Appropriate knowledge of the indications for medications in use among older individuals assisted in the Jornada Científica dos Acadêmicos de Farmácia-Bioquímica

This study aimed to identify variables associated with the appropriate recall of indications and the drug classes that represented the most unmatching medications (i.e., when the individual who used it had not reported any illness that matched its indications). Community-dwelling individuals aged ≥60 years using ≥1 medication, from Santa Cruz da Esperança-SP, Brazil, were home-interviewed. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between the appropriate recall of the indications for all medications in use and the following: gender, age, education, individual income, living arrangement, self-perceived health, and medication number, administration, payment, and identification. Medications whose indications were inappropriately recalled were classified as matching or unmatching. One hundred seventeen individuals used an average of 5.1 (standard deviation, 3.3) medications. Sixty-one (52.1%) appropriately recalled all indications. The appropriate recall of all indications was negatively associated with the number of medications in use (e.g., individuals taking 5-6 medications were 25 times less likely to appropriately recall all indications than those taking 1-2). Antithrombotic, acid-related disorder and psychoanaleptic classes showed greater frequencies of unmatching than matching medications. Therefore, counseling the elderly about drug indications should focus on those using ≥3 medications and/or antithrombotic, acid-related disorder, and psychoanaleptic agents.

Conhecimento inadequado sobre medicamentos prescritos e seus preditores em pacientes muito idosos e seus cuidadores / Inadequate knowledge of prescription drugs and their predictors in very old patients and their caregivers

Resumo Objetivo Identificar preditores do conhecimento inadequado sobre medicamentos prescritos a pacientes ambulatoriais muito idosos e seus cuidadores. Método O conhecimento sobre os medicamentos prescritos para 80 pacientes com 80 anos ou mais de idade foi avaliado por meio de um questionário validado, em uma entrevista realizada com os pacientes ou seus cuidadores (quando os pacientes apresentavam dificuldades de comunicação, demência ou qualquer necessidade de assistência para ajudá-los a usar medicamentos). Dois modelos de regressão logística hierárquica avaliaram a associação entre conhecimento inadequado sobre medicamentos e variáveis ​​sociodemográficas e medicamentosas. Resultados Trinta e nove (48,8%) entrevistados eram cuidadores. Conhecimento inadequado foi encontrado em 81,5% (404/496) dos medicamentos prescritos. Forma de administração, Dose, Frequência e Duração do Tratamento foram os aspectos de maior conhecimento, enquanto Reações Adversas, Precauções, Interações e Contraindicações, os de menor. No primeiro modelo, o conhecimento inadequado foi associado à escolaridade do ensino fundamental completo ao médio incompleto (Razão de Chances (RC):0,12; p=0,018), do médio ao superior incompleto (RC:0,12; p<0,001), superior completo (RC:0,13; p<0,001), agentes que atuam no sistema renina-angiotensina (SRA) (RC:0,30; p=0,001), diuréticos (RC:0,31; p=0,013) e antitrombóticos (RC:12,59; p=0,027). No segundo modelo, os preditores foram cuidadores (RC:0,17; p<0,001), agentes que atuam no SRA (RC:0,33; p=0,002), diuréticos (RC:0,35; p=0,024) e antitrombóticos (RC:12,57; p=0,026). Conclusão A maioria dos medicamentos prescritos para pessoas muito idosas é pouco conhecida. Além disso, o aconselhamento acerca de informações sobre medicamentos deve ser mais intensivo para os pacientes do que para seus cuidadores, com foco em informações de segurança e ser direcionado a antitrombóticos.

Abstract Objective Identify predictors of inadequate knowledge about the medication prescribed to very old outpatients and their caregivers. Method The knowledge on the medication prescribed for 80 patients aged 80 years and over was assessed using a validated questionnaire to interview patients or their caregivers (when patients had communication difficulties, dementia, or any need for care to help them take the medication). Two hierarchical logistic regression models assessed the association between inadequate knowledge of the medication and sociodemographic and drug variables. Results Thirty-nine (48.8%) respondents were caregivers. Inadequate knowledge was found in 81.5% (404/496) of medication prescribed. Route of Administration, Dose, Frequency, and Duration of Treatment were the aspects of greatest knowledge, whereas Adverse Effects, Precautions, Interactions, and Contraindications were the least known ones. In the first model, inadequate knowledge was associated to the level of education from complete elementary school to incomplete high school (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.12; p=0.018), from high school to incomplete higher education (OR: 0.12; p<0.001), complete higher education (OR: 0.13; p<0.001), agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) (OR: 0.30; p=0.001), diuretics (OR: 0.31; p=0.013) and antithrombotic (OR: 12.59; p=0.027). In the second model, the predictors were caregivers (OR: 0.17; p<0.001), agents working in the RAS (OR: 0.33; p=0.002), diuretics (OR: 0.35; p=0.024) and antithrombotic (OR: 12.57; p=0.026). Conclusion Most of the medication prescribed for very old people is not very well known. Also, advice on drug information should be more intensive to patients than to their caregivers, with a focus on safety information and targeted at antithrombotics.

Validação do questionário "Conocimiento del Paciente sobre sus Medicamentos" (CPM-ES-ES) / Validation of the "Conocimiento del Paciente sobre sus Medicamentos" (CPM-ES-ES) questionnaire

Resumo Este trabalho adaptou transculturalmente o questionário espanhol "Conocimiento del Paciente sobre sus Medicamentos" (CPM-ES-ES) para uso no Brasil. Ele mede o grau de conhecimento sobre medicamentos por meio de 11 perguntas. Oitenta pacientes ≥ 80 anos foram investigados e com 39 também foi entrevistado o cuidador. A avaliação das equivalências conceitual e de item considerou o conceito de conhecimento e as perguntas que o medem como pertinentes. A equivalência semântica foi obtida pela correspondência de significado denotativo e conotativo dos itens. O estudo da equivalência de mensuração incluiu análise fatorial e o cálculo de estimativas de validade e confiabilidade. Semelhante ao questionário original, a análise de componentes principais identificou 4 componentes, porém, em 2 deles houve diferenças nos itens incluídos. Uma pergunta foi removida desta análise devido à sua inadequação amostral. O conhecimento sobre medicamentos esteve correlacionado à complexidade da prescrição r = -0,22, p = 0,046. O conhecimento sobre anti-hipertensivos esteve correlacionado à sua adesão r = 0,70, p < 0,001, e ao controle da pressão arterial rb = 0,46, p = 0,029. A versão adaptada apresentou equivalência funcional de modo que pode ser usada no contexto brasileiro.

Abstract This work cross-culturally adapted the Spanish questionnaire `Patients' knowledge about their medications ("Conocimiento del Paciente sobre sus Medicamentos" - CPM-ES-ES) for use in Brazil. It measures the level of medication knowledge by means of 11 questions. Eighty patients ≥ 80 years were investigated and in 39 cases the caregivers were interviewed. The evaluation of conceptual and item equivalences considered the concept of knowledge and the questions that assess it as pertinent. Semantic equivalence was obtained by the correspondence in the denotative and connotative meaning of items. The study of measurement equivalence included factorial analysis and the calculation of validity and reliability estimates. As with the original questionnaire, principal component analysis identified 4 components, however, in 2 of them there were differences regarding included items. One question was removed from this analysis due to its sample inadequacy. Medication knowledge was correlated with medication regimen complexity r = -.22, p = .046. Medication knowledge of antihypertensives was correlated with their adherence r = .70, p < .001, and blood pressure control rb = .46, p = .029. The adapted version revealed functional equivalence, therefore it can be used in the Brazilian context.