DRUG-RELATED PROBLEMS in HOME CARE PATIENTS
Date
1985
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Home health care programs have been recognized as a cost-effective method of providing health care to patients in the familiar surroundings of their home. The services provided by
such a program have been viewed as an extension of those found in hospital and have included nursing and social services as well as occupational and physical therapy. However, pharmacy as yet has not been regarded among those services considered necessary.
This study was designed to determine if patients in a home care program, specifically the Saskatoon Rehabilitation Home Care Program (SRHCP) experience difficulties with their drug
treatment regimens. The objectives of the study were to assess the number of drug-related problems faced by patients and to identify factors contributing to these problems.
The study population consisted of the 432 patients registered in the SRHCP in January 1985. From this group, 74 patients were chosen at random and were personally interviewed by
the author using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the SPSS-X computer program package . Frequencies of responses were tabulated for all questions. Relationships
between selected variables were examined by nonparametric correlation (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient) or chi-square analysis. Probability values < 0.05 were considered
statistically significant.
Among patients registered with the SRHCP , females outnumbered the males in a ratio of approximately 1.4 to 1. Patients 65 years and older comprised 60.3% of this population;
33.8% of all patients lived alone.
Twenty-five patients (35.7%) were found to be noncompliant with one or more of their medications. Fifty-seven percent of the patients knew the use of all their prescribed drugs and
only 4 patients (5.7%) did not know the use of any. More than 50% of patients stated they had not been given information on their prescription drugs and 87.7% named the physician as the first person they would contact if they had a problem with any of their medication. Eighty-one percent of patients said they bought their prescription drugs at one pharmacy only.
Fifty-four patients were taking nonprescription drug products with the average number per patient being 1.7 for those patients <65 years and 2.4 for those 65 years and older. Of the
tota1154 nonprescription drugs being taken, 72.7% were used for an officially recommended purpose and 96.7% were taken in an officially approved dose. Sixty-three percent of patients purchased their nonprescription drugs at a pharmacy.
Fifty-two patients (70.3%) interviewed were assessed as having one or more drug-related problems. More of these problems were patient-related than physician-related. An increasing number of drug-related problems in a patient was associated with an increasing number of diagnoses, an increasing number of prescription drugs and a decreasing degree of patient compliance with drug treatment regimens. Neither patient compliance nor the total number of drug-related problems were related to the age of the patient. The number of prescription drugs taken influenced patient compliance. Patients taking more drugs were compliant with a smaller percentage of their prescription medications.
There was no difference found between patients <65 years and those 65 yr and older with respect to the number of drugs (both prescribed drugs & OTC drug products)being taken by the patient, the percentage of prescription drugs for which the patient knew the name and the percentage of prescription drugs for which the patient knew the use.
A significant portion of the patients in the SRHCP had drug-related problems which could be identified by a pharmacist. As a full-time member of the home care team, a pharmacist could assist in identifying and solving drug-related problems by specific interventions with patients and physicians and by general education programs for patients and home care personnel.
Description
Keywords
Home health care programs, drug treatment regimens
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Pharmacy