Knowledge and perspectives of Dutch home healthcare nurses regarding medication frequently used by older people

Abstract

Home healthcare nurses in their roles as caregivers, educators and administrators of medications are particularly well positioned to act on a preventive way to be alert of adverse drug reactions. However, knowledge about medication and a professional attitude is required. To describe medication-related knowledge and perspectives of Dutch home healthcare nurses regarding frequent used medication by older people. A cross-sectional study was conducted among home healthcare nurses (n=146) in the Netherlands based on the ten most frequently used drugs by older people. The mean score for total medication knowledge was 76.2% of the maximum score. Most home healthcare nurses (80.3%) felt responsible for improving older patients' medication use. Three-quarters of the home healthcare nurses agreed with the statement: "By taking appropriate action at the right time, I am able to prevent a medication-related hospital admission". Although most home healthcare nurses felt responsible for their older patients' proper medication use and agreed with the statement that they played a role in preventing older patients' medication-related hospital admissions, their knowledge regarding medications could be improved. Home healthcare nurses should profit as a professional from gaining more knowledge of medication frequently used by older people.