Knowledge and Burden regarding Medication among Geriatric Patients at Sohag University Hospital

Abstract

: Background: Medication burden is a more common problem among geriatric patients because the presence of chronic diseases due to the use of multiple medications. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge and burden regarding medication among geriatric patients. Design: A descriptive research design was used. Setting: The study carried out at outpatients clinics at Sohag university hospital. Sample : 245geriatric patients included in the study Tools: Three tools were used: Tool I: Demographic and medical data, tool II: Medication Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire, and tool III: Living with Medicines Questionnaire. Results: The results revealed that 56.3% of studied geriatric patients had poor knowledge related to medications they have taken, 40% of them had high medication burden, there was negative correlation between knowledge about medication and medication burden. Conclusion: Elderly patients level of knowledge regarding their medications were poor in addition to most of them were between high to moderate medication burden. Recommendation: Minimize the number of prescribed medications by keeping the dosing schedule as simple as possible, and limit the number of medication changes and designing health education programs for elderly patients and their caregivers regarding their medications to increase their knowledge and decrease medication burden.