Self-administration of medicine and older people
Caroline McGraw Nurse Research Fellow in primary care nursing, Department of Primary Care and Population Science, Royal Free and University College Medical Schools, London
Vari Drennan Senior Lecturer in primary care nursing, Department of Primary Care and Population Science, Royal Free and University College Medical Schools, London
Background Non-adherence to medication regimens is a significant problem in older patients, which can lead to therapeutic failure and the wastage of resources. Common causes include poor patient memory, physical difficulties, unpleasant side effects and a lack of social support.
Conclusion Strategies such as careful labelling, self-administration of medicine programmes, simplifying drug regimens and the use of medication compliance devices can help to promote patient adherence. Some of these interventions will work for certain patients, however the authors recommend that a multidisciplinary assessment and a regular review of each patient’s ability to adhere to medication should be undertaken.
Nursing Standard.
15, 18, 33-36.
doi: 10.7748/ns2001.01.15.18.33.c2968
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