Health Professionals' Perceptions of Drug Use Problems of the Elderly

Abstract

ABSTRACTMany elderly in Canada are living independently and managing their own medication use. Since the elderly are more susceptible to the ill-effects of drugs, non-prescription drug use may pose a hazard. In order to conduct a survey to determine the extent of hazardous self-medication with non-prescription analgesics and the factors that contribute to such use, a valid measurement of hazardous use was needed. To determine items for this measurement, a survey was conducted with health professionals in a position to detect problems with drug use by the elderly. Nurses and physicians were asked their perceptions of drug use problems and of their elderly clients' concerns about their health and drug use. Results indicated that eight items should be included in a measurement to reflect hazardous drug use seen in practice by more than 50% of the health professionals surveyed. Nurses and physicians differed in their perceptions of certain problems and of their elderly clients' concerns.