Pill for this and a pill for that: A cross-sectional survey of use and understanding of medication among adults with multimorbidity

Abstract

Objective: To understand the challenges managing medication use and knowledge of people living with multimorbidity.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 234 adults with multimorbidity, identified using retrospective hospital discharge data. Participants were recruited from two primary health organisations in New Zealand.

Results: Three quarters of participants (75%) were prescribed four or more medications, and one in four (27%) were prescribed eight or more medications. Participants reported knowing what their medications were for (88%, 95% CI 81.4-93.8) and when to take them (99%, 95% CI 97.5-99.9). However, over a fifth (22%, 95% CI 13.7-30.4) reported some problems managing multiple medications, and 40% (95% CI 30.2-50.2) reported a problem with side effects.

Conclusion: The results highlight the need to consider how prescribing can be adapted for people with multimorbidity and move beyond the application of multiple disease-specific guidelines.

Keywords: drug-related side effects and adverse reactions; medication adherence; multimorbidity; polypharmacy; self-management.