Factors predicting home medication management practices among chronically ill older population of selected districts of Nepal.

BACKGROUND

Older population often have multiple and complex needs that are consequently challenged by the presence of polypharmacy, adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interaction. We aimed to determine home medication management practices (MMP) and its associated factors among chronically ill older population of selected districts of Nepal.

METHODS

A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 386 chronically ill older individuals from selected areas of Nepal between April to September 2016. Appropriateness of MMP was assessed through scores of questions using interview method. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using potential variables from bivariate analysis were used to determine factors affecting MMP.

RESULTS

The overall home MMP was mostly inappropriate (80.1%). Most participants had multiple prescribers for single disease (202, 52.3%) and inappropriate medication storage (188, 48.7%). Though the majority of them had drug administration schedule (378, 97.9%), expired medicines were also used (2, 0.5%). Regression analysis showed less than one year duration of disease (odds ratio [OR] = 3.901, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.528 to 9.959, P = 0.004), 1-2 years duration of disease (OR = 2.415, 95% CI = 1.210 to 4.821, P = 0.012) and smokers (OR = 2.025, 95% CI = 1.036 to 3.956, P = 0.039) as the major factors affecting appropriate home MMP.

CONCLUSIONS

The home MMP was associated with duration of disease and smoking status among chronically ill older patients living in selected districts of Nepal. Proper counselling and monitoring of such patients might be necessary to improve the practice.