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

ABSTRACT

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