Chiang-Hanisko Lenny, Williams Christine L, Newman David, Tappen Ruth M
Res Gerontol Nurs. 2015 Nov-Dec;8(6):273-85. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20150429-01. Epub 2015 May 7.
As primary consumers of health care and prescription medication, older adults are more susceptible to potential drug-related adverse effects and medication interactions. With growing diversity among the older adult population, understanding ethnic differences in medication use becomes increasingly important. The current study describes polypharmacy and the occurrence of underprescribing among community-dwelling, low-income individuals 55 and older from four ethnic groups: (a) African American, (b) Afro-Caribbean, (c) European American, and (d) Hispanic American. Results revealed that number of illnesses, income level, and age were three major predictors associated with polypharmacy. No underprescription was identified. Overall, prevalence of polypharmacy was 47.5%. European American individuals had the highest prevalence followed by Hispanic American, African American, and Afro-Caribbean individuals. When caring for older adults from various ethnic groups, nurses should focus their efforts on those who have multiple illnesses and sufficient income to purchase medications to reduce the risk of polypharmacy.
作为医疗保健和处方药的主要消费者，老年人更容易受到潜在的药物相关不良反应和药物相互作用的影响。随着老年人群体的多样性不断增加，了解药物使用中的种族差异变得越来越重要。当前的研究描述了来自四个种族群体（a）非裔美国人、（b）非洲加勒比人、（c）欧裔美国人、（d）西班牙裔美国人的55岁及以上社区居住低收入个体的多重用药情况和处方不足的发生率。结果显示，疾病数量、收入水平和年龄是与多重用药相关的三个主要预测因素。未发现处方不足的情况。总体而言，多重用药的患病率为47.5%。欧裔美国人的患病率最高，其次是西班牙裔美国人、非裔美国人、非洲加勒比人。在照顾来自不同种族群体的老年人时，护士应将工作重点放在那些患有多种疾病且有足够收入购买药物的人身上，以降低多重用药的风险。
