dilemma of polypharmacy: nurses perceptions of health care professionals' contribution in polypharmacy in Ajman, UAE

Health care professionals do not pay sufficient attention to polypharmacy which is a slowly growing phenomenon. Physician-related factors which contribute to polypharmacy include the use of multiple medications in management of co-morbid illnesses, symptomatic treatment, and the treatment of the adverse effects of drugs. The present study aimed to identify nurses' perceptions of health care professionals' role in polypharmacy. This cross sectional study was conducted among nurses in Gulf Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Ajman, United Arab Emirates from March to May 2011. A structured self-administered close-ended pilot-tested questionnaire was used as a study instrument. Association between socio-demographic characteristics and items were analyzed using Chi-square test and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 92 female and 13 male nurses were included. The most common physician factors identified by nurses were prescribing medications for every symptom [78 [74%]], not conducting medication review [74 [70.5%]], not simplifying medication regimens [62 [59%]] and the influence of pharmaceutical companies 58 [55.2%]. Regarding the pharmacist related factors, nurses opined that inadequate pharmacist-doctor communication [71 [67.6%]] and lack of effective patient counseling [65 [61.9%]] influence polypharmacy. On comparing physician related factors between nurses of different years of experience and also between the genders, prescribing medications for every symptom, and not conducting a medication review with the patient scored the highest in all the groups. A higher number of male nurses [statistically significant at p<0.05] in comparison to female nurses opined that inadequate knowledge of clinical pharmacology [7 [53.8%]], and lack of time to review medications [6 [46%]] contributed to polypharmacy. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the increase in polypharmacy. Regular assessment of prescribed medications should be carried out to avoid the administration of inappropriate drugs

Qualitative insights into the nurses' knowledge and experience of polypharmacy in Ajman, UAE

The specter of polypharmacy is an ever increasing problem. Nurses play a functional role in assisting patients to understand the dangers of polypharmacy. Nurses' knowledge and their experience of polypharmacy in their nursing practice are determined in the study. Nurses working in Gulf Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Ajman, United Arab Emirates participated in this cross-sectional study during March to May 2011. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to obtain data. Chi-square test was performed to find the association between sociodemographic characteristics and the variables under study using PSAW software. A total of 105 nurses [92 female; 13 male] participated. The definition of polypharmacy was correctly identified by only 45.7% nurses. Elderly was identified as the most common age group in whom polypharmacy is practiced. 66.7% of the nurses acknowledge their non-awareness of rational and irrational polypharmacy. Non-awareness of rationality of polypharmacy was similar between genders and all three groups of clinical experience. The common reasons given for practice of polypharmacy included use of multiple drugs to manage multiple disease conditions. 66% identified the elderly population as the common age group exposed to polypharmacy, while 22.9% nurses opined that it is common in all age groups. Working knowledge of rational polypharmacy is essential among the nursing community to reduce the practice of polypharmacy

Nurses' views on patient factors associated with polypharmacy in Ajman, UAE

The specter of polypharmacy is an ever-increasing problem faced by the healthcare professionals. Nurses need to be aware of the several patient related factors that contribute to polypharmacy. This study evaluated the views of nurses regarding patient-related factors associated with polypharmacy. Nurses working in Gulf Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Ajman, United Arab Emirates participated in the study during March to May 2011. The fourteen item questionnaire regarding patient factors was used as the research tool. Association between socio-demographic characteristics and items were analysed using Chi-square test [p<0.05 considered statistically significant]. Of 105 nurses included, 92 were females and 13 males. The most commonly identified patient factors were lack of awareness of polypharmacy [94.3%], seeing multiple physicians [82.9%], use of self medications [79%], ordering of refills without follow up [78%], and not reporting all the medications they are currently on [78%]. On comparing male and female nurses, the lack of awareness of polypharmacy was the most commonly stated patient factors by both groups. Male nurses gave a higher ranking for increased awareness of treatment options among patients in comparison to female nurses. Nurses with 5-10 years of experience had given a high score for ineffective doctor-patient communication and increased awareness of treatment options among patients in comparison to other groups. Nurses are aware of the patient factors contributing to polypharmacy. They should be trained to implement this knowledge in reducing polypharmacy especially while counseling patient regarding medications

Reducing the burden of multiple medications: nurses' views on strategies to prevent polypharmacy in Ajman, UAE

Polypharmacy is often used to imply a negative situation involving unnecessary or inappropriate use of medications. Nurse can contribute significantly in reducing the number of medications prescribed. The study was planned to identify the nurses' opinions on different strategies that could be used to prevent polypharmacy. This cross section study was conducted during March to May 2011 among nurses who are working in a tertiary care hospital in Ajman, UAE. In addition to socio-demographic characteristics the pilot-tested self-administered, questionnaire contained 20 items to collect information. Chi-square test was used to compare percentages by socio-demographic characteristics using PSAW software. The significance level for all analyses was p