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. 2022 Oct 24;21(1):284.
doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-01061-3.

Collaborative medication management for older adults after hospital discharge: a qualitative descriptive study

Filipa Pereira  1   2 , Marion Bieri  3 , Maria Del Rio Carral  4 , Maria Manuela Martins  5 , Henk Verloo  3   6
Affiliations

Collaborative medication management for older adults after hospital discharge: a qualitative descriptive study

Filipa Pereira et al. BMC Nurs. .

Abstract

Background: Safe medication management for older adults after hospital discharge requires a well-coordinated, interprofessional, patient-centered approach. This study aimed to describe the perceived needs for collaborative medication management for older adults taking several different medications at home after hospital discharge.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with older adults (n = 28), informal (n = 17), and professional caregivers (n = 13).

Results: Findings revealed four main needs: older adults and informal caregivers' perceived needs for greater involvement in discharge planning; older adults' perceived needs to be informed, listened to, and to be actively involved in decision-making; informal caregivers' perceived needs for help in supporting and coordinating medication management; and older adults' and informal and professional caregivers' perceived needs for better communication and coordination between professional caregivers.

Conclusion: This study revealed two underutilized pathways towards improving collaborative medication management: medication follow-up involving a community healthcare professional taking an overarching responsibility and empowering older adults and their informal caregivers in medication management after hospital discharge.

Keywords: Collaborative medication management; Discharge planning; Home-dwelling; Informal caregivers; Older adults; Polypharmacy; Qualitative descriptive research; Switzerland.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overlap between older adults’ and informal and professional caregivers’ perceived needs for collaborative medication management after hospital discharge
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