Medication Knowledge and Compliance among the Elderly: Comparison and Evaluation of Two Teaching Methods

• Main Author: Hussey, Leslie C. Trischank (Leslie Corrine Trischank)
• Other Authors: Smith, Howard Wellington
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 1989
• Subjects: medication compliance; elderly; Medication Knowledge and Compliance Scale; Patient compliance.; Patient education.; Older people > Health and hygiene.; Older people > Drug use.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331602/

The problem of this study was to compare and evaluate two methods of teaching medication compliance to an elderly population with a variety of medical problems, cultural backgrounds, and educational levels. Eighty patients over 65 years old who were attending clinic at a county health care facility participated in the study and were randomly placed into two groups. The Medication Knowledge and Compliance Scale was used to assess the patients' medication knowledge and self—reported compliance. Group I (control) received only verbal teaching. Group II (experimental) received verbal teaching as well as a Picture Schedule designed to tailor the patients' medication schedule to their daily activities. Each patient was re—evaluated two to three weeks later. Medications were also counted at each visit and prescription refill records were examined. Knowledge and compliance did increase significantly among all 80 participants. Patients in Group II demonstrated a significantly greater increase in compliance than Group I but did not show a greater increase in knowledge. Patients in Group II also improved compliance as evidenced by their prescription refill records. This study demonstrates that even though significant barriers to learning exist, knowledge and compliance can be significantly improved when proper teaching techniques are utilized.