Barriers to Safe and Effective Medication for Individuals with Sensory Impairment: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Visual impairment (VI) and hearing impairment (HI) are common disabilities whose prevalence increases with age, potentially presenting a major challenge in the future. Identifying the types of obstacles which they encounter during drug administration is essential to improve health outcomes. This systematic literature review aimed to identify types of medication barriers encountered by individuals with VI or HI to improve their health outcomes. Combination of keywords indicating VI or HI, barrier, challenge, or difficulty, and drug or medication were used to identify potential studies up to May 31, 2021, from Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. Overall, 20 and 17 articles met the predefined eligibility criteria for VI and HI, respectively. Individuals with VI were found to encounter difficulties in the entire process of pharmaceutical therapy, including drug identification, medication management, access to pharmacies, medication instructions, drug information (labeling), and communication. Individuals with HI were found to experience challenges in communication, health literacy, and negative experiences and emotions toward doctors/pharmacists. The drug management needs of individuals with VI and HI remain unmet. For safe and effective medication in individuals with VI and HI, it is essential to establish practical solutions, such as providing identification tools for tablets for those with VI, deploying sign language interpreters at designated healthcare institutions and pharmacies for individuals with HI, utilizing novel technologies, including audio prescription labeling systems or mobile applications, and providing education for both healthcare providers and individuals with disabilities to improve their partnership in drug therapy.