Evaluation of Medicine Management of Elderly During Covid-19; Descriptive Cross-Sectional Research Study
Abstract
Methods: The research was conducted with 410 individuals, aged 65 and over, in a province in the east of Turkey, between May and August 2021. The research data were collected online using a questionnaire through Google forms. The data obtained were analyzed by using numbers and percentiles in the SPSS 24 package program.
Results: Of the individuals with an average age of 73.09±7.76 years, 52.2% was female, 22.4% was literate, 67.6% had one or more chronic diseases, and 64.6% was taking medicine continuously. Of elderly people, 42.9% had problems accessing health services during the pandemic, 29.7% had problems accessing medicines, and 44.1% has obtained his/her medicines from pharmacies through his/her children. Of elderly, 40.7% has met the need for medicines from the pharmacy during the COVID-19 process, and 56.1% reported that social support for elderly is insufficient.
Conclusion: According to the study results, most elderly people were found to have chronic diseases and take medication regularly, and experienced problems with medication management and elderly need more support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
.
Keywords
Covid-19 , Elderly , Elderly Health , Health Management , Medication Management
References
- 1. Bakir G, Akin S. Factors associated with management of chronic diseases in elderly. Health and Society. 2019;29(2):17–25.
- 2. Nouira N, Bahria W, Hamdi D, Lahouegue A, Demni W, Cheikh M Ben. Medication adherence in elderly during Covid-19 pandemic: What role can the emergency department play? Pan Afr Med J. 2021;38.
- 3. Smaje A, Weston-Clark M, Raj R, Orlu M, Davis D, Rawle M. Factors associated with medication adherence in older patients: A systematic review. Aging Med. 2018;1(3):254–66.
- 4. Palmer K, Monaco A, Kivipelto M, Onder G, Maggi S, Michel JP, et al. The potential long-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patients with non-communicable diseases in Europe: consequences for healthy ageing. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2020;32(7):1189–94.
- 5. Vahia I, Jeste D, Reynolds C. Older Adults and theMental Health Effects of COVID-19. JAMA. 2020;324(22):2253–4.
- 6. Kretchy IA, Asiedu-Danso M, Kretchy JP. Medication management and adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives and experiences from low-and middle-income countries. Res Soc Adm Pharm. 2021;17(1):2023–6.
- 7. Rahman S, Singh K, Dhingra S, Charan J, Sharma P, Islam S, et al. The double burden of the COVID-19 pandemic and polypharmacy on geriatric population – public health implications. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2020;16:1007–22.
- 8. Wicaksana AL, Hertanti NS, Ferdiana A, Pramono RB. Diabetes management and specific considerations for patients with diabetes during coronavirus diseases pandemic: A scoping review. Diabetes Metab Syndr Clin Res Rev. 2020;14(5):1109–20.
- 9. Potempski F, Bilimoria K. Polypharmacy in the age of covid-19: Medication management during a pandemic. Univ Toronto Med J. 2021;98(1):73–5.
- 10. United Nations. Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on older persons. United Nations Sustain Dev Gr. 2020;(5):1–16.