Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Age Ageing. 2022 Mar 1;51(3). doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac050.
the ageing global population is living longer with complex health conditions addressed by multiple medications. Little is known about how older people manage these medications and associated packaging at home.
to explore how older people manage the use of multiple medication and associated packaging in their process of self-care.
fifteen older, home-dwelling participants (mean age = 76.2 years) participated in this study. All participants used three or more daily medications and resided in Southern Sweden. Data were collected using photographs and written diaries completed by each participant over seven consecutive days, complemented by researcher-led interviews. Interviews and diary data were analysed using thematic analysis.
six major themes emerged and are discussed: systematic organisation of medication, design of medication packaging, design of tablets, ease of package opening, emotional response to the need for medication, and environmental waste.
packaging plays an important role in protecting products and enabling easy storage, product longevity and transportation. Medication packaging is no exception. However, the design of medication packaging poses challenges for older people managing medications for their chronic health conditions at home. There is a need to facilitate the systematic management of multiple medications, especially for new medication regimes or changes in treatment. Design of both packaging and medication should be consistent for older users to avoid potential errors; difficulties opening packaging can potentially hinder adherence to treatment. This study highlights the need for patient-centred solutions and involvement of older people in a co-design process for medication and packaging design.
全球人口老龄化，人们的寿命越来越长，同时患有多种疾病，需要服用多种药物。目前，人们对于老年人如何在家中管理这些药物及其相关包装知之甚少。
探索老年人如何在自我护理过程中管理多种药物及其相关包装的使用。
本研究纳入了 15 名居住在瑞典南部的年龄在 76.2 岁及以上、使用三种或更多种日常药物的老年人。所有参与者连续七天通过拍照和书写日记记录自身用药情况，研究人员还对他们进行了访谈。使用主题分析法对访谈和日记数据进行分析。
研究共出现了 6 个主要主题，分别为：药物的系统组织、药物包装设计、药片设计、包装开启的便利性、对用药需求的情绪反应和环境浪费。
包装在保护产品、方便储存、延长产品寿命和便于运输方面发挥着重要作用。药物包装也不例外。然而，对于在家中管理慢性病药物的老年人来说，药物包装的设计存在挑战。有必要促进对多种药物的系统管理，尤其是对于新的药物治疗方案或治疗方案的改变。为了避免潜在的错误，包装和药物的设计应保持一致；包装难以开启可能会阻碍患者遵医嘱用药。本研究强调了需要针对患者的解决方案，以及让老年人参与到药物和包装设计的共同设计过程中。
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