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Frail elderly patients' experiences of information on medication. A qualitative study

Modig, Sara LU ; Kristensson, Jimmie LU ; Troein, Margareta LU orcid ; Brorsson, Annika LU and Midlöv, Patrik LU orcid (2012) In BMC Geriatrics 12.
Abstract
Background: Older patients generally have only poor knowledge about their medicines. Knowledge is important for good adherence and for participating in decisions about treatment. Patients are entitled to be informed on an individual and adequate level. The aim of the study was to explore frail elderly patients' experiences of receiving information about their medications and their views on how the information should best be given. Methods: The study was qualitative in design and was carried out in 2011. Twelve frail elderly (aged 68-88) participants taking cardiovascular medications participated in semi-structured interviews covering issues related to receiving information about prescribed medicines. The interviews were recorded,... (More)
Background: Older patients generally have only poor knowledge about their medicines. Knowledge is important for good adherence and for participating in decisions about treatment. Patients are entitled to be informed on an individual and adequate level. The aim of the study was to explore frail elderly patients' experiences of receiving information about their medications and their views on how the information should best be given. Methods: The study was qualitative in design and was carried out in 2011. Twelve frail elderly (aged 68-88) participants taking cardiovascular medications participated in semi-structured interviews covering issues related to receiving information about prescribed medicines. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and subjected to content analysis, in which the text was analysed in five steps, inspired by Graneheim and Lundman. Results: The results revealed that the experiences which the elderly participants had regarding the receiving of medical information fell into two main categories: "Comfortable with information" or "Insecure with information". The elderly felt comfortable when they trusted their physician or their medication, when they received enough information from the prescriber or when they knew how to find out sufficient information by themselves. They felt insecure if they were anxious, if the availability of medical care was poor or if they did not receive enough information. Conclusions: Factors that frequently caused insecurity about information and anxiety were too short consultations, lack of availability of someone to answer questions or of the opportunity to contact the physician if adverse effects are suspected. These factors could easily be dealt with and there must be improvements in the clinics if the patients' feelings of security are to be increased. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Elderly, Medication knowledge, Information, Confidence, Qualitative, Content analysis
in
BMC Geriatrics
volume
12
article number
46
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • wos:000313487900001
  • scopus:84865191068
  • pmid:22909093
ISSN
1471-2318
DOI
10.1186/1471-2318-12-46
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Caring Sciences (Closed 2012) (016514020), Family Medicine (013241010)
id
b34716a7-80d9-400a-809e-197310591949 (old id 3504083)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:22:07
date last changed
2022-04-01 02:30:02
@article{b34716a7-80d9-400a-809e-197310591949,
  abstract     = {{Background: Older patients generally have only poor knowledge about their medicines. Knowledge is important for good adherence and for participating in decisions about treatment. Patients are entitled to be informed on an individual and adequate level. The aim of the study was to explore frail elderly patients' experiences of receiving information about their medications and their views on how the information should best be given. Methods: The study was qualitative in design and was carried out in 2011. Twelve frail elderly (aged 68-88) participants taking cardiovascular medications participated in semi-structured interviews covering issues related to receiving information about prescribed medicines. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and subjected to content analysis, in which the text was analysed in five steps, inspired by Graneheim and Lundman. Results: The results revealed that the experiences which the elderly participants had regarding the receiving of medical information fell into two main categories: "Comfortable with information" or "Insecure with information". The elderly felt comfortable when they trusted their physician or their medication, when they received enough information from the prescriber or when they knew how to find out sufficient information by themselves. They felt insecure if they were anxious, if the availability of medical care was poor or if they did not receive enough information. Conclusions: Factors that frequently caused insecurity about information and anxiety were too short consultations, lack of availability of someone to answer questions or of the opportunity to contact the physician if adverse effects are suspected. These factors could easily be dealt with and there must be improvements in the clinics if the patients' feelings of security are to be increased.}},
  author       = {{Modig, Sara and Kristensson, Jimmie and Troein, Margareta and Brorsson, Annika and Midlöv, Patrik}},
  issn         = {{1471-2318}},
  keywords     = {{Elderly; Medication knowledge; Information; Confidence; Qualitative; Content analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Geriatrics}},
  title        = {{Frail elderly patients' experiences of information on medication. A qualitative study}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3330582/3807221.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/1471-2318-12-46}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}