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Inappropriate Use of Medication by Elderly, Polymedicated, or Multipathological Patients with Chronic Diseases

Author

Listed:
  • Virtudes Pérez-Jover

    (Health Psychology Department, Miguel Hernandez University, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain)

  • José J. Mira

    (Health Psychology Department, Miguel Hernandez University, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
    Sant Joan-Alacant Health District, Conselleria Sanitat, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain)

  • Concepción Carratala-Munuera

    (Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain)

  • Vicente F. Gil-Guillen

    (Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain)

  • Josep Basora

    (Sant Joan-Alacant Health District, Conselleria Sanitat, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain)

  • Adriana López-Pineda

    (Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain)

  • Domingo Orozco-Beltrán

    (Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain)

Abstract

The growth of the aging population leads to the increase of chronic diseases, of the burden of multimorbility, and of the complexity polypharmacy. The prevalence of medication errors rises in patients with polypharmacy in primary care, and this is a major concern to healthcare systems. This study reviews the published literature on the inappropriate use of medicines in order to articulate recommendations on how to reduce it in chronic patients, particularly in those who are elderly, polymedicated, or multipathological. A systematic review of articles published from January 2000 to October 2015 was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and Index Medicus databases. We selected 80 studies in order to analyse the content that addressed the question under consideration. Our literature review found that half of patients know what their prescribed treatment is; that most of elderly people take five or more medications a day; that in elderly, polymedicated people, the probability of a medication error occurring is higher; that new tools have been recently developed to reduce errors; that elderly patients can understand written information but the presentation and format is an important factor; and that a high percentage of patients have remaining doubts after their visit. Thus, strategies based on the evidence should be applied in order to reduce medication errors.

Suggested Citation

  • Virtudes Pérez-Jover & José J. Mira & Concepción Carratala-Munuera & Vicente F. Gil-Guillen & Josep Basora & Adriana López-Pineda & Domingo Orozco-Beltrán, 2018. "Inappropriate Use of Medication by Elderly, Polymedicated, or Multipathological Patients with Chronic Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:310-:d:131264
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Isabel Plácido & Maria Teresa Herdeiro & João Lindo Simões & Odete Amaral & Adolfo Figueiras & Fátima Roque, 2020. "Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Hsiang-Wen Lin & Elizabeth H. Chang & Yu Ko & Chun-Yu Wang & Yu-Shan Wang & Okti Ratna Mafruhah & Shang-Hua Wu & Yu-Chieh Chen & Yen-Ming Huang, 2020. "Conceptualization, Development and Psychometric Evaluations of a New Medication-Related Health Literacy Instrument: The Chinese Medication Literacy Measurement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Luís Midão & Pedro Brochado & Marta Almada & Mafalda Duarte & Constança Paúl & Elísio Costa, 2021. "Frailty Status and Polypharmacy Predict All-Cause Mortality in Community Dwelling Older Adults in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Jeronimo Luengo-Polo & David Conde-Caballero & Borja Rivero-Jiménez & Inmaculada Ballesteros-Yáñez & Carlos A. Castillo-Sarmiento & Lorenzo Mariano-Juárez, 2021. "Rationale and Methods of Evaluation for ACHO, A New Virtual Assistant to Improve Therapeutic Adherence in Rural Elderly Populations: A User-Driven Living Lab," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-11, July.
    5. Xiao Chang & Kai Wang & Yuting Wang & Houmian Tu & Guiping Gong & Haifeng Zhang, 2022. "Medication Literacy in Chinese Patients with Stroke and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Javier González-Bueno & Daniel Sevilla-Sánchez & Emma Puigoriol-Juvanteny & Núria Molist-Brunet & Carles Codina-Jané & Joan Espaulella-Panicot, 2021. "Factors Associated with Medication Non-Adherence among Patients with Multimorbidity and Polypharmacy Admitted to an Intermediate Care Center," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.

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