Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2014 , Vol 17, Issue 2
DRUG USAGE HABITS AND MULTIPLE DRUG USAGE OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS IN NURSING HOMES
Yakup Tolga ÇAKIR1, Mehmet SONBAHAR2, Hüseyin CAN3, Mehmet Ali KURNAZ3, Rıfkı ÖNDER3
1Uzundere Devlet Hastanesi, Aile HekimliÄŸi ERZURUM
2İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, İç Hastalıkları İZMİR
3İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Aile Hekimliği İZMİR
Introduction: This investigation has been performed to determine the knowledge level and the attitudes of elderly individuals regarding the usage of prescription drugs, to examine the multiple drug usage by elderly, and to assess the factors affecting this situation.

Materials and Method: This study was performed in November-December 2012 with 171 individuals, aged 65 years and over, residing in Bursa Metropolitan Nursing Home, having no restraints on study participation, and volunteering to participate in the study. The questionnaire, developed as a result of the subject-related literature search, and composed of 37 open- and closedended questions, was applied with face-to-face interview technique. In the statistical analysis; mean± standard deviation (minimum-maximum values), percentage (number) were used in descriptive data; and Chi-Square Test was used in inter-group comparisons. p<0.05 value was regarded as significant.

Results: 51.5% of 171 individuals included in the study (n=88), aged 65 years and over, were men; the mean age of men was 73.04±0.7 years (65-94), and the mean age of women was 72.91±0.7 years (65-88). The usage of non-prescription drugs was 36.3%. The most used group of prescription drugs was anti-hypertensive drugs, and the most used group of non-prescription drugs was non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. 55.6% of the individuals were informed on the drugs they used and received this information from the doctor (60.7%) at the most. 56.3% of the individuals indicated that side effects occurred in relation to the drugs they used. The most frequently observed side effects were abdominal pain and nausea.

Conclusion: It has been detected that as the amount of drugs used by the individuals increases the prevalence of side effects also increase, that informing patients on treatment decreases the usage of non-prescription/OTC drugs and the side effects, and ensures that people use and store their drugs accurately. Keywords : Aged; Adverse Effects; Polypharmacy