Abstract
Lack of information about medications coupled with high rates of utilization complicates compliance with medication regimens and increases the risk of adverse effects among older adults. We undertook a study of the efficacy of community-based interventions by pharmacists in a randomly-allocated one-half of a sample of 284 older adults considered to be at high risk for medication-related problems. Information and attitudes towards prescription and over-the-counter medications did not differ significantly between the intervention and comparison groups, either before or after the pharmacist interventions. However, visits to physicians were significantly less in the intervention group, suggesting an important if unexpected impact on health-related behavior.
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Victor W. Sidel, MD, is Distinguished University Professor of Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. Judith L. Beizer, PharmD, is Assistant Clinical Professor, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY. Donna Lisi-Fazio, PharmD, is Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, LA. Kurt Kleinmann, MS, is Director of Pharmacy Services, Henry and Lucy Moses Division, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. John Wenston, MA, is Systems Analyst, Management Information System, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Cynthia Thomas, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. Howard R. Kelman, PhD, is Professor of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (P01AG03424 and R01AG08125)
The authors are grateful to Donald Harry, Steven Engel, Ilene Maier, and Janet Klein for their assistance.
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Sidel, V.W., Beizer, J.L., Lisi-Fazio, D. et al. Controlled study of the impact of educational home visits by pharmacists to high-risk older patients. J Community Health 15, 163–174 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01350254
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01350254