Citation

Nikolaus T, Bach M, Oster P, Schlierf G. Z. Gerontol. Geriatr. 1995; 28(6): 415-419.

Vernacular Title

Probleme geriatrischer Patienten im Umgang mit Arzneimittelbehaltnissen.

Affiliation

Geriatrisches Zentrum Bethanien Klinikum, Universität Heidelberg.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8581760

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to measure the prevalence of difficulties in elderly inpatients in opening a range of common commercial drug packagings, in breaking a bar-scored tablet, and in reading medication instructions. Sixty-seven patients (female: 47; male: 20, mean age: 81.6 +/- 6.1) who reported that they had managed their medication independently before hospital admission, underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. They were also asked to remove tablets and drops from various commercial drug packagings and a "dosett", to break a tablet, and to read medication instructions enclosed in the packings. Only 21 patients (31%) were able to perform all tasks. Thirty-one patients (46.3%) failed in opening the "push and turn" bottle and 44 patients (65.7%) were unable to open the flip-top container. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in age, cognitive capacity, handgrip, and manual dexterity between the patients who were able to perform all tasks, and those who were not able to do so. Many of the common medication packagings impede a reliable management of drugs by elderly patients.

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