Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government
Veterans Benefits and Health Care About VA Find a VA Location

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Medication safety in older adults: home-based practice patterns.

Metlay JP, Cohen A, Polsky D, Kimmel SE, Koppel R, Hennessy S. Medication safety in older adults: home-based practice patterns. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2005 Jun 1; 53(6):976-82.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.    Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions


Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: To identify the current state of medication-taking practices of community-dwelling older adults on high-risk medications. DESIGN: Telephone survey of older adults filling prescriptions for warfarin, digoxin, or phenytoin from May 2, 2002, through June 30, 2003. SETTING: The Pennsylvania Pharmacy Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program, a state-run program providing prescription drug coverage for poor older adults. PARTICIPANTS: PACE members. MEASUREMENTS: Patients self-reported sources of information on current medications as well as home-based practices for organizing medication regimens. RESULTS: Four thousand nine hundred fifty-five PACE members were interviewed. Thirty-two percent of the sample reported that they had not received any specific instructions about their medications, 35% reported that they received instructions from their primary care provider, and 46% indicated they received them from a pharmacist. Fifty-four percent of participants indicated that they used a pillbox for organizing their medications. Older adults prescribed warfarin were more likely to report receiving instructions than those prescribed digoxin or phenytoin. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of older adults on high-risk medications do not recall receiving instructions for the use of their medications and do not take advantage of existing systems for organizing medication regimens. Improved patient education and delivery of medication organization systems are immediate opportunities to potentially reduce the risk of medication errors in older people.




Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.