The development of a medication reminder card for elderly persons

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Elderly individuals often manage complex drug regimens, increasing the risk of non-adherence.
• Existing medication reminder systems provided at hospital discharge do not meet ideal criteria for effectiveness.
• A significant need exists for improved medication compliance tools in the geriatric population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel medication reminder card for elderly patients with complex medication schedules.
• To assess the usability, adherence, and impact on healthcare communication of the developed reminder card.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to the adoption of this medication compliance aid.

Main Methods:

• A medication reminder card was designed based on ideal criteria identified from a survey of Canadian hospital pharmacies.
• The card was tested with 29 ambulatory and 16 institutionalized elderly participants.
• Patient adherence, ease of use, and communication facilitation were assessed over a six-week period.

Main Results:

• Over 75% of patients used the card at two weeks, with a majority of ambulatory users continuing at six weeks.
• The card enhanced communication with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
• Patients found the card easy to read and understand, though patient reluctance was a noted obstacle.

Conclusions:

• The medication reminder card is a promising compliance aid for elderly patients with complex medication needs.
• Further design modifications are recommended to overcome patient reluctance and optimize usability.
• The system offers a valuable alternative for improving medication adherence in both ambulatory and hospitalized elderly patients.