Meddication-Taking Behavior of the Elderly
Resource
KAOHSIUNG JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES v.12 n.7 pp.423-433
Journal
KAOHSIUNG JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Journal Volume
v.12
Journal Issue
n.7
Pages
423-433
Date Issued
1996
Date
1996
Author(s)
HUANG, LIAN-HUA
Abstract
本研究旨在探討社區老人用藥行為及影響老人用藥行為的相關因素。研究對象為都市 型神區及鄉村型神區之六十五歲以上老人共401人。以家庭訪視方式與老人進刪面對 面會談，資料以SPSS電腦軟體分析處理。研究結果顯;示社區老人用藥時實際遭遇的 問題有：不遵從醫囑服藥、自行調藥、使用非處方藥、併用多種藥物、服用存藥、贈 藥、吃錯藥或忘記服藥以及採用非醫療性的治療方式。比較都市和鄉村兩社區老人， 顯示都市社區老人的用藥常識與行為均較佳。影響老人用藥知識和行為的個人因素有 ：性別、年齡教育程度、婚姻狀況、居住狀況和健康信念。專業教育與民眾教育在維 護老人用藥安全上都是當務之急。 The aim of this study was to examine the medication-taking behavior of older adu-lts living in communities. Factors influencing their medication-taking behavior were also explored. Data were collected by way of a face-to face interview survey through a ran-dom sample of 401 persons over 65 years of age, and were analyzed using SPSS com-puter software. The sample included two groups of people, one residing in an urban community and the other in a rural community. The results revealed information on the following kinds of medication behavior: self- medication, using non-prescription medica-tions, sharing medications, forgetting to take medications, misusing medications, being non-compliant, using multi-medications, hoarding medications , and combining Western medications with traditional therapies. In comparing the differences between the urban and rural elderly, the urban elderly had more accurate medication knowledge and dis-played better medication-taking behavior. An elderly person’s age, gender, education le- vel, marital status, living status and health belief were found to affect his/her medication knowledge and behavior. Education of both health care professionals and the general public is urgently needed to ensure the safety of taking medication by the elderly.