Medication Adherence and Safety Program for Community-Dwelling Seniors With Chronic Conditions

摘要

Misuse and mismanagement of medical products (e.g., pharmaceuticals and medical devices) can significantly impact the quality of life of community-dwelling seniors aged 65 years and older with chronic health conditions. Medication therapy management is an ongoing concern among community-dwelling older adults. The increased use of both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals and the lack of medication safety education drove the importance of this capstone project. To explore the problem, the researchers implemented a multifaceted educational intervention. The intervention format included seminars on medication adherence, safety, storage, and disposal for this target population and their caregivers residing in Broward County, Florida. This scholarly project was aligned with the national objectives addressed in Healthy People 2020 that promoted the need to ensure the safe use of medical products (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS],2013). A pilot of the Medication Adherence and Safety Program (MASP) for Community-Dwelling Seniors with Chronic Conditions was conducted with a convenience sample of 31 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. The MASP educational intervention for these community-dwelling seniors with chronic conditions resulted in self-reported increased medication errors, storage, and disposal awareness. Recommendations for future studies include the use of a modified pre- and postintervention test, the addition of a medication take-back to the program, and the use of more novice health care professionals to educate and perform the Brown Bag medication reviews (BBMRs).