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Lang Y, Chen KY, Zhou Y, Kosmari L, Daniel K, Gurses A, Young R, Arbaje A, Xiao Y. Perception of Medication Safety-Related Behaviors Among Different Age Groups: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Interact J Med Res 2024; 13:e58635. [PMID: 39133905 PMCID: PMC11347903 DOI: 10.2196/58635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research and safety advocacy groups have proposed various behaviors for older adults to actively engage in medication safety. However, little is known about how older adults perceive the importance and reasonableness of these behaviors in ambulatory settings. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess older adults' perceptions of the importance and reasonableness of 8 medication safety behaviors in ambulatory settings and compare their responses with those of younger adults. METHODS We conducted a survey of 1222 adults in the United States using crowdsourcing to evaluate patient behaviors that may enhance medication safety in community settings. A total of 8 safety behaviors were identified based on the literature, such as bringing medications to office visits, confirming medications at home, managing medication refills, using patient portals, organizing medications, checking medications, getting help, and knowing medications. Respondents were asked about their perception of the importance and reasonableness of these behaviors on a 5-point Likert rating scale in the context of collaboration with primary care providers. We assessed the relative ranking of behaviors in terms of importance and reasonableness and examined the association between these dimensions across age groups using statistical tests. RESULTS Of 1222 adult participants, 125 (10.2%) were aged 65 years or older. Most participants were White, college-educated, and had chronic conditions. Older adults rated all 8 behaviors significantly higher in both importance and reasonableness than did younger adults (P<.001 for combined behaviors). Confirming medications ranked highest in importance (mean score=3.78) for both age groups while knowing medications ranked highest in reasonableness (mean score=3.68). Using patient portals was ranked lowest in importance (mean score=3.53) and reasonableness (mean score=3.49). There was a significant correlation between the perceived importance and reasonableness of the identified behaviors, with coefficients ranging from 0.436 to 0.543 (all P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Older adults perceived the identified safety behaviors as more important and reasonable than younger adults. However, both age groups considered a behavior highly recommended by professionals as the least important and reasonable. Patient engagement strategies, common and specific to age groups, should be considered to improve medication safety in ambulatory settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lang
- Department of Business, State University of New York at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY, United States
| | - Kay-Yut Chen
- College of Business, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Ludmila Kosmari
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Kathryn Daniel
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Ayse Gurses
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard Young
- Family Medicine Residency Program, The John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Alicia Arbaje
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yan Xiao
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
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LaValley SA, Brady LA, Nguyen M, Jacobs D. Family Caregivers of Older Adults: Strategies, Tools, and Technologies for Medication Management. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2023; 66:291-302. [PMID: 35850634 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2022.2100856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan A LaValley
- Department of Family Medicine, Primary Care Research Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Laura A Brady
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Primary Care Research Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Melanie Nguyen
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - David Jacobs
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Medicine self-administration errors in the older adult population: A systematic review. Res Social Adm Pharm 2021; 17:1877-1886. [PMID: 33811011 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicine self-administration errors (MSEs) are a longstanding issue in patient safety. Although many studies have examined MSEs in the general adult population, the MSEs that occur specifically in the older adult population and their contributing factors are not well understood. OBJECTIVE To identify the types of MSEs and their contributing factors among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus were searched for primary studies published between January 1, 2014 and June 12, 2020. Studies which reported MSEs among community-dwelling older adults (≥50 years of age) and written in English were included in the review. RESULTS Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly reported MSE was a dosing error, followed by missed dose, wrong medicine, incorrect administration methods, wrong administration time and wrong frequency. Seven of the included studies also described factors which contributed to the occurrence of MSEs. The most commonly reported factor contributing to MSEs was complex treatment regimens due to use of multiple medicines. Other factors identified included cognitive decline, decline in physical abilities, lack of social support, lack of knowledge about treatment regimens and negative attitudes and beliefs towards medicines. In most cases, MSEs occurred when multiple contributing factors were present. CONCLUSION The literature highlights a number of types of MSEs and their contributing factors which occur in the older adult population. Given that many MSEs are preventable, future research is needed into how pharmacists can support the identification and mitigation of factors contributing to MSEs in the older adult population.
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Manyazewal T, Woldeamanuel Y, Holland DP, Fekadu A, Blumberg HM, Marconi VC. Electronic pillbox-enabled self-administered therapy versus standard directly observed therapy for tuberculosis medication adherence and treatment outcomes in Ethiopia (SELFTB): protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21:383. [PMID: 32370774 PMCID: PMC7201596 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04324-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To address the multifaceted challenges associated with tuberculosis (TB) in-person directly observed therapy (DOT), the World Health Organization recently recommended that countries maximize the use of digital adherence technologies. Sub-Saharan Africa needs to investigate the effectiveness of such technologies in local contexts and proactively contribute to global decisions around patient-centered TB care. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pillbox-enabled self-administered therapy (SAT) compared to standard DOT on adherence to TB medication and treatment outcomes in Ethiopia. It also aims to assess the usability, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention from the patient and provider perspectives. METHODS This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label, superiority, effectiveness-implementation hybrid, mixed-methods, two-arm trial. The study is designed to enroll 144 outpatients with new or previously treated, bacteriologically confirmed, drug-sensitive pulmonary TB who are eligible to start the standard 6-month first-line anti-TB regimen. Participants in the intervention arm (n = 72) will receive 15 days of HRZE-isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol-fixed-dose combination therapy in the evriMED500 medication event reminder monitor device for self-administration. When returned, providers will count any remaining tablets in the device, download the pill-taking data, and refill based on preset criteria. Participants can consult the provider in cases of illness or adverse events outside of scheduled visits. Providers will handle participants in the control arm (n = 72) according to the standard in-person DOT. Both arms will be followed up throughout the 2-month intensive phase. The primary outcomes will be medication adherence and sputum conversion. Adherence to medication will be calculated as the proportion of patients who missed doses in the intervention (pill count) versus DOT (direct observation) arms, confirmed further by IsoScreen urine isoniazid test and a self-report of adherence on eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Sputum conversion is defined as the proportion of patients with smear conversion following the intensive phase in intervention versus DOT arms, confirmed further by pre-post intensive phase BACTEC MGIT TB liquid culture. Pre-post treatment MGIT drug susceptibility testing will determine whether resistance to anti-TB drugs could have impacted culture conversion. Secondary outcomes will include other clinical outcomes (treatment not completed, death, or loss to follow-up), cost-effectiveness-individual and societal costs with quality-adjusted life years-and acceptability and usability of the intervention by patients and providers. DISCUSSION This study will be the first in Ethiopia, and of the first three in sub-Saharan Africa, to determine whether electronic pillbox-enabled SAT improves adherence to TB medication and treatment outcomes, all without affecting the inherent dignity and economic wellbeing of patients with TB. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04216420. Registered on 2 January 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsegahun Manyazewal
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - David P. Holland
- Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Abebaw Fekadu
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Henry M. Blumberg
- Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Vincent C. Marconi
- Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
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Pérez-Jover V, Sala-González M, Guilabert M, Mira JJ. Mobile Apps for Increasing Treatment Adherence: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e12505. [PMID: 31215517 PMCID: PMC6604503 DOI: 10.2196/12505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is estimated that 20% to 50% of patients do not take their medication correctly, and this leads to increased morbidity and inefficacy of therapeutic approaches. Fostering treatment adherence is a priority objective for all health systems. The growth of mobile apps to facilitate therapeutic adherence has significantly increased in recent years. However, the effectiveness of the apps for this purpose has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze whether mobile apps are perceived as useful for managing medication at home and if they actually contribute to increasing treatment adherence in patients. METHODS We carried out a systematic review of research published using Scopus, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and MEDLINE databases and analyzed the information about their contribution to increasing therapeutic adherence and the perceived usefulness of mobile apps. This review examined studies published between 2000 and 2017. RESULTS Overall, 11 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The sample sizes of these studies varied between 16 and 99 participants. In addition, 7 studies confirmed that the mobile app increased treatment adherence. In 5 of them, the before and after adherence measures suggested significant statistical improvements, when comparing self-reported adherence and missed dose with a percentage increase ranging between 7% and 40%. The users found mobile apps easy to use and useful for managing their medication. The patients were mostly satisfied with their use, with an average score of 8.1 out of 10. CONCLUSIONS The use of mobile apps helps increase treatment adherence, and they are an appropriate method for managing medication at home.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mercedes Guilabert
- Departamento Psicología de la Salud, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
| | - José Joaquín Mira
- Departamento Psicología de la Salud, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
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Schwartz JK. Pillbox use, satisfaction, and effectiveness among persons with chronic health conditions. Assist Technol 2016; 29:181-187. [PMID: 27689861 DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2016.1219884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand how persons with chronic health conditions use pillboxes, their satisfaction with current devices, and the impact of pillbox use on medication adherence. We used convergent parallel mixed methods approach to explore the experiences of 13 regular, 3 occasional, and 5 non-pillbox users. Medication consumers completed the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0), an interview about their medication routines, and a medication adherence diary to describe their experiences with their pillboxes. Results demonstrated most participants use pillboxes to help manage their medications, and pillbox users tended to have better medication adherence than nonusers. Participants used a variety of pillboxes differing in size, shape, and color. Users reported selecting pillboxes based on their needs in addition to the demands of their habits and medication regimens. Users were generally satisfied with their pillboxes with an average QUEST score of 4.33. However, participants also identified areas for an improved design of pillboxes. Pillboxes can be an effective strategy to improve medication adherence. Improvements in device prescription, training, research, and design are needed to understand the mechanisms and size of effects of this intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn K Schwartz
- a Department of Occupational Therapy, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences , Florida International University , Miami , Florida , USA
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Abstract
Ineffective medication adherence among older adults can lead to the exacerbation of chronic health conditions, hospital admissions, and other avoidable health care costs. As hospitals increasingly focus on population health, the use of technology in patient homes is one approach to increase overall adherence with medications. The successful use of technology can reduce the number of medication errors, including missed doses, taking extra doses, and taking the wrong drug.
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