Informal caregivers' perspectives on health of and (potentially inappropriate) medication for (relatively) independent oldest-old people - a qualitative interview study.
BMC Geriatr
; 18(1): 169, 2018 07 25.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30045689
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Oldest-old persons frequently receive potentially inappropriate medication. Medication use takes place under the patients' informal caregivers' influence. We explored informal caregivers' perspectives on medication of (relatively) independent oldest-old persons to identify starting points for safer medication prescription/handling.METHODS:
In this exploratory qualitative interview study we interviewed 45 informal caregivers of 45 oldest-old persons (23 with potentially inappropriate medication/22 without potentially inappropriate medication). Interviews were recorded, transcribed and content analyzed (deductive/inductive coding).RESULTS:
Interviewees had little knowledge about/influence on oldest-old persons' medication, but declared to monitor oldest-old persons' needs for assistance. They were unaware of the concept of potentially inappropriate medication but sometimes sensitive to substance dependency. Most informal caregivers were satisfied with the oldest-old persons' medication and viewed medication as increasing the patients' quality of life. Inadequate communication was found between informal caregivers and general practitioners.CONCLUSIONS:
Influence of informal caregivers on (relatively) independent oldest-old persons' medication seems low. Stakeholders need to be aware that there is a transitional period where independency of oldest-old persons decreases and support needs increase which may be missed by (in-)formal caregivers or concealed by oldest-old persons. Monitoring patients' medication competencies; measures supporting communication between informal caregivers and health care professionals; provision of educational and support resources for informal caregivers and the acceptance of oldest-old persons' increasing assistance needs may increase medication safety.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Nível de Saúde
/
Inquéritos e Questionários
/
Cuidadores
/
Pesquisa Qualitativa
/
Lista de Medicamentos Potencialmente Inapropriados
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limite:
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article