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Clinical Trial
. 2000 Aug;50(2):172-5.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00247.x.

Effects of a medicine review and education programme for older people in general practice

C J Lowe  1 , D K Raynor, J Purvis, A Farrin, J Hudson
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effects of a medicine review and education programme for older people in general practice

C J Lowe et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000 Aug.

Abstract

Aims: To determine whether a medicine review and education programme influences the compliance and knowledge of older people in general practice.

Methods: Older people taking at least three medicines were randomly allocated to a control or intervention group. Both groups received three visits from a clinical pharmacist: Visit 1: Assessment and patients' medicines rationalized in intervention group. Visit 2: Intervention group given medicines education. Visit 3: Knowledge and compliance in both groups assessed by structured questionnaire

Results: Compliance in the intervention group was 91.3%, compared with 79.5% in the control group (P < 0.0001). The number of intervention group patients correctly understanding the purpose of their medicines increased from 58% to 88% on the second visit, compared with 67% to 70% in the control group (P < 0.0005).

Conclusions: A general practice based medication review and education programme improved medicine compliance and knowledge of older people in the short term.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study procedure.
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