Understanding of Medication Directions: Assessment of Native Korean Older Adults

Investigate the knowledge and understanding of older adult Korean immigrants concerning prescription and over-the-counter medication directions.

A pre- postsurvey study.

Four Korean churches located in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.

Korean-born, community-dwelling older adults older than 50 years of age.

A presurvey in English was administered to older Korean immigrants residing in the Northwest Chicago suburbs, who completed it independently. Two student pharmacists then conducted a short medication seminar in Korean, and a postsurvey was given to determine if the information improved their overall understanding about the medications.

The primary goal of this study was to determine if Korean older adults' understanding of medication directions improved when explained in their native language.

After two student pharmacists delivered the seminar, there was an improvement in both the participants' understanding of medication directions and their perceived trust in pharmacists.

There is a lack of understanding of medication directions by Korean immigrant older adults, even when information is communicated in their native tongue. This research demonstrates that educating the Korean older adult population, while also building a relationship of trust with pharmacists, will improve their understanding of the medication directions and possibly reduce the rate of medication errors.