 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Brenda Bergman-Evans, PhD, APRN, BC, Creighton University School of Nursing, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, (402) 280-2041, bbevans@creighton.edu
Older adults take a disproportionate number of prescription and nonprescription medications. This phenomenon is influenced by a variety of factors including increased incidence of chronic illness, increased number of providers, and increased propensity of providers to treat older adult’s symptoms with medications. Pathophysiologic changes of aging, altered reactions to medication, and nonspecific complaints all increase the complexity of the issue. In addition, health professionals and elders are bombarded on every front with advertisements regarding the marvels of medications. Therefore, making accurate decisions regarding prescribing and managing medication regimens for older adults in today’s environment can at times be overwhelming. The purpose of this presentation is to describe an evidenced based protocol on medication management for the older adult that was completed in 2002. More than 100 research and professional nursing, medical, and pharmacological journal articles and book chapters were reviewed. Based on identified themes, an evidence based protocol emerged. Areas of special import that will be highlighted in this presentation include: 1) Parameters related to the initiation and monitoring of new medications; 2) Methods that help to limit the pitfalls of polypharmacy; and 3) Practices that enhance client adherence to medication regimens.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Prescription Drug Use Patterns, Elderly
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.