Perfil socioeconômico, epidemiológico e farmacoterapêutico de idosos institucionalizados de Brasília, BrasilThe socio-economic, epidemiological and pharmaco-therapeutic profile of institutionalized elderly individuals in Brasilia, Brazil

The aim of this study is to describe the drug utilization by 154 elderly from five long-stay institutions of Brasilia-DF, Brazil, through a questionnaire adapted from the Dader Method. The sample is characterized mostly of men, age of 74.6 years, with preserved cognition, low income and low education level and in use of four to five medications. The adherence to pharmacotherapy is compromised by low knowledge about current medical prescription, difficulty of access and refusal to use medicines. Results suggest the need for investment in human resources training and research in the area to provide better quality of life and to reduce costs with the assistance health.

No abstract

This paper aims to describe the socioeconomic and epidemiological profile, as well as the standards of medicine consumption in a group of 154 elderly people from five homes for the aged in Brasilia, in order to expand the understanding about some characteristics and individual needs of this population and its influence on the quality of drug’s therapy. Data were collected between January and December of 2007, it was used a questionnaire adapted from Dader’s method (2002) and a pharmacotherapeutic follow up method and it was responded by the elders and caregivers. Data were supplemented with information from medical records and prescriptions available in the institutions. The studied group has an average age of 74.6 years, living in their current homes for about 5.4 years and the group consists mainly of men with preserved cognitive status. The members of the group have low monthly income, low education level and are sedentary. They consume 4 - 5 drugs and are affected mainly by cardiovascular and psychiatric diseases. Results suggest that low monthly income, low education level, the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle, elders with compromised cognitive status, the increasing number of chronic diseases and the high consumption of drugs in the researched group may be important factors for the emergence or injury drugs-related problems (DRP) as non-adherence to treatment, medication errors, drug interactions and adverse drug reactions compromising the quality of medication therapy. This study points out the necessity of including a pharmacotherapeutic follow-up for the elderly people in order to minimize such problems and provide better quality of life for patients

doses of a great challenge: 26 recommendations for pediatric pharmaceutical services in Brazil Rev. Bras. Farm. Hosp. Serv.