Adding medications in the emergency department: Effect on knowledge of medications in older adults

Rural Residence and Prescription Medication Use by Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Review of the Literature

“…The study designs varied. Most studies conducted interviews as the method of examining medication use 1,2,4–8,11–13,17,19,20,26–33 . The sampling frame for most studies involved administrative databases, such as voter registration lists, telephone listings, Medicare registries, or a private company's marketing list 2,3,5,7,12,13,16–20,26,29–34 .…”

“…The sampling frame for most studies involved administrative databases, such as voter registration lists, telephone listings, Medicare registries, or a private company's marketing list 2,3,5,7,12,13,16–20,26,29–34 . Fewer studies used convenience sampling with subjects recruited from such sources as physician practices, hospital patients being discharged, or seniors' clubs 1,6,8,11,27,28 . A number of articles reported on the results of secondary data analysis from previous large population‐based surveys, such as the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE), 13,17,20 Monongahela Independent Elders Survey (MoVIES), 5,12,26,32,33 Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE), 16,18 and others 2,7,14,19,29,31 …”

“…Three of the 4 studies reporting prevalence rates in excess of 90% used a convenience sampling strategy 6,8,28 and 2 of these studies also reported higher mean medication use 8,28 . Not surprisingly, patients recruited during hospitalization or an emergency room visit 11,27 reported higher medication use. Studies recruiting subjects from pharmaceutical/medical assistance programs designed to subsidize individuals in need (eg, PACE) may not be representative of the population at large, 16,18 whereas results from studies that utilized random and/or population‐based sampling (voter registries, telephone listings, administrative data) may be more generalizable 3–5,7,12–14,17,19,20,26,29–33 .…”

“…This might be expected to provide a more accurate picture of medication taking compared to self‐reported strategies, as the interviewer can probe for various storage locations (eg, medicine cabinet, night table). Multiple data sources were used in 2 studies 14,27 . This would also improve the accuracy of data collected.…”

Accuracy of reporting current medications by cancer patients presenting to an emergency center

“…A higher level of medication knowledge has been associated with a reduced risk of drug-related problems necessitating a change in therapy [6]. Although reconciliation of medication profiles is important each time patients interact with their health care system, transitions in care represent important opportunities to prevent drug-related problems based on erroneous data [7,8]. The emergency center (EC) represents a transition of care for patients where drug regimens are modified and new medications are prescribed, and the risk for adverse drug reactions is high especially in patients who take multiple medications.…”