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Medication‐Taking by the Frail Elderly in Two Ethnic Groups
Author(s) -
Lile Janet L.,
Hoffman Rosemary
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
nursing forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.618
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1744-6198
pISSN - 0029-6473
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6198.1991.tb00891.x
Subject(s) - polypharmacy , ethnic group , intervention (counseling) , medicine , harm , gerontology , health care , population , psychiatry , psychology , environmental health , intensive care medicine , social psychology , sociology , anthropology , economics , economic growth
A complex and dangerous area of medical intervention with the elderly population is drug therapy. Although drugs have contributed to the well‐being of many older persons, some elderly individuals are at risk due to polypharmacy and age‐related factors. The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the medication‐taking behaviors of two ethnic groups of noninstitutionalized frail elderly individuals. The findings indicate that these individuals may be at risk for harm due to their medication‐taking practices. Healthcare professionals must evaluate drug use by the elderly and be aware of the risks of drug misuse by this vulnerable group.