Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Health Sciences

.: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Polypharmacy Prevalence in Rural-Living Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Kırsalda Yaşayan Yaşlılarda Polifarmasi Yaygınlığı: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma
Elif Aslıhan KORKMAZa , Melike YALÇIN GÜRSOYb
aPrivate Midwife, Tekirdağ, Türkiye
b Department of Nursing, Division of Public Health Nursing, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Health Sciences, Çanakkale, Türkiye
Turkiye Klinikleri J Health Sci. 2023;8(2):300-7
doi: 10.5336/healthsci.2022-94098
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors in older adults living in rural areas. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 585 older adults aged ≥65 years living in a town in western Türkiye. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews at family health centers using a questionnaire prepared by the authors in line with the literature. The data collected for the research were analyzed using the SPSS for Windows 25.0. Descriptive statistical methods were used to evaluate data. In addition, a logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the influential factors in the presence of polypharmacy. The results were evaluated at a significance level of p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of polypharmacy was 24.1%. In addition, 51.6%, 52.1%, and 12.1% older adults used at least one over-thecounter drug, herbal medicines along with prescribed medications, and alternative treatment methods, respectively. However, older patients with four or more chronic diseases were exposed to polypharmacy approximately nine times (95% confidence interval 3.02-26.75) more than those with 1-3 chronic diseases. Conclusion: Approximately one-quarter of the older adults had polypharmacy, which was affected by multiple variables. The older adults should be evaluated for prescription and non-prescription drug use, and the rational drug use education should be provided.

Keywords: Geriatrics; cross-sectional studies; polypharmacy
ÖZET
 Amaç: Bu çalışma, kırsal kesimde yaşayan yaşlılarda polifarmasi prevalansını ve ilişkili faktörleri belirlemek amacıyla gerçekleştirildi. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu kesitsel çalışmaya Türkiye'nin batısında bir ilçede yaşayan 65 yaş ve üzeri toplam 585 yaşlı dâhil edildi. Veriler literatür doğrultusunda araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan anket formu aracılığı ile aile sağlığı merkezlerinde yüz yüze görüşme yöntemiyle toplandı. Araştırma için toplanan veriler, Windows 25.0 için SPSS kullanılarak analiz edildi. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde tanımlayıcı istatistiksel yöntemler kullanıldı. Ayrıca polifarmasi varlığında etkili olan faktörleri belirlemek için lojistik regresyon analizi yapıldı. Sonuçlar p<0,05 anlamlılık düzeyinde değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Bu çalışmada, polifarmasi prevalansı %24,1 olarak belirlendi. Ayrıca yaşlıların reçeteli ilaçlarla birlikte sırasıyla %51,6, %52,1 ve %12,1'inin en az bir reçetesiz ilaç, bitkisel ilaç ve alternatif tedavi yöntemlerini kullandıkları görüldü. Bununla birlikte, 4 veya daha fazla kronik hastalığı olan yaşlıların, 1-3 kronik hastalığı olanlara göre yaklaşık 9 kat (%95 güven aralığı 3,02-26,75) daha fazla polifarmasiye maruz kaldığı belirlendi. Sonuç: Yaşlıların yaklaşık 1/4'ünde polifarmasi durumunun mevcut olduğu ve bazı değişkenlerin polifarmasi ile ilişkili olduğu görüldü. Bu bağlamda, yaşlıların reçeteli ve reçetesiz ilaç kullanımı açısından değerlendirilmesi ve akılcı ilaç kullanımı konusunda eğitilmesi önerilebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Geriatri; kesitsel çalışma; polifarmasi
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