Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach

Plácido, Ana Isabel; Herdeiro, Maria Teresa; Simões, João Lindo; Amaral, Odete; Figueiras, Adolfo; Roque, Fátima

doi:10.3390/ijerph17186443

Open AccessArticle

Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach

by

Ana Isabel Plácido

¹,

Maria Teresa Herdeiro

²

,

João Lindo Simões

³,

Odete Amaral

⁴

,

Adolfo Figueiras

^5,6,7

and

Fátima Roque

^1,8,*

¹

Research Unit for Inland Development, Polytechnic of Guarda (UDI-IPG), 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal

²

Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED) and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810–193 Aveiro, Portugal

³

Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED) and School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810–193 Aveiro, Portugal

⁴

Health Sciences School, Polytechnic of Viseu, 3500–843 Viseu, Portugal

⁵

Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15702 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

⁶

Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28001 Madrid, Spain

⁷

Institute of Health Research of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

⁸

Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200–506 Covilhã, Portugal

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443

Submission received: 11 August 2020 / Revised: 2 September 2020 / Accepted: 2 September 2020 / Published: 4 September 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Wellbeing on Aging)

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Abstract

Polypharmacy in older adults is frequently associated with incorrect management of medicines, which causes drug-related problems and, subsequently, poor health outcomes. Understanding why older adults incorrectly manage their medicines is fundamental to health outcomes, however, it is an issue that remains poorly explored. The aim of this study is to examine older people’s perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and concerns in the central region of Portugal. Thirteen focus groups with sixty-one older adults taking five or more prescription medicines were conducted to explore older patients’ perceptions and beliefs about and management of their medication. Sampling was conducted until theme saturation had been achieved. Transcripts were coded and data were obtained using the NVivo qualitative data-analysis software programme. Older adults recognise the importance of medicines for ensuring healthy ageing. Owing to a lack of literacy, however, they frequently commit medication mistakes and compromise their health outcomes. Promoting the literacy and empowerment of older patients, as well as strengthening the relationship between health professionals and patients, is crucial when it comes to addressing drug-related problems and improving health outcomes.

Keywords: polypharmacy; home-dwelling older patients; medication errors; focus group sessions

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MDPI and ACS Style

Plácido, A.I.; Herdeiro, M.T.; Simões, J.L.; Amaral, O.; Figueiras, A.; Roque, F. Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6443. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443

AMA Style

Plácido AI, Herdeiro MT, Simões JL, Amaral O, Figueiras A, Roque F. Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(18):6443. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443

Chicago/Turabian Style

Plácido, Ana Isabel, Maria Teresa Herdeiro, João Lindo Simões, Odete Amaral, Adolfo Figueiras, and Fátima Roque. 2020. "Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 18: 6443. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443

APA Style

Plácido, A. I., Herdeiro, M. T., Simões, J. L., Amaral, O., Figueiras, A., & Roque, F. (2020). Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6443. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186443

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Voices of Polymedicated Older Patients: A Focus Group Approach

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