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Elderly polypharmacy patients' needs and concerns regarding medication assessed using the structured
Sandra Vezmar Kovačević1, Branislava Miljković1, Katarina Vučićević1
1Department of Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Patient Education and Counseling
|May 13, 2017
Summary
The Structured Patient-Pharmacist Consultation (SPPC) model helps identify medication issues in elderly patients. This tool improves medication understanding, especially for those with diabetes, and addresses adherence concerns.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Pharmacy
- Patient Counseling
- Medication Management
Background:
- Elderly patients often manage multiple medications (polypharmacy), leading to potential issues.
- Patient needs and concerns regarding medication use require systematic evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of the Structured Patient-Pharmacist Consultation (SPPC) in understanding elderly polypharmacy patients' medication needs and concerns.
- To identify factors associated with medication use problems and evaluate consultation outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Older patients (≥5 chronic medications) completed the SPPC form at home.
- Community pharmacist consultations were conducted based on patient responses.
- Logistic regression analyzed treatment issues and consultation outcomes.
Main Results:
- Nearly 40% of patients experienced medication problems, and over 46% had concerns.
- 50% of patients had identified side effects or non-adherence issues.
- Consultations improved medication understanding for 75.5% of patients, particularly those with diabetes.
Conclusions:
- The SPPC model is effective for patient-centered medication counseling.
- Patients with specific conditions (e.g., atrial fibrillation, COPD) and on certain medications (e.g., anticoagulants, benzodiazepines) may require targeted interventions.
- Pharmacist-led consultations can enhance medication adherence and patient understanding.
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