The Effect of a Tailored Health Education Programme on Medication Management in the Elderly.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Empowering the elderly by education programs can decrease medication problems, morbidity, and mortality. METHODS: A cross-sectional study to identify trends and baseline medication management among the elderly in nursing homes followed by an interventional study (tailored educational programme) offered within the same population followed by reassessment of the same medication management domains. RESULTS: There was no effect regarding nursing home participants' medication knowledge before and after intervention, while there were variable degrees of significant statistical differences in how the participants obtain and take their medications as well as their total deficiency scores before and after intervention. Other domains were also variably affected. CONCLUSION: It is vital to ensure that patients have sufficient knowledge regarding their medications and how to handle and administer them. Different domains may variably be affected by educational programmes mainly due to preassessment deficits. Educational programmes need to be tailored according to the requirements of the population targeted.