |