Premium
Effects of a medicine review and education programme for older people in general practice
Author(s) -
Lowe Catherine J.,
Raynor David K.,
Purvis John,
Farrin Amanda,
Hudson Jocelyn
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00247.x
Subject(s) - medicine , alternative medicine , family medicine , gerontology , medline , general practice , medical education , pathology , political science , law
AimsTo determine whether a medicine review and education programme influences the compliance and knowledge of older people in general practice.MethodsOlder people taking at least three medicines were randomly allocated to a control or intervention group. Both groups received three visits from a clinical pharmacist: Visit 1: Assessment and patients' medicines rationalized in intervention group. Visit 2: Intervention group given medicines education. Visit 3: Knowledge and compliance in both groups assessed by structured questionnaireResultsCompliance in the intervention group was 91.3%, compared with 79.5% in the control group ( P < 0.0001). The number of intervention group patients correctly understanding the purpose of their medicines increased from 58% to 88% on the second visit, compared with 67% to 70% in the control group ( P < 0.0005).ConclusionsA general practice based medication review and education programme improved medicine compliance and knowledge of older people in the short term.